All About Cork: Hospice garden space to offer sanctuary to families

Marymount Hospital and Hospice will officially open its new garden space on Thursday, July 4.

The Marymount Garden Project aims to create a sanctuary for people to spend cherished moments with their loved ones while finding solace in nature during challenging times.

Cobh ornithologist Seán Ronayne, who features in a recently aired documentary illustrating the beauty and importance of sound and what listening can tell us about the state of our natural world, will officially launch the garden and deliver a talk about birds native to the area.

Mr Ronayne appeared on The Tommy Tiernan Show earlier this year to discuss his mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland — almost 200 birds — and the documentary film directed by Kathleen Harris and produced by Ross Whitaker and Aideen O’Sullivan for True Films aired on RTÉ One on May 26.

He has already visited the new outdoor space to examine its birdlife as part of his project, identifying over 20 species of bird including mallards, blackbirds, goldfinches, wrens, dunnocks and swallows, among others.

The project comprises an arrival garden, a remembrance garden, a wildflower spiral meadow situated on a land-protected fairy fort, and a grove designed for families to gather, the total cost of which was donated by Friends of Leukaemia Cork.

It is a collaboration with local Cork designer Valerie Bond and West Cork-based landscaper Colm Cronin, whose aim it was to deliver gardens that will provide a place of serenity and calm for patients, families and staff at the facility.

Part of the Marymount Garden Project involved inviting 12 Cork-based artists to the garden to create an artistic response to the garden.

One final work from each artist will feature in Marymount Garden Project Calendar for 2025.

Summer Camp Spaces

The last remaining spaces on a Bishopstown-based children’s summer camp are now available to book.

Leisureworld Bishopstown is encouraging people to sign up for the final remaining spaces on its summer camp.

The camp will feature a mix of pool activities, outdoor games, and arts and crafts.

Spaces for the camp, which kicks off in July, can be booked online by visiting https://bit.ly/42Ni2KJ, by calling 021 434 6505 or emailing info@leisureworldcork.com.

There are seven five-day camps to choose from this summer.

Those interested in signing their children up for the camp, which costs €130, are encouraged to book now to secure their child’s spot as spaces are limited.

Lunch ’n’ Learn networking

Those interested in improving their business are being encouraged to attend an event being hosted by Cork College of FET - Bishopstown Campus and the Department of Social Protection next month.

The ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ networking event will take place at the Midleton Park Hotel on Monday, June 17 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.

The event aims to give attendees the opportunity to gain insights and access supports to help successfully boost their businesses.

It is suited to entrepreneurs who are just starting out on their business journey or have been in business for years and will deliver valuable insights, training opportunities, networking opportunities, and practical tips to take their business to the next level.

The event will include a presentation on supports available from the Department of Social Protection.

MTU timber projects recognised with awards

Students from Munster Technological University (MTU) were recognised for their outstanding timber projects at the 2nd annual Cygnum Awards held in Bishopstown recently.

The awards took place last Friday at MTU’s Architecture Factory in Bishopstown and saw students from MTU’s architecture, civil engineering and construction departments receive awards.

For the second year running, Cygnum, one of Ireland’s largest timber frame manufacturers, sponsored the awards, recognised the most innovative timber-based projects led by MTU students.

Students across the three departments were set three different challenges. Each first-place entry received a €500 prize, with €300 for second place and a €200 award for third prize.

Students on the civil engineering materials module were tasked with completing a report on Cygnum and the timber frame industry in Ireland.

Barry O’Donovan took the first-place award, with Neddy Petrousse coming in second, and Alexandre Le Thuaut and Gearóid O’Sullivan as runners-up.

Fourth-year architectural technology students undertook a project that looked at the retrofit of an office building with an extension in CLT/Glulam.

The first-place prize was awarded to Robert Wharton and Jack Power came in second. First-year students were asked to design a timber-frame artist’s cabin, designing and building a physical model with a timber structure in the process. Cria Flanagan received the top mark for her project.

Fourth-year students in both quantity surveying and construction management were invited to examine and research the impact of modern methods of construction. Jack O’Sullivan was awarded the first-place prize, Daniel O’Connell came in second and Seán Crowley rounded out the podium placements in third.

Director of Sales at Cygnum, Heber McMahon, said the quality of the projects “were outstanding and should be commended”.

“The use of timber frame construction can give a 60% net carbon saving on a four bedroomed detached house when compared to standard masonry,” she said.

“We are a more efficient system that produces less waste and reduces embodied energy in construction. It’s a win-win.”

Credit Union energy day

Bishopstown Credit Union is hosting a green energy loan information day today at its branch on Curraheen Rd.

The green energy loan information day, which will run from 9.30am to 5pm, gives people the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights into how to take a greener approach to making their homes more energy efficient.

Experts from Energywise Ireland and Energy Glazing will be on hand to answer questions about how to make a home more energy efficient.

The Bishopstown Credit Union lending team will also be available to discuss financing options for green home improvements.

Have Bisphopstown news to share? Contact breda.graham@theecho.ie