Emmet O'Halloran

Summer Fun Nights – Alternative Family Events on Bonfire Night

Emmet O'Halloran — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:56:35 +0000

For the third year, Summer Fun Nights, alternative family-friendly events organised by local community groups in conjunction with Cork City Council, will take place again in parks city-wide on this Bonfire Night, Wednesday June 23rd. There will be something for everyone in five city parks including music, circus performance, sports, arts and crafts and much, much, more.

The parks where events are taking place include Kilmore Road Park, Knocknaheeny (6 pm to 9 pm), Pophams Park, Farranree (4 pm to 7 pm), Glenamoy Park, Mayfield (5 pm to 8 pm), Lough Mahon Park, Mahon (6.30 pm to 9.30 pm) and Clashduv Park, Togher (5.30 pm to 9.30 pm). In addition, a further four local community events are funded though Cork City Council in Kerry Hall Road, Bishopstown, Douglas and in Blackpool.

With up to 7,800 people attending activities in 2009, the aim of Summer Fun Nights has been to support local community groups to provide alternative safe events on Bonfire night and is supported by An Garda Síochána.

These events are very much led by local community organisations which have come together and taken the initiative to organise events in their own area with the support of Cork City Council.

Events are free, all are welcome and all events are alcohol-free. NB Children need to be accompanied by an adult.

ONE WAY SYSTEM FOR SLIP ROAD ON TORY TOP ROAD CRUCIAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

Emmet O'Halloran — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:52:33 +0000

Calls have been made by Fine Gael Cllr Emmet O’Halloran for the implementation of a new one way system on the slip road by the AIB Bank and Mace at the bottom of Tory Top Road. Fears have been expressed by many residents that a serious accident will occur as traffic travelling from the Kinsale Road use the narrow slip road as a means of avoiding the traffic lights adjacent to Green Lawn.

According to Cllr O’Halloran “whilst the installation of the pedestrian crossing by Green Lawn some years ago has greatly enhanced safety for pedestrians at the junction, there is now a real fear that motorists approaching the lights from the old CMP direction who use the slip road to bypass the lights will cause of a major accident”.

“The close proximity of shops and the AIB Bank makes the junction a popular area for pedestrians. However if the slip road was to be a one way system coming from the Tory Top Road end I have no doubt the chances of an accident would be greatly reduced”.

Cllr O’Halloran also revealed that the concerns were first brought to his attention following the AGM of the Green Lawn Residents Association and that he would be asking City Council officials to give serious consideration to the proposal. “I have tabled a motion calling on this option to be explored without delay and it should be discussed before the next meeting of the Roads Committee” he concluded.

O’HALLORAN: “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE” EVENTS IN CORK COULD BENEFIT ALL

Emmet O'Halloran — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:47:36 +0000

Calls have been made by Fine Gael Cllr Emmet O’Halloran for Cork City Council to explore the possibility of running a series of events for aimed at encouraging the public to trace their family tree.

Speaking on the idea Cllr O’Halloran said “the popularity of shows like Who Do You Think You Are and the recent publication of the 1901 and 1911 Census have encourage people to explore their family tree. We are very lucky in Cork City to have a world class library service. However many forget that we are also particularly fortunate to have one of the best local history sections in Ireland in the City Library on the Grand Parade.”

“I believe that by running a series of events that would encourage the public to retrace their family tree we could attract a large number of people to our libraries that ordinarily might have no interest in using the service”.

The online version of the 1911 Census has received almost seven million hits since its publication in 2001 and the recent 1901 received an incredible 24 million hits in the first three days of its publication alone.
In concluding remarks Cllr O’Halloran said that if is the pilot programme were successful at home there is no reason it could not be packaged to a more global audience.

“These figures would indicate that the appetite for the study of genealogy is significant not just at home but also overseas. If 24 million people logged onto the 1901 Census website in its first three days of operation from around the world, then we should eventually be able to market our service to descendents of immigrant Corkonians who are scattered all over the globe in a manner that could built on the recent accolades of the recent Lonely Planet awards” he said.

O’Halloran Encourages Community Groups to Apply For Community Maintenance Grants

Emmet O'Halloran — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:10:56 +0000

Local Fine Gael City Councillor Emmet O’Halloran has called on community and residents groups to apply to the Community Maintenance Grants Scheme which provides funding to organisations who wish to participate in clean-up activities in their local areas.

According to Councillor O’Halloran, “Grants are intended to fund or part-fund community initiatives with a litter prevention focus. In previous years various groups in the South Central Ward have benefited from this initiative and I hope that 2010 is no different”

O’Halloran also said that because of budgetary and manpower restrictions that Cork City Council are currently working under, local groups will have to play an increased role in keeping communities clean and tidy in the future. “Unfortunately due to severe cuts from Central Government it is likely that we will see community and voluntary groups playing an enhanced role in keeping areas clean and tidy.”

