Horgan calls for national plans on Cork city’s heritage buildings
Labour Local Area Representative in Cork South Central, Peter Horgan, has called for the Department of Heritage to take a proactive approach on Cork’s heritage buildings, after a series of fires have destroyed a large chunk of Cork’s heritage.
“There are mixed feelings in Cork on the legacy of some of the buildings that have been left go idle and have gone up in flames over the last 18 months,” said Mr Horgan.
“Whether it is a positive or negative legacy, we need to remember the past as it was and not with rose-tinted glasses. Nevertheless the issue remains that these building have been left go to ruin and have become the playground of anti-social behaviour, resulting in the fires like we saw this week at St. Kevin’s – a building owned by the HSE. Had it not been for the bravery of our fire crews in Cork city and County, this blaze could have spread further and caused even more damage.”
“The Department of Heritage, if it is to live up to its name, must begin to identify and plan for heritage buildings in Cork – whether they are in private ownership or owned by the State. Through engagement with local communities and historians, we can then have a sense of certainty of what we are dealing with. As it stands, most people are unaware of the importance building until they see them go up in flames. The Department, and the Minister, must take action.”