Oliver Plunkett Street (Irish: Sráid Olibhéir Pluincéid)[1] is a shopping street in Cork, Ireland. It was originally laid-out in the early 18th century as the city expanded eastwards beyond the original city walls.
 Oliver Plunkett Street looking east from Grand Parade | |
  Shown within Cork Central | |
| Native name | Sráid Oilibhéir Pluincéid (Irish) |
|---|---|
| Former name(s) | George's Street |
| Namesake | Oliver Plunkett |
| Length | 550 m (1,800 ft) |
| Width | 11 metres (36 ft) |
| Location | Cork, Ireland |
| Postal code | T12 |
| Coordinates | 51°53′53″N 8°28′14″W / 51.898°N 8.4705°W |
| east end | Parnell Place |
| west end | Grand Parade |
| Other | |
| Known for | 'Great Street Award' 2016, restaurants, shops |
| Status | Pedestrian priority |
History
editAt the start of the 18th century, Oliver Plunkett Street was the first street built east of the Grand Parade in the area then known as the East Marsh or Dunscombe Marsh. It was originally named George's Street after George I, the then reigning King of Great Britain and Ireland.[2][3] In 1920, during the Burning of Cork, large parts of the street were destroyed by British troops.[4]
After the establishment of the Irish Free State, the street was renamed after Oliver Plunkett, a 17th-century martyr and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh. The name change was gradual and as late as 1945, business directories still contained a reference to 'Late George's Street'.[2] Cork's lowest-lying street, at 4 metres above sea level, the street is prone to periodic flooding when the River Lee bursts its banks.[5][6]
In 2004 a public realm improvement project was undertaken on the street. It was designed by Beth Gali, and cost €3.8 million.[7]
Location and use
editThe street runs in a straight line from Custom House Street to Grand Parade. Other streets lead off from Oliver Plunkett Street in a grid pattern, such as Prince’s Street, Cook Street, and Smith Street. With 15 streets on both sides of Oliver Plunkett Street, there are a number of access points to the street from St. Patrick's Street to the north and the South Mall to the south.
Between Grand Parade and Parnell Place, the street is a shopping street. This section of the street is also home to Cork's General Post Office. A small lane, known as Market Lane, provides access to the English Market. There are over one hundred independent retailers on the street, many of which have been family-owned for several generations.[6]
It is also one of a number of nightlife centres in Cork - although there are more bars and restaurants on the neighbouring side streets than on Oliver Plunkett Street itself.
Between Parnell Place and Custom House Quay, the east end of the street is known as Oliver Plunkett Street Lower.
Pedestrianisation
editPrinces Street, a small street which connects Oliver Plunkett Street to St. Patrick's Street, was the first street to be pedestrianised in Ireland in 1971.[8][9] Further streets adjoining Oliver Plunkett Street were pedestrianised in 1976.[10]
While the pedestrianisation of Oliver Plunkett Street was suspended as part of the initial COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Ireland, this was reversed in May 2020.[11] In the same month it was announced that the temporary pedestrianisation of Pembroke Street would be examined.[12] By June 2020, the Reimagining Cork programme was launched. It included the pedestrianisation of several streets off Oliver Plunkett Street, including Princes Street, Pembroke Street and Caroline Street.[13] By September 2020 this had been made permanent.[14]
By 2021, the hours in which cars were forbidden in the Oliver Plunkett Street area had been extended to 11am to 4am.[15][16] As of 2024, all streets leading off Oliver Plunkett Street - towards St Patricks Street and South Mall - are pedestrianised from 11am to 4am.[17] Oliver Plunkett Street Lower, however, is open to vehicular traffic.
Awards
editThe street won the 'Great Street Award', awarded by London's Academy of Urbanism, in 2016.[18][19]
References
edit- ^ "Sráid Oilibhéir Pluincéid / Oliver Plunkett Street". Irish Placenames Database. Placenames Commission. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Oliver Plunkett Street". www.corkpastandpresent.ie. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Tom Spalding (2013). "Streets with Multiple Name Changes 1750-2013" (PDF). Layers: the Design, History & Meaning of Public Street Signage in Cork & Other Irish Cities (appendix). Retrieved 28 December 2016 – via Cork City Library.
- ^ Hourihan, Kevin (2005). "Cork City in the Twentieth Century". In Crowley, John; Devoy, Robert; Linehan, Denis; O'Flanagan, Patrick (eds.). Atlas of Cork City. Cork University Press. p. 265. ISBN 978-1-85918-380-9.
- ^ Hickey, Kieran (2005). "Flooding in the City". In Crowley, John; Devoy, Robert; Linehan, Denis; O'Flanagan, Patrick (eds.). Atlas of Cork City. Cork University Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-85918-380-9.
- ^ a b Freyne, Patrick (26 October 2015). "Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork: Ireland's best?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ English, Eoin (20 October 2011). "Damaged Cork street lights blamed on delivery drivers". Irish Examiner.
- ^ Ryan-Christensen, Aoife (19 May 2022). "Walk this way: why Irish cities are giving way to pedestrians".
- ^ "Pedestrianisation Of Princes Street". RTÉ Archives. 1 March 1971.
- ^ "S.I. No. 194/1976 - Cork Traffic and Parking (Pedestrianisation) Temporary Rules, 1976". Irish Statute Book.
- ^ "Increased pedestrianisation and new cycling facilities proposed". Cork City Council.
- ^ "Public consultation on temporary pedestrianisation of 3 city streets". Cork City Council.
- ^ ""Re-imagining Cork City" programme unveiled today". Cork City Council.
- ^ "Permanent Pedestrianisation of Cork City's Re-Imagined Streets". Cork City Council.
- ^ "Increased pedestrianisation of city centre streets begins". Cork City Council.
- ^ O'Shea, Joe; Laffan, Rebecca (4 May 2021). "Cork city streets pedestrianised for longer in preparation for shops reopening". Cork Beo.
- ^ "Cork City Pedestrian Streets". Cork City Council. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Roche, Barry. "Cork beats London and Liverpool to win top urban award". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ^ "Cork's Oliver Plunkett Street named best in Ireland and the UK". 6 November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2017.