All About Cork: ‘A fantastic achievement’ for young Cork playwright

Ivy Boland, a Transition Year student from Coláiste Éamann Rís in Turner’s Cross, has been announced as the overall winner of the 2025 Schools Playwright Competition with her play The Orchid.

The competition, now in its 12th year, saw transition year (TY) students from across 14 counties compete with an original penned play under this year’s theme, Care.

The competition is held in conjunction with the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival Fringe and sponsored by the West-Midlands Credit Union.

Ivy was announced as the winner at the awards ceremony held in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, last week.

The awards event welcomed the shortlisted students in attendance along with their teachers, family members, and some TY scriptwriting classmates.

For six years now, this TY competition has accommodated many potential budding writers and given some previous winners a unique chance to pursue careers in the arts.

Ivy is a member of three local drama clubs in Cork and has written, directed, and acted in a number of plays in and out of school.

Principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís, Aaron Wolfe, shared his congratulations to Ivy, who is a member of the student council in the school:

“Huge congratulations to our fourth year student, Ivy Boland, who has won RTÉ’s All-Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright Competition 2025 with her script, The Orchid. A fantastic achievement. Congratulations, Ivy.”

The Orchid works through the feelings of a couple in grief over the loss of their baby girl when a potted orchid plant that once divided them works to eventually unite them.

Competition coordinator Margaret Egan explained: “Participants are all winners in that they have had an opportunity, as TY students, to engage with aspects of the launch of the 2025/26 new senior cycle subject — drama, film and theatre studies.

“The motivation for TY students is to empower them going forward, nurturing their sense of creativity, and helping them to develop and engage meaningfully with characters in scriptwriting.”

Ivy pipped Clare Marron from Kildare, who came second place with her play Two Sides of the One Mind.

Another Cork student, Hannah Hennessy, from Coláiste Fionnchua in Mitchelstown, also received recognition.

Hannah came joint fifth with her play entitled Stalled, which deals with what happens when you find yourself with other travellers who are stranded on board a stalled train, and how it can lead to choosing an alternative path in life.

Ms Boland was presented with her award by a representative of the event sponsors, West-Midlands Credit Union, which was followed by a performance of her winning play that was staged in front of a live studio audience in the Dean Crowe Theatre.

Turner’s Cross light plea

Local activist William O’Brien has urged ESB Networks to repaint public lighting poles in the Turner’s Cross area.

Mr O’Brien is urging ESB Networks to prioritise repainting them this year, as it would enhance the area’s visual appeal and boost community pride.

Mr O’Brien says research from University College Dublin shows that well-maintained urban infrastructure increases resident happiness.

The activist acknowledges ESB’s resource constraints, but believes revitalising the poles would foster a stronger sense of belonging.

The poles line Evergreen Road, Friars Road, Congress Road, and others, with one particularly defective on Curragh Road.

“It’s time for a change to brighten Turner’s Cross,” Mr O’Brien said.

Ovation for Civic Award winner

The Lantern Project, based in Nano Nagle Centre, has extended its congratulations to Siobhán O’Dowd on her Lord Mayor’s Civic Award.

Ms O’Dowd was met with a standing ovation from the crowd in City Hall at the Lord Mayor’s awards gala event as she was recognised for her long-term contributions on community development, inclusion, lifelong learning, and LGBTI+ activism in Cork.

Master of ceremonies and Irish development officer of Cork City Council, Chris Dorgan said the standing ovation Ms O’Dowd was met with “speaks volumes to the work that Siobhán has done for this city”.

The Lantern Community Project said on social media: “Congratulations to all the recipients of the Lord Mayor’s Civic Awards, we are so proud of our own Siobhan O’Dowd, project coordinator, on your well-deserved recognition of the work you have done over the years for your involvement and contribution to community development, lifelong learning, social inclusion, and LGBTI+ activism.”

New pitch for Everton AFC

Everton AFC has announced that it has secured a new playing pitch. The club now has the lease on Alsa Park, located off Matthew Hill.

“With the club continuing to grow at a rapid pace, securing an additional playing pitch was vital for our continued growth,” a representative of Everton AFC said.

“We’re thrilled to have Cathal Browne looking after bringing the surface back to life. A pitch that hadn’t been touched in years, with his skill and graft, it’ll be game ready in no time.”

Traveller pride events

Monday, May 26 marks the beginning of Cork Traveller Pride Week 2025 to celebrate the Traveller community’s unique contribution to Irish society while combating the discrimination and prejudice Travellers face.

The festival kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony at Tory Top Library, City Hall, and St Finbarr’s Hospital campus at 12pm.

This is followed by a launch of the Keenan Family Tree Project in Ballyphehane Community Centre. There will also be an evening of song celebrating the Keenan family tree and memories from times gone by.

The event kicks off from 6.30pm on May 26. Cork Traveller Pride Week continues with a series of events including a virtual reality short film at Cork Public Museum on May 27 and a family fun day in Fitzgerald’s Park on May 31.

Shrine blessing

A blessing is to be held at the Togher Marian shrine in celebration of 40 years since it was founded by the Freagh Residents Association.

The blessing will be held on May 16 at 7pm.

Soccer summer camp

Booking for the Everton AFC FAI Football Summer Camp is now open.

The camp, which takes place from June 30 to July 3, in Everton Park, is open to both members and non-members.

Early booking is strongly advised as the camp sells out every year.

For more, see bookings.faifootballcamps.ie.

Marathon training

Sanctuary Runners are hosting a series of nightly training sessions in the run up to Cork City Marathon. The weekly sessions are being held every Thursday in Tramore Valley Park ahead of the race on June 1. Held from 7.30pm to 8.30pm each week, all are welcome to take part in a fun and social training event for the big day.

Clothes bank notice

Ballyphehane Tidy Towns have issued a community notice to locals to refrain from leaving household items, toys, and appliances outside clothing banks located in Tory Top Park.

“While we appreciate the effort, please refrain from illegally dumping non-clothing items outside the clothing banks in Tory Top Park. We’re not that far of a drive from the recycling centre in Tramore Valley Park. Please dispose of your belongings responsibly,” the Tidy Towns group said. 

The Tory Top Park clothing banks are to be removed in the coming weeks, with alternative banks located at the back of Aldi Ballyphehane, outside Spar Pearse Square, outside CX Oriental Vicars Road, and at the recycling station at Clashduv Park.

Have Ballyphehane, Togher and Turner's Cross news to share? Contact elaine.whelan@theecho,ie