Facelift needed for Cork's 'tired looking' premier tourist town

Cork County Council officials have heard pleas from local public representatives who expressed concern that Kinsale, the southern gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, is losing tourism and investment

Fine Gael councillor Kevin Murphy told a meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council that he was 'a bit embarrassed' about the current state of his hometown. Picture: Denis Scannell

A plan is to be drawn up to improve traffic flow, streetscapes, footpaths, and to tackle dereliction in one of the south’s premier tourist towns amid concerns it is “looking tired.” 

Cork County Council officials are to draw up the plan in response to pleas from local public representatives who expressed concern that Kinsale, which is the southern gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, is losing tourism and economic investment.

Fine Gael councillor Kevin Murphy told a meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council that he was “a bit embarrassed” about the current state of his hometown.

“The town needs a major uplift. Tidy Towns has been on to me on numerous occasions about the upkeep of the town. 

"They’re doing massive work but a number of them are talking about retiring and they need help. It’s a magnificent tourist town but it is harmed by dereliction and wear and tear. We (the council) need to increase our outdoor workforce,” Mr Murphy said.

Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan, who owns a restaurant/café in the town, said Kinsale’s basic infrastructure is not being maintained and more money needs to be put into public realm upgrades.

“The town is looking tired and it needs a bit of TLC. The 2009 traffic plan is out of date as 400 new homes have been built since then. That’s a further 800 cars. There’s traffic gridlock in the summer,” she said.

Independent councillor Alan Coleman said the last time the town got a facelift was when its wastewater system was upgraded between 2009 – 2011 when there was "little money around to carry out public realm improvements".

It's the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and the flagship tourist location in the south along with Killarney. We need a major review of the public realm in Kinsale. If we don’t have a good plan for Kinsale we won’t get investment in Kinsale.

Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan maintained that the first thing on a "wish list" should be a relief road, which would help relieve gridlock in the town centre.

Mr Murphy added that the council also needs to dredge the harbour as well.

Municipal district officer Brian Dunne said he and his officials would draw up a project list and prioritise what work could be done.

He added that officials are “having challenges" trying to identify the owners of some derelict properties.