Our Campaign

Object to the Walls Scheme

Email Cork City Council to voice your concerns on starting the Walls Scheme. State the benefits of a Tidal Barrier and call for an independent review of the Walls Scheme asking how safe are the different approaches, how would each affect the local economy, is groundwater change an issue for OPW, can the Walls scheme even be predicted to work, can a tidal barrier protect more people for less cost?

Object Now

The Tidal Barrier

We propose a tidal barrier at Tivoli or at Little Island to work with the existing dams to protect more of Cork City for less. A tidal barrier would protect more of the city including Docklands and create new opportunity for the local economy greatly facilitating Dockland development and the care of the historic centre.

See Our Proposals

Cost Report

There is no doubt that a barrier could be built at the proposed locations of Little Island or Tivoli. The tidal barrier scheme has the major benefit of not requiring the construction of walls along the quays in the city and protecting far more people and invesments.

Download Report

Oireachtas Committee

We have presented to an Oireachtas Committee on Heritage.

Read statement

‘A city’s conserved historic core can differentiate that city from competing locations, branding it nationally and internationally, thus helping the city to attract investment and talented people.’
‘Heritage anchors people to their roots, builds self-esteem and restores dignity.’

from The Economics of Uniqueness - by the World Bank

“The Save Cork City Solution document ‘Potential Cork’ provides a detailed framework for a viable and sustainable solution to flood relief in Cork. It represents a truly considerate opportunity for the city."

Dutch (National) Flood Protection Programme
(Programmadirectie Hoogwaterbescherming)

Erik Kraaij - Flood Protection Deputy Director

“installing cut-off walls and a groundwater dewatering system at Cork is an experiment in separating two interdependent surface water and groundwater systems, which is likely to fail"
Ground and Groundwater Conditions at Cork
Implications for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme

Anthony Beese BSc PhD PGeo CompIEI

With a view to giving rivers more space, they should consider where possible the maintenance and/or restoration of floodplains, as well as measures to prevent and reduce damage to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.

The EU Floods Directive 2007

Best Practice in Flood Relief

An assessment of the potential adverse consequences of future floods for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.......including floodplains as natural retention areas, the effectiveness of existing man-made flood defence infrastructures (our Dams), the position of populated areas (our City), areas of economic activity (our City) and long-term developments including impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods.

The EU Floods Directive 2007

Best Practice in Flood Relief

The OPW Walls scheme "could potentially damage the ability of the city to realise its obvious riverside potential and negatively impact on the attractiveness of the city as a location for inward investment and tourisn."

Cork Chamber of Commerce, Irish Examiner, 2014

"The beauty of the Quays is one of Cork's assets which should be jealously guarded"

Cork Town Planning Association & Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1925