All About Cork: Skydive raises more than €12k for two local charities

A fundraising skydive in honour of St Luke’s Charity & Home and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust took place earlier this month, with more than €12,000 raised for the two services.

On Sunday, May 4, a collective team of eight staff members and friends of St Luke’s Home in Mahon took to the skies with the Irish Parachute Club in Co Offaly.

As a result of the initiative, their fundraising efforts exceeded all expectations, amounting to €12,228, which will be split between the two services.

Founded in 1872, St Luke’s Charity & Home is Ireland’s first and oldest residential care home, and Cork’s leading provider of residential care to older people in the region. The service ensures all its residents and daycare clients experience the very best in clinical, physical, social, and spiritual care, and aims to provide them with the best quality of life.

As specialists in dementia care, St Luke’s also champions the advancement of dementia education and research and provides specialist care training to the health sector across Munster.

According to the charity, the number of people living with dementia in Ireland currently stands at circa 64,000, and is set to more than double by 2045. There is no cure for the condition.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, founded in 2013, aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the remains of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.

The service was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June of 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York.

Following an outpouring of support from Kevin’s friends, family, and colleagues, a significant amount of money was raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland.

As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation.

While the skydive has been completed, the online donation page remains active, with anyone interested in supporting the team asked to visit: https://www.idonate.ie/event/CharitySkydive2025.

Historical walking tour

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy is to continue his series of historical walking tours, with a Blackrock event later this month.

The free event, in association with the Cork Harbour Festival, will take place on Saturday, May 24 at 2pm.

Prior to the tour, attendees are asked to gather at the car park adjacent to the base of Blackrock Castle, before embarking on a two-hour journey around the environs of Blackrock village.

“Blackrock has a richly layered history, which spans several centuries,” said Mr McCarthy.

“The earliest and official evidence for settlement in Blackrock dates to c.1564, when the Galway family created what was to become known as Dundanion Castle.

“The tour covers many [historical] topics and highlights the strong sense of place Blackrock possesses.”

No advance booking is required to attend the tour.

Bike scheme won’t expand

The National Transport Authority (NTA) will not be providing further Transport For Ireland (TFI) bike docking stations across Blackrock and Ballintemple in the immediate future, but the scheme is currently under review.

The update follows calls by Labour Party Cork city South East ward councillor, Peter Horgan, who is seeking the expansion of the bike share scheme for Blackrock, Ballinlough, Ballintemple, Douglas, and Rochestown.

In response to a parliamentary question by Labour Party Cork North Central TD, Eoghan Kenny, a representative said the NTA is reviewing the Regional Public Bike Schemes to enhance coverage and to integrate electric bikes.

“This review includes assessing the feasibility of expanding the scheme to new areas and improving the overall user experience,” the spokesperson said.

“The NTA will not be providing any additional TFI bike docking stations in its current format, as that contract will expire by the end of this year.”

Mr Horgan has has been campaigning for the expansion of the public bike scheme to Blackrock Village since 2017.

New vendor at Marina Market

The Marina Market has announced that a new vendor is set to join the suite of offerings at the venue this summer.

In a post shared on social media, the market said that Just Wing It, a vendor offering chicken wings and chips, will open on the Centre Park Road “soon”. The new stall will open seven days from 12pm to 8pm.

St Michael’s social night

This Saturday, a social night hosted by St Michael’s GAA Club, will take place at The Leaping Salmon in Ballintemple. The event, kicking off at 8pm, which will feature live music and refreshments, as a drop-in style evening with attendees encouraged to bring a friend and a guitar.

On social media, a representative for St Michael’s said: “It’s good to meet up every now and again — it’d be great to see a good gang there.”

Bessborough commemoration

The theme for the Bessborough commemoration taking place next month has been announced as “Unsung Heroes”. The commemorative event, honouring the women and children of Bessboro, will take place at the Bessborough Centre in Blackrock from 2pm on June 29.

On the day, attendees can expect to enjoy music and refreshments, with talks delivered by guest speakers Dr Claire McGettrick and Dr Katherine O’Donnell.

PJ Coogan from Cork’s 96FM will also act as the event’s MC.

For more, email: bessboroevent@yahoo.ie.

Golf classic memorial event

The Ballinure GAA Club in Mahon will host a golf classic event in Cork next month in memory of John O’Donovan.

The event, taking place at the Mahon Golf Course on June 28, is sponsored by AOS Security Solutions and Premier Building Solutions.

It will consist of several teams competing in a three ball scramble, with registration for teams priced at €120 or €60 for club members. Tee box sponsorship is also priced at €50 for the event.

Anyone looking to enter a team has been asked to contact Aaron Ahern on 087 250 5096. To sponsor a tee-box, sponsor prizes, or make a donation towards the club, contact Tim Murphy on 086 399 7834 or Mark Collins on 086 198 0059.

All funds raised from the event will go towards the running of Ballinure GAA Club for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.

Uniform discounts for parents

Scoil na Croise Naofa has issued a reminder to parents in the Blackrock and Mahon area, advising them that their school uniform provider will be offering a 10% discount to parents and guardians next month.

Laura’s Schoolwear, located on the South Douglas Rd, will be offering the discount both online and in-store from June 1 to June 10.

To avail of the discounted uniforms, visit corkschooluniforms.ie for further information.