The City On The Edge Of Forever
Cork is facing an irreversible transformation — and it’s not progress. This episode dives deep into the OPW’s controversial flood defence plan, the rejection of tidal barriers, and the institutional inertia that’s driving it all.
We explore how Cork was sidelined in its own future — and what that says about Irish democracy today.
From the role of the ESB in the 2009 floods to the OPW’s dismissal of global best practice, this is more than a planning disaster — it’s a wake-up call.
Featuring insights from Dr. Aodh Quinlivan, who has written extensively on Ireland’s centralised system of governance, we ask why local authorities in Ireland have fewer powers than almost anywhere in Europe — and what that means for towns and cities trying to shape their own destiny.
🔍 Inside:
• The truth behind the OPW’s quay wall scheme
• Why a tidal barrier makes more sense
• The role of the ESB in Cork’s 2009 flood
• How a century-old governance model is still running Ireland
• What Switzerland, Denmark and Germany get right — and Ireland gets wrong
📍 This isn’t just about Cork. It’s about who gets to decide the future of Irish cities.
Credit to : Kev Collins