Millstreet Town Park
Millstreet Town Park Committee held an emergency meeting on October 13th 2014 to discuss the “Save Millstreet Town Park” article published on the millstreet.ie website on October 12th 2014.
It was agreed that a response be made on behalf of the committee in regard to the matters raised and to place on record the Park’s place in the heart of the community.
The property fondly known to other generations as ‘The Lawn’ forms part of the demesne property acquired by Denis O’ Leary from Lord Muskerry in 1781. The demesne lands remained in the ownership of the MacCarthy O’ Leary family until 1955 when it as acquired by Thomas Horgan.
The Park lands were acquired in August 1956 by the first committee for the provision of a suitable Town Park and recreation grounds for the benefits of the residents of the Parish.
It has been intimated that our committee is basically a GAA club in all but name but this is totally inaccurate. The members of the present committee have faithfully carried on the aspirations of the original committee and are drawn from clubs who utilise the Park e.g. pitch and putt, coursing, camogie, football, hurling, soccer, athletics and includes the members of the public who are totally independent and who have no allegiance to any organisation.
We are greatly indebted to all who have served on this committee – John O’ Keeffe and his late wife Lena, the late William O’ Leary, the late Denis Twomey, the late Cormac Dineen, the late Richard Kiely, the late Neily O’ Leary, the late Tommy O’ Connor, the late John Murphy and the late Brendan Kiely come to mind.
Almost €400,000 has been utilised since the year 2000 towards the preservation and enhancement of the Park specifically tarmacadam footpaths, upgrading of playground, bridge and water features new entrance from Station Road, flowerbed and plantations.
The enhancement of the Park is reflected in the 2014 Tidy Towns Adjudicators’ comments- “The Park is excellently kept and presented; benches, playground, pitches and paths were seen to be in great condition.”
The monies were provided from State grants, generous benefactors, the general public and a 1/3 share of the local lotto. We are indebted to the volunteers who operate the local lotto. In addition to the Park committee, the Community Council received funds which were utilised to purchase the old Boys’ National School and install the wonderful Astro Turf facility. We urge people to continue purchasing local lotto tickets as the proceeds directly benefit many clubs in the community.
We are open to constructive criticism at all times. However, in regard to the criticism of the felling f the Leylandii trees we would point out that they were removed for a number of reasons – safety, a shelter for anti-social behaviour and several had fallen down during the winter storms. The remainder presented a poor appearance as the lowest 12 to 15 feet had no palm.
Permission was sought from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Forest Service on the basis that the trees were top heavy and a danger to the public as they were located close to the pathway used by the general public. Permission was granted after a Department inspection. Permisson was also sought and given by the Board of Management of the Boys’ National School and the Sisters of the Infant Jesus. This area will in time be developed in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
The line of trees which sheltered the car park were removed for safety as they had become a shelter for anti-social behaviour and presented a poor image, again the lowest 12 to 15 feet had no palm.
We had been concerned with the condition of the coursing escape and this was discussed in previous meetings. We are pleased to say that immediate action is being taken to improve the area. The laurel hedging planted in front of the escape will eventually visually improve this area.
The fairways in the pitch and putt area have been excellently maintained. The dry summer and autumn has taken its toll on the greens. This is not unique as many golf clubs have encountered similar projects.
We acknowledge that the high level of activity in the Park will sometimes cause inconvenience to the general public but we try to keep it to a minimum.
We are cognisant of maintaining the Park to its highest standard for the benefit of the community. We urgently request the co-operation of all dog owners to ensure that all dogs are kept on a lead at all times and to collect and remove any faeces to eliminate the scourge of dog fouling which is a serious health risk, especially to children. Sadly, despite signs erected by Cork County Council and our own committee, a small minority of people refuse to comply.
The Park or the ‘Lawn’ is a priceless part of our heritage. Our committee and its predecessors have striven to be a unifying force for good in our community and it is our earnest hope that the Park and its wonderful facilities will continue to be enhanced and available for future generations.
We meet on the first Friday of each month and hold an AGM on a pre-announced date in January to which we always extend a sincere welcome to members of the community.
The history of the town park is very interesting and much good work has been done by all those mentioned (and many others) over the years. The areas photographed are a credit to all involved.
With respect to the reasons cited for the cutting down of the trees (safety, antisocial behaviour, I see little or no creditability at all).
These trees were in their prime and perfectly healthy. The statement that ‘several had fallen down during the winter storms’ is plain false. Not one had fallen. Just a few branches and minor limbs . (See picture below taken during the juggling show). Even if they had fallen, surely the thing to do would be replace them rather than cut down all the rest.
The reason why the trees had no palm at ground level was because it was cut off. (presumably to facilitate the additional fencing erected annually in this area by the coursing club). The upper 40-50 feet were full and healthy. All the other palms in the park have coverage lower down.
