Christmas Greetings from Seamus Forde Chairman Muintir na Tire

Message from Mr. Seamus Forde Chairman of Cork County Federation Muintir na Tire to Community Councils, Community Alert Groups, Elderly groups, Tidy Towns Groups and Community sector partners this Christmas

Firstly, our thoughts are with all of those who have lost loved ones during these unprecedented times. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

We urge you and your families to continue to take care and keep safe and healthy.

It is important that we all  follow the official advice to protect ourselves and those around us. 

To all our health professionals and key workers, we thank you. You are all heroes. Cork County Federation Muintir na Tire stands with you and salutes you all. 

Here is the latest update from Cork County Federation Muintir na Tire

General

We urge our members to continue, as you have always done, to look after the older and vulnerable people in your community. We know that Muintir na Tire people in Community Councils and Community Alert have always been to the fore in doing this. 

We are still taking this Covid -19 Pandemic very seriously and nearly all our meetings have been cancelled. The members and Officers of the board continue to keep in contact via telephone and using online conferencing. We continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes with our partners and members to ease the burden on the most vulnerable in our communities.

Our Office in Sydney Place is open with strict social distancing in place and some of our key staff are also working from home when they can.

We will continue to send out our weekly e newsletter to over 400 groups and individuals working in the community sector and media. We have full access to email and can be contacted at admin@muintircork.com

Community Development

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Our Community Development Officer Mr. Denis Kelly is available to give guidance and support to community groups. Denis can be contacted by phone at 0872034876 or by email at deniskelly@muintircork.com

 Community Care

Our community Care Health Information Seminars are currently postponed at this time and any return to action will only when medical guidance allows

Cork School Gardens Project

We are sad to announce that due to current government guidelines the Cork School Garden Competition was cancelled for 2020/ 21. We will be back bigger and better next year

Pride in our Community Competition

A final decision this year’s Pride in our Community was made during the year and we were delighted to be able run the competition during 2021. We are very confident that the competition will run again in 2022. We fully agree with the principle that any return to action will only be in line with Government Guidance. 

Cultural Companions

Cultural Companions is, like everything else, scaled back at the moment. Our launch was held in 2021 but had to be held online. However, we are keeping in touch with our members by email and telephone. I believe that telephoning some of our members has been very much appreciated by them and we have great chats at what is a very difficult and lonely time for some. We are compiling a list of links to various online cultural resources (most arts and cultural establishments have gone online) which we will share with our members that are active online and we will update it as we source new links. For those that are not online we will keep up contact with them and assure them that we are still here and will be even more eager to make Cultural Companions work for them after all this awfulness is over. Unfortunately, there will be even greater need for it on the other side of this. 

Barbara Quinn our Cultural Companions Coordinator can be contacted on 0851300335 or by email at culture@muintircork.com

All updates will appear on WWW.muintircork.com and across our social media. 

If you have any queries, please continue to contact us in the usual ways: 

Finally this Christmas Season Cork County Federation Muintir na Tire would like to thank everyone for their support and commitment to their communities during a very year. 

We wish everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas and a prosperous and successful New Year. We wish you all success in 2022.


Seamus Forde
Chairperson

Help Numbers during Covid 19 and other HSE Services on Call

 

EnergyMeasures for Cork

University College Cork is implementing the project EnergyMeasures to help improve the energy efficiency of households in Cork. Are you struggling to heat your home? Or perhaps energy arrears are becoming a problem? EnergyMeasures can provide personalised energy advice, small scale energy measures and ongoing support for free, so that you can live more comfortably in a more affordable way. For more information please go to Link and fill in your contact details, or call +353 (21) 490 1958 and leave us a message with your name and number and we will contact you to schedule an appointment and discuss how best we can help.

Let’s Fund It

 

Let’s Fund It is a new volunteer-led charity focusing on honesty and transparency on the list of Irish registered charities. A new charity has been welcomed on the list of Irish registered charities. Let’s Fund It uses donated funds to purchase goods and services on behalf of charities. The goods and services that are purchased go directly to benefit charity services users. Irish charities can contact Let’s Fund It with requests, or the new charity will respond to public appeals. You can learn more here or on the website. 

