New Garden Room to Nurture Community Health and Wellbeing on Cork’s Northside
A new garden room has been officially opened at one of Cork city’s community gardens to help nurture health and wellbeing in the area.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, was in Hollyhill on Thursday to open the new facility which has been built as part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme which aims to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of communities across Ireland.
The programme takes a place-based approach to tackling health inequalities with a focus on the determinants of health, such as access to safe community infrastructure, opportunities for social inclusion, local engagement and preventative health activity.
The garden room project benefitted from funding from the Social Economic Environmental Plan (SEEP) in Cork City - a targeted initiative, primarily focused on supporting the Cork City Northwest Quarter Regeneration in areas like Knocknaheeny which aims to support community infrastructure and social interventions alongside the physical redevelopment of housing.
The new garden room is located on the site of the NICHE Health Project community garden in Hollyhill which already supports place-based, community-led approaches to health and wellbeing.
The new fully accessible garden room has a reusable galvanised pile foundation designed to last for generations.
Its timber structure comes from renewable sources and is insulated with natural cellulose made in Cork, helping to keep the space comfortable and healthy.
Charred larch cladding protects the building while allowing it to breathe and helps it blend into the garden setting. It also features marmoleum flooring — a natural material that adds warmth and durability.
The entire space is carbon neutral, reflecting NICHE Health Project’s commitment to wellbeing and sustainability.
The garden room will support a wide range of community-led initiatives, including health promotion programmes and talks, wellbeing activities like yoga, community meetings and local supports, ensuring services and activities are accessible within the community.
It reflects the core aims of Sláintecare, with a strong focus on prevention, early intervention, reducing health inequalities and enabling people to live healthier lives within their own communities.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy said: “The garden room is a strong example of how Sláintecare principles can be delivered at a local level.
“By providing accessible, community-based spaces, we are supporting prevention, inclusion and wellbeing while empowering communities to shape their own health outcomes.
“Cork City Council is proud to support initiatives that place community at the heart of health.”
Jane O’Flynn, the Manager of NICHE, said: “Designed with environmental sustainability in mind, this garden room allows us to deliver community-led health and wellbeing programmes in a comfortable, durable space that will serve the community for years to come. “
Tanya O’Sullivan, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Development Officer, emphasised the health impact of the garden room.
“Sláintecare is about addressing the wider factors that influence health, and the garden room does exactly that,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
“By creating a welcoming, local space that supports connection, learning and wellbeing, we are helping to reduce inequalities and support long-term positive health outcomes.
“The feedback from residents who use the space for art and creativity in the community today is a key indicator of success.”
Cork is a designated WHO ‘Healthy City’ and the garden room initiative aligns with Cork City Council’s objective of a city promoting culture, heritage, learning, health and wellbeing.
The project also contributes to the city council delivering UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
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Further Information on Slaintecare Healthy Communities: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0e613-slaintecare-healthy-communities/#-
About The NICHE Health Project (Cork) CLG:
The NICHE Health Project is a long-standing community health and wellbeing initiative based on Harbour View Road in Cork’s Northside. Since its founding, NICHE has worked alongside local residents to promote healthier lifestyles, stronger families, and greater social inclusion. https://nichehealthproject.ie/