Cork street wins award as best in United Kingdom and Ireland

Cork’s Oliver Plunkett Street was today named the best in Ireland and the UK.

The street, which happens to be celebrating its 300th anniversary this year, triumphed over two other finalists: Cairns St, Liverpool, and Deptford High St, London.

Oliver Plunkett Street – the city centre’s longest street – hosted two judges from The Academy of Urbanism in August to assess whether the street had what it took to earn the “The Great Street Award 2016”.

Speaking about the news, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chris O’Leary said it was a “real coup for Oliver Plunkett Street and Cork”.

Sean McKeon pictured during severe flooding Oliver Plunkett street, Cork city.

Judge Alastair Barr said that Oliver Plunkett was one of the best-organised communities that they’d seen in the competition.

Twitter account “random Cork Stuff” tweeted their support for the win, writing “Any street where you can buy a chainsaw, €300,000 watch and a plectrum is great”. Members of the Academy then voted overwhelmingly in favor of Oliver Plunkett Street, basing their opinions on the assessment report carried out by the visiting judges.

Assessors praised the street, describing it as ‘a vibrant living street and community, full of little surprises’. “This award is an acknowledgement of our great street and the people and history behind it”.