We Are Back with Pride in Our Community for 2021

 

We are very pleased to announce that Pride in Our Community 2021 competition will take place this year.

The Competition will go ahead under an adapted format to comply with public health guidelines. Groups in Cork County and in Cork City can enter online here

Judging

All community groups who confirm entry to the competition will be visited by members of the judging Panel from Mid July to End of August 2021. 

The judging will take place in line with government restrictions. There will be no personal contact between the judges and the participants. 

Members of community groups working on and around their project entry should do so in line with government restrictions 

To avoid unnecessary travel by our judges we will need confirmation that your project is still in the competition and we will contact you before the end of June 2021 to confirm your entry.

Marking Scheme The Judges decision is Final            

This year because of the impact of Covid 19 and to encourage groups to maintain existing projects we will accept the inclusion of existing projects including those previously entered.                                            

Amenity Project (50 marks)

Effort put into the development of the Project, Sustainability, Innovation.

Litter Control (25 marks)

The condition of the town/ village/area and around the project.

Overall Impression (25 Marks)

The appearance of the town/village/area and how the area has been developed and maintained.

Is the project part of an overall plan for the area?

Awards Presentation.

All groups who enter and complete their project will be invited to A Gala Awards Ceremony in October 2021 This may be held online

INVITATION: WRITE YOUR CLIMATE STORY

“The Climate Perspectives Series”

By Cork County Council’s Climate Action Unit in conjunction with the Age Friendly County Programme and the Older Peoples Council (OPC)

Older people have an advantage: They have watched it happen. 

Cork County Council invites the older people of Cork to contribute their wisdom and insights to a compilation they are preparing on climate change.   Climate change is complicated and can often feel far removed from our lives.  Sharing our personal stories of climate change can place our experiences into context and can help us understand how it is relevant to our lives.  We believe that older people have a unique role to play in sharing their knowledge and experience, from which we can all learn.

We would like you to write a ‘’Climate Story’’

A climate story is a personal account of climate change from your experience and observations.  It can include answers to such questions as:

• How have I noticed climate change in my life?
• Has there been a change in nature or in your locality, that has been affected by climate?
• How have you been affected by climate change? Maybe through storms, flooding or extreme heat
• What would you like to say to generations coming after you in terms of climate change?

While these climate stories are individual perspectives, it is our collective stories that have the power to shift the narrative and nurture a common ground where change can begin.  To contribute to this area, Cork County Council intend to take a selection of the stories submitted and create a short collection. 

Climate Story Submission Guidelines:

Please submit your climate story (No more than 700 words) to the Climate Action Unit (details below).  Your submission can be a short story or a poem and could include 1-2 photographs.  Your entry may be selected to be included in the compilation and if so, you will receive a small gift for your participation.

The following prompts offer some guidance for you to reflect on and to help you find your climate story.

 

PROMPT#1:  What is your experience of climate change?  How have you been impacted, what observations have you noticed PROMPT#2:  How have you been thinking about climate change lately?  What have you heard recently?  What aspect resonates personally? PROMPT#3: “To create a better future, we must imagine ourselves there”.  IMAGINE – what will a better world look like to you and describe it? PROMPT#4:  Look over your writing as a whole – what are the big themes and points that connect your story together

 Submission Details:  Submit by 30^th June 2021

 

You must be resident in the County of Cork to submit and this initiative is targeted at older people (over 55’s).  Please send your submission, along with your e-mail address and phone number to: 

Email to:  energy@corkcoco.ie OR

Post to: The Climate Action Unit, Cork County Council, Annabella Mallow, Cork County P51 Y6YT

 

We thank you in advance for your participation and look forward to receiving your submissions.

