All About Cork: Tidy Village group’s efforts evident all over Blackpool

It’s hard to find a part of Blackpool that hasn’t been touched by the hands of a volunteer group that is providing the area with some much-needed love and attention.

Blackpool Tidy Village Group (BTVG) have been busy bees again.

As well as their usual litter picking all over Blackpool, they recently installed two more beautiful wooden flower planters sponsored by SICAP-Cork City Partnership.

Did you spot them? One is on the Commons Road and the other is next to their gorgeous herb garden on Watercourse Road.

They’re also thinking of our feathered friends in the area and have installed two handmade and hand-painted bird feeders for the éin.

BTVG meet every Saturday at 10.30am, weather permitting, at Blackpool Community Centre. New volunteers are always welcome and all the equipment is provided.

The group said: “If you want to make a difference and help your community please join us.”

The group has undertaken cleaning previously at Commons Road, Thomas Davis Street, Dublin Street, Spring Lane, The Plaza, Watercourse Road, O’Connell Street, and Great William O’Brien Street.

Mark O’Brien, secretary of the Blackpool Tidy Village Group, which was formed in September 2023, said they are always looking for more volunteers.

Mr O’Brien told The Echo recently: “Our volunteers are out every Saturday at 10.30am from Blackpool Community Centre doing trojan work; litter picking, flower planting, etc. Our motto is ‘cleaner, greener, safer, better’.”

The group works with local businesses and representatives and Cork City Council to tackle the issue of littering.

For more information email blackpooltidyvillage@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.

Carols at St Anne’s

St Anne’s church in Shandon will host a service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 15, at 7pm.

The church said on its Facebook page: “We will be joined by the Carrigtwohill Gospel Choir and the Choir of St Luke’s National School.

“Hear traditional readings and poetry as we journey towards Christmas. All are welcome.

“A collection will be taken during the service in aid of St Anne’s and Cork City Missing Persons Search and Rescue.”

A list of services over the Christmas festive period is now available on the church website on https://www.stanne shandon.ie/.

Popular courses return for new year

A number of popular courses are returning to the local area in 2025.

Healthy Food Made Easy is a community cooking programme to help you improve your cooking skills, eating behaviours and nutrition knowledge. You can register now for a six-week course at Blackpool Community Centre.

The ‘Minding your wellbeing’ course aims to help you develop a positive outlook by looking after your mental health and wellbeing. The programme provides an opportunity for you to learn more about mindfulness, gratitude, self-care, resilience. It will take place in the Blackpool area.

A St Brigid’s Cross workshop takes place on January 27 between 2pm and 3pm at Blackpool Community Centre at a cost of €5 and participants get to take home their cross. Booking is required.

This week a Christmas wreath-making workshop is being held at Roches Buildings on Thursday, 2pm-3pm. Booking is essential.

The above health activities are all free of charge or low-cost. To register or for any questions contact Liz Madden, community health worker, on 087-6977942.

Glen remember Sarah Kate as they win camogie crown

Glen Rovers’ minor camogie team were crowned A county league champions as they overcame Douglas.

Four days later, they contested the championship final, but came up just short against Ballincollig.

The club said: “Including a hard-fought semi-final, three games in seven days took their toll, but it was the resilience that shone through from the group of girls and their mentors, and club as a whole, and silverware was indeed secured in the league.”

Earlier in the season, the sudden passing of their star player, Sarah Kate O’Meara, rocked the club, but they rallied and pushed themselves to take the league title.

In her acceptance speech, captain Sarah Murphy said “this is for Sarah Kate”, a sentiment that drew huge applause.

The game was a cracker as Douglas and the Glen girls battled for the title.

It was level pegging at full time, 2-5 each, and under the lights at Ovens on a cold November evening the sides faced in to extra time and Glen Rovers went four points ahead.

However, Douglas reduced the deficit to two.

With the game in the melting pot Douglas pushed for a winner, but Glen Rovers defended solidly to ensure the title was secured in the memory of their beloved Sarah Kate. The game ended after extra time, Glen Rovers 3-7 Douglas 2-8.

Christmas ads of years past

Shandon Area History will host Michael Lenihan, author and historian, as their guest this Wednesday at 7.30pm at Coffa House on Church Street.

Michael will show some of his huge selection of Christmas advertisements from years past.

Workshops for children

Are you a primary school teacher, working with fourth or fifth class in a DEIS school in Cork city? Graffiti Theatre Company are offering the chance to take part in a free Creative Learning project.

Supported by the RTÉ Toy Show appeal, Graffiti is offering five class groups the opportunity to take part in ‘Our World, Our Way’, a new Creative Learning Project that celebrates children’s right to access culture and creativity, and brings the magic of The Toy Show to classrooms.

Selected class groups will be assigned a theatre artist who will deliver five workshops in their classroom from March 3 to March 31.

Each class will share their work at Graffiti, during the week of April 7, 2025, and attend a performance of Missing Earth by John McCarthy.

One person from each class group will be offered a one-year scholarship to join Activate Youth Theatre, beginning September 2025.

Our World, Our Way is offered free of charge, but schools must provide their own transport.

Forms must be completed before 9pm on Wednesday, January 9, and schools will be notified on Monday, January 13.

If selected, teachers will need to attend an information session, via zoom, on Tuesday, January 21.

Contact Creative Learning director, Julie, at julie@graffiti.ie or call on (021) 4397111.

Have Blackpool news to share? Contact robert.mcnamara@theecho.ie