New Glanmire Greenway Opens to Public as Part of €50 Million Investment

A new greenway linking Dooley's Lane to Glanmire Bridge has opened to the public, marking another step in an estimated €50 million programme of infrastructure investment in Glanmire.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Gary O'Brien and local elected members for the Northeast Ward joined Chief Executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O'Sullivan, on a walk of the new route.

The greenway connects the recently completed link road at Dooley's Lane, via the former John Barleycorn site. It includes two new pedestrian and cycle bridges: one across the Glashaboy River into John O'Callaghan Park, and a second across the Butlerstown River into the former Riverstown Soccer Club site, continuing onto East Cliff Road and connecting to the existing shared cycle facility at Glanmire Bridge.

The scheme forms part of a wider suite of works in various stages of planning, construction and completion, including the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme, new roads, enhanced pedestrian connections, cycle infrastructure, greenway routes, new river crossings and community recreation facilities.

Glanmire to City Cycle Scheme Phase 1, running from Church Road to Dunkettle Roundabout, was completed in Autumn 2024. Road and active travel works on Dunkettle Road are scheduled for completion in September to early October, completing the final connection between Glanmire Community College and the Glounthaune Greenway.

Construction on Hazelwood Road, between Aldi and Crestfield Shopping Centre, is due to begin, with a 12-week construction programme.

The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme is now in its final stages and will provide one-in-one-hundred-year flood protection to approximately 103 properties in Glanmire, comprising 78 residential and 25 commercial properties.

Separately, Cork City Council has unveiled plans for a major new riverside park in Glanmire, described as the largest investment in public park infrastructure in the town in a generation.

The proposed Glanmire Park, on lands off East Cliff Road recently acquired by Cork City Council, will transform the former Riverstown FC lands into a public amenity serving Glanmire, Riverstown, Ballinglanna and surrounding neighbourhoods. It will complement the existing John O'Callaghan Park and the new greenway, creating a connected public space extending to approximately 11 hectares. The plans are currently subject to a Part 8 planning public consultation.

Valerie O'Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork City Council:

"The investment in Glanmire will have an enormous impact in creating a key destination along the greenway and in strengthening connections between Glanmire Village, Riverstown, East Cliff, John O'Callaghan Park, local schools, residential areas and community facilities. It makes Glanmire a hugely attractive place to live, visit, and enjoy. On behalf of Cork City Council I'd like to thank the residents of Glanmire for the patience and support that they have shown while these works have been underway, in the understanding that they will ensure benefits in the area for generations to come.

I also want to pay tribute to the Council's Infrastructure Directorate and all the team whose vision, work and dedication are transforming Glanmire and many other parts of Cork City for its people."