 

www.corkcoco.ie

Walk-in (no appointment) Covid-19 testing in East and West Cork

Walk-in (no appointment) Covid-19 testing in East and West Cork A pop-up Covid-19 test site will run at Midleton GAA club will run for three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm. We are very grateful to Midleton GAA club for their support in providing a location for this temporary testing. This is part of a planned roll-out of walk-in testing in several parts of the region in recent weeks, and has been planned for the last fortnight by CKCH, the National Ambulance Service and Public Health experts. Meanwhile, no-appointment testing is being extended at the West Cork (Dunmanway) test centre at Randal Og GAA club. Testing is available Mondays to Saturdays, from 9am to 5pm. This testing at the Dunmanway test centre will run until Tuesday May 4th and will be reviewed again at that point. This no-appointment testing is available to anyone aged 16 and over and who does not have Covid-19 symptoms. Everyone attending for testing needs to bring a photo ID and a mobile phone number to receive their results. Acting Director of Public Health (HSE South) Dr Anne Sheahan thanked those who have come forward for this kind of testing so far. “By coming forward for testing when you don’t have symptoms, you are helping the entire community to keep Covid-19 under control. The level of Covid-19 infection in Cork remains low and walk-in testing like this is one of the ways we can make sure that continues. I encourage anyone in the region to take up this opportunity for testing as it will help us to contain the small number of cases of Covid-19 in the region.” Head of Health and Wellbeing with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Priscilla Lynch said there has been a great reaction to the no-appointment testing initiative from the people of West Cork, and the addition of pop-up testing in East Cork is a welcome addition to the ongoing efforts to detect and contain cases of Covid-19. “Thank you to everyone who has presented for a test so far. Taking up this opportunity for testing even when you don’t have symptoms will help us to go a step further again in containing any cases.” Ms Lynch thanked the teams in Midleton and Dunmanway for their efforts, and also thanked the national ambulance service for their support in setting up the temporary testing location in Midleton. Walk-in test centres of this kind have opened in a number of locations around the country in recent weeks. These no appointment necessary testing centres offer those with no symptoms of Covid-19 an opportunity to be tested, allowing for the raising of awareness. The testing service for those with symptoms and those who are close contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19, which are arranged via GPs will also continue to operate as usual at Cork’s existing test centre in Cork city and West Cork. You should use this free, walk-in COVID-19 testing service if you: -are aged 16 years and over -do not have symptoms of Covid-19 but would like to be tested -have not tested positive for Covid-19 in the last six months -Remember, it’s 1 test per person. You must bring photo identification with you and provide us with a mobile telephone number so we can contact you with your results. Social distancing measures will apply as people attend for testing. If the waiting times are too long for you, you are welcome to return at another time or day. The Eircode for Midleton GAA club is P25 TD73.

Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Tourism Training for Spring 2021

 

Avondhu Blackwater Partnership is delighted to announce our Tourism Training for Spring 2021 funded under the EU LEADER Programme 2014-2020. 

This course is designed to support a wide range of customer focused businesses including owners, employees and community based organisations to meet the challenges and opportunities which Summer 2021 and beyond presents. 

In particular, you can look forward to learning about:

• eMarketing and Social Media 
• Search Engine Optimisation 
• Marketing and Branding 
• Customer Service 
• Tourism Business Diversification 

Where: Online

When: Commences Friday May 7th @ 10am 

Duration: 5 sessions

How Much: Free

Registration is simple via: https://avondhutraining.com/ 

Places are limited so please reserve early to avoid disappointment.

If you would like any additional information please call or email Niall Walshe on 022-46580 or niall@avondhublackwater.com 

Upcoming Events: 'Storytelling for Business' delivered by E-T-C.ie: Participants in our Tourism Training will be given priority access to our upcoming Storytelling training for business, in which participants will gain an insight into the relevance of storytelling for business and brands, and they will learn how to build a framework to develop and hone their own business story. Places are limited to just 15... More to follow soon. 

We look forward to welcoming you online. 

Please feel free to forward this email to interested parties within your community or put it up on your Social Media pages.

