All About Cork: €37,655 raised for Pieta by local Darkness to Light walk

For Darkness into Light Ballincollig this year 1,600 walkers raised €37,655.

Darkness into Light (DIL) raises funds for Pieta, a charity that promotes awareness of suicide prevention.

Tens of thousands of people took part in DIL events before dawn on Saturday, May 11 this year across the country.

Most of these events took the form of walks to raise funds for Pieta.

Fifty-one new walks were held in Ireland this year, out of a total of 180.

Caitríona Casey, a member of the Ballincollig DIL organising committee, said the organisers were “thrilled” with the amountof money raised.

“As a community, Ballincollig is an amazing place, and this is a community project which couldn’t be done without the assistance of so many community organisations, the schools, the clubs, the businesses, the committee itself, and everybody who gets involved,” Ms Casey said.

“Without the support of everyone in the community, we just wouldn’t be able to run the event every year.”

Ms Casey said DIL has been happening annually in Ballincollig since 2017, although the global pandemic meant events were scaled back for a while.

“We’ve done about five official events, and about two during covid, that were individual events.

“It has always been a community event that is about people coming together, and Ballincollig coming together as a community, to raise awareness and to raise money to help Pieta to provide its free services.

“It’s a great success yet again this year and that is a tribute to everybody who has been involved in the project,” she said.

To avail of Pieta services, visit www.pieta.ie or call 0818 111 126.

Vintage car run Sunday

The Ballincollig Vintage Motor Club is taking to the road on Sunday, September 1. The group will gather at Ballincollig Rugby Club at 11am. 

Registration and entry will cost €20 per car, with the 20-year rule applying, meaning every vehicle at the charity run must be 20 years or older.

The road trip will follow a route out to Inniscarra, on to Coachford, and then on to Donoughmore, where the crew will stop for refreshments, before returning home to Ballincollig by way of Grenagh, Courtbrack and Cloghroe.

All proceeds will go to national children’s cancer charity Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, and Don’t Give Up: Helping the Homeless.

The event is sponsored by John O’Riordan Garden Machinery in Ballincollig.

Open day at Irish Guide Dogs

Carrigrohane-based national charity Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind will hold its annual open day on Saturday, August 31.

Visit the charity’s training centre on the Model Farm Rd between 12pm and 4pm.

Visitors will be able to enjoy tours of the training centre’s facilities, grooming demonstrations, and guide and assistance dog demonstrations.

The charity will also hold its holiday voucher raffle on the day, with one winner to be chosen.

Entry to the open day is €5 per person or €10 for a family.

The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind training centre is on the Model Farm Rd, T12 WT4A.

There will be no parking on site during the open day, but a shuttle bus service will run from Ballincollig Primary Care Centre, P31 XN96, starting at 12pm.

See guidedogs.ie for further information

Folk and Americana music at The White Horse

Rebel Frequencies has announced a night of folk and Americana in Ballincollig’s The White Horse.

The show will begin at 8.30pm on Friday, August 30 and will feature Brooklyn-born Bradley Lauretti and Ballinora musician and songwriter Aoibheann Carey-Philpott.

Bradley Lauretti plays folk-rock anthems, indie folk, psychedelic alt-country, and is influenced by songwriters like John Prine, Billy Bragg, Gram Parsons, and Townes Van Zandt.

He has performed with the likes of Scarlet Rivera, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Kath Bloom, Tallest Man on Earth, and The Blank Tapes.

Aoibheann Carey-Philpott has toured as the lead vocalist with her band Jodavino, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and engaging performances. She has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Lionel Richie, Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, and Russell Watson.

Aoibheann is a renowned choral director, having previously led the Carrigtwohill Gospel Choir and directing the White Horse Gospel Choir since its inception in 2019. For more and to book tickets, see whitehorse.ie.

Lee Valley golf classic

On Thursday week, August 22, the Lee Valley Golf Club will host a golf classic to raise funds for the Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig.

The Westgate Foundation is a not-for-profit focused on providing quality services and supports to older people in the mid-Cork area.

For the golf classic, each team will be a three-person configuration. Early bird prices and fees for ladies’ teams are priced at €200.

From 11.10am to 4.30pm the fees are €250 per team, with meals included. Tee box sponsorship is €100, and contributions of €50.

For further details, contact the Westgate Foundation, West Village, Ballincollig, P31 TF34, on 021 4873648, email golfwestgate@gmail.com, or text or WhatsApp 085 1312643.

Road closed for resurfacing

The L2216 in Kilumney West will be closed for resurfacing from 7am until 8pm, daily, for eight days from August 14 until August 22.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted north along L-2207 at Station Road, Aherla, for the N22 east to junction 3 on the Ballincollig bypass and follow the signs for Kilumney. 

The diversion route is equally applicable in reverse when travelling in the opposite direction.

Local access will be maintained throughout the duration of the closure.

Ballincollig GAA Lotto

The numbers drawn in the weekly Ballincollig GAA Club lottery on Thursday, August 8, were: 4, 5, 17 and 35.

There was no winner drawn last week either, and consolation prizes went to Sharon Buckley (€100), Rebecca O’Callaghan (€50), and Chris McGrath (€50).

The next draw is on Thursday, August 15, with all proceeds going to Ballincollig GAA Club.

For details on how to enter the draw, see Ballincollig GAA Club’s various social media.

Have Ballincollig news to share? Contact Donal.okeeffe@theecho.ie