We had an hour to kill in Cork whilst waiting for Oscar to finish one of his many activities. I told them I’d bring them to a playground.
“That was the worst playground ever, wasn’t it Dad?”. “Like really crap, like?”.
Any tips for playgrounds in the County Hall, Model Farm Rd, College Rd, Mardyke area?
Technorati Tags: Cork, Lee, Saurian
October 19, 2006 at 10:39 am
You could always let them run riot in the Boole library. Hohoho.
October 19, 2006 at 10:51 am
That might be worth it for a giggle and the mayhem they would cause.
October 19, 2006 at 10:52 am
Fitzgerald’s park has a playground that’s not too bad.
October 19, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Thanks Julian, that’s just about the right distance. I have to be honest and admit I didn’t know where it was until I looked at a map. What’s the best way to approach in a car? Is the playground at east end or west end?
October 19, 2006 at 12:32 pm
If you come down the Western Road towards the city and bear left after the guesthouses/traffic lights at the UCC main entrance corner, you can turn left off that bend into the part of the Mardyke that is now a dead end and has the cricket pitch off it. The playground’s at the western end of the park, but it doesn’t really matter, as there’s plenty to look at – plants, water &c. whichever entrance you use.
October 19, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Perfect, thanks, we’ll check it this Saturday.
October 29, 2006 at 9:58 pm
It’s a sad fact that there are more golf courses than children’s playgrounds in Ireland.
And we wonder why there are issues with childhood obesity..
October 29, 2006 at 11:22 pm
Why don’t we campaign for a new planning law which states that every planning application for a Golf Course must include an actively maintained playground of a particular size as a condition of receiving approval?
October 29, 2006 at 11:28 pm
great idea! that’s just the kind of socially minded planning that Ireland is crying out for. The source for my statement is McWilliams ‘Pope’s Children’ and as a secondary source requires verification though I imagine it is accurate. Childhood activity in Ireland now seems to be entirely privatized and commercialized. Sure there is a need for weekend classes and structured activities etc but there is also a need to let kids just run free for a while and mix with others.
October 30, 2006 at 8:59 am
You are totally right about running free. We’re lucky where we live that the estate is conducive to kids being out and about. Where we lived in Dublin was the complete opposite.
I have noticed a general lack around West Cork of “walks” which are child friendly.
I know we have a few stretches in Bandon but most walks seem to be just routes on roads etc.
I tried both walks in Kilbrittain recently and was beaten back by the complete lack of a navigable surface for baby buggies.
I think we were spoiled as kids in Kilkenny with the castle park, Jenkinstown, Woodstock and a bunch of other walks laid out and kid-friendly.
The only one I know of in a wood around here is Farran and that’s a 40 minute drive. With sufficient arm twisting I can sometimes even get the kids to enjoy it.
February 6, 2007 at 9:05 am
It’s been confirmed the Bodega in Cork is to be sold to developers for a reputed €7 million, to be redeveloped as a department store. Shame. The bar service was always a bit iffy but couldn’t fault the food. The 2am finishing was always welcome if the energy persisted. Since moving to Bandon I’m not getting back to Cork city as often and the Bodega was the place I used to meet up with the pals every Friday night for about six years until last September.
Onwards and upwards.
February 6, 2007 at 9:10 am
Yeah, Tom and Damien have been blogging it. Only there the once but really liked it and felt comfortable there. A proper kind of pub instead of some sports-bar hellhole. There is more money in handbags and frocks obviously.
February 6, 2007 at 9:35 am
The street that the Bodega is situated on had great potential as a true open air market, once upon a time but the city fathers have been very mistaken and misguided in their organisation (or lack thereof)of he current manifestation. Nowadays the street is blocked off each Saturday and the ‘traders’ are flogging carpets, cds/dvds, wellington boots, cheap radios etc. Not one food stall. Shame really. Anyhow with the draconian clamping in Cork city it doesn’t help or lend itself to encouraging folk to visit the city centre.
As my missus is wont to say.. I am now ranting.
Apologies.
February 6, 2007 at 9:51 am
Not a rant at all. When I first saw that street I thought exactly the same thing about its potential. I find it odd that it is really hard into get to that part of the city and it is far more interesting than Pana.