Mayfield, Cork

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Mayfield encompasses a number of suburban neighbourhoods in the North East sector of Cork City, Ireland. It's original Irish name - Baile na mBocht (home of the poor) - gives a hint of its history, and even now it is considered one of the less well-off of Cork's suburbs: though it has experienced a regeneration in recent times. Newer signs have been observed to use the phrase "Gort Alainn", (Beautiful meadow), as an alternative to the somewhat derogatory Baile na mBocht, although this newer appellation is somewhat curious given that most of what is commonly considered to be Mayfield is on a hill, flanked by the Lee Valley and Tivoli on one side, and the Glen Valley on the other.

[edit] Geography

Mayfield is bounded to the North by the Glen River Valley, an aquiferous geological formation, produced by a receding glacier during the last Ice Age. This area contains some unique habitats, flora and fauna, including the Small Cudweed and the Sand Martin, a migratory species that return from North Africa each Spring to breed in the porous sand cliffs along sections of the river valley. In recent years, these endangered species have been the subject of an EU investigation, whereby the Planning Authorities and the Irish Government were held to account in breach of various EU Bird and Habitats Directives, following the destruction of the nesting sites and ecosystems in 2004 by local building developers.