Application forms for the grants, which are designed to coincide with National Spring Clean Week can be obtained by contacting the Environment Department, Room 232, Cork City Hall or telephone 021 4924308.

Welcome to my new website!!!

Emmet O'Halloran — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:41:22 +0000

Deputy Leader of Fine Gael Richard Bruton TD launched www.emmetohalloran.ie with members of UCC YFG

To keep you connected with my work on Cork City Council I have launched my own website www.emmetohalloran.ie . The site contains regular updates of what is happening in Cork City Hall that affects Turners Cross, news on what’s happening in the community & a monthly update of planning applications that have been submitted across the city for your information. There is also a facility that allows you to bring to my attention any issues or queries via my new online clinic.

Better Traffic Management Plan Needed for Turners Cross/Musgrave Park on Matchdays

Emmet O'Halloran — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:34:35 +0000

In recent months the issue of traffic and parking has once again cropped up in Turners Cross. The proximity of the soccer pitch to Musgrave Park and the local funeral home continues to pose a nuisance to residents of the area. Whilst some parking controls are in place for Cork City and Munster games, there are no provisions for parking during lower profile games that attract an equal number of spectators. The opening of the Cork City Council Park and Ride at the Black Ash has also done little to alleviate this problem.
In the recent weeks I requested that the City Council Roads Department conduct a preliminary investigation into the accessibility of certain estates by the emergency services. The results of the study indicated that during peak parking times the current parking controls would mean the fire and ambulance services would be unable to get into certain estates.
I will be meeting with the Gardaí and the City Fire Service in the coming weeks to discuss this matter with a with a view to finding a practical solution to this problem.
In the meantime I would welcome any comments/observations on this issue.

Environmental Community Maintenance Grants Retained

Emmet O'Halloran — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:32:47 +0000

At Cork City Councils 2010 budget meeting a proposal was brought before council to halve the hugely successful Environmental Community Maintenance Grant. This grant aims to support any community group that wishes to undertake clean-ups or tidy-town style events across Cork City.
In recent years Turners Cross Community Association has been a recipient of this grant using the money to undertake various “Community Clean-Up Days” and last summer offered free hanging baskets to local businesses in the area to help improve the appearance of the Curragh and Evergreen Roads.
I am delighted to confirm that after voicing my concern to the proposed cuts and outling the obvious benefits of the grants to local communities it was agreed that the overall budget for Community Maintenance Grants for 2010 be retained.

Lough Community Centre Laneway Clean-Up

Emmet O'Halloran — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:24:20 +0000

The Laneway by The Lough Community Centre has become unsightly and overgrown

The Lough Community Association must be supported by Cork City Council in its efforts to clean-up the laneway behind the Lough Community Centre. The laneway behind has become extremely overgrown in recent years and now the Lough Community Association are willing to convert it into a community garden.
Whilst the laneway is small I believe that such an amenity would be of huge benefit to the community, especially as there is a lack of green space in the Greenmount area already. The restored laneway would remain gated in order to prevent anti-social behaviour but would give people in the Greenmount area somewhere quiet to go in the summer months to relax.

Local People Must Be Given Priority For Tory Top Road Housing Development

Emmet O'Halloran — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:17:23 +0000

Housing allocations for the new social housing development that is currently under construction on Tory Top Road must give priority to people from the Ballyphehane and Greenmount areas who have already been waiting on the housing list for far too long.
The new development which will be called Hyde Park, Tory Top Road, will consist of 70 new units next to the Aldi Supermarket and it is hoped that work will be completed later this year.
The average waiting time for somebody who wants a house in Ballyphehane is currently five years. However there are some incidents where families are waiting for up to eight years. The new housing stock on Tory Top Road will go a long way to clearing the current backlog that exists in the housing waiting list for the Ballyphehane area.

Ballyphehane GAA Must Be Given New Playing Pitch in New Inchigaggin Complex

Emmet O'Halloran — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:52:56 +0000

Ballyphehane GAA have outgrown their current facilities

Ballyphehane GAA club must be prioritised for extra playing space at the City Council’s new planned sports complex at Inchigaggin near the Model Farm Road. Currently the club which runs teams for both men and girls of all age groups has the use of just one pitch on the Tramore Road. This space is now unsuitable for the growing club and since my election to Cork City Council I have been working closely with club administrators to secure extra playing space for the club.
One possible solution to the problem would be the granting of additional playing space at the new facility in Inchigaggin. A larger pitch would no doubt allow the club to take the next step in its history by relieving the overstretched capacity on the current pitch on the Tramore Road. Ballyphehane GAA plan to use the new pitch for adult teams thus freeing up the existing pitch for underage games.
Ballyphehane GAA has contributed greatly to the parish throughout the years and I will be lobbying council officials hard to ensure that the club’s future is secured at these new playing facilities.