All About Cork: €14k sent from Cork to Africa for child surgery

Children who live in a poverty stricken area of East Africa will undergo life-changing surgery funded through the proceeds of a number of events in Carriagline this year.

A cheque for €14,000 has gone to the Shirati Hospital in Tanzania to provide orthopaedic services for disabled children there, thanks in no small measure to the money raised by the organisers of the 29th ‘Walk For Life’, from Carrigaline to Frenchfurze back in June, and from other fundraisers held over the last 12 months.

Aside from the walk, money was also raised from a very successful collection outside Barry Collins SuperValu Shopping Centre in Carrigaline in May, a table quiz in Collins Barracks, and through individual direct-debit donations and business donors.

Campaign organiser John Wade, from Douglas, gathered outside Barry Collins SuperValu with his wife, Angela, and fellow committee members, Fred Cowhig, Ian Keating, Joe Valentine, George Marshall, and Tom Laffan. They were there with a cheque for €14,374 and to say thank you to all who donated to the fundraising drive.

Walk for Life has enabled life-changing reconstructive surgery and leg treatments at the Shirati Hospital, plus follow-up physiotherapy and care for 80 children — 19 children this year alone — who have leg and/or foot deformities.

Full correction can be achieved within six months of a surgical procedure.

The cheque sent out to Friends of Shirati will enable further surgeries in 2025 at the orthopaedic department run by Ibrahim J Mazara, BSc in prosthetics and orthotics.

The charity has, during the past five years, also provided funds for club-foot procedures, and a solar pump for irrigation to produce food crops, some of which feed patients and staff, and rewiring.

Dr Glen Brubaker and Dr Dale Ressler, Dr Chirangi, and Mr Ibrahim, on behalf of the hospital and Friends of Shirati, extended sincere thanks to walkers from Carrigaline and beyond and other supporters who helped raise money for the life changing surgeries.

Donations to the charity are always welcome.

Enquiries to 086 3068895.

Pioneers visit detox charity

On Sunday, November 24, members of Cork Regional Pioneer Council spent the afternoon in the Missionaries of Charity Convent in Blarney.

They were welcomed by Sr Francis, of the Mother Teresa order.

The convent in Blarney is a place of peace and prayer, where they can accommodate up to 16 men who are detoxing from alcohol and drug addiction. Sr Francis spoke about how their way of life is dependent on the providence of God.

“We learned a lot about the challenges that these young men have to deal with in a world where alcohol and drugs are so easily available everywhere, but you can feel the hope there, that broken lives are changed for the better.”

The sisters are supported in a great variety of ways by counsellors, former residents, and volunteers. There is also great support from outside groups, such as the AA, Cork Simon, Tabor Lodge, and Fellowship House, when the residents feel they are ready to move on from the sisters. The daily routine includes Mass and morning prayer and afternoon adoration. 

There is a chapel, where the pioneers were delighted to be able to enjoy a time of peace and prayer, before they returned to their parishes.

Carrigaline drama group

Locals are being invited to join a new drama group bring established in Carrigaline.

A post on the Facebook Carriagline Notice Board page entitled ‘New Drama Group’, said: “We are thrilled to announce approval given by the Community Association to create a new community-driven drama group in Carrigaline, which is long overdue.

“Whether your passion lies on the stage, behind the scenes, directing, lighting, set design, costume making, there’s a place for you to join in this exciting new project.

I’d personally love to hear more of the Tops of the Town success, the Pottery Players had all those years ago.

If interested, please contact me (Sean) at 083 172 6741 and we will arrange a general meeting of all interested parties to discuss how we move forward. Please share with people you think might be interested!”

McGrath takes Dáil seat

Long serving Fianna Fáil county councillor Seamus Mc Grath has been elected to Dáil Éireann in the Cork South Central constituency, having secured 7,794 first preference votes.

He was second to be elected after poll-topper Micheál Martin, his Fianna Fáil colleague and party leader, who secured 14,526 first preference votes.

Seamus Mc Grath succeeds his brother Michael, who is now Ireland’s European Commissioner. The other deputies elected in the Cork South Central constituency are Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (SF), Pádraig Rice (SD) and Jerry Buttimer (FG). In the changing life of politics we now have one Dáil Deputy where we once had two senior ministers. We still have two county councillors, Una Mc Carthy (FG) and Jack White (FG), with another to be co-opted to replace Seamus.

Tri club open night at the RCYC

The Crosshaven Tri Club will host an open night at the Royal Yacht Club in Crosshaven on Saturday, December 17, from 5-7pm.

The club said the event will offer people the chance to try out a new sport and meet new people. “Learn about training plan and how we can help you reach your goals.” Activities at the club include triathlon, open water swimming, pool swimming, adventure racing, road biking, trail & road running and strength and conditioning. The club is open to all adult over the age of 19. All levels are welcome.

Indoor Christmas market

An indoor Christmas Market will take place at the Crosshaven Community Centre on Sunday from 11am-4pm. The event will include more than 20 stalls, selling a range of festive goodies, performances by local music students from the Alice and Dee Music School, arts, crafts and gifts. The market will offer people the chance to support local business, artisans and crafts people. All are welcome.

Christmas lights festivities

Thanks to Cork County Council the Christmas lights are on and brightening up Carrigaline again this year. The crew worked at night time erecting the lights. Then the lights were switched on un ceremoniously on Friday night last. Before covid the switching on of the Christmas lights was a family calendar event looked forward to with great excitement by the children. A parade was organised led by the Pipe Band and the fire engines with sirens blazing and Santa on board drew large crowds for the switch on where there was always great craic with ceremonial speeches and a countdown for the official switch on by Santa.

It used to be a fun night of community singing Christmas songs and abundance of lollipops being handed around. Let’s look forward to reviving the tradition of the great switch on next year. Nollaig Shona.

Club céilí event

The next monthly club céilí event will take place next Saturday, December 7, in the pipe band hall from 7.30pm to 9pm. This is a family friendly event and open to all levels of dance experience. The focus is on having fun while learning a few traditional Irish Céilí dances along the way. For further information please contact Fionan Cogan on 087 818 5111 or theceiliexperience@gmail.com

Have Carrigaline news to share? Contact bill.browne@theecho.ie