Garden Bird Survey

 Birdwatch Ireland are asking members of the public to keep note of the highest number of each bird species visiting their garden every week between now and February. It is a great initiative and it is hoped that people throughout the county of Cork will get invovled in this survey.  Please submit your garden bird records online, by visiting  https://birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/surveys-research/research-surveys/irish-garden-bird-survey/?nowprocket=1

Community Water Development Fund 2022

 

Grants available for communities to deliver water, biodiversity, and climate action initiatives

Your local community or voluntary group can now apply for a grant under the Community Water Development Fund 2022. This Fund helps local communities deliver projects and initiatives that enhance the local water environment, delivering multiple benefits for biodiversity and climate action. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) administers the Fund on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is open to all community and voluntary groups to apply.

LAWPRO launched the 2022 Fund at their annual ‘Communities Caring for Water’ conference held virtually on Saturday 20 November 2021. The conference is an annual event hosted jointly between The Rivers Trust and LAWPRO. This year, almost 300 attendees representing community groups across the whole of Ireland shared knowledge and experiences of caring for their local water environment.

Speaking at the event Sheevaun Thompson, Funding lead with LAWPRO said “since it was first launched in 2018, demand for the Community Water Development Fund has increased year on year. It is exciting to announce the fund for 2022 to support locally led community projects.”

The funding scheme is open to not-for-profit Community and Voluntary Groups; Rural Networks; Urban Networks; Environmental Non-Government Organisations, Clubs, Associations or other appropriate bodies located in the Republic of Ireland ONLY.

You can complete the grant application form online at LAwaters.ie . Closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 8 February 2022.

Projects should show benefits for water quality, biodiversity, and climate action.
There is a total fund of €380,000 available for 2022. Grants awarded will range from €500 to €25,000. For support with your application contact your local Community Water Officer.

To make an application please visit https://consult.watersandcommunities.ie/en/content/community-water-development-fund-grant-application-form-2022

Our Rural Future: €2.6 million Announced for the Development of the first ever Town Centre First Plans

 Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced €2.6 million in funding to deliver the first ever Town Centre First Plans, which will be key to tackling dereliction and revitalising town centres. As part of the initiative, each local authority will be provided with €100,000 to support the development of its own unique master plan. Among the 26 towns selected include Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim, Skibbereen in Co. Cork, Roscrea in Co. Tipperary and Abbeyfeale in Co. Limerick.

Each local authority will now work closely with local community groups, retailers and the other members of the Town Teams in devising and delivering on the objectives of their respective masterplans.

This initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future – the Government’s ambitious five-year strategy designed to reimagine and revitalise Rural Ireland. It is also linked to the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ strategy and the forthcoming ‘Town Centre First Policy’, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Announcing the details of the 26 towns, Minister Humphreys said: “I am really pleased to announce the first ever Town Centre First Plans as part of a €2.6 million investment for Rural Ireland. Each local authority has put forward one of their towns which will receive €100,000 from my Department to develop its own unique master plan. This is about delivering on the objectives of ‘Our Rural Future’ and ensuring our towns have the right plan in place to tackle the issues of dereliction, vacant properties, and above all, to become better places to live, work and run a business. The development of these 26 Plans will feed into the Government’s overall Town Centre First Policy, which will be launched in the coming weeks.”

The Town Centre First Plans will be guided by a strong empirical base and developed collaboratively with local Town Teams involving community, business, as well as public private stakeholders.

It is envisaged that the Plans will cover the importance of “place-making”, town centre living, the social and economic purpose of the town, and respond to emerging opportunities such as those linked to remote working, climate action and digitalisation. The funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a be-spoke TCF plan to guide the development of each town.

The focus will be on the town centre and immediate surrounds. Each Plan will set out specific actions and interventions and help unlock national funding streams such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme to resource delivery of these interventions.

Minister Humphreys continued: “Our rural towns and villages play a central role in the lives of people in rural areas.  They are where we live, work, shop and socialise.  It is important that we ensure our towns and villages remain vibrant, vital and relevant places. Each town selected as part of this initiative will has its own strengths and each will face different challenges as it maps out its future path. No one size fits all policy will work. The Plans will be developed in tandem with Town Teams that are representative of the local towns and who can bring a wealth of knowledge and local expertise.”

Leave No Trace Wins National Award

Leave No Trace Ireland has received national recognition for the impact of its work as winners of the Charity Impact Awards 2021 for medium organisations from The Wheel! 

