Call for park and ride to open for sports events in Cork

Calls have been made to open Cork’s park and ride facility during big sporting events to minimise parking chaos in the city.

City councillors urged officials to examine the possibility of making the 900-space Black Ash car park available to fans attending GAA, rugby, and soccer games following more complaints about indiscriminate parking in residential areas around Páirc Uí Rinn GAA stadium in Ballintemple during an U21 football clash between Cork and Kerry on Wednesday, and during Sunday’s Allianz hurling league clash between Cork and Tipperary.

More games are scheduled this weekend. Gardaí have stepped up enforcement and are issuing fines and towing cars. However, Fianna Fáil councillors Seán Martin and Terry Shannon said that despite the Garda crackdown, and efforts by Cork County Board to encourage match patrons to park responsibly, illegal parking is still a major issue in the residential areas during big games.