All About Cork: Artist Kevin O’Brien to do 10 works around Ballincollig

One of Cork’s favourite artists has gone to work for Ballincollig Tidy Towns (BTT) in recent weeks, bringing joyful 10 new artworks to the streets and roads of the Village.

Kevin O’Brien’s work on utility boxes is well-known around the city – you’ll have seen his Frederick Douglass portrait on the Grand Parade, his Karen Underwood painting on St Patrick’s Quay and his new Rory Gallagher tribute on MacCurtain Street – and BTT recently commissioned him to work his magic in Ballincollig.

“The boxes we did are representative of the different plants that you’d find planted by the Tidy Towns around the Village and in the regional park,” Mr O’Brien said. Among the plants depicted are ox-eye daisies, ferns, forget-me-nots, dandelion, foxglove, hawthorn, and blackberry.

“There are pollinator-friendly plants, and some of the bees, insects, ladybirds and butterflies as well,” he added.

Tom Butler, chairman of BTT, said two more works, much larger pictorial works, all following the same theme celebrating the group’s promotion of pollinators, will be completed in Ballincollig by Mr O’Brien in the coming months.

“And for 2025, we’re doing 10 more boxes,” Mr Butler said.

“This is an initiative completely funded by ourselves in Ballincollig Tidy Towns, we did go looking for funds, but there were none forthcoming, so we went away and paid for it ourselves.

“I think they really brighten the place, and people have commented on it loads of times, that even if they’re stopped at traffic lights, suddenly there’s something there to see.

“They’re all individual pieces, and Kevin doesn’t repeat himself, so each painting is something special.” Mr Butler noted that almost 900 communities entering Tidy Towns this year, each organisation does invaluable work in making Ireland a better place.

“Without each one of those organisations doing what they are doing, our country would be in a whole different place.

“Up and down the country, all over the city, places like Togher, Bishopstown, Ballyphehane, Mahon, all the other places, they are making a huge difference,” he said.

Spillane at White Horse

John Spillane returns to the White Horse next month to celebrate the launch of In Another Light, a live album spanning his career.

The album features songs from 1983 right up to his most recent release, in 2020, and is a result of a live concert with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra in November 2021, as part of the ‘Right Here Right Now’ festival.

A renowned musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer, John Spillane is rooted in people, place and story, and his music transports the listener, and his live performances captivate audiences around the world.

He plays the White Horse on Saturday, October 15. See whitehorse.ie for details.

Pyke Theatre social evenings

Members of the Pyke Theatre Group have thanked all of their friends who attended the group’s social evening at Ballincollig Rugby Club in Tanner Park at the start of the month. Members report that it was a great night of music and dancing.

The group are back again at Tanner Park on Tuesday, October 1 at 8.30pm, for more ceoil agus craic. As always, admission is free of charge.

There will be a raffle on the night with a chance to win tickets for the upcoming Ballincollig Drama Festival.

The festival of one-act plays runs from Wednesday, October 9 to Saturday, October 12.

The festival takes place at the Community Hall on Station Road, beginning at 7.30pm.

There will be a cheese and wine reception at 7pm on the opening night.

Members of the Pyke Theatre Group say this is a great opportunity to see groups from all over Cork perform, with all welcome to attend.

Pick-a-Pumpkin Festival at Cork Field of Dreams

This year’s Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams ‘Pick-a-Pumpkin Festival’ is almost upon us, running over two weekends again on Sunday, October 6, and Sunday, October 13, from 10am to 3.30pm on both days, with a range of time slots available.

The festival will feature three ticket types this year, with a family/group ticket costing €32.50 (plus fees), and that will include entry for four people and will allow them to take away one pumpkin.

A pumpkin ticket will cost €20 (plus fees) and will include entry for one and one pumpkin.

An entry ticket for one is €5 (plus fees) and does not include a pumpkin.

Children aged under two go free.

To enter the pumpkin patch and pick a pumpkin, you must purchase a pumpkin ticket or a family or group ticket.

You can follow the pumpkin trail around the site with stops along the way including the haunted cabin, the outdoor games area, the sheep pen, the Halloween photo booth, the arts and crafts area, and the pumpkin patch.

Visitors will also be able to join in for scary songs and stories, (temporary) Halloween tattoos and the guess the pumpkin weight competition.

The Field of Dreams Pumpkin Café will also be open with a selection of seasonal sweet treats along with a range of hot and cold beverages.

Built in 2017 to meet the ongoing learning needs of adults with Down syndrome from across Cork city and county, the Field of Dreams was developed by the Cork branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and it has thrived in the seven years since.

The vision of Field of Dreams is to provide adults with Down syndrome opportunities for ongoing learning and growth.

For some this will move them towards a life of greater independence and self-reliance, and, for others, it will move them towards paid work.

Field of Dreams is built upon a three-acre horticultural site on the Clash Road in Curraheen, and is designed to meet the specific needs of people who have Down syndrome, and the project focuses on providing days for its students that are productive, busy, meaningful, and full of fun.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite only.

For further information contact Debbie at debbie.kelleher@downsyndromecork.ie.

No GAA Club lottery winner

The numbers drawn in the weekly Ballincollig GAA Club lottery on Thursday, September 19, were: 13, 16, 21, and 36.

With the club’s lottery jackpot at €20,000, the draw is now at the highest amount it can reach and must be won.

There was no winner drawn last week, and consolation prizes went to Seamus O’Brien (€100), Claire O’Malley (€50), and A O’Driscoll (€50).

The next draw will take place this week, on Thursday evening, September 26, in the clubhouse, with all proceeds going to Ballincollig GAA Club.

For details on how to enter the weekly draw, see the club’s various social media pages.

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