The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, has officially opened the transformed Bishop Lucey Park this afternoon, unveiling a major new public space at the heart of the city.

The redesign has removed the 1980s boundary walls and railings to create an open, welcoming park with stronger visual and physical links to the surrounding streets. The city's medieval defences, which cut through the site, have been brought to the fore, complemented by a new pavilion, a plaza and a landmark tower defining the eastern entry on South Main Street.

A key heritage element, the 13th‑century city wall first uncovered in 1984, has now been further revealed as part of the works. The additional exposed section strengthens its impact as a defining, continuous feature that clearly frames the park's eastern edge.

Several historic and public art assets were carefully conserved and reinstated, including the Christchurch graveyard, Seamus Murphy’s 'The Onion Seller' sculpture, John Behan’s “The Swan Fountain” and the Boxer’s Wall.

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The scheme was designed by Hall McKnight Architects, chosen through an international architectural and landscape design competition run by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland with Cork City Council. Cumnor Construction delivered the build, funded through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).

The Lord Mayor also cut the ribbon on a new pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Lambley’s Lane (off South Main Street) to Wandesford Quay. The 27‑metre steel span, designed by Seán Harrington Architects of the Arup design team and fabricated by Thompsons of Carlow (makers of the Mary Elmes Bridge), provides a direct active‑travel route from Parnell Place to Wandesford Quay via Oliver Plunkett Street and Tuckey Street. The bridge was co‑funded by URDF and the National Transport Authority.

The Lord Mayor said: "It's fantastic to be able to give this wonderful amenity space back to the public in time for Christmas. The redeveloped Park is a fusion of the City’s medieval heritage and modern, functional design, opened up to the wider city centre. It will be a place of relaxation, play, performance and community gathering. It will attract more people to enjoy this green space in the heart of the city."

Bishop Lucey Park’s renewal is a cornerstone of the City Centre Strategy, aimed at raising amenity standards as Cork’s population is projected to reach 300,000 within two decades, with more young families expected to live centrally.

Works continue on the broader Beamish & Crawford Public Realm Upgrade Scheme, which will overhaul the southern gateway to the medieval city, tying Grand Parade, historic lanes and streets, and Bishop Lucey Park to the south channel of the River Lee and the city’s commercial core. Completion is scheduled for early summer 2026.