Busy time on the quays

THE busiest spot in Cork City right now has to be directly across the Lee from City Hall, along and behind Lapps Quay.

Here, there’s a church on the move, one historic bank branch closing, another newer bank branch opening, and the new water board is also set to make a presence.

A slice of history came in the last week with the closure of the old Cork Savings Bank/permanent tsb building at the corner of Parnell Place and Lapps Quay: it dates to 1839, and sources say it could have a civic role to play given its proximity to City Hall and profile. It’s expected to go to the open market in early 2013, joining No 97 South Mall, (the former AIB/Munster and Leinster stalwart, now owned by TCH and of similar architectural elegance and quality) on the market.