All About Cork: Students showcase talents at an LCA Staff Salon Day

The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) students of Coláiste/Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Ballincollig, recently celebrated the LCA Staff Salon Day in their renovated hair and beauty facilities. Organised by LCA Hair and Beauty teacher Michelle O’Keeffe, the event showcased the talents of the course’s students while also supporting a very worthy cause.

Throughout the day, staff members enjoyed a variety of salon services, while students demonstrated professionalism and creativity as they put into practice the skills honed during their Hair and Beauty classes.

Reflecting on the day, Ms O’Keeffe said the day allowed students to work in a professional environment where they could interact with clients, and build their confidence.

“What stands out the most is how dedicated and enthusiastic they are, not just in showcasing their talents but also in giving back to the local community,” she said. 

“Seeing the students take such pride in their work while supporting a worthy cause makes this day incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.”

Proceeds from the event were donated to Balance Summer Camps, a local charity supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The LCA Hair and Beauty Salon is a product of community generosity, made possible by donations from The Salon, a well-known local hairdresser in Ballincollig.

In recent years, the salon has also hosted industry-leading demonstrations from professionals such as Dapper & Co Barbers, hairdresser Clodagh Farry, and make-up artist Sinead Murray, not only further enhancing students’ learning experience but also preparing them for their practical and written exams at the end of Sixth Year LCA.

Conor Owens, LCA coordinator, reflected on the broader importance of such events: “Days like the Salon Day allow our students to further connect with their school and the wider community.

“It’s inspiring to see how events like this foster pride, responsibility, and a real sense of belonging in our students,” Mr Owens said. 

“It is experiences like these that stay with the students long after they leave school.”

An evening of boxing

Muskerry Boxing Club is set to hold an evening of boxing in Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, this Friday evening. The club celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and has approximately 50 members, aged from seven up to 40.

Tom Murray, head coach with the club, said the evening promises many quality bouts with Ireland’s most talented boxers, both male and female, and will offer a good introduction to boxing for anyone interested.

“Last year we had three female Irish champions, so we’re going strong 10 years in,” he said. “Boxing is a very sociable sport, with people joining at seven and remaining friends for life.

The event begins at 6.45pm on Friday, January 24, in Coláiste Choilm. Admission is by ticket only, €10. For further details, call 087-1913957.

GAA Club gets on the right foot

Week two of Ballincollig GAA Club’s Ireland Lights Up walks began with a good turnout, with a strong showing from juvenile members and their parents.

The walks will continue for the next four Wednesdays starting at 7.30pm at the club dressing rooms.

For those unable to make the walks, there is still plenty of time to sign up to the Irish Life MyLife App for the Every Step Counts challenge which runs separately. Just download the App and register with Ballincollig GAA under the Munster challenge. The club has had a great start, with over 2,000km already completed.

The target for this challenge is to reach 4,000km over six weeks, so Ballincollig is well on its way.

Next week sees the club run CPR and defibrillator training in conjunction with the Bon Secours Hospital. There are still a few places remaining, so those interested are asked to email ballincollighealthyclub@gmail.com and the club will send out the registration form.

Ballincollig Winter Music Festival begins tonight

The 15th Annual Ballincollig Winter Music Festival, which runs until Sunday, January 26, kicks off in The White Horse this evening at 7.30pm with a free night of stories, song, and dance with Fear an Tí Dick Beamish.

Wednesday night’s ticketed headline event with multi-Grammy award winning Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell is sold out. Thursday evening will see two events, the first of which is a free trad session with Emer Twomey and friends, which kicks off at 7pm. The second event, with the Deaux Familles Cajun Band, featuring Dirk and Amelia Powell with Vera Van Heeringen, Jock and Lucas Tyldesley, starts at 8pm and is a ticketed gig.

Friday night’s gig with the ever-popular White Horse Guitar Club is already sold out.

Saturday features a host of free events, starting at 11am with a two-hour Ukrainian music workshop with Alisa Vasilisa, while at the same time, in the Hare’s Corner, Stephanie Keane will offer a sean nós dance workshop.

Liam Flanagan’s lunchtime fiddle workshop is sold out, but at 5pm Liam will hold a free trad session with friends.

At 3.30pm, a free, ticketed event, will feature Cónal Creedon, Jane Clarke, Stephanie Keane, Alisa Vasilisa, and Eoin Hegarty in an exploration on the theme of ‘The Gift’ through writings, music, and dance.

Saturday night will see a free trad session with The Baldy Chickens, but Saturday night’s ticketed double headline gig, featuring Clare Sands, and The Breath with Ríoghnach Connolly and special guest Stephanie Keane, is sold out.

On Sunday, Áine Whelan is offering two vocal workshops for under-16s, the first running from 12pm until 1pm, and the second from 1pm to 2pm. Sunday night’s headline gig, featuring Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius with Dermot Byrne and Seamie O’Dowd, is sold out.

The Ballincollig Winter Music Festival is supported by the Arts Council. For booking information, see whitehorse.ie.

€500 win in Ballincollig GAA Club weekly lottery

Following last week’s €20,000 jackpot win for Paul Sheridan in Ballincollig GAA Club’s first draw of the New Year, €500 has gone to one lucky supporter in this week’s lottery draw.

The numbers drawn in the weekly lottery, which was held on Thursday, January 9, were 5, 12, 32, and 34. While there was no winner of the €7,400 jackpot, there were three lucky dip consolation prizes, with €500 going to John O’Neill, €100 to Seamus O’Callaghan, and €100 to James Sexton.

The club is migrating its club lottery from its previous host to its club platform ClubZap. The new system mirrors the previous one in that it is played with 36 numbers, and all existing players with remaining credit have been moved across with their same numbers plus their remaining credits. For further information, see ballincolliggaa.clubzap.com.

The next draw is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, with the jackpot now standing at €7,600. For details on how to enter the weekly draw, see the club’s social media pages.

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