“That this Council would put in place a blanket ban on bonfires in the City 365 days a year.

That this Council would put in place a blanket ban on bonfires in the City 365 days a year.













Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn has placed a motion before Cork City
Council which reads; “That this Council would put in place a blanket
ban on bonfires in the City 365 days a year. In particular the 23 June
would no longer be known as ‘Bonfire Night’ but rather ‘Community BBQ
Night’ similar to block parties that are organised in the United
States.” Speaking on why he placed this motion before the Council
O’Flynn said; “I think the days of bonfires are past us. Not only do
they create temporary unsightly smells and smog clouds in some cases,
they also give people an unwarranted excuse to burn rubbish and other
household waste.”

Cllr. O’Flynn said the symbolism of bonfire night, which began in
pre-Christian times and was adopted as part of Saint John’s Eve
following the arrival of Christianity to Ireland has no relevance in
modern Ireland. He said; “In its present form bonfire night is an
excuse for vandalism and anti-social behaviour and each year the
emergency services are placed under tremendous pressure as a
consequence bonfire night.”

So what does the Fianna Fáil Councillor have in mind instead of the
bonfire night; “I would prefer to see communities holding block
parties with a BBQ, games and fun events organised around it. I think
that while the positive aspect of bonfire night has always been the
Community input, this has been hijacked by those who simply start
fires on the night without any regard for anyone else.”

Councillor O’Flynn believes replacing bonfire night with a community
night which he is at present calling; ‘Community BBQ Night’ will be a
great way for communities to organise events in a way to brings people
together for the purpose of having a fun night that is inclusive of
all the community.

Cork Opera House












Northside Fianna Fáil Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn has called on the City Manager to suspend the board of the Opera House in the wake of the decision to close the theatre from 4 July until 29 September.

The Blackpool based Councillor said; “I am flabbergasted that at the height of the city’s tourist trade, we are without one of the most iconic sites in our City. Cork City without the Opera House is like Paris without the Eiffel Tower.”

While two Events will be honoured during the temporary closure include Daniel O’Donnell concerts and an Aprés Match show, Cllr. O’Flynn said that this is; “not good enough. While I am glad that the Opera House is honouring to stage what will be successful shows, to think that only 2,000 will avail of the theatre over the summer is disheartening.”

The Councillor believes the City Manager needs to suspend the board while a full investigation into the matter is carried out by Cork City Council. Speaking on this O’Flynn said; “This is the people’s Opera House and it was their money that built it. The people of Cork love
their Opera House and they deserve nothing less to receive answers as to why in the second city in Ireland is on the brink of maybe losing its main theatre.”

With a background in the Arts, O’Flynn believes that now is the time people with a knowledge of both business and culture should come together to save this important part of City life.

We need to Establish a Grot busting unit












Fianna Fáil Cork City Councillor, Kenneth O’Flynn has called upon the Council to establish a grot busting unit.Speaking on the issue, O’Flynn said; “In the U.K. the ‘Grot-Busters’ campaign has proven hugely effective in seeking the clean up of many areas and in particular the tidying up of so many scruffy buildings.” If introduced the plan would see Cork City Council “Grot-Busters” going out to
private buildings or areas in need of cleaning and then carrying out this work. After this work would be carried out the person who owns the property would be made to foot the bill. The Councillor believes that such a plan would go a long way to making people more responsible not just for their own properties, but in the case of green zones or wastelands in private ownership. Whereby the securing and maintenance of these areas would be improved to avoid any fining or indeed prison sentencing on failing to pay for the work carried out by
‘Grot-Busters’.

O’Flynn believes this coupled with greater education of the public against illegal dumping and the need to maintain buildings to an acceptable standard within a local community will go a long way in helping to aesthetically rejuvenate communities as well as fostering greater personal responsibility among individuals. Councillor O’Flynn says he will be meeting shortly with Council officials to impress upon them the merits of this scheme.

Former St Mary’s Road Library

Former St Mary’s Road Library







RECENTLY agreement was reached between the HSE and Cork City Council to use the former St Mary’s Road Library as a community resource and to provide there a range of facilities for the elderly including the possibility of a drop in centre.

Cllr Kenneth O’Flynn welcomed this announcement saying, “This is a very important development for the elderly people of Shandon and it provides additional facilities to the community.

“I am delighted to see the former St Mary’s Road Library being put to good use. It will continue to be a vital asset to the Shandon community, especially to the elderly people of the area.

“The City Council stressed that they seek to assist community groups and that if anything specific can be done they will be happy to have it examined.

Purpose built homes for the Butter Exchange Band and the Girl Guides.

Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn has welcomed the announcement by Cork City Council that two derelict buildings at 6A and 7 John Redmond Street will be converted into purpose built homes for the Butter Exchange Band and the Girl Guides.




Cllr. O’Flynn welcomed the development saying; “One of the buildings had been the home for many years of the Butter Exchange Band and it is wonderful to see the City Council, having acquired these buildings last year are now using them for the betterment of the Local Community in Shandon.”


Cllr. O’Flynn continued; “The project will not only provide permanent homes for the Butter Exchange Band and the Girl Guides but it will rid the area of two derelict sites and replace them with well designed new buildings.”

The overall cost is estimated to be in the region of €350,000 and will be funded out of profits made from the sale of Navigation House at Albert Quay.

Expel to Israeli Ambassador

Cork based Fianna Fáil Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn has impressed upon Minister Michéal Martin to expel to Israeli Ambassador to Ireland in light of this weeks attack by Israeli Commandos upon Humanitarian Aid Ships bound to Gaza. Speaking to journalists on this issue the Councillor said; “As well as the state sponsored apartheid of Palestinians by the State of Israel, it now seems that the Israeli Government wishes to up the ante and starve the Palestinian people into total submission. The very fact that the blockade excludes all supplies into the Gaza Strip begs the question what is Israel’s real intention in the area.”




The Fianna Fáil Councillor was also critical of the United States silence on the matter stating; “We have in the past seen in cases like Northern Ireland and South Africa it was only by international pressure and most importantly by the United States that a deal was brokered that brought about peace.

I think now that if America as the policeman of the world, takes off its rose tinted glasses in relation to Israel and see’s what is happening that it might force the Israeli’s to enter into meaningful dialogue with the Palestinian authority to end the blockade and return to working towards building a lasting Peace Settlement in the Middle East.”




The Councillor concluded; “As part of this International Pressure, I think the best way that Ireland can act is to expel the Israeli Ambassador and to make clear to the State of Israel, that we as a people who have forged our National Identity in the face of colonial oppression, naturally support the Palestinian cause for Self-Determination. While this cause is being stagnated and denied by the State of Israel, Ireland must act upon principle and with a sense of Justice and fair play and until Israel begins to embark on a similar path we must continue to put International pressure upon
them.”