All About Cork: Ballincollig Open Streets event proves to be a real hit

The Ballincollig Open Streets event on Sunday has been described as “a fantastic success” by one of its organisers.

The two-hour event saw the main street closed to vehicular traffic so it could host an open-air afternoon festival from 2pm on Sunday.

Emer Cassidy, chair of the Ballincollig Business Association (BBA), told The Echo the innovation had received “a phenomenal response”.

“We were blessed with the weather, and there was a real family atmosphere in the village for it,” she said. “We’re thrilled with it, just thrilled.

“We had a variety concert with performances from Comhaltas, the Polyphonics, and The White Horse Guitar Club, and we also had a number of choirs and a circus act.

“The Farmers’ Market was there, and Bus Éireann put on a display on sustainable transport and gave away a lot of goodies, and we had cyclists’ groups promoting active travel.”

The event was co-ordinated by Ballincollig’s sustainable travel group, and it followed on from a number of very successful street festivals across the city, most recently in Blackpool and on Douglas St.

“The timing was perfect as well, coming at the end of that series of festivals, and it was perfect for us too, because it is more-or-less exactly six months after St Patrick’s Day, so it mirrors it as a community day,” Ms Cassidy said.

“We would definitely like to do the same again at the same time next year, and we would hope that it would be even bigger and better next year.”

Clubs and groups at Bishopstown Library

One of the largest local libraries in Cork city, Bishopstown Library, has a number of events every month in the library, with several clubs and groups making it their home in its warm and friendly space.

The Arts group meets at 2.30pm every Monday, and Knit and Natter meets at 10.30am, every Tuesday. The Adult Chess club meets at 2.30pm every Wednesday.

There is a gramophone recital at 3pm this Thursday, and Caint is Comhrá is at 6.30pm, every Thursday.

A number of retirement groups meet in the library: the Wilton Go-Getters at 2.30pm every Tuesday, and the Wilton Wanderers at 2.30pm on the second and fourth Friday.

Bishopstown Library is located in Wilton, T12 RR84, and is open from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Email: bishopstown_library@corkcity.ie or call: (021) 4924953.

5K fun run this Sunday

Ballincollig GAA Club will hold a 5K fun run around the Regional Park next Sunday lunchtime in aid of Cork University Hospital and Ballincollig GAA.

All are invited to walk, run, push the pram or lead the dog around the park starting at Ballincollig GAA Club at 1.15pm on Sunday, September 28.

All proceeds go to Cork University Hospital and Ballincollig GAA, the entry fee is €16 per adult, €5 per under-16, and €35 per family.

To register, see ballincolliggaa.ie.

West Village playground

Ballincollig’s West Village could see a restored playground by the end of the year, according to a response from Cork City Council to a local councillor.

The news comes following a decision in February by the Department of Rural and Community Development to provide funding of €83,740 to refurbish the playground.

Welcoming the reply from the city council, Joe Lynch, Sinn Féin councillor for the south-west ward, said he had been working on securing new playground equipment at the site for nearly two years.

“Upon my election to Cork City Council last year, I recommended to the council’s community section to apply for funding to do this from the Community Recognition Fund; which was finally awarded in February of this year.

“Having engaged with Council management on the project over recent months, I am very happy to share the news that tenders for the project are now being considered and Council management expect the project will be completed by the end of the year,” Mr Lynch said."

Ballincollig GAA Club lottery

The numbers drawn in the Ballincollig GAA Club lottery, held on Thursday, September 18, were 9, 23, 26, and 31. There was no winner of the €16,400 jackpot, but there were three consolation prize winners for club supporters, with €100 going to Gayle Corry, €50 to Joe Moore, and €50 to John Kelleher.

For further information, see ballincolliggaa.clubzap.com The jackpot for this week’s lottery draw now stands at €16,600.