Dominick Donnelly

16^th March 2009

Following the submission earlier this year to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for Cork City and Harbour to be considered for designation as a World Heritage Site, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council said:  “We now need to start building some momentum in support of this application.  To this end I will be tabling a motion at Passage West Town Council at next month’s meeting, which will also be tabled at Cobh Town Council, and hopefully also at Cork City and County Councils.  It is important that all relevant organisations in the city and harbour area inform themselves of this application, and support it in whatever way they can.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “The designation of Cork City and Harbour as a UNESCO World Heritage Site would help the region achieve the global renown it should have.  The story of Cork City and Harbour is of global significance, as a provisioning port, and a point of departure for the Irish diaspora whether for emigration or deportation to penal colonies, and as a significant naval base.  Much of the infrastructure that supported this history is still in place, with the naval base at Haulbowline, Spike Island, the harbour forts, and all the commercial infrastructure in the city, such as the Port of Cork buildings and the Butter Market.  Meitheal Mara and the Cork Harbour Forum are to be commended for initiating this process, and we must all now work together to ensure this application proceeds.”