Ballyphehane

Ballyphehane (irish place name|Baile Féitheáin) (Population: 1622) is a suburb in the south of Cork in Ireland. It is one of the oldest suburbs in Cork and was created as part of a post-World War II initiative to create a model community in Cork.

History

From the late 1940s, Cork Corporation commenced development of extensive housing schemes in the area as part of a slum clearance program. Initially 200 houses were planned on convert|28|acre|m2 of land before World War II.

No construction took place during the war. In 1948 the first houses were built in Botanic Road and Kent Road.

Between 1948 and 1993, a total of 11 housing schemes totaling 1,316 dwellings were built by Cork Corporation in the Ballyphehane area. It is significant that many of the roads built at that time were named after the main participants of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. Roads such as the aforementioned Kent, Connolly, and Pearse were named after heroes of the time.

The layout and planning has come in for much praise for the open green spaces and facilities. It is primarily a residential area with some business premises located in shopping areas near to the Church of the Assumption.

Notable buildings and geography

Ballyphehane Community Association Ltd operate Ballyphehane Community Centre for people of Ballphehane to provide services and facilities.

Musgrave Park is located in Ballyphehane and is home to Dolphin and Sunday's Well Rugby teams, and it is also one of the two homes of Munster Rugby the other being Thomond Park in Limerick.

Ballyphehane is geographically bordered by the Lough Parish, South Parish, Douglas/Frankfield, and Turners Cross. The Tramore river flows through the parish. The Church of the Assumption is the Catholic church in the parish. The parish also includes Cork Airport.

The local Scout troop, at the heart of the community is the 2nd Cork St. Finbarr's Scouting Ireland, which meets on Doyle Road, not to be confused with the 2nd Cork St. Fin Barre's Cathedral.

Ballyphehane has a renovated library located on Tory Top Road which was opened in 2005 replacing the previous library which was in service since 1974. The library is situated next to the local community hall which adjoins Tory Top Park and its sports pitches which hosts mainly juvenile games.

- Birthplace of Paul Mason (est 1990), renowned scouser.

Schools

There are several schools in the area, Maria Assumpta Girls National School, Presentation Secondary School, run under the [http://www.presentationsistersunion.org Presentation Sisters] caters for the girls of the area. While Réalt na Maidine (Morning Star) National School is the primary school for boys. A co-educational Gaelscoil, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa is also located near Ballyphehane Community Centre.