All About Cork: 1,000 candles light up Cork for the Chinese new year

A unique multicultural event marked the lunar new year, the year of the snake, recently on Cork’s northside. Leaders of many cultural and faith traditions gathered with local community activists to light some of the 1,000 candles at a traditional Chinese Buddhist ceremony.

The ceremony was led by members of the Chinese Esoteric Buddhist School, who travelled to Cork especially for the event.

The lunar new year was celebrated with a beautiful 1,000-lights ceremony, to bring luck and good fortune for the year ahead.

Organisers said: “From the glowing candle-lit procession down Church St to the heartfelt gathering at Shandon Studios, the evening was truly special.”

Attending the celebrations were Lord Mayor Dan Boyle; Reverend Meghan Farr, of St Anne’s Church, Shandon; Pra Ajan and Dr Kumuda, of the Thai temple, Mitchelstown; Jithu Barua, of the Bangladesh Buddhist Association; Ali Moulai, representing the Muslim community and Feed the Homeless in Cork; Neal Dunnigan, chaplain, Cork Unitarian Church; Sifu Jules Gibson Cranch, of the Jambhala Centre, Essex; Chen Yan, Confucius Institute, University College Cork; Michelle Twomey, of the Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance, and Mary P O’Connor, of the Chinese Esoteric Buddhists Cork, along with members of Cork’s multicultural communities, who celebrated Cork as a tolerant artistic city with a welcome for all.

Candles were symbolically lit and carried down Church St to Shandon Studios, where the lights ceremony was held to bring luck and good fortune for the year.

The organisers said: “Thank you to all the Cork organisations who helped make this event happen, especially the Cork Volunteer Centre and YoYo Asian Supermarket, who sponsored the wonderful food, and Dara O’Brien and friends for the great music.”

Tidy Village group make plans for approaching spring

Blackpool Tidy Village Group (BTVG) is back in action and with the finer weather and longer days not too far away they are busy making plans for more great work around the local area.

The group told The Echo: “It’s so nice to see some of the spring bulbs we planted last winter in full bloom around the village. Colourful, scented hyacinths and cheerful daffodils brightening up everyone’s day. BTVG are planning on joining the National Tidy Towns competition so we are looking for new volunteers to join our group. We have exciting plans for some new projects in the area. We meet every Saturday at 10.30am in Blackpool Community Centre, Great William O’Brien St, behind the Church for our ‘Power Hour’ of litter picking, flower planting and painting projects. Everyone is welcome, all equipment provided and it’s a great way to meet new people and make a difference to our community.”

Parishes’ confirmation dates

The folllowing are the dates of the confirmation ceremonies in the Family of Parishes this spring.

• Christian Brothers College, Scoil Mhuire and Scoil Eanna — February 28 St Patrick’s Church
• Scoil Oilibhéir — March 4, St Oliver’s Church Ballyvolane
• North Presentation, Blarney St and Cork Educate Together — March 7 Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne
• St Vincent’s and North Monastery — March 27 Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne
• Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers — April 2, Church of the Annunciation Blackpool
• St Mary’s of the Isle — April 4 St Finbarr’s South Parish.

Hackett wins CARAs’ award

Chadwicks Group builders’ merchants has named Barry Hackett from Blackpool-based Cork Builders Providers as the winner of the Customer Service Champion award at the third annual Chadwicks Appreciation and Recognition Awards (CARAs).

The CARAs brings together colleagues, branches and departments from across Chadwicks Group, for a night to celebrate and recognise their hard work and dedication to the business, their team and the local community.

Described as someone who customers ‘would wait for’ at the branch to be served by him, Barry was recognised for his commitment to exemplary customer service and best-in-class product knowledge. Colleagues noted how he was someone they could always go to for support, and is always willing to go the extra mile for customers in the local community.

Thirteen award recipients were announced at the CARAs at the Mansion House in Dublin last Friday with 350 Chadwicks Group colleagues in attendance to celebrate the fantastic and inspiring achievements of their colleagues, branches and departments nationwide.

Delanys GAA preseason

Delanys GAA preseason is in full swing. New members are always welcome. Call Ger on 086-8243300 for more information or download the club’s new app on ClubForce for thelatest details of training and matches.

Have Blackpool, Ballyvolane and Shandon news to share? Contact robert.mcamara@theecho.ie