St Peter’s Cork welcomed the UCC Centre of Planning Education and Research, Cork City Council and the North Main Street Traders Group along with a number local residents and friends of the area to the official launch of a new report and strategy for development of the North Main Street area.
The report looked at opportunities to develop both social and economic resources in the area, looking at parking facilities, pedestrian access, public realm and the economic make-up of the area. Rose Murphy, chairperson of the North Main Street Traders Group introduced the launch with a screening of a new video advertising the area which runs daily before feature films in the Gate Cinemas.
St Peter’s welcomed over 100 guests on Tuesday evening, showcasing the best of North Main Street along with a Powerpoint presentation of the report projected onto the walls of our iconic building. The launch featured an excellent reception which highlighted some of the great food and drink offerings the area has to offer with coffees and mulled wine from Portafilter, snacks from Tony’s Bistro and a great selection of wine from Bradley’s Specialist Off Licence.
With the guests suitably fed and watered, the presentation started with an introduction from William Brady of the Centre of Planning Education and Research, followed by an overview of the findings of the report from one of the students who worked on the report. The students of UCC Centre of Planning Education and Research and the North Main Street Traders Group have been working on this report since the start of 2016 and the full scale of the report and presentation was delivered to members of Cork City Council including the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Des Cahill, the Cork City Chief Executive Ann Doherty and the Chairman of the Cork Business Association Pat O’Connell.
The presentation ended on a light note, with the attendees gathering just outside St Peter’s courtyard to witness the official turning-on of the North Main Street Christmas lights. St Peter’s orchestrated some outdoor Christmas carols along with some seasonal decorations and even a sprinkling of snow! A truly festive experience was enjoyed, with many residents and passers by joining in the fun sipping on warm mulled wine and spiced orange drinks.
There was a great sense of community and a coming together of a number of groups who are all passionate to see a focused plan delivered for the area, one that can help the continued great work of the traders and voluntary groups of the area raise the profile of Cork’s historic Old Town
.