 The Charity Impact Awards, hosted by The Wheel, celebrate the work of charities, community groups and voluntary organisations that have changed Ireland for the better. 
For more information visit www.leavenotraceireland.org .  

Cork County Library and Arts Service Launches New Exciting Initiative

 Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service is now associated with the JAM Card initiative, a system that allows people with learning difficulties and communication barriers to ask for a minute of patience when they need it. Developed by the NOW Group, it is a discreet way of allowing people with any type of communication difficulty to ask for Just A Minute of patience as they go about their daily lives.

Following staff training, Cork County Council’s Library Service has recently received a Certificate of Accreditation from the NOW Group. The Library Service takes pride in providing excellent customer care to all patrons and this new initiative will encourage JAM Card users to feel more confident when visiting their local library. Any time a person with a JAM Card needs that little bit of extra assistance or time, they can approach a library staff member, present their JAM Card, and then relate with trained staff who will give those extra few minutes that may be required.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said “Cork County Council’s libraries are among the most popular and most important ways that we engage with our communities. They represent the fundamental values of the Council, championing inclusion, support and learning. In adopting the JAM card initiative and engaging in accredited training, our libraries are building on their immense work in ensuring that libraries are welcoming to everyone. This is an opportunity for JAM card users, library staff and the wider community of library users to come together and strengthen local community bonds.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey said “The increase in library membership over the past year is a very clear indication of the importance of the Library Service to the people of Cork County and the Council has responded in kind by consistently innovating with new ways to support members. Inclusion and accessibility are put to the forefront of service delivery and this greatly enhances the value of our libraries in our communities.”

Cork County Librarian Emer O’Brien added “At Cork County Council Library and Arts Service we pride ourselves on continuously testing our services to make sure they are as accessible and barrier free to everyone who wants to engage with our library staff and our services. The JAM Card is another very important step for us.”

Maeve Monaghan, Chief Executive of the NOW Group commented “I’m delighted to welcome Cork County Council Libraries to the JAM Card family.  Equal and appropriate access to public services and cultural facilities is essential for people with communication barriers.  The staff at Cork County Library Service will be helping to open up the wonderful world of books and reading to a wide-ranging group of people who may otherwise feel daunted or even excluded.”

The JAM Card can be used either as a card or an app and is designed to be used by children and adults. It is available free of charge to anyone who needs it by contacting www.jamcard.org.

For further information on the JAM Card and Cork County Council Library and Arts Service, please contact your local branch or mobile library.

Think ‘ABC’ to Help Cork Breathe Easier This Winter

 Cork County Council is appealing to people to help reduce air pollution this winter when heating their homes. With colder weather taking hold, the Council says air quality is something we should all keep in mind.

One of the biggest causes of air pollution is fine particulate matter (PM) - tiny particles of smoke, dust and other materials that hang in the air. Medics believe these can be inhaled and enter the bloodstream affecting our respiratory system, brain, heart and other organs.  The burning of solid fuels in domestic fires across Ireland is one of the major factors in our PM levels and these increase in the evenings as domestic fires are lit - sometimes exceeding safe thresholds. 

With all this in mind, Cork County Council and the Department of Environment, Climate Action & Communications are asking everyone to think ‘ABC’ when heating their homes this winter:  

• Ask yourself: ‘Do I really need to light a fire’? Can I heat my home using cleaner fuel sources? These might include gas or oil-fired central heating, electric heaters or air-to-heat pumps. 
• Burn Acknowledging that for some people there will be no alternative to lighting a fire, cleaner, more efficient, low-smoke fuels help minimise air pollution. There are now a wide range of low-smoke fuel products available on the market, many of which are more cost effective in terms of heat output than traditional coal.
• Clean your chimney or heating appliance flue at least once a year. This is a proven way of reducing smoke emissions. 

By following these steps, we can all help to make a difference and most importantly we can breathe that difference.

Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan says “The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 1,500 premature deaths in Ireland are caused every year as a result of air pollution, while the Asthma Society of Ireland campaigns on behalf of asthma sufferers for measures to protect health by reducing the burning of solid fuels. The positive health effects of changing our solid fuel burning habits will benefit everyone and I encourage people to make the right choices to help Cork County breathe easier into the future”. 

