All About Cork: 40 years of community education in Mayfield

The Mayfield Community Training Centre had a very special day in its history on August 28, celebrating its 40th anniversary in the presence of students, parents, staff, board members, and a delegation of guests from the Cork Education Training Board (ETB).

These included Denis Leamy, Cork ETB chief executive; John Fitzgibbon, executive director of further education and training; Valerie Cowman, manager of the Bishopstown Campus; Courtney Canning, assistant manager of the Bishopstown Campus, and Catherine Power, Cork ETB community development officer.

John Fitzgibbon made the opening remarks, praising both staff and students, and expressing his admiration for the work carried out on a daily basis at the centre.

The event looked back to the centre’s humble beginnings and the initial vision of founder, the late Father Donal Lenihan, to provide a source of training and upskilling for the young people of Mayfield.

Since 1985, the centre has grown to deliver six courses, Office Skills, Construction Skills, Woodwork Skills, Sport and Recreation, Culinary Skills, and Tourism and Hospitality Skills; and certification in QQI Level 4 and City and Guilds diploma in two different buildings in the Mayfield Business Park. It regularly progresses students on to Level 5 college courses, apprenticeships, and employment.

A particularly inspiring moment of the day was a video montage of former students speaking about the life-changing impact the centre had on them.

Acting manager Liam O’Sullivan spoke of a recent Department of Education inspector’s report that praised the staff and the work they do with the young people under their charge. The positive relationship between staff and students was evident to all those present. The best wishes of manager Niall McCarthy was conveyed to all students as well.

Chairman of the board, Noel Bridgeman, paid tribute to woodwork instructor Val Sheehan, who retired on the very same day after 38 years of dedicated mentorship of the many students who have enrolled on his course. His kindness and decentness was remarked upon by many of the attendees.

Mairead Quarry, the centre advocate, chaired a panel of employers who shared their life stories with students, including Ger Seaman, Dan Seaman Motors; Sidney McElheeney, Unique Fit Out; Deirdre Staples, Trigon Hotel Group, and John Keohane, Keohane Electrical Services.

Students were then presented with their certification in recognition of the hard work they had put in all year, with a spokesperson for the centre telling The Echo: “As always, they were a credit to the centre and leave with the warmest wishes of all the staff.”

Denis Leamy, in his closing remarks, congratulated all those present, extolled the ethos of the centre, and its importance to the ETB in their mission to make education and training available to the greatest number of people possible as part of their community outreach.

Suicide Alertness Training 

A suicide alertness training course will take place in Glanmire next week.

SafeTALK is a half-day training that prepares attendees, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper.

The organisers explained: “Most people with thoughts of suicide don't truly want to die but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive.

“SafeTALK-trained helpers can recognise these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources. 

"SafeTALK- trained helpers are an important part of suicide-safer communities, working alongside intervention resources to identify and avert suicide risks.” 

The event will be held in the Community Room, SuperValu Glanmire (T45 AH01) on Thursday, September 11, from 6.30pm to 10pm with a short break at 8pm.

To take part, you must register in advance, contact Niamh Kelleher on 087 983 8272;  Niamh O'Mahony on 086 854 9680, or go to https://bookwhen.com/suicidepreventiontrainingcork.

Mayfield school open day 

Mayfield Community School will be holding an open night at their premises at Old Youghal Rd, Mayfield, T23 DP95 on Tuesday, September 16. 

The event, which will begin at 7pm with an address from principal Kieran Golden at 7.15pm, will offer parents the opportunity to come and meet staff and students, with all welcome to attend.

Applications are now available from the main office and school website for the school year 2026/7.

Parents/Guardians of Year 1 students are also invited to attend a parent information session today (Monday September 8) from 4pm-4:45pm. This will include a session and help with the VSWare app.

Children’s sports classes 

Mayfield's Mini Movers, fundamental movements and games for boys and girls aged two to five years old, offers a great opportunity for kids to make friends and be healthy.

It will be running Saturday mornings from September 13, from 9 to 10am at Riverview Complex, Mayfield GAA, Lotabeg, T23 AC6T, and will cost €3 per child.

To sign up, or for more information, contact Eoin at 087 959 2655.

Little Kickers will also be running from September, and offers classes in Silversprings and Upper Glanmire.

The fun football classes for boys and girls aged 18 months to five years are a good way to give your child a positive introduction to sport. To register online visit www.littlekickers.ie and save €15.

Mayfield CDP courses

 A range of free courses are beginning soon at Mayfield Community Development Programme.

There will be two storytelling workshops with Maria Gillen on Wednesday, September 17 and 24, from 10.30am to 1pm.

A three session support on how to use your smartphone course begins Tuesday, October, 7 and will run from 12.15pm to 1.45pm each week.

Four sessions of mindfulness technices will run from 10am to 12.30pm starting Thursday, October 2.

A 12-session course on Information Technology Skills (Level 4) will begin Friday, October, 3 and run from 9.30am to 1pm.

All courses will take place at the CDP Community Resource Centre, 328 Old Youghal Road. To book a place, call 021 450 8562 or email mayfieldcdpresource@outlook.com or mayfieldcalp1@outlook.com.