Cork's Rochestown on track for new greenway link, and old rail station cafe-restaurant conversion

Tommy Barker says public consultation plans have been released for an exciting new greenway and chi-chi cafe along Rochestown's harbour amenity walks

Rochestown Road rail station/cafe-restaurant site, between Harty's Quay and Hop Island in Cork.

PLANS for a new Cork greenway link, and a chi-chi cafe restaurant venue similar to that at Blackrock Observatory, are coming down the track at Cork's Rochestown, in parallel and unrelated developments by Cork City Council, and by a private developer.

Public consultation plans have just recently been released by the council for options to link and upgrade the super-successful Mahon/Blackrock and Rochestown-Passage West amenity cycle and walk routes. They pivot around a key stretch on the Rochestown Road, and the former compact train station and ticket office by the Rochestown Inn, which ceased operations in 1932.

Among the options is a boardwalk from around Harty's Quay to Hop Island, between existing houses and the waters of Mahon Estuary.

Separately, but possibly in tandem timewise, plans for a cafe-restaurant at the Rochestown train and tram station and surviving platform are being progressed by architects, for a  private investor/developer who bought it two years ago from Cohalan Downing.

Well-placed sources indicate the new cafe plans are to work with the existing Victorian brick-faced rail building and platform

The same agents also sold the Rochestown Inn back around 2016 when it had a €575,000 AMV, which is now being rebuilt in a project involving local businessman John Sweeney. Mr Sweeney acted on previous plans by one-time Rochestown Inn owner/operator Gary O'Donovan for the redevelopment of the 130-year old former coaching inn as a 3,000  ft bar/restaurant. It adjoins the hugely successful and busy food and baking emporium Cinnamon Cottage.

Well-placed sources indicate the new cafe plans are to work with the existing Victorian brick-faced rail building and platform and to extend along the platform in a contemporary take on the original rail vernacular.

An experienced operator has been provisionally identified, with counties Cork and Kerry food and hospitality/restaurant links and who operates a number of successful and expanding premises. 

Comparable cafe-restaurant models may include the likes of the destination venue at the Observatory and Blackrock Castle, on the Marina/Blackrock/Mahon/Passage West and Monkstown amenity walks, or that at Good Things Deli and cafe at  Nano Nagle Place in the city centre.

The already popular harbour-fronting routes have surged further in use and appreciation during Covid-19 and lockdown months, and use by runners, walkers, and cyclists is only expected to continue to grow.

Meanwhile, Cork City Council has released its hoped-for two-year timeline proposal for the Passage Railway Greenway Phase 11, up to 2020, which will include public consultation, land acquisitions, addressing environmental concerns, and the probability of an oral hearing.

Details: Cohalan Downing  Associates 021-4277717.