THE OFFICE of Public Works (OPW) was yesterday urged to allow public access to the ramparts of a 17-century fort in Cork city which were restored at a cost of more than €7 million but which have remained closed since work was completed last year.
The call to open the ramparts of Elizabeth Fort off Barrack Street on Cork’s south side came from Cork City councillor Mick Finn, who said it made no sense for the OPW to have carried out extensive restoration work on the ramparts and then close them to the public.
“Unfortunately, since the ramparts and walls of the fort were renovated at a cost of over €7 million, the site has largely remained closed to visitors. I’m now calling on the OPW to give this great asset back to the city.
“The walk along the high star-fort walls offers unmatched panoramic views of the city, and it is a crying shame that such a facility remains padlocked for locals and tourists alike,” said Mr Finn, who has written to Minister of State Martin Mansergh on the matter.
Mr Finn, who is secretary of Elizabeth Fort Heritage which is spearheading a campaign to maximise use of the fort, was supported by the Barrack Street Development Association, who have been holding open markets in the fort on Sunday for the past month.
Ella Goddin of the Barrack Street association said the OPW had said it could not open up the ramparts because of insurance costs, but when the association offered to take out its own insurance the office had declined.
An OPW spokesman said the restoration work was carried out to make the fort safe after a rock fall in 2002, and the work was never carried out with the intention of presenting the fort as a guided tourist attraction.