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey says “Under the planned regulations, very low smoke emissions rates will be set for coal, coal-based products, manufactured solid fuel, peat briquettes and wood. This will effectively prohibit the use of bituminous coal in the future.  As a result, only low-smoke fuel products will be available on the Irish market from September 2022. There are already statutory Low Smoke Zones in East Cork and in Mallow where the sale and burning of smoky coal is prohibited. When we have a growing list of low-smoke fuel options available to us, it simply makes sense to play our part in improving air quality”.

Alan Costello, Senior Executive Scientist, Cork County Council, added “The network of air monitoring stations around Ireland, four of which are in County Cork, indicate that PM increases every evening as people light fires in their homes. A review of data from monitors in Cobh, Macroom and Mallow shows seasonal spikes in particulate emissions that coincide with peak solid fuel burning months. While emissions are not breaching current statutory limits, they have on a number of occasions exceeded guideline World Health Organisation (WHO) levels and it is well known that particulate matter poses significant health risks even at very low concentrations.”

Details of Low Smoke Zones are available on the air quality section of the Government of Ireland website, including an online map with an Eircode search function.

Live Performances and Lights make for A Real Cork Christmas

Cork County Council launch festive initiatives to support businesses and communities

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan is encouraging everyone to experience the magic of Christmas on their doorstep in the run-up to December 25th as part Cork County Council’s A Real Cork Christmas campaign.

Cork County Council has launched a series of initiatives, including live performances and light installations, designed to ensure people experience the real Christmas spirit and atmosphere while supporting County Cork businesses this festive season.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan says A Real Cork Christmas aims to bolster communities and businesses, "The sparkling Christmas lights are shining brightly across the county.  We want to create a wonderful festive atmosphere in our towns and villages in the run-up to Christmas and highlight the unique businesses on our doorstep. A Real Cork Christmas is just that, it’s real not virtual.  It is to be discovered by visiting our towns and villages, enjoying the lights, a hot chocolate and picking up some unique items that you can touch, feel and bring home with you.”

Adding to the Christmas atmosphere will be legendary singer-songwriters Mary Coughlan and Frankie Gavin for a Cork Co Co Pops Christmas Special. In total, audiences will have 81 live performances at 40 indoor and outdoor locations to choose from. Theatre makers Noni Stapleton, Seamus O'Rourke and Denis Conway will also join a host of Cork based professional artists performing across the county throughout December.

A theme throughout A Real Cork Christmas in 2021 is 'Let There Be Light'.  Stunning displays of Christmas Lights have been turned on in every town and village.  Unique light installations can also be discovered in the windows of many of the Council’s local libraries, as transition year students from eight secondary schools work with artists to create a very special display that must be seen to be appreciated.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, says, "The Christmas Special of Cork Co Co Pops is a continuation of our very successful summer programme which saw visitors enjoy our towns and villages during the summer sunshine.  Now, in the festivities of Christmas this atmosphere is being recreated.  This initiative, funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is part of a series of measures to revive and support the performing arts sector in Ireland.  Christmas is a real family time, filled with music and entertainment, so it is great to have live performances to suit all tastes so close to home."

Cork County Council is also creating a special video to promote the offering across the county this festive season. It focuses on the importance of Christmas to businesses and showcases a selection of local retailers, hoteliers and restaurants, some of whom have been in operation for generations. The video features an array of Christmas lights across the county, including new and improved illuminations in Mallow, festooned lighting in Cobh and festive trimmings in Fermoy. It also includes highlights from a very special visit by Santa Claus himself, enjoying a whistle-stop shopping trip to Cork County. The video will be released on the Council's social platforms in the coming days.

Mayor Coughlan went on to say, “It has been another exceptionally challenging year which is why it is so important for everyone to get on board and support our local businesses and producers. There are so many unique gifts and the best quality ingredients to be had when you shop on your own doorstep. You really can enjoy a Christmas day out across the county with a complete Christmas experience to be discovered. "

The Library installations will be in place for the duration of the festive period. Transition year students have created light displays for their local library using various media, including paint, paper, fibre, LED displays and fairy lights. The schools involved are Midleton CBS; Carrignafoy Community College, Cobh; St Fanahan's College, Mitchelstown; Coláiste Muire Crosshaven, Patrician Academy, Mallow; Colaiste Ghobnatan, Baile Mhic Íre; Mary Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway; and St Brogans College, Bandon.

