All About Cork: St Joseph’s concert will be in aid of Down syndrome

St Joseph’s Church in Wilton will host a festive celebration this month as the Cork Light Orchestra performs The Beginning of Christmas for a worthy local cause.

Billed as an enchanting night, a joyful celebration of the spirit of Christmas, all proceeds from the concert will go to Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams.

Virginia Giglio, concert organiser with the Cork Light Orchestra, said the event promised to be wonderful, with St Joseph’s Church the perfect setting.

“The Cork Light Orchestra is renowned for their vibrant performances, blending classical and contemporary sounds.

“Their Christmas repertoire promises to delight audiences of all ages, featuring a selection of traditional carols and modern classics that capture the essence of the holiday spirit,” Ms Giglio said.

“Experience a magical evening with the Cork Light Orchestra as they bring the spirit of Christmas to life with a captivating performance.”

Ms Giglio said the evening’s programme would contain a selection of Christmas tunes, from timeless classics to modern favourites, performed by talented musicians.

The event would be perfect for families, friends, and music lovers, she said, promising to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

“Join us for an enchanting night filled with your favourite Christmas tunes, with sparkling music and a surprise or two from the Cork Light Orchestra.

“It has been wonderful to work with the Field of Dreams folks to make this concert really special,” she said.

Debbie Kelleher, care co-ordinator at Cork Down Syndrome Field of Dreams, said everyone at the charity was looking forward to the big night.

“It promises to be a fantastic evening, and a lovely way to kick off the Christmas season."

The Cork Down Syndrome Field of Dreams was built in 2017 to meet the learning needs of adults with Down syndrome from across Cork city and county.

The project was developed by the Cork branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and it has thrived in the years since.

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 help them towards paid work.

For more information, please visit www.fieldofdreamscork.ie.

The Beginning of Christmas will be performed at 7pm at St Joseph’s Church, Wilton, on Friday, November 28.

Tickets are €20, plus booking fees. For further information, see https://tinyurl.com/5cvkyanp.

Garda for a day

Alzheimer’s cafe this Thursday

The Ballincollig Alzheimer Café will take place this Thursday, November 20, running from 3pm to 5pm in the Chapel Gate Café.

Alzheimer cafés provide a warm and welcoming space for people who have dementia, their family and friends and social and healthcare professionals, to meet, and exchange ideas, thoughts, and learnings.

The Alzheimer Café follows an international model and usually opens monthly in the early evening, providing light refreshments and a mix of education and support.

The cafe is an informal way to meet other people who have dementia and also to meet health and social-care professionals.

Usually an expert speaker is invited each month to talk to the café about a topic of interest. The café is also a safe space to chat and enjoy a social occasion.

For further information, contact Karen Fitzpatrick on 087 3487511, or email Karen at ballincolligalzheimercafe@alzheimer.ie.

Choral festival on 28th

On Friday week, the Church of Christ Our Light in Ballincollig will host the Cork International Choral Festival, the 2025 edition of its Christmas concert, all under the direction of Catherine Mahon Buckley.

It promises to be a night of music and readings, this year under the title Choral Christmas Cheer.

Prepare to kick off the festive season with the voices of renowned soprano Mary Hegarty, emerging vocal talents, and some of the best Cork choirs, including: Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní Choir, Scoil Mhuire Choir Ballincollig, and The White Horse Gospel Choir.

The event will take place at 7.30pm on Friday, November 28, in the Church of Christ Our Light, Ballincollig.

Tickets are €26.00 and available at www.corkchoral.ie.

St Gabriel’s students design Christmas card to raise funds

This year the students in St Gabriel’s Special School in Bishopstown have designed their own Christmas card to raise money for the activities they do throughout the year.

A unique piece of art which captures some of the magic of Christmas, it was created by the students under the guidance of their art teacher Pascale.

St Gabriel’s Special School has 54 students, aged from four to 18, with severe intellectual disabilities, autism, and complex needs. The special school was opened in 1998 by Taoiseach Micheál Martin when he was the minister for education, and he told The Echo recently that it is a place that remains close to his heart.

“It provides very important opportunities for the children and young people there, and strong supports have gone into the school, we’ve modernised it in recent times in terms of the physical facilities and so on,” he said.

Packs of five cards with envelopes are available for €5 from brid.gey77@hotmail.com, and parents will be selling the cards in the Wilton Shopping Centre on Thursday, November 27.

Christmas lights switch-on

Join the Ballincollig Business Association at Castle West Shopping Centre at 6pm on Friday, November 28, for the official Christmas lights switch-on, a local tradition that marks the start of the holiday season.

There will be live entertainment, music, and plenty of fun for all ages. Santa will make a special appearance, and all the family can come along and soak up the magic as the village lights up for Christmas.

It also offers the perfect chance to support local shops, restaurants, and cafés, and pick up a few early gifts while you’re there.

If you’d like to get involved, the organisers are always delighted to welcome new volunteers to help out on the night or at any event. Even an hour of your time can make a big difference in creating a wonderful community celebration.

For more details on the Ballincollig Business Association, or to lend a hand, email admin@ballincollig.ie.

Neighbourhood watch

The December meeting of the Ballincollig Neighbourhood Watch will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, December 3, at The Carrig Centre, on the Old Fort Rd. Members of An Garda Síochána are expected to be there on the night, as well as representatives from other agencies. All are welcome to attend.

GAA Club weekly lottery

The numbers drawn in the Ballincollig GAA Club lottery, which was held on Thursday, November 13, were 7, 19, 21, and 30.

There was no winner of the €18,000 jackpot, however, three club supporters received consolation prizes, with €200 going to Mary (Bowls), €100 to Laura Kelleher, and €100 to Margot Crowley.

The jackpot for this week’s lottery draw, which will take place on Thursday, November 20, now stands at €18,200.