Cork people give their views on renaming of redeveloped city centre park
Bishop Lucey Park was closed to the public in December 2023 for redevelopment.
Corkonians have been vocal in their criticism of proposals to rename the city's Bishop Lucey Park amid concerns that a change may undermine their cityâs historical integrity.
Passers-by near the amenity made their feelings known to the following its closure to the public in December 2023 for redevelopment.
Councillors in Cork City Hall recently voted 17-11 to approve a section 140 motion submitted by Workersâ Party councillor Ted Tynan, Green Party councillor Oliver Moran, and Social Democrats councillor Niamh OâConnor, calling for the renaming process.
Mr Tynan said much of the documented clerical abuse â sexual, physical, or psychological â occurred during Bishop Luceyâs time, both as a serving priest and as bishop of the Diocese of Cork and Ross from his appointment in 1952 until his retirement in 1980.
Fianna FĂĄil councillor Terry Shannon objected to the move, criticising what he described as âthis headlong rush to change for, what many people, are the old certaintiesâ.
Some people on the streets of Cork shared his views, including Delia Manning. âAbsolutely not,â Delia told this newspaper.
âThe name should stay as it is. Bishop Lucey Park is here as long as it is and people are familiar with it.Â
Ken Aherne was also taken aback by the proposals.
âHistorically, itâs known as Bishop Lucey Park. I donât see a particular need to change it. Iâm one of those people who believes that cities have their own individual histories and these histories should be preserved where possible. There is no need for a name change.âÂ
He said that while he has no objections to âPĂĄirc na mBan ChorcaĂâ - a name suggested by Workersâ Party councillor Ted Tynan - he feels it may not resonate, given the location.
âPlaces like Bessborough, where women really suffered, is where these tributes should be. I donât think Bishop Lucey Park has any connections like that.âÂ
Meanwhile, Lee OâKeeffe said he doesnât feel the proposed new name makes sense.
âI donât think the name should be changed but if it is to be renamed, I donât think it should be PĂĄirc na mBan ChorcaĂ. I think something more relevant to the area would work better.Â
"Something like UCC PĂĄirc might make sense since Western Road is close to the park.âÂ
Some admitted they knew little about the bishop it was named after.
Tony Kelleher added: âI wouldnât know much about the man really but itâs a traditional thing and thatâs what itâs always been known as. I donât have a problem with it staying the same and I donât have a problem with it changing either.Â
"I certainly have no problem with it being changed to PĂĄirc na mBan ChorcaĂ. Why not?âÂ
Ruby Poland said she is supportive of a name change.
âI suppose itâs good to have less ties to Catholicism in the city,â she told the .Â
Denis Ryan, however, was keen to retain the name.
âEven though Iâm new to Cork Iâd keep it the same. I donât think Iâd want to see a change.âÂ
Bishop Lucey became Bishop of Cork in 1952, with the diocese of Ross added six years later.
He built five new churches named after the five Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary in the cityâs rapidly developing suburbs, and went on to oversee the foundation of 13 churches during his time as bishop.
The historical figure set up St Anneâs Adoption Society in 1954 and started the Cork diocesan mission to Peru in the mid-1960s.
He died in 1982, and the park was named in his honour when it opened in 1985 as part of Cork 800 celebrations.
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