All About Cork: Tramore River Greenway links up local communities

The Turner’s Cross Climate Action Group enjoyed a “terrific evening” recently, at a local sign unveiling and Heritage Week event.

The local group, along with several others, recently hosted a walk along the Tramore River Greenway, which quietly snakes through Turner’s Cross/Ballyphehane and Togher, providing a unique link between these long-established Cork neighbourhoods.

The walking event, titled ‘Connecting Tramore River Communities’, was led by Turner’s Cross Climate Action Group in collaboration with Togher Tidy Towns and the wider Tramore River Communities Group, which also includes the Ballyphehane and Douglas Tidy Towns.

The event was organised to mark Heritage Week and to unveil new informational signs along the greenway.

In a statement, Turner's Cross Climate Action Group said they were proud of how the event went.

“What a terrific evening we had celebrating Heritage Week with the launch of our new signs along the Tramore River Greenway,” they stated.

“Thanks so much to everyone who attended - wonderful speakers on biodiversity and local heritage, gorgeous tunes, great food from Izz Cafe and very special guests from Friends of the Dripsey Rivers.

“And a special thanks to our friends in Tidy Towns Togher who made sure a wonderful evening was had by all.

“Hopefully, the whole Tramore River Community have contributed to the enjoyment of our greenway, now complete with new information signs.” In their own statement, Togher Tidy Towns said they were delighted to help out in hosting a “wonderful evening which gave great insight into the Tramore River, its natural life, history and heritage, supported by Cork City Council”.

“The event was opened by Ard Mhéara, Cllr Dan Boyle, and presentations were made by Mags O’Sullivan of the Cork Traveller Women's Network amongst others.

“The Tramore River has many friends from Ballyphehane Tidy Towns, Turners Cross and Douglas.

“Music was provided by Ceoltas Douglas and food provided by Izz Cafe, tableware by Route 14 - an excellent night indeed.”

Plant boxes vandalised

Ballyphehane Tidy Towns has hit out those who vandalised their plant boxes with graffiti.

The group shared photos of the vandalised plant boxes on social media, along with a statement, saying: “While we’d love for the next Banksy, Basquiat, or Haring to come from Ballyphehane, this ain’t it.

“We’ve plenty of work for people of all ages to help out with if they’re bored over the summer break.

“We’re even happy to give the kids a colouring sheet to nurture their art skills,” they added.

“Email ballyphehanetidytown@gmail.com to sign up to volunteer or pop along any Saturday 11am to 1pm in Tory Top Park.”

Cat Lane ‘has disappeared

A historic lane off Barrack Street is in danger of seeing its heritage lost, unless Cork City Council opts to change a recent naming, a former lord mayor has stated.

Cat Lane, at the side of a new housing development that was once Nancy Spain’s Pub, has been renamed ‘Tower Street’ with a new plaque installed in advance of the long-awaited housing development and lane opening.

Former lord mayor and local resident Mick Finn has demanded the original name of the lane be restored.

“I had seen the name Tower Street on an issue relating to making the laneway pedestrian only upon its re-opening and raised with council engineers the fact that the designation of Cat Lane needed to be retained,” said Mr Finn.

“I was annoyed to see the new, poorly presented nameplate while passing recently and I am asking that the heritage and history of this laneway be recognised and the name Cat Lane be reinstated.”

Local pharmacy to host cancer information event

Irwin’s Pharmacy in Togher is hosting a free cancer information and awareness event on Monday, September 9, when The Marie Keating Foundation will visit from 10am to 3pm.

The service will be available to answer questions about cancer, and provide advice on how to prevent it and what signs to be aware of.

This is a free service, raising awareness of all the common cancers affecting men and women in Ireland and the healthy lifestyle choices that reduce the risk of cancer.”

Get online with Age Action

Tory Top Library is hosting a free digital literacy programme for older people which gets underway later this month.

Age Action’s ‘Getting Started’ helps older people to get online, or use their smart device with confidence.

The free programme starts on Saturday, September 14, from 11am to 1pm and will run on subsequent Saturdays for five weeks.

If you are interested in joining please register with Age Action at eclv.ie/action or call to the lending desk at Tory Top Library to register.

Please bring your own smart device to the classes. Waiting lists may apply.

Tory Top Library has also announced details of a new toddler music event which will begin at the end of this month.

The free, family-friendly event, ‘Preschool Music Time’, will take place on Saturday, September 28, at 11am. It will then take place weekly until Saturday, November 9.

The fun music-making session, featuring percussion, dance, singing, and rhythm is suitable for children aged three to five; all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Ballyphehane gardening blitz

A recent gardening blitz saw employees of a major utilities company and its contractors helping older people in areas across Cork city, including Ballyphehane, to maintain their gardens.

Employees from Gas Networks Ireland, working in collaboration with the company’s charity partner Age Action Ireland, went to work gardening with older people in Ballyphehane, The Glen, Knocknaheeny, and Grange.

The Gas Networks Ireland workers were joined by volunteers from the company’s contractors, GMC and Murphys, clearing overgrown areas and helping to maintain gardens.

Gas Networks Ireland customer experience manager Marie Lyster thanked the employees who volunteered.

“It was fantastic to see our employees, along with our partners GMC and Murphys, coming together to support such a worthy cause and provide much needed assistance to older members of our community,” she said.

Gas Networks Ireland has donated almost €65,000 to Age Action since 2019, and in addition to financial support, the utility has also donated €150,000 worth of carbon monoxide alarms to Age Action’s Care and Repair programme, ensuring that vulnerable older people are safe in their homes.

Have Ballyphehane news to share? Contact darraghberminghamecho@gmail.com.