Go Fishing Week 2021

 

Go Fishing Week 2021 programme of events to get people in Cork “hooked” on fishing

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has announced the line-up of virtual events for Go Fishing Week 2021. IFI invites people in Cork and nationwide to participate in the free online events. The week is a national celebration of fishing and this year is being held online with a programme of virtual events, competitions and social media content. The programme of events will spread awareness of a series of themes over the week including sustainability, protecting habitats and wellbeing benefits. All events are free to attend and partake in and will be accessible for all to join in online. The virtual “Lunch & Learn” webinar details are as follows:

• Sunday 25th of April- Dr William Roche from the Irish Specimen Fish Committee (IFSC) will give a talk on “Irish Specimen Fish- what’s the story”. To sign up to this free webinar click here.
• Monday 26th of April- Bernard Cahill, Education and Sport Development Executive at Irish Water Safety (IWS) will give a talk on “Water Safety for Anglers”. To sign up to this free webinar click here.
• Tuesday 27th of April- Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann will talk about “How the weather on our inland lakes is forecast and the importance of knowing the weather for angling safety”. To sign up to this free webinar click here.
• Wednesday 28th of April- Brian Coghlan, Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland will give a talk on “Barriers to fish migration”. To sign up to this free webinar click here. Catherine Hayes, Inland Fisheries Ireland will give the talk “Something fishy programme – a lesson for teachers!”, sign up here.
• Thursday 29th of April- Dr Tara Gallagher and Nicola O’Gorman from Research and Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland will speak about “Ireland’s Rare Fish”. To sign up to this free webinar click here.
• Friday 30th of April- Dr Ciaran Byrne, Inland Fisheries Ireland will give a talk on “Climate change impacts on our inland fisheries”. To sign up to this free webinar click here.
• Saturday 1st of May- Ken Whelan, Research Director at the Atlantic Salmon Trust will give a talk on “The Amazing life of Atlantic salmon at sea”. To sign up to this free webinar click here.

Along with the webinars there will be a range of podcasts including one on the “Wildlife of the Garavogue River”, “How to…” videos, blogs, competitions and lots more on Inland Fisheries Ireland social media pages. Find us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/inlandfisheriesireland and on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/InlandFisherIE. Use the hashtag #GoFishingWeek2021 when posting about events and competitions associated with Go Fishing Week.

As part of the event Inland Fisheries Ireland will be running a ‘My Favourite Fishing Place’ photo competition. The competition is a chance to share a place where you love to fish and to let us know about some of the fishing adventures you have gone on.

To learn more about what is happening and how you can get involved, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie/gofishingweek.

National Biodiversity Week – May 17th to 23rd 2021

 National Biodiversity week takes place from May 17^th to May 23^rd 2021. Spanning the week area a number of key dates including International Bee Day on May 20^th; International Day of Biological Diversity on May 22^nd and on either side of the week – National Dawn Chorus on May 16^th and European Day of Parks on May 24^th. As always some excellent groups organize an array of talks and events for the week and details will be added to the upcoming heritage events section of www.corkcoco.ie once announced.  

County Cork Commemorations Grant Scheme 2021

Cork County Council has launched the County Cork Commemorations Grant Scheme for 2021, with support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This year’s scheme recognises the importance of the War of Independence and Civil War and will support the enthusiasm that exists within the county to commemorate the centenary of this defining period of Irish history.

In 1921, some key events were the execution of Con Murphy from Millstreet which was the first execution under martial law of the conflict, and notable ambushes such as the Dripsey Ambush, the Upton Train Ambush, the Clonmult Ambush, and a landmine explosion in Youghal that killed eight people. From the 1920-1923 period it is estimated that over 700 people lost their lives due to the War of Independence and Civil War.

