All About Cork: Douglas Young at Heart group dance the day away

It was a night to remember for members of Douglas Young at Heart as they danced the night away in Rochestown Park Hotel to celebrate Valentine's Day in style at the St Valentine's Tea Dance.

Public consultation crucial for future of Carr’s Hill cemetery

Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for public consultation to be included in any future management strategy for All Saint’s Cemetery on Carr’s Hill.

In raising the historic cemetery at the February Cork City Council meeting, the chief executive outlined that since the completion of the transfer of ownership of the Carr’s Hill graveyard to Cork City Council in mid- 2023 a review of all surveys and information pertaining to the site is being undertaken in order to inform a sustainable maintenance and management strategy for the site.

An archaeological conservation strategy is not currently being undertaken, with its cross the landmark for passing motorists and those that want to visit it.

A number of non-intrusive archaeological surveys have been carried out including GPR (ground penetrating radar) and drone photogrammetry surveys which have created a detailed 2D and 3D model of the physical landscape and features at Carr’s Hill.

A biodiversity study for the site was completed late last year.

Further analysis of these surveys and studies is ongoing and Council Members will be updated as matters progress.

In the meantime the graveyard has been included in the parks work programme for 2025 and grass-cutting on the site will commence next month.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “The detailed survey work on All-Saint’s Graveyard is welcome.

“I asked specifically at the council meeting that there would be a form of public consultation woven into the future of any evolving management strategy for the site.

“Arising from public conversations, there are positive suggestions of how to improve access to the site and there are calls for improved interpretation on the site itself.

“There are also calls that that access to the site is maintained and improved.

“The maintenance of the Sorenson Memorial Cross is essential as well as creating opportunities to commemorate more the victims of the Great Famine.

“There are also growing public calls to commemorate the children buried there from the City’s Mother and Baby Homes.”

Councillor Horgan calls for grant to help tree owners

Cork City Councillor Peter Horgan has proposed a grant to be established to assist owners who have trees that are posing a danger to their own property, neighbours and critical infrastructre in light of continued weather events weakening trees across Cork city and the country.

“The biggest issue when these storms hit, to my mind and the people that I represent, is will that tree that a person cannot afford to trim in the last number of years come down and cause even more damage,” said Cllr Horgan.

“There needs to be considerations for assistance to homeowners who have trees that are a danger to their own property, to their neighbours or to public infrastructure.

“A simple solution would be just to cut down these trees but such a barbarous attack on bio diversity and the aesthetic nature of our communities cannot be and will not be tolerated.

“An assessment of the tree stock that need attention must be compiled and mechanisms exist like when we need clearer space on our roads for the likes of public transport through hedgerow cutting requests which also includes trees.

“However, no assessment, done by owners or City Hall is worthwhile if there is some financial support, just once off, to strengthen the tree stock across the City, to assist people to protect the tree stock where it is in their interests to do so.

“The new Minister for Forestry Michael Healy Rae needs to consider supports for tree owners outside of the forestry conglomerates, those with one or two in the front or back garden.”

Street Leagues are back at Douglas GAA Club

Douglas GAA Club welcomed back their young players as the street leagues returned last Saturday.

A spokesperson said: “We have updated our welcome booklet which I think all members would find of interest.”

It can be seen at: https://douglasgaa.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2025/02/Copy-of-Welcome-Booklet-Draft2-for-2025.pdf.

The Dougout coffee dock has also reopened on Saturdays.

The club’s coaching conference will take place on March 8.

Speakers to be announced soon.

The honour our the club’s first competitive matches fell to their U21 footballers yesterday. See EchoLive for report on their U21 A fixture v Bishopstown.

The club will celebrate the success of their Junior A and B footballers for last season at the club on Saturday next, February 22.

A limited number of tickets are on sale via Dorothy at the club shop.

Cork City Councillor Peter Horgan has proposed a grant to be established to assist owners who have trees that are posing a danger to their own property, neighbours and critical infrastructre in light of continued weather events weakening trees across Cork city and the country.

“The biggest issue when these storms hit, to my mind and the people that I represent, is will that tree that a person cannot afford to trim in the last number of years come down and cause even more damage,” said Cllr Horgan.

“There needs to be considerations for assistance to homeowners who have trees that are a danger to their own property, to their neighbours or to public infrastructure.

“A simple solution would be just to cut down these trees but such a barbarous attack on bio diversity and the aesthetic nature of our communities cannot be and will not be tolerated.

“An assessment of the tree stock that need attention must be compiled and mechanisms exist like when we need clearer space on our roads for the likes of public transport through hedgerow cutting requests which also includes trees.

“However, no assessment, done by owners or City Hall is worthwhile if there is some financial support, just once off, to strengthen the tree stock across the City, to assist people to protect the tree stock where it is in their interests to do so.

“The new Minister for Forestry Michael Healy Rae needs to consider supports for tree owners outside of the forestry conglomerates, those with one or two in the front or back garden.”

Douglas GAA Club welcomed back their young players as the street leagues returned last Saturday.

A spokesperson said: “We have updated our welcome booklet which I think all members would find of interest.”

It can be seen here.

The Dougout coffee dock has also reopened on Saturdays.

The club’s coaching conference will take place on March 8.

Speakers to be announced soon.

The honour our the club’s first competitive matches fell to their U21 footballers yesterday. See EchoLive for report on their U21 A fixture v Bishopstown.

The club will celebrate the success of their Junior A and B footballers for last season at the club on Saturday next, February 22.

A limited number of tickets are on sale via Dorothy at the club shop.

Have Douglas news to share? Contact rory.noonan@theecho.ie