A street in Cork has been named as the best street in Ireland and the UK

Judges say it was streets ahead of the competition. *JOE goes to get coat*

Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city was today named as the best street in Ireland and the UK at the Urbanism Awards in London. Oliver Plunkett Street earned the ‘Great Street Award 2016’ after seeing off the challenge of two other finalists, Cairns Street in Liverpool and Deptford High Street in London. https://twitter.com/theAoU/status/662653460291174400 According to the Evening Echo, along with those two streets, Oliver Plunkett Street had been plucked from a field of over 70 other streets in Ireland and the UK to be nominated for the award, which was based on commercial success and viability, community health and wellbeing, and local character and amenities. https://twitter.com/ciarambrett/status/662655013781639168 The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chris O’Leary described the award as a “real coup for Oliver Plunkett Street and Cork”. https://twitter.com/chrisjoleary/status/662655777530884096 Valerie Finnegan Cahill of IKON Hair Design, a founding member of the Plunkett Street Quarter traders association, added: “We are absolutely delighted that Oliver Plunkett Street has been awarded ‘The Great Street Award 2016’. We were all so proud of our historic, charismatic, contemporary and busy street.” JOE’s own Colm Boohig, meanwhile, is a native of Cork and when we asked him what makes Oliver Plunkett Street so great, he said: “Yerrah yeah, it's grand like.” High praise indeed. In all seriousness, hearty congratulations to all involved on such a prestigious award. Keep up the good work.