Drop -In Evening for those Bereaved by Suicide

Penultimate and final Day of Schools Garden Judging.

Today the Judges moved closer to the city with visits to Cobh, Douglas, Knockavilla Ballincollig,  and our very Special School of the Divine Child in Ballintemple.

Our first port of call was Cobh Mixed National School which overlooks Cork Harbour in a beautiful south facing aspect. Space here is at a premium but that has not deterred parents, teachers and parents from making full use of every square inch. Colour and Art are well used everywhere in  the garden. They have also managed to produce many vegetables and herbs by making use of upright Pallet gardening.






Douglas also has a link to our maritime history. During the Napoleonic War Sailcloth was produced locally in Douglas for the Royal Navy. Our vi it to Douglas was to St. Columbus Girls National School and we were greeted by a feast of colour and Art. The students here utilised the skills of parents and grandparents to create beautiful Fairy Houses which now adorn the garden. Food production is also to the fore as well as a hidden gem which they refer to as their 'Bog Garden'

Then it was on to Ballintemple in Cork City and the School of the Divine Child based in the Lavanagh Centre. Every year the teachers and pupils of this school have something new to unveil and they did not disappoint us this year either. One of the themes this year was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Henry Ford in Ireland. Another theme was based on Nursery Rhymes which the children use with much delight. Well done to all involved.

From Ballintemple we headed on to West Cork again to visit Knockavilla National School a few miles north West of Crossbarry. The rain did not deter our keen gardeners as they show us around this lovely school garden. A new addition to the garden is their new Polytunnel where they showed us a wide variety of fruit and vegetables of which they are very proud. They have also produced a wonderful Lighthouse Sculpture from recycled plant pots. Great work,

We then headed back through Killumney and on to Ballincollig for a visit to Scoil Mhuire Girls School. Again they were not deterred by the inclement weather as they gave us a tour of their garden.
Scoil Mhuire have also installed a polytunnel with help from a LA21 grant through Cork County Council. Beetroot potatoes tomatoes and other fruit and veg are thriving in the polytunnel. Well done to all involved.

Today was the final day for judging and they definitely kept the fine wine til last in this case.
We received a great welcome from Delores Daly and the rest of the staff and pupils of St Patrick's special school . This is a little oasis of colour and food production in Rochestown and the boys and girls have learned so much about about growing fruit and vegetables. Indeed I sampled one of their fine strawberries and it passed the taste test with flying colours. The colour and art is very evident here as the children's knowledge about their garden and how it grows. Well done to everyone involved.

To all thirty seven schools visited over the last few weeks on behalf of the judging panel I would like to thank you for your kindness and the pleasant welcome bestowed on us.

Keep on Gardening

Denis Kelly

East Cork Schools Blooming Great

Today was day six of our Cork Schools Garden Judging. This competition is organised by Cork County Federation of Muintir na Tire, which is a federation of over fifty Community Councils all over County Cork. This competition is run with great help from The Environment and Heritage sections of Cork County Council and our friends in Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, which is Ireland's only Five Star Garden Centre.

Our first port of call was Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire and their newly relocated school garden. The amount of work done already in this garden is tremendous and incorporates many elements including food production, Colour and Art and Upcycling. Thanks to all the teachers and pupils for a very warm Cead Mile Failte.

Then it was on to Carrigtwohill and another warm welcome in Scoil Clochair Mhuire which is about to become a co-educational next Bees Fairies and Goblin BFG Garden. There were lots of busy bees on hand to welcome us into their new section which is proving a great attraction to pupils and visitors alike.

Our next call was to the bustling town of Midleton and St. John the Baptist National School. This garden is an oasis of food production colour and nature in the town. They have developed a wonderful garden here which combines Colour Art and planting. They also sell their fresh organic produce to parents every week. Thanks again for the wonderful welcome.

Then we headed east to Kilcredan National School near Ladysbridge where they also have a wonderful garden with lots of Vegetables, herbs, fruit as well as plenty of Art and Colour and upcycling. Here also the children and teachers were very welcoming and knowledgable about their garden and they have recently started their own orchard with Pears Apple and Plum trees.

