Press Release issued by Cork Greens.
A very successful public campaign to save Pipers Wagon and Funfair for Kinsale looks like it’s about to win. The campaign which garnered the support of 2700 members of the public and local community, brought an immense amount of pressure on the County Council to come to the table and see sense.
TD Christopher O’Sullivan could not believe he had to bring this up in the Dáil, but the Taoiseach Michael Martin called on Cork County Council to have a heart. Letters flew in from local TDs like Michael Collins and local Councillors Sean O’Donovan and Alan Coleman. Hundreds of people took to the street in a show of support and solidarity for the Piper family, as some had claimed they were being run out of town.
The main issues were that the Council had refused permission for Pipers Wagon to be located in Short Quay and were doubling the rent each year for 3 years on the Funfair and then it would have to leave that location permanently. The Showman’s ‘LiveingWagon’ was built in Short Quay and housed there since 1932 with 3 generations of the Piper family. The funfair is as much a part of Kinsale as Charlesfort or the Sea and for many generations it has been part of their childhood memories, with new generations building new memories every year…..or at least up to COVID.
Following a campaign led by local Green Party representative Marc Ó Riain and former Pipers worker Helen Hickey, Councillors came in unanimously behind the Piper family and negotiated with the Council executive. Chairperson John O’Sullivan was appointed to liaise with Brendan Piper to find a suitable compromise on both issues.
After lengthy discussions, the Council have offered the Piper family the ability to host the traditional Funfair ‘the Merries’ from Summer 2023 at previous rents with no future cut off. However because of secured funding for public realm works the Showman’s Wagon cannot go back into Short Quay. A compromise was arrived at where the wagon could be located in the Town Park car park, where the fun fair is held, all year round.
Marc Ó Riain, local Green Party representative thanked whole community for standing up for their own local intangible culture:
It’s a great win, a win for the Pipers family and for Brendan and Bill who I’m delighted for, for all of Kinsale, for all the kids who will be able to enjoy the ‘Merries’ and for common sense! It really shows you that when we stand together we can achieve something….together! I would like to thank Helen Hickey, Cllr Sean O’Donovan, Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan, and all those who signed petitions, wrote letters and generally supported the campaign. The Funfair and the Showman’s Wagon will delight visitors and the children of Kinsale for another 90 years!
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