City should have a marina for the people
The event also brought to mind the founding of the city itself by Vikings in open boats doing just such determined feats of upriver rowing.
It is a little ironic to realise that a citizen of Viking Cork would probably have found it easier to keep a small boat in the river there over 1,000 years ago than the average citizen now can.
To enhance public access to the amazing harbour on the city’s doorstep, I suggest that a municipal marina be built in the river at Cork.
Given that Kent railway station and the newly renovated bus station are both within a few hundred metres of the lowest bridging points on the river, the opportunity exists to create a walkable ‘triple point’ transport interface between river, road and rail in this area for the people of Cork and its visitors.
Yacht club marinas can have an exclusive feel to them as marina owners often find it profitable to service the needs of a wealthier clientele and their bigger boats.
Because of this, I think it is important that a municipal marina at Cork should be owned (and perhaps operated) by the city council.
The people of Cork feel they ‘own’ facilities like the rail and bus stations and it’s desirable they should feel likewise towards any ‘river station’ that may be built within the boundaries of their city.
Stan Reynolds
The Old Schoolhouse
Toames West
Macroom
Co Cork
