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Short Review of Progress / Vale Star / Churchtown Notes 21.12.2006.

Cork County Council made a decision to grant planning permission for a new Convenience shop and a further 17 residential units (6 town houses and 11 apartments) at Egmont Place on 11th December 2006. These units will extend behind and across from the existing 12 units already built at Egmont Place. Entrance to Egmont Place is across the road from Boss Murphy's Village Inn and this new Street will connect with the Bruhenny site at the rear facilitating pedestrian and vehicular access to both developments. Pedestrian access will be available from Chapel Lane to Egmont Place and Bruhenny by 2008 thereby creating a new way of moving, for instance, between the National School and the Community Centre. Construction work is expected to begin on the new Convenience Shop in early 2007. The existing shop business on George's Street is expected to move to this new location in 2008. The new shop will be approximately 3 to 4 times larger than the existing Quikpick unit.

Work first commenced on the three main Kerry Lane developments - Bruhenny, Radharc Na Sleibhte and Egmont Place when the first sod was turned at Bruhenny just ahead of the visit by President Mary McAleese to Churchtown in July 2000. Completion of Egmont Place is expected in 2008. The Bruhenny site which adjoins Egmont Place will be completed by late 2007 which means all existing developments off Kerry Lane will be finished by 2008. When all existing Kerry Lane developments are completed in 2008 there will be 81 residences at Bruhenny, 34 residences at Radharc Na Sleibthe and 29 units and a Convenience Shop at Egmont Place. A further 24 houses are nearing completion (with some already occupied) at Woodview on the Black Road. Six houses have been completed at Kerry Lane above and across the road from the GAA grounds in recent years. Five houses were also completed at Burton View on Chapel Lane in recent years also. Six units were also completed by Cork County Council on Chapel Lane itself. Work has commenced on servicing the storm water requirements for the latest development of 68 residential units to be granted approval at Ballyadam West across from the National School. Many other once-off houses were also completed in the parish also in the last 10 years.

In the last 7 years well over 100 new homes planned for the village are built and occupied. It is clear that the massive population decline suffered by Churchtown from a height of 2,795 people in the 1831 census is being reversed. With the new Sports Stand and Dressing Room facilities and two playing pitch at the GAA pitch already in place (and a new Sports Hall and Hurling Alley planned for construction in 2008), a new village storm water system installed which will serve our community for the next 100+ years, two very fine new Nursing Homes built in the last 10 years providing a much needed service to our older people and welcome employment, almost all the derelict buildings and walls now restored and the new road surface almost completed, Churchtown village and parish is, in front of our eyes, being restored to its former glory.

Add to above (in no particular order) the complete restoration of our Community Hall; excellent road and street signage; a public sculpture trail to include the Equine Monument and surrounding hard landscaping in the village centre, the Bruhenny Obelisk sculpture, the Bruhenny Bull sculpture, the GAA sculpture; the erection of four historic bronze plaques around the village; high quality flag poles and flags flying high as you enter our village; publication of the 784 page Annals of Churchtown parish history; publication and recording of our musical heritage; development of our parish web site; development and signage of the seven Churchtown Walking Trails; the erection of our permanent historic "Images of Churchtown" exhibition in the Community hall; the revival of our excellent Parish Festival; the Monthly Ballyhoura Ramblers; development of the Wednesday Club, development of a second pub and accommodation and restaurant facilities at Boss Murphy's, development of the Badminton and the Childrens' Activity Club; the on-going success of Churchtown GAA, the Churchtown Development Association and the contribution of the Churchtown Village Renewal Trust. Private individuals and businesses have also improved their properties and made Churchtown village a more interesting and attractive place. Of course, there is more to come with planning permission now submitted to extend O'Brien's Bar to include a second restaurant for the village. Planning is also approved for 5 residences on the School side of Burton View. Lands above the School at Ballyadam East are also zoned for residential planning.

Who would have believed that such a renewal and transformation could be achieved in such a relatively short time in Churchtown and that the vast bulk of our young people can find employment and residential accommodation locally and make our village such a vibrant place to live. Of course, there is much more to do as a community but coming up to Christmas it is more appropriate to relax and reflect on how much we have achieved before we begin to plan for the next 10 years in early 2007!