Cork Luas: GAA club vows to fight new route ‘to the very end’

As public consultation on the €2.5bn Luas Cork route continues, one of the two clubs affected has vowed to oppose the plan

A visualisation of Luas Cork's revised preferred route in Bishopstown which would cut through Bishopstown GAA Club. 

As public consultations on the revised €2.5bn Luas Cork route begin, one sports club has vowed to fight the proposed rail line through its grounds “to the end”.

The preferred route for the proposed 20km light rail service was published three weeks ago, refining last year’s emerging preferred route, with significant changes on the western end of the route, in Ballincollig and Bishopstown.

In the preferred route, the Luas would travel along Melbourn Rd toward Curraheen Rd, joining Bishopstown Rd in front of Cork University Hospital.

Route cuts through GAA and Rugby clubs

Now the revised route will turn east at the northern end of Melbourn Rd, running past Bishopstown Community School and cutting through the grounds of Bishopstown GAA Club and Highfield Rugby Club.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has said the preferred route is “the worst-case scenario”, promising to engage with stakeholders.

However, following a meeting with TII, Bishopstown GAA has sent a message to members saying it is clear to it the preferred route is the only one being considered. The club said: 

This is completely unacceptable to our club. We will fight this and we will fight it to the very end.

A spokesperson for TII said the preferred route had been the result of detailed assessments of many alternatives:

“Our goal is to design a route that captures key destinations in health, education, industry, retail, and housing. But there are trade-offs.

“Luas Cork must serve the people of Cork and yet no line can be constructed without impacting on some residents, businesses and other landowners.”

The new revised preferred Cork Luas route at the Wilton Roundabout. 

The design process would involve considering such impacts, and evaluating possible alternatives, they said, adding: 

“We are actively engaging with potentially impacted clubs, schools, residents, and businesses across the route including Bishopstown GAA and Highfield Rugby Club.

“The purpose of this consultation is to gather feedback about the preferred route so that we can carry out further studies and surveys to refine the design.”

Bishopstown GAA Club declined to comment.

Luas Cork public consultation  

As part of the latest round of non-statutory public consultation, which is running until June 12, further open days will be held as follows 

• Today, May 7, from noon until 8pm in Páirc Uí Chaoimh;

• May 12, in the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig, from noon until 8pm; 

• May 13, in the Metropole Hotel on MacCurtain St, from noon until 8pm. 

• People can also take part in the consultation online at luascork.ie.

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