All About Cork: ‘Fabulous, positive response’ to Ballincollig Open Streets

The response to this weekend’s planned Ballincollig Open Streets event has been hailed as “fabulous” by one of its organisers.

The two-hour event will see the main street host an open-air afternoon festival from 2pm to 4pm this Sunday, September 21.

Emer Cassidy, chair of the Ballincollig Business Association, told The Echo that the innovation had received “a fabulous, positive response” so far.

“We have about 20 or 25 exhibitors onboard already, a lot of charities have got involved, sporting organisations, we’ll see a lot of demonstrations from sports clubs, the GAA, soccer, basketball clubs, and we’ll have a main stage in front of the AIB, where we have the St Patrick’s Day stage,” she said.

“We’re going to a variety concert from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, with performances from Comhaltas, the Polyphonics, and The White Horse Guitar Club, and we also have a number of choirs coming along, as well as a circus act called The Wobbly Trapeze.

“The farmers’ market is going to be in place, and Bus Éireann is going to be putting on a display on sustainable transport and will be giving a lot of goodies away, and we have a lot of cyclists’ groups coming to promote active travel.”

Ms Cassidy added that much of the event was being co-ordinated by Ballincollig’s sustainable travel group, and she said it was hoped that the event would, in time, become an annual fixture in Ballincollig, perhaps occurring six months from St Patrick’s Day.

“Who knows, it might become a fixture, something that would mark the half-year to Patrick’s Day, as an annual get-together for the whole community,” Ms Cassidy said.

She noted that the idea of a street festival was one which had been used to great effect across the city, most recently in Blackpool and on Douglas St, and she felt the day would offer an opportunity to showcase the best of Ballincollig.

“It’s just going to be lovely, a little two-hour mini-fair in the heart of Ballincollig. It’ll be great fun, and all we need is the weather to play ball with us.”

Colm Kelleher, a former lord mayor of Cork and Fianna Fáil councillor for the South-West ward, said the event offered a showcase for the vibrancy of the town.

“It really gives us an opportunity to highlight all that Ballincollig has to offer, from its local businesses and its community spirit to its culture and creativity,” he said.

“Ballincollig is a fantastic place to live, with a thriving, dynamic community, and Sunday will showcase all we have to offer.”

Fine stock at Ballygarvan Agriculture Show

White Horse date for folk group

Veteran Irish experimental folk group Dr Strangely Strange play The White Horse in Ballincollig next week.

The band was formed in Dublin in 1967 by Tim Booth on vocals and guitar, and Ivan Pawle on bass and keyboards. They later teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Tim Goulding.

Their rented digs became a springboard for a new generation of Irish rock, helping to launch the careers of Thin Lizzy’s Philip Lynott, Gary Moore and others. After signing with the Incredible String Band’s manager Joe Boyd, they debuted in 1969 with the album Kip of the Serenes.

Their second album, Heavy Petting, was released in September 1970 and included Dave Mattacks on drums and Gary Moore on lead guitar.

However, a six-week European tour marked the beginning of the end, and the group disbanded in May 1971, after playing with Al Stewart at London’s Drury Lane Theatre.

Dr Strangely Strange play The White Horse, 8.30pm, Friday, September 26. See whitehorse.ie.

Tidy Towns volunteers

Bishopstown Tidy Towns is seeking new volunteers to help out in tidying up the area every Saturday morning. Membership is open to all residents in the Bishopstown, Wilton, part of Glasheen and the Model Farm Road areas.

The group currently has approximately 68 volunteers, and from that it has a regular core of about 20.

Volunteers are always needed and there is a warm welcome to all new members.

The Tidy Towns volunteers are split into three teams, covering litter, the community garden, and general maintenance and project work teams.

The group meets at 9.30am every Saturday at the Outpost car park, Curraheen Rd, T12 K163.

• See Facebook, email bishopstowntidytown@gmail.com, or 083 4077781.

Alzheimer Cafe this Thursday

The Ballincollig Alzheimer Cafe will take place this Thursday, September 18, running from 3pm to 5pm in the Chapel Gate Cafe.

Alzheimer cafes provide a warm and welcoming space for people with dementia, and for their family and friends and social and healthcare professionals to meet, and to exchange ideas, and thoughts. The Ballincollig Alzheimer Cafe provides an informal way to meet others who are living with dementia, and to meet health and social care professionals.

Each month, the cafe offers a safe space for people to have a chat and enjoy a social occasion, and an expert speaker will discusses a topic of interest. For more, contact Karen Fitzpatrick on 087 3487511, or email Karen at ballincolligalzheimercafe@alzheimer.ie.

Curraheen Youth Project

New members aged between 10 and 24 are sought for the Foróige Bishopstown and Curraheen Youth Project.

The project provides out-of-school youth services, offering creative activities and programmes that address mental and physical health, social skills, and relationships.

It also provides opportunities to build friendships, promote confidence, and improve communication skills. The programmes involve art, music, sports, and homework support. There are leadership and summer programmes too.

The project also provides programmes that focus on sexual health, internet safety, and alcohol and drugs. It is located at Murphy’s Farm and operates Monday to Friday. See the Foróige Bishopstown and Curraheen Youth Project Facebook page or foroige.ie.

Adult education returns

Next week will see Bishopstown Community School’s adult education evening courses return for the autumn, with classes running on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, beginning on Monday next, September 22. This year they are adding a digital marketing course to the wide variety of courses currently on offer.

On Monday night, classes will include beginners’ pilates; introduction to Irish sign language; Scrabble, and photography.

Tuesday’s courses include CrickHIIT; yoga women on the move; boxing, and volleyball.

On Wednesday, there is a digital marketing and social media course, an afternoon beginners’ bridge course, and Spanish for beginners and improvers. Most classes start at 7pm, and range in cost from €30 upwards.

Early registration is encouraged, and further information is available bishopstowncs.ie. For more information, contact the adult education co-ordinator, Rebecca Milner, at email: aded@bishopstown-cs.ie.

GAA weekly lottery

The numbers drawn in the Ballincollig GAA Club lottery, which was held on Thursday, September 11, were 8, 14, 30, and 36. There was no winner of the €16,200 jackpot, but there were three consolation prize winners for club supporters, with €100 going to Catherine S Buckley, €50 to Myles Fitton, and €50 to Liz O’Mahony. See ballincolliggaa.clubzap.com.