Having passed this area nearly every evening between 8-10pm for the last 4 years, I can honestly say I have never seen a solitary soul in amongst those trees. Not once.
The ‘antisocial behaviour’ takes place mostly in the pitch and putt and childrens playground. Using the same logic, are these going to be knocked too? (Although the erection of cameras/lights in the playground seems to be a help in this regard). Again, the logic that the trees are the problem is disturbing, and doesn’t inspire confidence for the future. Its the antisocial behaviour that needs to be tackled.
* No explanation given why the lovely sycamore was cut dowm.
* No mention of the petition submitted (representing the view of over 50 park users) objecting to the closure of the park for 6-7 weeks in the winter.
I wonder what would happen if it were closed during the summer.
Grow up Matt….Your starting to bore everyone.
Dear ‘Unhappy Millstreet Resident’, we always encourage discussion on millstreet.ie, and everyone is entitled to their view … as are you, but your use of the word ‘everyone’ is a bit liberal.
This topic has been viewed over 5,000 times in the last few days … something we’ve never seen before, and it’s showing no sign of abating. Someone is still interested.
(mdc)
I do agree with admin here that everyone is entitled to their point of view but i am aware that anyone who posts online and not publish their name to the article they have submitted for publication become anonymous in their words as they could be anyone so their article does not seem authentic as far as everyone becoming bored with Matt in Millstreet i doubt this very much Millstreet like every other Town and Village in the World need more like him at least he has the courage of his convictions and he does not hide behind his words, the stand of conifers in the Town Park in Millstreet in my memory i can now visualize there were not many of them there but they did provide shelter for small and medium sized birds from predators and would have been invaluable for small birds to shelter and nest in, in the cold Irish Winters small birds need evergreens like conifers to survive the cold weather, the birds dispossessed by the removal of these conifers would have died by now as most non migratory birds are territorial and cannot reclaim territories the only reason birds sing is that they are warning their neighbors that these trees are our homes and we nest and live here so keep out, habitat destruction in the World is creating havoc amongst wildlife, I too am all in favour of the beautifying of Towns but the beautyfying of towns may not be a good idea if it causes grief to wildlife, thanks to Michael and to the admin of this great site for leaving the discussion flow and good on you Matt for speaking out on this one.
if ur not going to put ur name up unhappy millstreet resident don’t bother putting up ur view. as for matt boreing everyone I’d say not.
just wondering did these trees end up in a shreddar or as firewood. May be some lessons can be learnt from this. should all avenues be explored next time somebody wants to cut a tree. Matt gives trees a second life as a nice piece of furniture.Woodturners are always on the look out for fallen hardwoods.ash for the hurley makers and so on.Nothing like a bit of constructive critism to get the old cerebral cortex going.
By the way what do the people of kilmeedy kippagh and ballydaly think of the destruction of our lovely road over ballaugh. Imagine a trench from kilmeedy to ballydesmond. utter madness. Another hidden cost of wind and wave power.we will now be left with a permanent back filled trench which will subside and ravel away .tis like the scar on Nidge,s forehead . there was a perfect surface on this road, the council had in recent years done a great job on it.How about the destruction of caherdowney bogland and they want to send a few small bog owners to jail for cutting firing>Leave me alone/
He is not a great hurler or gaelic footballer or famous athlete
Yet as brave a man as he is one could not wish for to meet
One who does speak his mind in his kind no deceit
Matt Murphy nowadays is the talk of Millstreet
On his online article on the removal of conifer trees in the Park of Millstreet Town
Matt to the Park Committee has thrown the gauntlet down
On so doing he has made a few friends and he has made a few foes
But this is how it is for those who speak their mind one has to suppose
Of people good at sports in the World there are plenty indeed
But of more like Matt Murphy we are badly in need
Of in this time of habitat destruction of wildlife and Climate Change
Wild born creatures under survival pressure due to dwindling living range
The World we live in does need every tree
Though this may seem a strange thing coming from one like me
For i have cut down many trees in my time
On going back the Seasons to my wasted prime
The World is ours for to live in and with all other life forms for to share
Though for our Mother Earth who feeds us too few seem to care
More trees that support wildlife are being removed every day
And that extinction is forever does seem sad to say
To those who remain true to themselves great credit is due
For it is a gift to the one who to self remains true
And though not a great hurler or gaelic footballer or a famous athlete
Matt Murphy nowadays is the talk of Millstreet.
“The Talk Of Millstreet” is by Francis Duggan
http://francisrhymer.blogspot.ie/2014/10/the-talk-of-millstreet.html
(mdc)
Well done Matt Murphy. The anti-social behaviour needs to be tackled not the trees.