Our final visit of the day was to Ballycroneen National School near Cloyne. This is a newly developed garden with great potential on the site. They have lots of food production with vegetables herbs and flowers as well as colour and Art and upcycling. Once again the children were most welcoming and knowledgable about their garden. Well done to all in East Cork.

Tomorrow is the final day of judging and we are closer to the city with visits to Cobh, Douglas, Knockavilla Ballincollig, Rochestown and our very Special Schools.

Sabina Brennan to Speak in Schull

Hello all.

 I would greatly appreciated if you could please advertise this event through your network. This is a great community initiative and well worth attending. For further information please contact Nellie Cotter 0864087097

A "Say hello to Brain Health" talk will be given by Dr. Sabina Brennan at the Schull Harbour View Hotel on Friday June 9th at 8.30pm. Sabina Brennan is Director of NEIL Dementia Research Program at Trinity College, Dublin and she is head of a European Health Awareness Campaign committed to improving brain health. Dr. Brennans lectures widely sharing tips on how to maintain optimal brain health with a particular emphasis on protecting against dementia.

Everyone is invited to attend and admission is free.

Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund 2017

Environmental Awareness

Do you have a project or initiative that could help to increase awareness of environmental issues locally, or that could help your community to become more sustainable? 

If so, you may qualify for financial assistance from the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund 2017. This Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level.

Does Your Project Qualify?

Projects should focus on environmental awareness and actions which complement national environmental policies such as those on waste, biodiversity, water conservation and climate change.

A wide variety of projects and schemes have been supported under the Fund in previous years, including community gardens and allotments, compost schemes, rainwater harvesting, biodiversity projects, waste reduction initiatives, educational initiatives and environmental exhibitions. Lists of previously funded projects can be viewed online at:

http://dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/topics/environmental-protection-and-awareness

 

How to Apply

Applications are made directly to your local authority. Further information, application forms (in both Irish and English) and contact details for your local authority are available online at www.dccae.gov.ie

Applications must be made to your local authority no later than 5pm, 23 June 2017.

For general information on the Scheme please contact the LA21 Officer in your local authority.

Judges visit Cobh and North East Cork

Today is day five of the Muintir na Tire Schools Garden Competition which aim to support pupils, teachers in County Cork to bring nature, wildlife, plants and colour into their school garden/grounds, to promote horticulture and biodiversity and to give students a chance to interact with the environment and nature in a positive way. 

Our first visit to day was to the beautiful Coastal town of Cobh and the courtyard garden in Gaelscoil Ui Eigartaigh. This is the first time this school has entered the competition and they have achieved so much in their first year. Despite the rain today the children were very enthusiastic in showing us their work and knew so much about their garden and its elements.

Next up was a visit to Conna and a visit to the local national school who make great use of the very limited garden space. Despite the limitations of space everyone involved in  the school have managed to include vegetable growing, upcycling and biodiversity and lots of Colour and Art.

In Ballygiblin near the border with County Tipperary the local national school have also developed a beautiful Courtyard Garden with a solar powered water feature at its centre. They are planning to extend their garden to include extra elements in the future.

Umbrellas were again to the fore as we visited Mitchelstown CBS whose small garden incorporates so many elements. They include food production, upcycling, colour and art, rainwater harvesting, and many more especially fun and play

Our final visit visit of the day was to the beautiful village of Ballyhooly and the local national school. This school is very much involved in vegetable production and are producing vegetables of the highest quality. They also sell some of their produce to parents and others

We look forward to visiting some more schools next week. Lets hope we have better weather.

Galtee Walk Fab Day in the Country Side for Fathers Day

Fancy a road trip and a Fun Day out for all the Family on Fathers Day Sunday 18th June?

Then there's an open invitation to come join us for walking, talking, tea/coffee, fab day out in the countryside."

Go to our Dedicated Facebook Page to Find out More about this Healthy Day out.