Turners Cross, Cork

Turner's Cross
Crois an Tornóra
Town

The Church of Christ the King
Turner's Cross

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 51°53′10″N 8°27′51″W / 51.8862°N 8.4642°WCoordinates: 51°53′10″N 8°27′51″W / 51.8862°N 8.4642°W
Country Ireland
Province Munster
County County Cork
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) IST (WEST) (UTC-1)

Turner's Cross (Irish: Crois an Tornóra) is a ward on the south side of Cork City, and home to the Roman Catholic parish of the same name.

Largely residential, one of the key features of the area is the iconic church created by architect Barry Byrne and sculptor John Storrs, the Church of Christ The King. It was commissioned in 1927 by Rev Daniel Cohalan D.D., Bishop of Cork. The church was the first Irish church to be built from concrete instead of brick, and is one of the largest suspended-ceiling churches in Europe. Opened in 1931, the church is based on the principles of Art Deco which makes strong use of symmetric and geometric forms.[1]

History

Rocque's map of Cork of 1759 is the first to show significant housing in the Turner's Cross area in the areas that are now Evergreen St (then Maypole Lane) and Quaker Rd (then Graveyard Lane).[2] Previous maps of Cork in 1690 and 1726 show only occasional houses associated with what were then farms on the southern edge of Cork City.[3] The oldest housing still existing in Turner's Cross now dates from the mid 19th century.

In 1879, the Cork and Macroom Direct Railway, which had shared the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway station at Albert Road in the city centre, moved its city terminus to a new station they created - Cork Capwell railway station in the Turners Cross area. This was used until 1925, when both the Cork and Macroom and Cork, Bandon and South Coast railways were merged into Great Southern Railways and the terminus reverted to Albert Road.

New housing was continually developed in the Turner's Cross area until the 1950s, when there was little remaining spare land in the area.

Sport

Cork City FC line out against Red Star Belgrade in a 2006 Champions League qualifier

Turners Cross is home to Cork City FC which is based in the Turners Cross Stadium.

Nearby there is also a rugby stadium, Musgrave Park, which is home to both Dolphin RFC and Sundays Well RFC. In addition, Musgrave Park is used for many home matches in the Pro 12 tournament by Munster Rugby.

The local GAA club is Nemo Rangers, although they sold their grounds in Turners Cross for housing and relocated to a new location in Douglas during the Celtic Tiger era.

Education

The main primary school in the area is Bunscoil Chríost Rí, which is a Catholic mixed (co-educational) school. The secondary schools in the area are Christ King, a girls only school, and Coláiste Chríost Rí, a boys school.

Transport

Road

Turner's Cross takes its name from an important junction, where the road from Cork to Kinsale separated from one of the roads to Douglas and Carrigaline. The road to Douglas and Carrigaline is now the R851.

The N27 dual-carriageway, which links Cork City Centre to Cork Airport passes through Turner's Cross. This handles the bulk of the traffic that used the road to Kinsale.

Bus

Several city bus routes serve Turner's Cross, namely

In addition, it is served by one regional bus route

The 226 bus may not be used to travel between Turner's Cross and Cork City Centre

Rail

Although both the Cork-Macroom and Cork, Bandon and South Coast railways used to go through Turner's Cross, it is not currently served by rail. The nearest active railway station is Cork Kent railway station.

Bordering suburbs

Neighbouring areas of Cork.
Greenmount South Parish South Parish
Ballyphehane Albert Road
   Turner's Cross  
Tramore Valley Park Douglas Ballinlough

References

  1. ↑ Turner's Cross Parish Website - About the church
  2. ↑ Cork City Library Website - 1759: Rocque's map of Cork city
  3. ↑ Cork City Library Website - Cork City in Old Maps