The 2021 Scheme will support local groups, organisations and individuals to commemorate significant local events, through a range of projects targeted at all ages. Particular consideration will also be given to initiatives that demonstrate local connections to significant historical events that occurred in 1921, including the Signing of the Truce, the Anglo-Irish Treaty Negotiations and Debates, and the Signing of the Treaty.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley welcomed the fund saying;

“The County of Cork played a pivotal role in the Anglo-Irish War of Independence and the ensuing Civil War. These events form part of our living history, informing who we are as a nation today and providing us with a way to reflect on where we have come from. It is thanks to the many amateur and professional scholars and volunteers that we can enrich our understanding of our history and share it with the world. This scheme aims to support the community groups who allow us to connect with the hundred-year history of our nationhood. The range of projects that can be applied for is considerable, including endeavours of an artistic and creative nature. I encourage all those with an idea to consider making an application to the scheme.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey noted;

“Cork County Council and its Commemorations Committee, through the Commemoration Grant Scheme 2021, seeks to ensure that County Cork’s participants in the War of Independence and Civil War are remembered. We look forward to building on the successes of the 2020 Scheme, which saw 50 groups supported in the region of €80,000 for a variety of commemorative projects within the county. Thanks to the many community groups supported by the Council, our shared heritage provides an excellent cultural resource for residents of Cork County and for visitors seeking to learn more about us.”

Full details of the County Cork Commemorations Fund 2021 and the application form can be downloaded by clicking here as well as on www.yourcouncil.ie. The closing date for proposals and application forms is 17:00 on Monday 17^th May 2021, which can be made online; emailed to commemorations@corkcoco.ie, or posted to ‘County Cork Commemorations Fund 2021, Cork County Council, Floor 3, County Hall, Cork.

Details of the Decade of Centenaries Second Phase Guidance 2018–2023 is available online at www.chg.gov.ie and a timeline of centenary events in County Cork is available on www.corkcoco.ie/arts-heritage in the upcoming events page of the Heritage Section.

Cork County Council’s Commemorations Committee has supported many hundreds of commemorative undertakings since its inception in April 2015. For further information email commemorations@corkcoco.ie or phone 021 4276891.

€70 Million Transitional LEADER Programme Funding Announced

 

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (9th April 2021) announced the details of the allocation of the €70 million Transitional LEADER programme for the period 2021-2022.

·         €65 million is being allocated to support locally-led rural development projects across the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs)

·         €3 million is being allocated to support the LEADER Co-operation measure which encourages rural areas to work together on collaborative projects

·         €2 million will be allocated to prepare for the next LEADER Programme

Minister Humphreys has also today published the funding allocations being provided to each of the 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs). Announcing details of the new programme today, Minister Humphreys said: “Last week, I launched Our Rural Future, the Government’s ambitious new policy for the development of rural Ireland. As I said at the launch Government alone does not have all the answers and there can be no one-size-fits all approach. Every Town, Village and Parish is different and that means the people best placed to effect change in their communities are the people who live there. LEADER has always been about a ground up, community led approach and that’s why I am delighted to announce details of this new €70million fund today.” Minister Humphreys continued: “This funding will support locally-led projects which focus on many of the key themes of Our Rural Future such as building capacity and empowering local communities, embracing opportunities in the green economy, supporting remote working and the digital transformation, developing our outdoor amenities and creating jobs in rural areas.”

Minister Humphreys concluded: “The new programme is now open for applications and I would encourage communities and local enterprises who wish to avail of funding to make contact with their Local Development Company to discuss how the LEADER Programme can assist their plans. If the pandemic has taught us anything it is to think outside the box so if you have an innovative idea that can make a real difference in your community then pick up the phone and contact your local LEADER company today.”

Contact details for all Local Action Groups and their Implementing Partners (Local Development Companies) can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c45498-local-action-groups/.

The Skibbereen Heritage Map

 

Another new heritage asset has been created for the town of Skibbereen by Skibbereen Heritage Centre. The 'Skibbereen Heritage Map' features over 60 sites of interest in Skibbereen with links to videos, in-depth history blogs and heritage 'snippets', all researched and compiled by staff at the heritage centre.

"We are delighted to have found this forum as a way to share the history of our town with a worldwide audience", said centre manager Terri Kearney. "Since lockdown, there has been a huge demand for online resources and we have been working hard to provide that content, digitising burial registers, making videos of local sites and now providing this heritage map".

