Cost of refurbishing city centre park to reach expected €7m, Cork council told

Councillors also heard there is still final work to be done on the park after its re-opening to the public this week

The park closed in December 2023 for redevelopment works, and has remained closed since, but the Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy is set to officially re-open the redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park and new pedestrian bridge at Lambley’s Lane on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins

Bishop Lucey Park’s refurbishment is set to cost around €7m, but a final cost will not be available until next year, councillors have been told.

They also heard there is still final work to be done on the park after its re-opening to the public this week.

The park closed in December 2023 for redevelopment works, and has remained closed since, but the Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy is set to officially re-open the redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park and new pedestrian bridge at Lambley’s Lane on Friday.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy asked at Monday’s monthly council meeting for an update on the works and the cost.

Gerry O’Beirne, the council’s director of infrastructure development said “project finances remain in line with expectations at circa €7m”. He said the work is expected to be completed “within the next two weeks” but the opening will go ahead on Friday.

Council senior engineer John Stapleton told Mr McCarthy that the council’s “current plan is to finish the works over the next couple of weeks”, though removing the vacant pod in front of the arches on Grand Parade and paving it over will need to be done next year.

Mr McCarthy told The Irish Examiner the pod, a former energy hub centre, “took from the entrance view” and “has been a bug bear for many people since the pod was built 20 years ago”.

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Sinn Féin councillor Michelle Gould also tabled a motion on the park on Monday, asking what portion of the funding was provided by central government.

A written response from Mr O’Beirne said the park’s "comprehensive restoration" includes encompassing soft and hard landscaping, upgraded lighting, installation of feature structures, conservation of sculptures, repairs to boundary walls and historic railings and archaeological surveys.

It added that it is projected to cost approximately €7 million excluding VAT, but “construction is currently underway; hence the final cost can only be confirmed upon completion of works and conclusion of the final account in 2026". 

The project is being delivered through a 75% grant from the Government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund while the remaining funding is provided by Cork City Council.