Shandon

In mid-2022 Southgate Associates were commissioned by Cork City Council to begin works on three significant derelict buildings at the heart of the historic district of Shandon in Cork City, two buildings on John Redmond Street, and the Weighmasters House, part of Cork's historic Butter Market.

The company was very actively engaged in the delivery of the 1990s 'Cork Historic Centre Action Plan', when a significant urban regeneration impulse was generated along the historic spine of Cork's 'old town', from Barrack Street to Shandon passing through South and North Main Street. Southgate Associates worked in Shandon on some of Cork's most significant buildings, including the icon of Cork - St. Anne's Church Shandon. We also completed the conservation works to Skiddy's Alms Houses and on 'Jack Lynch House' (now part of the artist-in-residence scheme of the Firkin Crane Dance theatre, among others. A lot of effort was made in the 1990s by Cork City Council and partners to create a cultural quarter focused on dance, artists, craft workers and cultural experiences.

Some of these endeavours were highly successful, and continue to provide a cultural backbone to the area. This is a highly important resource to new regeneration efforts, as dereliction and vacancy issues have crept back into the area. Some of these problems have arisen as the older Shandon population has declined and residential properties have become rental units or speculatively purchased and left vacant. Southgate Associates welcome the opportunity to return to their 1990s regeneration efforts in Shandon, and hope also to be back on site in 2023 to continue conservation works on St. Anne's Church, where earlier works had to be halted in the face of the economic downturn of 2008.