It’s been four years since the big announcement.

But Cork is still waiting for the promised €50m revitalisation of the Grand Parade, including a new public library.

Now Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice and Cllr Niamh O’Connor are hosting an interactive public gathering to discuss the future of Cork City Library. The event will take place on Saturday November 8th between 11am and 1pm in South Parish Community Centre.

Deputy Rice and Cllr O’Connor are inviting members of the public to come along to listen to speakers and have their opinions on the future of the library project heard.

‘The new library is still nowhere to be seen’

“This is not a party-political event but rather a gathering of individuals who are passionate about the cultural future of Cork.” said Deputy Rice.

“The quality of a city library says a lot about a city. It is a good indication of the standard of public services and gives you a sense of a city’s priorities. While Cork City Library has fantastic staff and services, the current building isn’t fit for purpose and the promised library has yet to be delivered.

“Four years ago, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD announced that €50m would be spent transforming Grand Parade with “a new public library, a new central plaza and boardwalk to facilitate cultural and recreational activities”. Like so many other key capital projects in Cork, the Government has so far failed to deliver it and the promised new library is still nowhere to be seen.”

Interested in finding out where the project stands? Head along to the meeting on November 8th between 11am and 1pm in the South Parish Community Centre.