All About Cork: Sports complex offers free showers to community affected by water outages

Mayfield Sports Complex recently stepped up for the community by offering free access to showers and drinking water for the local community after a water outage left many reliant on bulk tankers.

Following what Uisce Éireann has described as “a major burst to a water main”, homes and businesses were without water for a time before the end of last year in Corrib Lawn, Ballinderry Park, Shannon Lawn, Lagan Grove, Liffey Park, Glencree Crescent, Gweedore Avenue, Boyne Crescent, and surrounding areas.

Uisce Éireann advised that repairs had “proven more complex than initially anticipated”, and though the utility body delivered a water tanker to Ballyvolane so people could get water from it, many called for it to have been located closer to Mayfield.

Local Labour councillor John Maher, who had asked for the tanker to be moved, thanked Mayfield Sports Complex for making showers and drinking water available to the community, saying: "Fair play to Paul O’Leary (manager) for arranging.”

Christmas tree drop off

People have been encouraged to take their Christmas tree to one of several free local drop off points, operated by Cork City Council.

The council will be accepting trees until the end of January at seven Cork city locations between 8am and 5pm.

These include Murmont Road, Montenotte, adjacent to the green, and Cork City Council offices, Glanmire T45 YD83 on the green in front of the offices. Other locations include Gus Healy Swimming Pool, Ballinlough; Clashduv Park, Togher; Ballincollig Regional Park; Sam Allen Sports Complex, Gurranabraher, and Tramore Valley Park, South Link Road.

Cork City Council want the public to dispose of trees at these designated locations only. Anyone found disposing of them other than at the designated sites will incur a fine.

Festival of Chess competition

Cork City Libraries turned the Mayfield Library branch into a grandmaster’s arena for the city’s third annual Festival of Chess competition.

Festive jumpers were on display for the pre-Christmas tournament, as five-person teams came from across Cork city for the round robin tournament, overseen by Irish youth international, Mark McGrath.

The Krazy Kings, captained by Laura Winiarska, and including Yong Wen He, Paul McSweeny, Oscar Grahame and Anna Diachenko, emerged as the strongest force and eventual champions with 2.5 points thanks to the efforts of the team.