All About Cork: Kurling and campaigning in Douglas

Lord Mayor Cllr McCarthy goes poster free for election

Ahead of the upcoming local elections on June 7, Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy has gone poster free on poles across the southeast local electoral area.

The Lord Mayor said: “I have been particularly inspired by the work of Douglas Tidy Towns who have advocated the non-postering of posters in Douglas Village.

I also have a very keen and active interest and participation in promoting the environment and heritage in the city.

“To those asking about if I am still running because they don’t see my poster – as an independent candidate I am very much in the race in this local election in the south east local electoral area of Cork city. I have been canvassing for several weeks at this moment in time.

“I won’t get to each of the more than 15,000 houses in the electoral area, but certainly and against the backdrop of a very busy Mayoralty post, I am daily trying to knock on doors in the various districts of my local electoral area.

“My manifesto is online at www.kieran mccarthy.ie, which champions aspects such as public parks, environmental programmes, city centre and village regeneration, and the curation of personal community projects such as my historical walking tours, said Cllr McCarthy .”

Cllr McCarthy continues his suburban historical walking tour series next Saturday, May 18, at 11am, with a walking tour of Ballinlough. The meeting point is at Ballintemple Graveyard, Temple Hill. The tour is free, two hours and no booking is required.

“With 360 acres, Ballinlough is the second largest of the seven townlands forming the Mahon Peninsula.

The area has a deeper history dating back to Bronze Age Ireland. In fact it is one of very few urban areas in the country to still have a standing stone still standing in it for more than 5,000 years.

“My walk will highlight this heritage along with tales of big houses such as Beaumont and the associated quarry, rural life in nineteenth century Ballinlough and the development of Ballinlough’s twentieth century suburban history,” he concluded.

Young at Heart host annual kurling competition

Author Ying-Tai to read at library next Wednesday

Next Wednesday morning at Douglas Library at 11.30am, one of Taiwan’s most acclaimed writers, Ying-Tai Chang, will be reading from the English translations of her work.

It’ll be a rare opportunity for Douglas-based book lovers to enjoy a taste of some renowned international literature.

Librarian Yvonne Moloney has also asked local author, Billy O’Callaghan, to read as well which he said he is “glad and proud to do”.

The event is free and everyone is welcome and it will be a lively and entertaining way to pass the late morning.

Cllr Shannon welcomes sports capital grant funding

The recent announcement by Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne of the allocation of sports capital funding has been warmly welcomed by Cllr Terry Shannon.

“The total allocation for the city is nearly €3m and the South East Ward does quite well,” he said.

The following clubs have been allocated significant funding towards the purchase of equipment which will greatly enhance their ability to provide top class coaching and training for their members.

Ashton Hockey Club, €27,571.

 Cork Boat Club, €70,000.

Douglas Community School Bowls Club, €4,997.

Douglas Gymnastics Club, €40,000.

Douglas Ladies GFC, €22,311.

Shandon Boat Club, €200,000.

Sunday’s Well Swimming Club, €6,000.

Cork City Football Club, €69,500.

The larger capital sports grants will be announced in the coming weeks.

This announcement follows the recently announced Cork City Council Sports Capital Grants where €500,000 was allocated to clubs throughout the city to support their activities. 

Nearly €2.5m has been allocated to clubs throughout the city in the lifetime of this council through the sports committee founded by Cllr Seán Martin who chairs it and Cllr Shannon many years ago to support and enhance sports throughout the city. Cork City council is unique in this.

“I am delighted to support many of these clubs financially also,” concluded Cllr Shannon.

Ballinlough Writers Group

The next meeting of the Ballinlough Writers Group will be at the community centre this coming Friday, May 17, from 5.30pm.

If you are new to this, please note The Ballinlough Writers Group meet on the third Friday of every month and it’s open to all people, including beginners, interested in writing. So even if you’re only half interested please come along and check us out. 

"We look forward to meeting you, enquiries 087 1672715."

Have Douglas news you want to share? 

Contact Rory Noonan here.