A very successful “Gardening for Biodiversity” course was held on the 19th of February in Ballyphehane Community Centre. Organised by Cork City Council Heritage Officer, Scientific Officer and Cork City Horticulturist and run by Aoife Munn, the training day was very well received with excellent feedback from all the participants.
Course coordinator Aoife Munn stated “The success of the project is due to its simplicity and interactive design. Participants learn why they should protect the environment, how to protect it and who to turn to for support in doing so. The course is tailored to the local community which allows attendees to network with other groups in the area to get more support and they enjoy the course”.
This one-day course covered topics such as avoiding chemicals, vegetable growing, pollinators, rewilding, pond building and composting.
Speaking after the event the Heritage Officer, Niamh Twomey said, “this is a very practical training course showing people simple and cost effect ways for all of us to manage our green spaces, big and small, in an environmental and sustainable way”.
Mangan's Clock has been a landmark on Saint Patrick's Street since the 1850s. Located near Merchants Quay it is a much-loved piece of heritage street furniture in Cork city.
Mangan Jewellers was a family business of clock makers and jewellers in Cork City from 1817 to the late 1980s and were responsible for the installation of Mangan's Clock as well as the iconic clock on St Anne’s Shandon. A Cast-iron clock, comprising of square-profile base, tapered shaft having square-profile capital, with two faces having decorative surrounds and surmounted by finial.
This clock has witnessed the ebb and flow of Cork city’s history from narrowly escaping destruction during the burning of Cork to the construction of Merchant’s Quay shopping centre in the 1980s to the refurbishment of the public realm on St Patrick Street in more recent times. On a more romantic note, it is said that many a happy marriage started with a couple meeting for their “first date” under the watchful eye of Mangan’s clock!
Cork City Council recognise the importance of Mangans Clock from both a social and technical heritage point of view and have commissioned Stokes Clock and Watches to carry out repair works to restore the clock to working order by refurbishing the clock hands, repairing and replacing damaged parts and cleaning and painting the supporting pillar. At a cost in the region of €7,500 the work will start at the end of January and is estimated to take about 3 months, when this special piece of street furniture will be back in full working order and continue its role as a silent witness to the life of Cork city.
