Will medieval city end up in the dungeon?
Now the historic site on the City Car park is due to be redeveloped. This is the site of the old South Gate Castle and the County Gaol Dungeon that was built in limestone and spanned, in a highly dramatic fashion, the South Main Street.
The 1994 EU-aided historic action plan stated that an opportunity existed at the North and South Gate bridges to recreate the historic gateways.
Unfortunately, the material and design now proposed bear no relationship to the historic and medieval location with its limestone materials.
An Bord Pleanála clearly stated that a four-metre river walk was to be provided. The new application seeks to build a walk over the river on the very narrow South Gate Channel.
One would think that Cork would have learned from the Dublin experience.
Tomás Ó Scannláin,
Woodbrook,
Bishopstown,
Cork.
