A local institution, which has been trading successfully for more than 50 years, has been put on the market. Con’s Shop in Gurranabraher has been listed for sale by Jeremy Murphy & Associates. The shop serves the community in Gurranabraher and surrounding areas including Blarney Street, Churchfield, Farranree, Blackpool, Hollyhill, and Knocknaheeny. The property is situated about 10 minutes from Cork city centre and occupies a corner site fronting onto Gurranabraher Road and Mount Nebo Avenue. The property, which incorporates Con’s Shop, is described as a “mixed-use investment opportunity” and is occupied by two commercial units on the ground floor, and a two-bed residential apartment overhead. The tenants are unaffected by the sale. Alongside Con’s shop is Pam’s Laundrette, which is an independently run launderette operating from the premises for about 22 years. The two bed residential apartment is described as “deceptively spacious” and it also “enjoys private access”. It is currently occupied under a standard residential lease with tenants in situ over two years. Jeremy Murphy & Associates lists the rent roll as being over €70,000 per annum. They describe the sale as “a superb opportunity to acquire a landmark property that is being offered to the market boasting an impressive rent roll of 71,400, with the benefit of sitting tenants that have been trading successfully from the premises for a combined 70-year period, and both currently in occupation under long-leases”. Shopkeeper and former Independent councillor, Con O’Leary, was laid to rest last January.. Mr O’Leary, aged 77, who ran Con’s Shop in Gurranabraher for five decades, died unexpectedly on January 5, 2024, while on holiday in Gran Canaria. At his funeral last year, his daughter Lorraine said that her mother and father had worked long hours at Con’s Shop. “There were stories of how I as a baby spent hours behind the counter in a Tayto box. Child labour at its finest! “Through their hard work Con’s Shop went from strength to strength and last year [2023] we celebrated 50 years in business. “A truly great achievement for any family run shop,” she said. For further information visit jeremymurphy.ie Discovering ‘The Best of Everything’ in the River Lee Hotel List of public events published for Bike Week Cork 2025 Cork Sports Partnership, Cork City Council and Cork County Council have launched the Bike Week Cork 2025 list of public events. People can register now for a number of free leisure cycles, history cycles, family fun cycles, bike maintenance workshops, videos, resources and more. Bike Week is an annual celebration and promotion of the benefits of cycling with hundreds of events taking place across the country, including family events, heritage cycles, maintenance workshops, and learn-to-cycle events. Among the events are the Bike Week Big Lunchtime Picnic in Fitzgerald’s Park, which takes place on Wednesday, May 14, from 12.30-2.30pm. There will be a free lunch for the first 100 cyclists. People are invited to drop in over lunchtime for some free picnic treats, bike games, a bike doctor as well as chats and company with other cyclists. Register for free: https://eventmaster.ie/event/pOrBivyTyo. There will also be a city to Blarney cycle on Wednesday, May 14, from 2.30-5pm. It is a fun and social easy cycle out to Blarney Castle, via quiet back road and greenway, on to the Blarney to Waterloo Greenway and back to Cork. There will be a break for a picnic at Blarney Castle. It will begin in Fitzgerald’s Park. It’s suitable for those aged 16 and over. Younger children are welcome in a bike seat or trailer. Register for free: https://eventmaster.ie/event/pOrBivyTyo Council to do pedestrian crossing works near Blarney Cork City Council has given notice of its intention to carry out pedestrian crossing improvement works at eight locations, including some near Blarney. The first location is the R617 Tower to Blarney Road at Shournagh Drive. The installation of a new signalised crossing is proposed on the R617 between the existing bus stops to the east of Shournagh Drive. New footpath build-outs at the Shournagh Drive junction will reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians. An uncontrolled crossing of Shournagh Drive is proposed to improve accessibility. Meanwhile, works are planned for the R617 Tower to Blarney Road at Primrose Hill Estate. The installation of a new signalised controlled crossing is proposed on the R617 between the bus stops to the west of the entrance and the entrance to Primrose Hill. Plans and particulars of the proposed works will be available for public inspection until Tuesday, June 3, online at consult.corkcity.ie or at the public reception desk of Cork City Council’s offices. Submissions and observations may be made online, or in writing to Assistant Engineer, Traffic Operations, Room 337, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork, T12 T997. The deadline for receipt of submissions and observations is 4pm on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Older people groups get grants Blarney ARA and St Mary’s Senior Citizens are among 98 of groups from across Cork, and 998 in Ireland, who have received €28,510 to fund physical activity for older people. The grant scheme is a combined initiative from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland. Sue Guildea, active programme manager, Age & Opportunity, welcomed the ongoing partnership with Sport Ireland. “I would like to thank Sport Ireland for their continued support and commitment. I am especially happy to share that this year, 340 successful applications have come from designated disadvantaged areas. “Another 80 applications have been awarded to care settings, many of whom have CarePALs, who are staff or volunteers who have completed training with us to help support them to increase the levels of physical activity of those in their care,” she said. “The importance of meaningful activities in these environments cannot be overstated. “While we celebrate the progress made, there is always more to be done. Our commitment to advocating for policies and initiatives that empower older people remains steadfast,” she added. Every year, approximately 32,000 older people take part in physical activity funded by the grant scheme. Activities funded include pickleball, aqua aerobics, rowing, dancing, cycling, bowling, self-defence, walking hockey, tai chi, walking, and weightlifting.