The full Cork Co Co Pops Christmas Special programme is available below.

Cork Co Co Pops Christmas Special Programme

New Mobile Library Trucks Hit the Road for Cork Readers

 

Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service has added three new mobile libraries to its fleet serving book lovers across the county. The state-of-the-art trucks are replacing older vehicles in North, East and South Cork thanks to a €592,000 investment from the Council and will follow the replacement of the Mobile Library truck serving West Cork in 2017.

Mobile libraries have long been an integral part of Cork County Library and Arts Service, with trucks operating a fortnightly route of around 340 service points, including schools, nursing homes, day-care centres, direct provision centres and creches as well as towns, villages and homes in every corner of the county.

These three new vehicles were purpose-built by Offaly-based company Primo Coach Builders. They are packed with fantastic features such as on-board WiFi, sensory lighting and 43-inch digital display screens to highlight local events and services available. The trucks are fully wheelchair accessible and have two-metre awnings on their exterior to provide shelter for customers as they enter and leave the library.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan says: “I’m thrilled to see these new libraries are equipped with features which will maximise their appeal and accessibility for everyone. Mobile libraries are a vital link to the wider Library Service for rural and more isolated communities and are closely aligned with local and national visions of supporting inclusive and sustainable communities. I urge anyone who is not already a member of our Library Service to sign up and discover all that is available through their local library or mobile service.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey has welcomed the news: “I’m delighted to see the roll out of these new libraries to the service’s loyal users around the county.  We know that our mobile libraries play a key role in ensuring that all our citizens have access to the library service, irrespective of their location or personal circumstances. This investment demonstrates Cork County Council’s commitment to serving our rural communities with the very best in services possible”. 

The new mobile library vehicles are due to take to the road from December 6th, 2021.  For more information on Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service, visit www.corkcoco.ie/library or call 021 4546499

The Keep Well Campaign

 The Keep Well Campaign is a call to action to everyone across our society to find ways to support everyone to discover new activities and routines that will do us good. 

It is aimed at showing people of all ages, in communities across Ireland, how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines.

The campaign provides guidelines, information, and tips on things that will help us keep well through the coming months. 

https://www.sportireland.ie/keepwell

EnergyMeasures: Tailored measures supporting energy vulnerable households

 University College Cork is implementing the project Energy Measures to help improve the energy efficiency of households in Cork. Are you struggling to heat your home? Or perhaps energy arrears are becoming a problem? Energy Measures can provide personalised energy advice, small scale energy measures and ongoing support for free, so that you can live more comfortably in a more affordable way. For more information please go to Link and fill in your contact details, or call +353 (21) 490 1958 and leave us a message with your name and number and we will contact you to schedule an appointment and discuss how best we can help.

East Cork Traveller project recruiting a new co-ordinator

 

Cumann na Daoine: Community Development Co-ordinator

Cumann na Daoine, Community Development Project, Youghal.

We are now recruiting for the following position

Community Development Co-ordinator for Travellers in East Cork.  

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Cumann na Daoine are now recruiting for the position of Co-Ordinator for the East Cork Traveller project. 

Job Specification

The main aim of this work is to establish the East Cork Traveller Project as an independent Traveller led project. Duties will include:

• Becoming familiar with the East Cork Traveller Strategy and all relevant supporting documentation.
• Building relationships with Traveller families in East Cork and supporting active Traveller participation.
• Build relationships with other service providers and community organisations.
• Developing capacity building programmes with groups of Traveller women and men in East Cork, e.g. development of Traveller groups, spaces and projects.
• Outreach to Traveller men living in East Cork and facilitate them to participate in traveller health initiatives.
• Support the promotion of Traveller Culture Awareness Training (TCAT) in East Cork.
• Encourage engagement in leadership programmes and events/activities for East Cork Travellers
• Ensure strong project/Traveller representation on interagency committees, i.e. Regional Accommodation Committee, ITM accommodation working group, Cork-Kerry Traveller Health Unit and Minceir Whiden, etc.
• Implement the East Cork Traveller's strategic plan in collaboration with stakeholders and an existing team.

