All About Cork: Twinning agreement signed with town of Newport News

Back in March 2023 Carrigaline formally signed a twinning agreement with the town of Newport News in the United States.

The connection was prompted by a strong historical connection between both towns dating back to the 17th century, when Newport News in Virginia was established by settler Daniel Gookin of Carrigaline following his arrival on the shores of the James River in 1621.

Recently 14 students accompanied by two of their teachers from Newport News visited Carrigaline for a week-long visit.

This was the second year that twinning students from Newport News had visited Carrigaline for work experience.

The programme is designed to help the students with their Leadership and Management course.

On the first day of their visit the group, accompanied by their professor Will Reddy, were guests at a meeting in County Hall. Tuesday saw them joined forces with the Carrigaline Tidy Towns team, helping undertake a major clean-up job.

During the week the students worked on other Tidy Towns projects, and spent a morning working at Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven on another project. On Thursday they helped spread lorry loads of gravel on the pathways of Templebreedy graveyard.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s contingent, they also visited the local GAA club, where councillor Una McCarthy had an exhibition of hurling lined up.

Incidentally, last year’s twinning group from Virginia learned the skill of hurling during their visit, took some hurleys back with them and have now set up their own hurling club at home.

Some of the evening events included music sessions in the Corner House and the Stables bar.

Jim Kelly, chair of the Carrigaline Twinning committee, said Carrigaline is planning a return visit to Newport News next year.

Special medals for cycle

The Carrigaline Men’s Shed, which works in close collaboration with the Lions Club, are busy designing specially commissioned medals for the first 30 in three categories for the upcoming Fort to Fort cycle rally, which takes place on Saturday, June 14, in aid of the Mercy Hospital foundation.

The Men’s Shed has taken delivery of an industrial three phase compressor and installed air pipes to both the woodwork and engineering workshop. The Shed is on the lookout for a lathe for the engineering section.

The shed bought a new 18’ x 10’ marquee suitable for use at shows and exhibitions.

This year’s West Cork Honda 50 Run scheduled for Sunday, August 17, will start and finish at the Men’s Shed.

New members are always welcome, contact Roger Morrissey 087 2203547.

Active Retired go on road trip

Carrigaline Active Retirement Association recently took 33 members for a memorable four night trip to Kilkenny. Their first stop was in Clonmel for lunch then on to Hotel Kilkenny where they stayed for the four nights.

Day two saw the group visit Nicholas Mosse Pottery and Shop in Bennettsbridge, before arriving in Kilkenny city for activities, including a tour of the castle.

Following an overnight stay in the city, it was onto Carlow for visits to the Delta Sensory Gardens and the Chocolate Garden of Ireland. Day three included a visit to Seal Rescue Ireland in Courttown Harbour

After leaving the hotel for home on the final day their first stop in Thomastown to visit Jerpoint Abbey, a 12th century Cistercian Abbey, where they had a guided tour and then proceeded to Waterford for lunch. They had a brief stop in Tramore before heading for Carrigaline after a great trip.

They had fabulous weather every day and enjoyed the beautiful countryside they were visiting.

Holy Well golf classic

The Holy Well National School will host a golf classic at the Kinsale Golf Club on Thursday, June 19. The entrance fee will be €200 for a team of three, which will include a post-round meal. Tee times are available from 8am to 5pm and can be booked at 021 4371875 or by email at golf@holywellns.ie.

The event is sponsored by The Lunch Bag.

Register for road race

Registration is now open for the fourth annual Traction AC 4-Mile Road Race on Friday, July 11, at Minane Bridge. The Athletics Ireland sanctioned race is open to runners over the age of 16 who will compete over a chip-timed, measured course, with prizes for all the main categories and course records.

In a social media post, organisers said the race will get underway at 8pm.

Online entry €15 at https://eventmaster.ie/event/v4eqSPoSb4.

Frank and Walters concert

Cork indie royalty, The Frank and Walters, will headline the Carriagline Festival Summer Concert at the Carrigaline Court Hotel on Saturday, June 21, at 8pm.

What promises to be a wonderful night of music, craic and banter will also feature performances by Danny & the Aos Dána and the Crosshaven Community Choir.

A festival spokesperson said the event “promises to be a night to remember, filled with great tunes an good vibes.”

“A brilliant night assured with a mix of local and international talent.”

Tickets for the concert, priced at €35 from the hotel reception and online at www.eventbrite.ie.

Tidy Towns paint kerbs

Carrigaline Tidy Towns volunteers were out early in big numbers on a recent Saturday morning brightly painting all the kerbing in black and white on the Heron roundabout and on the kerbing on all the surrounding junctions leading to it. They also painted the kerbing on the Owenabue bridge.

Litter picking continues every day with the volunteers delegated to cover all the town centre and approach roads.

All the summer planting is now complete and the town is a blaze of colour and looking its best.

Tidy Towns are delighted with their volunteers who meet every Tuesday morning at 10am, Wednesday evenings at 7pm, and Saturday mornings at 9.30pm plus the daily scheduled litter picking programme.

New members are always welcome.Carrigalinetidytowns@gmail.com.

Shine Ladies lunch

The Shine Ladies lunch 2025,will take place on Saturday, June 7, from 12.30pm at the Clayton Hotel in Cork city.

The event is in support of the Carrigaline-based Shine Centre for Autism.

Tickets from www.eventbrite.ir, priced at €76.05.