All About Cork: Eight weeks of training for Couch to 5k to begin soon

Cork Sports Partnership is encouraging people to get involved in its Couch to 5K programme, which is being offered at Leisureworld Bishopstown as part of this year’s Her Outdoors Week.

The programme, which kicks off on August 20, will go on for eight weeks and get people from the Couch to 5km in that period.

It is for people who are new to jogging or running and also for people who are walking but perhaps would like to build up to jogging/running.

Organised by the Cork Sports Partnership with the support of local organisations, participants will work with a qualified and professional coach once a week for eight weeks, while also being encouraged to do extra themselves.

Participants will also receive workshops and extra sessions on various topics, including gear and warming up/cooling down.

The programme will run during Her Outdoors Week, which takes place from August 12 to 18.

The event celebrates and encourages more females to get out and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors, while bringing visibility to the opportunities for females to get involved in physical activity.

Cork Sports Partnership has teamed up with a number of national governing bodies of sport, local clubs, and organisations to provide free social sport and physical-activity opportunities for women and girls of all ages and abilities in communities all across Cork during the event.

The week of activities will include archery, beach volleyball, currach rowing, bank fishing, lacrosse, open water swimming, social soccer, kayaking, swim and sauna, and wakeboarding.

International Day plans

St Joseph’s Church-SMA Wilton is gearing up to celebrate its annual International Day where the church recognises the parish as ‘a family of nations’.

On Sunday, September 8, parishioners will acknowledge the nationalities that make up the SMA Wilton parish.

The church said it already had various nations committed to supporting the event and said some groups will take to the stage at the event to highlight some cultural delights.

People are being encouraged to get involved in the celebrations on the day by simply attending and flying their flag or by cooking some local delight from their country.

“So far, we have received commitments from India, Philippines, Ukraine, Brazil, Eritrea, and Ireland,” the church newsletter read.

“The more the better! Even if it is just to share with some cuisine from your country.”

Entrepreneurs show projects

Entrepreneurs are set to showcase projects they have developed during the Student Inc. Programme at the Rubicon Centre at Munster Technological University (MTU) Bishopstown campus.

Student Inc. is Ireland’s longest-running student accelerator programme that helps students turn their business ideas into a reality.

The 13-week full-time programme runs annually over the summer months of June, July and August for students from all years and academic disciplines.

Student Inc. provides students with seed funding and access to a network of entrepreneurs, trainers, mentors and investors across the South-west region.

This year, 16 students have been spending their summer developing their business ideas.

On August 22, they will showcase their work at MTU and all are welcome to attend.

FET apprentices are nominated for awards

Cork College of FET Bishopstown Campus has congratulated two of its commis chef apprentices who have been nominated for this year’s Apprentice of the Year award.

Fiona Kelleher, who works at the Montenotte Hotel, and Anna Mironova, who works in Jacks at Pilgrims Rest in Rosscarbery, were both nominated for this year’s awards.

An independent panel of judges will assess nominated apprentices in their contribution and achievement in leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving and will get an opportunity to showcase their contribution as part of the Ireland Skills Live event taking place from September 24 to September 27 in the RDS in Dublin.

An awards ceremony is planned for October 23 in Dublin.

The awards were first announced by then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris in 2022, when over 180 apprentices were nominated for the inaugural event.

Generation Apprenticeship said it is looking forward to seeing in the nominated apprentices great representation across all regions and inclusion of all current 66 apprenticeship occupations.

Library Lego workshop

Bishopstown Library is inviting people to don their medieval finery for a morning of Lego making and crafts.

As part of Heritage Week 2024, Bishopstown Library is hosting a Lego making workshop on August 19.

Participants can make their own swords, design their own crown or build their own castle.

The workshop will take place on August 19 from 10am to 11am.

Meanwhile, Cork City Libraries is reminding people that all branches are closed this August bank holiday weekend.

All branches, including Bishopstown Library, will close today at 5.30 pm and will reopen on Tuesday at 10 am.

Those who wish to renew their items or to avail of free online services can visit buff.ly/3aC7CCe during this time.

MTU e-learning programme

MTU is accepting applications for its full online MA in E-Learning Design & Development commencing in September.

The Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Innovation in Digital Education programme is aimed at those wishing to pursue a qualification in the burgeoning e-learning sector to work as designers and developers for e-learning and learning technology units which are becoming mainstream in a number of sectors and workplaces.

The programme is delivered entirely online using many of the same e-learning tools and technologies which also form the course curriculum, making the programme accessible to those who cannot commit to attending regular face-to-face lectures and labs.

It seeks to produce developers of cutting-edge, educationally effective e-learning solutions and graduates will go on to work as designers and developers.

The deadline for applications is August 10.

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