In addition to the duties outlined above the Co-Ordinator will also have responsibility for:

• Preparing regular monthly progress reports and the keeping of appropriate financial records/accounts.
• Completing funding applications on behalf of the ECT project as appropriate.
• Work in close co-operation with other Traveller organisations across the city/county both locally and nationally
• Support and supervision of the Traveller Community Development Worker, Health Worker and other staff contracted or recruited into the project.

The co-ordinator will be responsible to the ECT Steering Committee Group and will report to Cumann Na Daoine for development and HR support. A quarterly work plan will be agreed with the East Cork Traveller Steering Group and members of this Steering Group will support the work.

The work will be delivered using the principles of community development by focusing on the social determinants of health and from an anti-racism/ anti-discriminatory practice.

The post is funded and supported by the HSE Traveller Health Unit for Cork and Kerry.

This post is funded for 28 hours weekly and these hours will be worked over a four-day period each week.

We are an equal opportunity employer and this post is open to those interested in job sharing, part-time or full-time – men and women. Applications from members of the Traveller Community are particularly welcome. Short-listing will apply.

Requirements

Essential Skills.

• A minimum of 5 years community development experience/or qualifications in community development or related disciplines.
• A proven ability in community development work and supporting leadership skills.
• An understanding of Traveller community development work specifically.
• Experience of implementing strategy within a community development setting.
• An understanding of the challenges faced by the Traveller community.
• Experience of facilitating and leading groups.
• Experience of developing funding applications, adhering to deadlines and compliance with relevant reporting systems.
• To promote Traveller culture and identity.
• Understanding of anti racist and anti-discriminatory practices.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with multiple stakeholders.
• Good IT skills (Word, PowerPoint and Excel).
• Good organisational skills and ability to work on own initiative.
• Access to car and own clean driving licence.
• Ability to write clear and succinct reports.
• Willing to work flexible hours including evenings.

 

Desirable

• Participation in professional development in relevant courses.
• Experience of co-ordinating events.
• Advocacy and networking skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of social issues.

Salary €41,667 pro rata.

Applications.

To apply for the position, please forward a C.V. and cover letter to agcumannnadaoine@gmail.com

To reach us no later than 5pm, Thursday on the 13th of January 2022.

Please  write ‘ECT Position’ in the subject bar of the email.

Alternatively, send your CV and cover letter to:

Angela Glen, Community Development Co-Ordinator, Cumann na Daoine, Catherine Street, Youghal, Co Cork.

Local Authority Waters Programme 2022 Grants for Communities

Your local community or voluntary group can now apply for a grant under the Community Water Development Fund 2022. This Fund helps local communities deliver projects and initiatives that enhance the local water environment, delivering multiple benefits for biodiversity and climate action. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) administers the Fund on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is open to all community and voluntary groups to apply.

LAWPRO launched the 2022 Fund at their annual ‘Communities Caring for Water’ conference held virtually on Saturday 20 November 2021. The conference is an annual event hosted jointly between The Rivers Trust and LAWPRO. This year, almost 300 attendees representing community groups across the whole of Ireland shared knowledge and experiences of caring for their local water environment.

Speaking at the event Sheevaun Thompson, Funding lead with LAWPRO said “since it was first launched in 2018, demand for the Community Water Development Fund has increased year on year. It is exciting to announce the fund for 2022 to support locally led community projects.”

You can complete the grant application form online at LAwaters.ie and the closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 8 February 2022.

Projects should show benefits for water quality, biodiversity, and climate action.

There is a total fund of €380,000 available for 2022. Grants awarded will range from €500 to €25,000.

If you experience any technical difficulties on the website, please email funding@lawaters.ie  or contact LAWPROat Facebook.com/LAWPROteam.

Heritage Council's 2021 National Heritage LEGO Competition

 The Heritage Council has just launched its 2021 LEGO Heritage Competition for children between 4 and 12 years of age. It is an opportunity for young people to get creative and showcase an element of Irish Heritage (Built, Natural or Cultural) by using LEGO bricks. The closing date for entries is Monday 3rd January 2022 and for full information see the competition brief by clicking here

Cork County Council's Arts Grant Scheme 2022 now Open for Applications

 

The Arts Grants Scheme provides a number of funding strands for applicants seeking financial support for arts activities and events. This includes support for arts festivals, performances, exhibitions and other publicly accessible cultural activities throughout County Cork. Funding is also available to support the work of voluntary arts organisations who maintain access to the arts in our local communities. In addition, are welcomed, applications from organisations working with the elderly, migrant or ethnic communities or for people with a disability, who wish to carry out projects to deliver creative opportunities for those who experience difficulty accessing the arts.  Funding is also available for those wishing to develop arts projects through the Irish language, or to enable schools and other organisations involve professional artists in educational or community settings.

