County Mayor's column: We lost one of the best this month with Patrick’s passing

One of the best parts of being Mayor of the County of Cork is getting to meet people every day and hearing their stories first-hand.

You get a unique insight into those that make our towns and villages so special, by sitting down with local faces for little get togethers.

It gives me a chance to appreciate the voices that give Cork its unique sense of character. We lost one of the best earlier this month, councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy.

We were colleagues and friends, forever linked by our desire to do what is best for the people of Cork through public service.

Councillor Murphy was a great man, who possessed an innate desire to do right by those in need.

He rose from humble origins on the Beara Peninsula to become county mayor between 2018-2019, after first joining Cork County Council in 2008.

Councillor Murphy dedicated his life to supporting those with disabilities through his work with the National Learning Network in Bantry, while setting up Cork Local Link and Employability West Cork.

I am honoured to have worked with councillor Murphy, and I will cherish our time together forever.

Constituents’ needs

We worked together to serve our constituents’ needs and make things better for everyone. That is why my role as mayor felt so fitting as I was involved in a number of different programmes and launches that were catered for people from all walks of life. It started with the roll out of the Cloth Nappy Starter Kit scheme through the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme with Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).

The kits will be available to antenatal patients at CUMH, and people can apply for a limited number of free cloth nappy starter kits. Each kit contains 10 high-quality reusable cloth nappies, a pack of 12 reusable cloth wipes, a waterproof storage bag for used nappies, nappy inserts for absorbency and comprehensive guidance on use and care.

I believe that small changes like this can make a big difference as we look to create a sustainable future.

National Women’s Enterprise Day

I felt the same way when we put out an open call encouraging female entrepreneurs and budding businesswomen from across Cork and Kerry to register for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day which is scheduled to take place on October 16, at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Little Island, Cork.

This is all about getting women to act on an idea or grow their business, and this event will outline all the key supports that are available, from financial and consultancy to training and mentoring. The theme will be ‘Making It Happen’ as we urge women to take the next step by looking to the future.

Anti-litter awards

That feeling of “what if” can often manifest in the best possible outcome. That is what we all want, in our everyday lives and for our county.

We got a chance to acknowledge those that strive towards that in their own towns and villages by hosting the Anti-Litter Awards at County Hall.

I was delighted to attend alongside a record crowd of more than 170 people, as we celebrated community groups that are out picking up rubbish through rain, hail, sleet, and snow.

The 2025 winning towns are Millstreet, Kanturk and Crosshaven. Macroom was named the most improved with Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh and Knocknagree winning the village titles.

Culture Night

I finished my week by getting to see these small areas come to life on Culture Night, a national exhibition of the arts and creative expression that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

We launched a stacked programme of events with a special showcase at County Hall that was attended by community groups from all across Cork.

It was wonderful to meet so many new people, and to once again get a unique insight into their lives by seeing what they are most passionate about.