Spirit of community alive and well in Ballyphehane; everything from food to musical instruments shared
Apple Lu, a post-graduate UCC student from Taiwan recently contacted the Cork City Community Response Forum (CRF) asking where she could acquire a mandolin and ukulele during Covid-19.
Local resident and founder of Ballyphehane Club Ceoil, Maurice Dineen, responded to the appeal and lent the student both musical instruments so she could set to work and get jamming.
"A friend of mine, Kieran O'Connell, is involved with the CRF and got in touch with me after they got the phone call with the request.
"I have plenty of instruments lying around so I was happy to help," Maurice told .
At the helm of Ballyphehane Club Ceoil, Maurice gives music lessons to members of the community in Deerpark CBS.
Since establishing the organisation in 2008, Club Ceoil has expanded it's offering to cookery classes, sign language classes, Irish conversation classes and more.
As well as delivering the mandolin and ukulele to the UCC student yesterday, Maurice also wrote out some notes instructing Alpa Lu how on how to tune them and some beginners music books to help her get started.
The gesture of kindness is one of many examples of how community spirit is burning bright in Ballyphehane.
Across Ballyphehane, prescriptions are being collected regularly from local chemists, dogs walked for people who can’t leave their homes and pensions collected by members of the CRF.
Ballyphehane /Togher CDP is making twice weekly 'check-in' phone calls to up to 160 older people, people with disabilities and to families who normally use their early year services.
Staff from their community creche, An Cliabhán have also dropped games and books to these local families to help counter cabin fever.
The CDP is also running online yoga classes via WhatsApp so that vulnerable people can remain active whilst they stay at home.
They are also distributing up to 30 food boxes a week, made up of fresh and dry food, to local individuals and families.
Furthermore, Meals on Wheels at Ballyphehane Community Centre continues to deliver hot food to the homes of scores of older people every day.
The CRF dedicated helpline is available from 8am-8pm seven days a week at 1800-222-226.
Support can also be accessed via covidsupport@corkcity.ie