Cork County Council also supports the work of individual artists by providing a number of bursary and residency opportunities for professional artists of all disciplines. These include funding for the production of new work; support to develop opportunities internationally or for time and space to reflect and develop new work.

Applications are open online from November 19th at Cork County Council and the closing date for all strands is Sunday, January 9^th 2022. Anyone seeking further information should go to the online portal Cork County Council or  contact arts@corkcoco.ie.

100 Year Old Letters Between Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan turned into fascinating Podcast

 

A new podcast featuring the letters passed between Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan has been created by the Michael Collins House Museum, Clonakilty to mark the centenary of the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty. My Dearest Kitty is an eleven-episode series funded by Cork County Council’s Commemorations Committee.

One hundred years ago, as Michael Collins assisted in leading the Anglo Irish Treaty negotiation in London, he was also negotiating a new and long-distance personal relationship with Kitty Kiernan. This podcast tells the story of their evolving relationship as well as the developing story of the Anglo Irish Treaty negotiations through their 300 letters and telegrams.

Episode one is now available on the Michael Collins House website and YouTube channel. Episodes will be released daily until December 6th, the centenary of the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said, “My Dearest Kitty is a fascinating podcast looking at Ireland’s most tragic love story. Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan wrote more than 300 letters to each other and their words have been brought to life in this beautifully produced series. The correspondence is affectionate, loving, and romantic, yet it also reveals elements of the couple’s power dynamic as they seek to establish their relationship. It is wonderful to hear about the personal and political lives of Michael Collins in this way, as we begin to understand the weight of issues occupying his mind in the momentous weeks of the Anglo-Irish negotiations. Cork County Council is proud to support the creation of this podcast series through the Commemorations Committee, as we mark the events that define our history and inform who we are as a nation today.”

My Dearest Kitty is based on a script by Michael Collins House Museum, Clonakilty. The podcast and accompanying videos have been professionally produced by Mirador Media and its team of voice-over actors. Episodes will be uploaded daily to https://www.michaelcollinshouse.ie and the Michael Collins House Museum YouTube channel until Monday, December 6th.

The Bandon Historical Journal No. 38 out now

 

The new Bandon Historical Journal for 2022, Issue No. 38, is now available for €10 in a number of locations in Bandon as well as in Kelleher’s Newsagents in North Main Street, Cork City. Featuring a range of articles and photographs it is a fine additional the well-regarded historical journals by Cumann Seanchais na Banndan.

County Cork Audit of Memorials

County Cork Audit of Memorials 

 

As part of the Decade of Centenaries commemorative programme, Cork County Council, in partnership with Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting, is undertaking an exciting project to comprehensively audit commemorative memorials across Cork. The project includes memorials relating to the Irish revolutionary period including the War of Independence and Civil War and will build on records already undertaken.  On completion, the audit will provide the county of Cork with a powerful resource to interpret how events of a century ago – sometimes contentious, sometimes unifying - have been remembered ever since.

The public is asked to submit details of a site or sites in their locality to commemorations@corkcoco.ie.

Click here to see the Project Statement. 

Click here for the Survey Form. 

This project is being supported by Cork County Council through its Commemorations Committee and the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. 

Irish Hospice Foundation: Living with Loss

 Register Here

Irish Hospice Foundation is hosting a free online Bereavement Information evening at 7pm on December 8th.

About this event

Irish Hospice Foundation is hosting a free online Bereavement Information evening at 7pm on December 8th.

We will provide an online space to share some reflections on bereavement and to help people to find out about the supports available.

This event is for all: you may have experienced a bereavement this year or at an earlier time, or you may be concerned about a child or friend who is grieving and you wish to help.

We know that the last 2 years have been a difficult and isolating time. We hope that our event will provide some connection and solace.

Please join us from 7pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday December 8th.

This event is free to attend, but registration is​ required, and further details can be found on the following link: Living with Loss Tickets, Wed 8 Dec 2021 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

This event is kindly sponsored by Fanagans.