All About Cork: Singer Spillane to perform at Marymount Hospice

One of Cork’s favourite songwriters will headline a special afternoon at Marymount University Hospice this week, in part to say thank you.

John Spillane told The Echo that he is playing in Marymount Gardens for the Open Garden event this Thursday afternoon, in gratitude for the work the hospice does.

“It’s always a pleasure to help Marymount in any way I can, not least because of the wonderful care they have given to family members of mine, and friends of mine, over the years,” Spillane said.

“Marymount is such a wonderful institution, and it is there for people on the worst days of their lives, and it spreads light and kindness and it looks after people when they are at their lowest.

“There isn’t a family in Cork, in the city or the county, that hasn’t been touched in some way by the wonderful work that the staff in Marymount do.

“I’ll be there on Thursday to sing a few of my songs and to say ‘hello’ to people, and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“I think we should all do what we can to help Marymount, so I hope people will call in and support the event and say hello.”

The gathering will take place in Marymount Gardens, which feature three spaces: The Arrival Garden, the Remembrance Garden, and a wildflower meadow, nestled on a land-protected fairy fort. Two ponds enrich the garden’s biodiversity, offering a peaceful haven where people and nature exist in harmony.

Robbie Carrol, from Nature Network Ireland, will be on hand with bug boxes and insect nets, inviting curious minds of all ages to explore the fascinating world of insects, while local wildlife enthusiast Pat Tuite will share insights from his recent survey of the bats in the Ballinora and Waterfall area.

The Marymount Open Garden event runs from midday to 3pm this Thursday, August 7, with John Spillane playing at 2pm. The event is free and all are welcome.

Cheers to the reimagined Clancy’s Bar

Volunteers for diet study

Munster Technological University (MTU) is seeking participants for a dietary study. The research compares a new 24-hour dietary recall tool with a traditional, paper-based, 24-hour dietary recall.

Nutrition researchers from MTU’s Bishopstown campus are seeking adults aged between 18 and 64 to take part in the study, which will compare two methods of collecting information on food and beverage consumption.

MTU will provide those who complete the study with a One4All voucher to the value of €20.

To participate, or for further information, contact Hannah on 087 3921786 or
hannahsaleh.al-sehaim@mymtu.ie.

Teddy bear picnic on in park

Later this month, Ballincollig Regional Park will host the sixth annual Teddy bear picnic.

The event, properly titled the Children’s Heritage Afternoon, is part of Ballincollig Heritage Week, and will feature a Teddy bear picnic, as well as a Teddy bear hospital, and a puppet and magic show, all taking place beside the playground.

The picnic is a collaboration between Ballincollig Heritage, Ballincollig Tidy Towns, Café Chico, and Cork City Council.

It is mostly run on a voluntary basis and the puppet show and magic show are sponsored by the heritage unit of Cork City Council.

A number of other Heritage Week events are taking place in Ballincollig Regional Park and will be advertised closer to the time.

The Teddy bear picnic is always a great success and a big hit with families, especially the smallies.

This year, it will take place from 2pm to 4pm on Friday, August 21, in the Regional Park, by the playground.

Upcoming events at Bishopstown Library

Bishopstown Library is hosting a number of events in the coming weeks, among them a Teen Book Club at 2.30pm on Wednesday, August 6. The book featured is Anzu and the Realm of Darkness, by Mai K Nguyan.

Fab’s Art Pod will begin at 11.20am on Thursday, August 14, and is open to children aged seven to 14. Tickets are in high demand, and bookings must be made through the library. If you have already booked and are unable to attend, please let the staff know, to allow another child the chance to participate.

Leanaí agus Lapadán scéalta i nGaeilge: 10am–11am, 15 agus 22ú do Lúnasa. Fáilte roimh go léir.

Bishopstown Library is located in Wilton, T12 RR84, and is open from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Email: bishopstown_library@corkcity.ie.

Mundy gig in Ballincollig

On Friday week, singer songwriter Mundy will play Ballincollig, even if it is a few weeks late for his signature tune July.

Mundy was born Edmond Enright in Birr, Co Offaly, moving to Dublin in the early 1990s to join the busking circuit there.

Penning songs such as Gin & Tonic Sky and Life’s A Cinch, he was signed to Sony’s Epic records. Mundy’s first album Jelly Legs was released in 1996 to critical acclaim and sold 50,000 copies.

The inclusion of his track To You I Bestow on the soundtrack to the 1996 Baz Luhrmann film William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet sent Mundy global.

He has released a further eight albums through his own record label Camcor Records, which he set up in 2000.

His album Raining Down Arrows went straight in to the Irish Charts at number 1, he has enjoyed gold and multi-platinum record sales and has picked up a number of awards including the Meteor Music award for ‘Best Male’ and ‘Most Downloaded Song’ two years running for his rousing rendition of Galway Girl featuring Irish traditional musician Sharon Shannon.

A few years ago, Mundy was invited to perform in the White House for then-president Barrack Obama as part of that year’s Patricks Day celebrations.

Mundy plays The White Horse in Ballincollig at 8.30pm on Friday, August 15. See whitehorse.ie.

GAA club’s weekly lottery

The numbers drawn in the Ballincollig GAA Club lottery, which was held on Thursday, July 31. The numbers drawn were 10, 15, 34, and 36. There was no winner of the €15,000 jackpot, but there were three consolation prize winners for club supporters, with €100 going to Frank Holland, €50 to JP Lonergan, and €50 to Lisa Creamer.

Ballincollig GAA Club has migrated its lottery to its club platform ClubZap. The new system mirrors the previous one and is played with 36 numbers, and all existing players with remaining credit have been moved across.

For further information, see ballincolliggaa.clubzap.com.