All About Cork: Second An Post nomination for bookshop Leaf & Bower

Independent Ballincollig bookshop Leaf & Bower, which has just celebrated its second year in business, has again been longlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards Bookstore of the Year.

This is the second time that the shop, which is owned and run by Dripsey native Fiona Farrell, has been nominated for the prestigious national award, and, again this year, Leaf and Bower is the only Cork bookshop on the longlist.

Ms Farrell said that she was thrilled that Leaf & Bower had again been longlisted for the award.

“I’m just delighted to be longlisted and to be representing Cork,” Ms Farrell said. “I hit two years in business the week before last, so, for me, it’s a real boost, and I think it’s more special because the customers voted for me,” Ms Farrell said.

“A few people screenshotted their entries, so that I could see what they had written about the shop, and that was really emotional,” she said.

“It’s just lovely that it’s coming from people’s support, and it feels like all of Ballincollig is rallying around the shop.

“I actually can’t believe I got nominated this year again. It’s mad.”

Ms Farrell said it was “magic” that people have been calling into the shop to congratulate her.

Before opening Leaf & Bower, Ms Farrell had worked in the book business for more than 20 years and had always dreamed of owning her own shop.

She said that surviving cancer six years ago had been the spur for her to strike out on her own. She searched for a premises for a couple of years, before setting up on Ballincollig’s main street.

“Ballincollig has been so supportive to me over the past two years, and it has a wonderful community of readers who have all been incredible in their support of the bookshop,” she said.

Public voting for the An Post Irish Book Awards is now closed, and Ms Farrell must next make a presentation to the adjudicating panel, outlining her plans for the future

She must also answer a number of questions, including how she intends to continue to support Irish writing, how sustainable the shop is, and how her shop fits in to the local community.

The 12 shops on the longlist will be reduced to a shortlist later this month.

For more information, see irishbookawards.ie.

Events at the local library

Bishopstown Library hosts events every month, with several clubs and groups making it their ‘home’. It hosts those groups across a variety of timeslots.

The arts group meets at 2.30pm every Monday; Knit and Natter meets at 10.30am, every Tuesday; and the adult chess club meets at 2.30pm every Wednesday.

The Jane Austen book club is at 2.30pm on the first Tuesday, 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 in Wilton, T12 RR84, and is open from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Email: bishopstown_library@corkcity.ie or call: 021 4924953.

Drama Festival on next week

The annual Ballincollig Drama Festival will take place next week, from Monday to Thursday, in the Ballincollig Community Centre on Station Rd.

Groups from all over Cork city and county will take to the stage to showcase some of the best amateur productions, locally written and directed.

The Pyke Theatre Group, which every year organises the festival, has announced that Shirley McCarthy will adjudicate for the week.

With some of the groups taking part likely to go on to compete in various drama festivals across the country, the festival offers theatre lovers an opportunity to see those groups in Ballincollig first.

Opening night on Monday, will include a cheese and wine reception at 7pm. Curtain each night at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Admission is €10, with concessions €8.

Before that, come along to Ballincollig Rugby Club in Tanner Park tonight, Tuesday 7, for the Pyke Theatre Group’s monthly social. Bring a friend and make some more. Free admission.

Field of Dreams Pick-a-Pumpkin Festival

There are still some tickets available for the second half of this year’s Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams Pick-a-Pumpkin Festival on the Clash Rd in Curraheen, with a range of time slots available across Sunday, October 12, from 10am to 3.30pm.

The festival features three ticket types this year with a family/group ticket costing €32.50 (plus fees), which will include entry for four people, and will allow them to take away one pumpkin.

A pumpkin ticket will cost €20 (plus fees) and will include entry for one and one pumpkin. An entry ticket will cost €5 (plus fees) and includes entry only for one and does not include a pumpkin. Children aged under two go free.

To enter the pumpkin patch and pick a pumpkin, you must purchase a pumpkin ticket or a family or group ticket.

On the day, you can follow the Pumpkin Trail around the site with several fun stops along the way. Visitors will also be able to join in for scary songs and stories, temporary Halloween tattoos, and the Guess the Pumpkin Weight competition.

The Field of Dreams Pumpkin Café will also be open each day with a selection of seasonal sweet treats along with a range of hot and cold beverages.

The vision of Field of Dreams is to provide adults with Down syndrome opportunities for ongoing learning and growth. For some, this will move them towards a life of greater independence and self-reliance, and for others, it will move them towards paid work.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite only. For further information about the event, please contact Debbie at debbie.kelleher@downsyndromecork.ie.

Scoil Barra open night

At 7pm this Thursday, October 9, Scoil Barra, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, will hold its open night for any prospective Junior Infants for the 2026/27 year.

A co-educational primary school in Ballincollig, Scoil Barra first opened its doors to pupils in 1985. Since then, the school has grown and expanded considerably and it now has 440 pupils with a teaching staff of 31 teachers, including 11 special education teachers, and in addition it has eight special needs assistants.

The school also has excellent facilities including a general-purpose hall, a large computer room, and spacious playing areas.

For further information, contact Scoil Barra, Innishmore, Ballincollig. Telephone:
021 4873459; fax: 021 4289763, or email: info@scoilbarra.ie.

GAA Club weekly lottery

The numbers drawn in the Ballincollig GAA Club lottery, which was held on Thursday, October 2, were 3, 19, 31, and 34. There was no winner of the €16,800 jackpot, but there were three consolation prize winners for club supporters, with €100 going to Sinead Beale, €50 to V Dennehy, and €50 to Neil Donovan.

Ballincollig GAA Club has migrated its lottery to its club platform ClubZap. For further information, see ballincolliggaa.clubzap.com.

The jackpot for this week’s lottery draw now stands at €17,000.

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