A new outdoor amphitheatre in Skibbereen and an upgraded walkway in Clonakilty, both spearheaded by Cork County Council, have officially opened.

The Rock Amenity Park in Skibbereen underwent substantial upgrades, including developing an outdoor Amphitheatre and installing 850m of footpaths. The park is on an elevated area east of the town at the rear of North Street and High Street, with panoramic views of Skibbereen and the surrounding areas. Notably, it contains the remnants of a number of small stone-cut cottages dating to Famine times, and a circular Famine Memorial honours the significance of the site.

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In Clonakilty, the Gallanes Walkway has been extended to link with the Technology Park as well as developing a hiking trail. 275 metres of walkway/cycle pathways have been added and the 1km hiking trail, which takes in three circular viewing points, has been completed. The extension promotes sustainable modes of transportation and fosters a greater sense of connectivity within the community. In addition, the walls of the existing stone houses which were in ruins, have been reduced to 1m above floor level and picnic benches installed on site to maximise use of the amenity and give appreciation to its former use.

More than €300,000 has been spent on the Rock Amenity Park project to date. The Department of Rural and Community Development provided €243,000 funding through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2022 which is 90% grant funding with Cork County Council providing the remaining 10%. In addition, Cork County Council allocated €40,000 Town Development Fund 2022 together with a further €17,930 from the Council’s own resources.