The map is free of charge to use and can be found under the History/Articles tab of the Skibbereen Heritage Centre website www.skibbheritage.com.

As well as the history of notable buildings, the map also has links to stories about some of the people who once lived in Skibbereen – such as Walter Kindred who opened a sawmill in Ilen Street after returning from his grand tour of India in a Rolls Royce.

"We will continue to add to the map over time and we are also working hard to digitise more local burial registers and create more videos", said Terri, "We've had such positive feedback to our work from users all over the world, some of whom will, hopefully, come to visit these sites in person someday."

The website www.skibbheritage.com also has 'vintage videos' of other sites around West Cork, graveyard and Famine videos, as well as a range of other genealogy resources.

Link: https://skibbheritage.com/skibbereen-history-map/

Online Community Education course

                 

                  Fermoy Further Education and Training Centre

Steps to Greener Living

Starting online via Zoom

Friday April 23^rd, 12.30 – 2.30

 

This free online course will explore how we can care better for our environment and reduce our carbon footprint. 

The course will also look at how we can contribute our voice as citizens to the Irish government’s public consultation on climate action.

Ring or text for more information and to book a place:   086 8238758

                or email fermoyaec@corketb.ie

Living Well Programme

 Living Well is a Free group programme for adults living with long term health condition. 

The programme is delivered by people also living with long-term health conditions

The programme is delivered by people also living with long-term health conditions.  For further information or to book a place contact - Michael Healy Living Well Coordinator at:

Michael.Healy4@hse.ie or phone 087 1832648.

A Special Announcement Cork Schools Garden Competition 2021

 It is with regret that we must announce that in the light of the current Covid 19 pandemic, we will NOT be running a schools Garden Competition this year.

We in Muintir na Tire delayed making a final decision on this for as long as we could while the schools were closed. 

We finally took this decision having consulted with our Partners and the schools. 

We look forward to running the competition again for 2022

The School Garden Team

Should your group register as a charity?

The Charities Act 2009 and the creation of the Charities Regulator have radically reformed the charity law landscape. The key functions of the Charities Regulator are to establish and maintain a public register of charitable organisations operating in Ireland and ensure their compliance with the Charities Acts.

There is no one set structure for charities. A ‘charitable organisation’ may be:

a charitable trust, a body corporate, or an unincorporated body of persons.

Should your group register as a charity?

If the answer to all three of the following questions is 'yes', then your organisation should apply for registration as a charity:

1. Does your organisation wish to operate in the Republic of Ireland?

2. Does your organisation have exclusively charitable purposes?

3. Does your organisation provide a clear public benefit, in this country or elsewhere?

Offences committed under the Charities Act 2009.

There are severe penalties which may apply if there is an offence committed under the Charities Act 2009.

Offences include advertising on behalf of an unregistered charitable organisation, inviting donations to an unregistered charitable organisation, accepting gifts on behalf of a charitable organisation, or representing that an organisation which is not registered as a charity is registered as a charitable organisation. Charity trustees may also be liable where an offence has been committed by a charitable organisation.

Other offences include not keeping proper books of account or making false statements to the Charities Regulator. 

Upon summary conviction a person becomes liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both. Upon conviction on indictment, a person becomes liable to a fine not exceeding €300,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both.

Where the offence is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person who was purporting to act in such capacity, that person shall, as well as the body corporate, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the offence concerned.

Over the next few weeks we will publish information and links to help you apply to be recognised as a charity.

Michael Collins, The Young Fella

Body

A new documentary, ‘The Young Fella’, funded by Cork County Council’s Commemoration Committee and Michael Collins House, is set to premiere Friday April 16th.

Much has been said about Michael Collins’ life, but the focus is nearly always on his later years. Biographies of ‘The Big Fella’ tend to focus heavily on the revolutionary activity that dominated his final decade. But what about his younger years?

