All About Cork: Neighbourhood Safety Forum held at Togher centre

Last night Cork City Council held a successful Neighbourhood Safety Forum at the Togher Community Centre.

Neighbourhood Safety Forums are spaces where the community can discuss any safety concerns they may have with An Garda Síochána and staff from Cork City Council’s community team. These meetings are held three times a year in September, February and May in RAPID Areas.

Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) works with communities across Cork city focusing on areas designated as disadvantaged. The focus is on communities, the voluntary sector and agencies working together in partnership for the betterment of the community.

The RAPID programme in Cork is trusted and respected as having delivered strong inter-agency cooperation and specific programmes and projects to address disadvantage. A single area based committee has been established which focuses on the four RAPID areas, and is aligned with the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and other Inter-Agency structures in the city.

Togher and Ballyphehane are included in these RAPID areas.

As outlined in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which commenced in April 2025, Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) will function: ‘To coordinate and support area-based neighbourhood community safety forums in its functional area, where appropriate’.

However, commencement of the regulations for the establishment of Local Neighbourhood Community Safety Fora (section 115 of Act) will be delayed to allow for the initial establishment of LCSPs.

It is intended that Safety Partnerships should, in their first year, review their local community safety landscape, including the existence of local policing fora, local community safety fora, and other similar structures, reviewing whether they serve the current community safety needs of the area. Such Fora may continue to meet during this period.

The forum held last night discussed issues related to crime and crime prevention, anti-social behaviour, issues related to illicit substances, derelict properties, road safety problems such as speeding, illegal parking, footpath quality, and road crossing infrastructure.

Topics such as maintenance of local authority owned parks and green spaces, public signage, litter and street cleansing and abandoned cars were also discussed.

Cork City Council has noted that no criminal cases are to be discussed at these forums going further.

Other issues that are not suitable for a Safety Forum include: Water and wastewater services — all issues related to water and wastewater should be sent to Uisce Éireann; social housing tenant issues and concerns; dogs and animal welfare; neighbourhood noise complaints, or reporting of blocked gullies.

A further forum will be held on Tuesday, September 30, at 7.30pm for the area surrounding UCC, Magazine Rd, Glasheen Rd, College Rd, Connaught Ave, etc.

This area is not a RAPID Area but was deemed an area of need several years ago due to the unique tenure mix of students and long-term residents. This meeting will be held in the UCC Student’s Hub.

For more information, please contact: communitysafety@corkcity.ie

Very Pink Run at MTU in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland

Become an Active Citizen

Want to make a difference in your community?

If so, you can join the Active Citizenship course at Ballyphehane FET Centre and discover how you can have a real impact, get involved in local decision-making, and become a voice for change. The course begins this Friday, September 12, and runs each Friday until October 24, from 10am until 12pm at Ballyphehane Togher CDP.

The course will allow participants to develop an understanding of the voting process including voter registration; ballot access; election types, and how government officials are elected; recognise the power of voting as a civic right and responsibility, especially in shaping policies; leadership, and community priorities.

It also aims to build your confidence to speak in your community and connect with like-minded people.

You can register for the course now on FetchCourses.ie.

CE Scheme vacancies

L’Arche Ireland is seeking to fill two positions in their Togher branch.

Under the CE Scheme, two vacancies have become available with L’Arche, a group of 160 worldwide communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together.

The Togher branch is seeking a gardener. The closing date for this job listing is September 24. The job reference number is CES2407089. The local branch is also hiring a kitchen assistant. The closing date is also September 24. The job reference number is CES2407079.

Candidates should make an appointment with their local Intreo case officer, and request to be put forward for the vacancy. Applicants must be over 21, living in Ireland, and qualify for SW payment for 12 months.

Togher knitting group seeking wool donation

Needles and Pins Knitting Group are based in the Togher Community Centre and are looking for donations of wool. This group knit blankets for day centres, residential homes, O’ Connell Court Residents, premature baby sets, angel capes, cot blankets for the oncology ward for cancer patients, hats for the homeless, items for Edel House, and many more.

If you have any wool at home, please consider donating to this group so that they can continue their hard work.

St Joseph’s Cemetery tour

The Cork Historical Society run monthly guided tours of St Joseph’s Cemetery, Tory Top Road, Cork.

The final walking tour took place on Wednesday, September 3, at 7pm.

A spokesperson for the group said: “We would like to thank everyone who attended our walking tours over the past number of months.
“We hope you found the tours interesting and enjoyable. We wish everyone good health and hopefully we will see you all at next year’s walks.

“We are so honoured that the Hegarty family graves have been included in the tours. Many thanks to Finbarr Barry for sharing the Hegarty’s story.
“Take a look at our website for more information and to download the walking tour brochure.”

More information can be found at https://hegartycollection.ie/.../tours-of-st-josephs...

Éamann Rís open evening

Coláiste Éamann Rís will hold an open evening for prospective students this month.

The open evening will be held on Tuesday, September, 23 at 4pm.

Principal of the school, Aaron Wolfe, will address the group at 6pm and the event will conclude at 8pm.

For more information or to complete an online enrolment please see the school website.

Ballyphehane GAA Festival

The Ballyphehane GAA and Ladies Gaelic Football Club 2025 festival kicked off on Monday, and the fun will continue until Sunday.

The event, which is in aid of Barnardos, began with the erection of the annual tree next to the club cabin, followed by prayers from Fr Greg and the placing of names on the tree.

Yesterday saw a family fun evening with an outdoor family sports night with music and refreshments.

The festival will continue tonight, with an U12 and 13 girls match at 6.30pm, followed by a Gaelic4Mothers versus Ballygarvan match on Thursday at 7pm.

Friday sees the Paddy O’Leary Cup junior football game, followed by a table quiz at the Harp Bar at 8.30pm.

On Saturday, there will be an underage football blitz and the fun will conclude on Sunday with a men’s pram race at 3pm on Pearse Square.

Everyone is welcome to come down, show your support, and enjoy the annual festival.

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