A former Cork Harbour slagheap turned park has been officially opened by the Taoiseach, as The Irish Times reports.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was joined by local TD and Defence Minister Simon Coveney among others on Saturday (17 July) at the ribbon-cutting for what’s been named the People’s Park Haulbowline.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the park — on the site of the former Irish Steel slag heap at the east tip of Haulbowline island — includes 4km of harbour-side walkways, a 1km jogging circuit and numerous seating areas.

It has also been extensively landscaped with wildflower areas and more than 200 trees, rich with biodiversity and wildlife.

And its official opening marks the culmination of a multi-year, €25m remediation project that the Taoiseach says should stand as a model for the rest of the country.

“This is great day not for Corkonians but also for the people of Ireland,” he said. “It’s a national people’s park but it also reflects the genuine transformation that we can bring about at various sites.”

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

Bob Bateman's People's Park & Haulbowline Photo Gallery