‘The Young Fella’ explores the key events and influences of his formative years and uncovers the deeper story of Michael Collins. Directed by Clonakilty native Samuel Kingston (The Brigade), the story of ‘The Young Fella’ is fittingly produced in Collins’ hometown.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, commended the project, saying,

“As our decade of commemorations continue, this film is a fitting tribute to Cork’s famous revolutionary leader, who in his brief lifetime achieved so much for his country. His legacy continues today, and this wonderful film offers a unique insight into the early years which shaped his destiny. A great achievement.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey commented,

“Here in County Cork we take great pride in remembering those people in history who have shaped our lives right up to the present day. Cork County Council’s Michael Collins House is dedicated to the Irish patriot, whose early life is explored in this film. Our historical heritage here in County Cork is an invaluable asset and Cork County Council is always seeking new ways to support and promote our heritage. This film will introduce some people to the story of Michael Collins’ or at the very least, to a brand-new perspective on it.”

The documentary centres around a group of six secondary school students who go on a journey to discover the local history of Michael Collins. History is brought to life and Collins story is told through the students as they visit local sites, meet with local historians and even sit the 1906 Civil Service Exam that Collins passed. They learn about his day to day life, his school life, his friends and family and what influenced his early political beliefs. Collins teenage years are put into perspective as they unveil the story of a normal, rural West Cork boy as he develops into a young man with an extraordinary life ahead of him. Michael Collins was just sixteen when he left Clonakilty for London, the same age as these students who reflect on life now and life then, helping to get a sense of what life was like for ‘The Young Fella’.

The documentary will premiere on the Michael Collins House YouTube channel at 8pm on Friday April 16th, 2021, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the burning of Michael Collins childhood home at Woodfield by members of the Essex Regiment of the British Army.

 

Cork County Council Announces Funding of €136,000 for Arts Organisations and Artists

 81 Artists and Arts Organisations are set to receive funding totalling €136,000 from Cork County Council Arts Grants Scheme 2021. Following a very difficult year for the Arts Sector, the Council hopes that the funding provided in this year’s Arts Grants Scheme will help to revitalise arts in the county and pave the way for a return to cultural spaces and events later this year, in line with public health guidelines

Welcoming the announcement, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley said,

“Over the past twelve months we have seen the detrimental impact of Covid-19 on the Arts Sector and on our social, cultural and everyday lives. While current restrictions mean that some festivals will continue with online programmes, many have moved their programmes to the Autumn in anticipation of live events resuming safely.  This need to innovate and work creatively to overcome difficulties and create meaningful opportunities for public engagement in the Arts is clear from the projects that have been awarded as part of this year’s Arts Grants Scheme. This funding will enable festivals, artists and voluntary arts organisations to deliver projects that will have a real impact on revitalising local communities and putting art at the heart of 2021.”

The Arts Grants Scheme provides funding for a range of arts and cultural activities while also supporting festivals, voluntary arts groups, professional artists and youth arts, as well as a range of inclusive arts programmes reaching the elderly and those with disability.  Cork County Council is one of the few local authorities that has a specific scheme supporting Irish Language Arts and will provide funding to four projects in this area. This recent initiative was developed to support Irish language use by encouraging arts organisations and artists to develop creative projects that are Irish language based.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey echoed the importance of these supports to ensure the Arts remains accessible to all in Cork County,

“While the annual economic benefit of the Arts events funded by this scheme is estimated to have been in excess of €5 million prior to Covid-19, the social, cultural and community impact is invaluable.” Last year, Cork County Council’s support of the Arts enabled many groups to continue their work through a particularly challenging period. Arts funding has helped organisations and artists to adapt and improvise in 2020 and we will see the benefits of this as further funding is made available this year. For 2021, our aim is to see the Arts thrive and in turn help revitalise our towns and public spaces by allowing all our citizens to actively participate in the creative arts.”

Cork County Council’s Arts Grants Scheme is designed to support events, activities and new initiatives that enhance public access to the Arts and will support cultural development in all eight of the county’s Municipal Districts. The announcement of the 2021 Arts grant recipients signals the first steps towards plans for a safe resumption of many cultural activities in communities across the county.