All About Cork: Charity truck and tractor run postponed for a week

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025 - 07:00

Donal O’Keeffe

The Light Up for Cancer Curraheen Christmas Truck and Tractor Run, which last year raised more than €30,000 for charity in memory of the late Darragh Ryan, has been postponed by a week to this Sunday, December 21.

For the second year in a row, Darragh’s friends and family are coming together to hold a charity event for Breakthrough Cancer Research and Cork Arc Cancer Support House, albeit a week after their initial planned date.

Darragh’s dad, Colman, apologised for the change in date, which had been necessitated by a bereavement.

“We deeply appreciate your understanding during this time,” Mr Ryan said.

“We look forward to coming together on Sunday, December 21, to support Breakthrough Cancer Research and Cork Arc Cancer Support House.

“Thank you for your patience and continued support.”

Darragh was 23 years of age and in his final year of college, studying politics, physiology, law, and economics in the University of Amsterdam, when he was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of liposarcoma cancer in May of 2022.

He passed away on December 20, 2022.

During the eight months that Darragh was ill, his family became acutely aware of the work of organisations such as Breakthrough Cancer Research, and they were grateful for the help of Cork ARC Cancer Support House.

Wanting to raise funds for those charities in Darragh’s name, his family hit upon the idea of a tractor run, setting an initial fundraising target of €15,000, little expecting how successful the venture would ultimately prove.

Last year’s tractor run eventually raised more than twice that amount, and in February Darragh’s family presented matching cheques for €15,545 each to Breakthrough Cancer Research and Cork ARC Cancer Support House.

The tractor run returns this Sunday, following a slightly different route, with an after-dark parade through Ballincollig, a bucket collection, and a rumoured special guest appearance by Santa Claus.

It’s sure to be a very emotional event, made all the more poignant as it comes a day after Darragh’s anniversary.

Registration will take place at 2pm in Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium on Sunday, December 21, ahead of a 5pm departure time.

For further information, and to support, please see tinyurl.com/39uv267v.

All the monies raised will go to Breakthrough Cancer Research and Cork ARC Cancer Support House.

Tree sale at Irish Guide Dogs

Carrigrohane-based national charity Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is hosting a sale of Christmas trees at its Cork training centre.

While buying one of the trees does not result in a direct contribution per tree to Irish Guide Dogs, the charity does get a generous rental for the use of the space from which the trees are sold.

The trees will be on sale seven days a week, with the Carrigrohane training centre from 9am to 6pm until Sunday, December 21, or until they are sold out.

The charity advises that trees sold out early last year, so it might be best for those interested to not leave it too late to pick up a fresh, locally-grown Christmas tree.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is Ireland’s national charity dedicated to enabling people who are vision impaired, and the families of children who have autism to achieve improved mobility and independence.

The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind training centre is located on the Model Farm Road, Carrigrohane, T12 WT4A.

Daithí Murphy, 7, from Ballincollig helps CEO Padraig Mallon (second left) to turn on the Christmas lights at the Crann Centre, cheered on by his brothers Culann, 10, twins Tiarnán and Séamí, 8, parents Andrew and Caroline, and one of Santa’s elves. Picture: Brian Lougheed

Christmas Mass times

Sacristan Geraldine Drohan has given The Echo this year’s Christmas Mass times for Ballincollig. Christmas Eve Mass will take place in St Mary and St John’s at 9.30am, 6pm, and 10pm.

Mass on Christmas Day will be at 8.30am, 10am, and midday. Christmas Eve Mass in Christ Our Light is 8.30am, 6pm and 8pm. Mass on Christmas Day is 11am and 12.30pm.

Priests of the parish are Fr Alan O’Leary pp, Fr Ronan Sheehan, and Fr Jo Jo Matthews.

In Bishopstown, Christmas Eve Mass will be held at the Church of The Real Presence at 4pm, 6pm, and 9pm. The 9pm Mass is the vigil and will be preceded by a carol service at 8.30pm.

On Christmas Day, Mass will be held at 9.30am and 11.30am, while on St Stephen’s Day Mass will be at 10am.

Christmas service times

The Carrigrohane Union of Parishes has given The Echo this year’s Christmas service times. Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, December 17, at 7.30pm, will see the Church of the Resurrection, Blarney, hold a community carol service. At 7.30pm on Friday, December 19, St Peter’s, Carrigrohane, will hold a community carol service.

On Sunday, December 21, all-age worship will be held in St Peter’s, Carrigrohane, at 10am. At 11am that morning, service will be held in the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig and will be carried online.

At 11.30am, all-age worship will be held at the Church of the Resurrection in Blarney, while at 7.30pm a community ecumenical carol service will be held at Cloghroe Catholic church.

On Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24, midnight Holy Communion will take place at 11pm in St Senan’s, Inniscarra.

On Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, Holy Communion service will be held at 10am at St Peter’s, Carrigrohane. At 11am, Holy Communion service will be held at the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig and transmitted online. At 11.30am, Holy Communion service will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, in Blarney.

Sunday, December 28, will see 10am Christingle Service held at St Peter’s, Carrigrohane, and at11.30am, Christingle Service will be held in Inniscarra.

Aiya Tohamy, 5, Bishopstown, with Paul from Wobbly Circus, at the switching on of the lights on the crib at The Lough. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan

TY students Inspire

Transition Year business students from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh recently completed a six-week digital marketing course with Inspire Credit Union in Bishopstown.

The winning team was congratulated by the credit union for its campaign ‘Unite Your Funds, Inspire Your Spends’.

Inspire Credit Union said it believed in investing in young people, supporting local education, and helping to build strong foundations for future leaders. For further information, see www.inspirecu.ie.

Ballincollig GAA Club weekly lottery

The numbers drawn in the Ballincollig GAA Club lottery, which was held on Thursday, December 11, were 8, 10, 14, and 31. There was no winner of the €18,800 jackpot, but there were three consolation prize winners for club supporters, with €100 going to Oliver Ryan, €50 to Mary O’Sullivan, and €50 to Tony J O’Connor.

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, which will take place on this Thursday, December 18, now stands at 19,000.

Still time to meet Santa at Wilton

Wilton Shopping Centre is reminding people that there is still time to meet Santa, who has taken time out of his busy schedule and will be at the shopping centre in the run-up to Christmas.

The shopping centre said there was no need to make a booking, with every welcome to walk in.