WHERE THE BLACKROCK ROAD CROSSES THE PASSAGE GREENWAY WALKING ROUTE
The Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway (CB&PR) was a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. The line originally opened in 1850 as a 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Irish standard gauge railway between Cork and Passage West and operated steam feeder ferries to other locations round Cork Harbour. The company was heavily dependent on summer tourist traffic for a considerable proportion of its revenue. The railway was converted to 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge in 1900 in conjunction with extensions southwards to Crosshaven which were completed in 1904. The railway closed in 1932 and has since been replaced by a public pathway and nature area.
The overall aim of the project is to provide a high quality, attractive transportation and recreational route while also creating and supporting an environmental living corridor.
The project includes additional access ramps onto the greenway. These are located at the Marina, Blackrock Station, Eden and Skehard Road. The Marina access ramp will form a new gateway to the greenway. These new access points will enable safe and convenient connections between the greenway and adjoining areas. This includes disability access, access for cyclists and other users.
To facilitate the widening of the greenway and construction of these new access points it was necessary to remove a total of 46 trees however a total of 65 semi mature trees will be planted along the route plus 2000 immature trees (samplings). The new trees will be native Irish species as recommended by the project’s environmental advisors. An ecologist and arborist have been employed to advise Cork City Council throughout the project.
The greenway will remain open to the greatest possible extent throughout the works however it will be necessary to close sections on a rolling base for the safety of both users and workers. Traffic management plans will be established to facilitate the safe movement of construction traffic. Pedestrian signage plus information and diversion signage will also be erected for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists.
The project will:
Provide significantly improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians along the Passage Railway Greenway from Pairc Uí Chaoimh to Mahon. Provide improved and new access points to improve connectivity with area around greenway. Provide an avenue for wildlife movement, protection of natural resources and green space buffers for humans. These objectives will include: Wider surfaced area over length of greenway. Public lighting and CCTV installed along length of greenway. Greater amenities and facilities for public. Widen the greenway from the existing 3m to 5m in width. The Blackrock Road railway footbridge will be reinstated, utilising the existing historic abutments, access ramps and disused railway platforms. The existing bridges, historical structures and features along the route will be repaired and cleaned where necessary. Environmentally sensitive public lighting will be provided along the full extent of the greenway plus CCTV. Soft landscaping works will be undertaken including tree, shrub and wildflower planting with native pollinator friendly species. Bee, bird and bat boxes will be installed to improve the attractiveness of the greenway for native fauna.
J. O’DONOVAN AND SONS LTD FEATURING SOME STREET ART OR THE SHAMROCK ON BACK STREET IN PASSAGE WEST
Initially I could not determine if this was a shop or a pub so I went inside.
Detached gable-fronted single-bay three-storey former house, built c.1890, having timber and render shopfront to front (north-west) and open fronted lean-to canopy addition to rear (south-east). Currently in use as shop.
Set on a prominent island site in the centre of the town, at a road junction, this eye-catching building makes a significant contribution to the urban fabric. The delightful render embellishments add greatly to its character and charm. Possibly incorporating fabric of an earlier building, it would appear from map evidence to have originally been part of a terrace.
Passage West (locally known as “Passage”)is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour, some 10 km south-east of Cork city. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets. Passage West was designated a conservation area in the 2003 Cork County Development Plan.
The buildings in the town centre are mainly late 18th and early 19th century, while the architecture of nearby Glenbrook and Monkstown is mainly from the later Victorian period. In 1690, at the time of the landing of the Duke of Marlborough with his army to lay siege to Cork, Passage was described as an insignificant fishing village.
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