As part of our Erasmus+ Outdoor Education learning project, our pupils explored the newly redeveloped Marina Park as a way of studying continuity and change in our local area over time. This work focused in particular on the historic Cork Showgrounds site, where a striking red steel sculpture now stands in place of the original showground structures. The sculpture mirrors the outline and form of the former buildings, which once provided covered stall and display spaces during agricultural and trade events held there in the past.
To help pupils understand how the area has evolved, we examined both modern maps and older historical maps of the Marina and Showgrounds area, tracing how land use, architecture, and public space have changed across different periods.
We then compared these maps with the present-day layout of Marina Park, encouraging pupils to observe how spaces are reused, redesigned, and reimagined to meet new community needs.
This project allowed pupils to connect local history, geography, and outdoor learning in a meaningful real-world setting, helping them to see how places continue to develop while still retaining traces of the past.