All About Cork: Basketball team members help out Tidy Towns team

Sunday morning saw members of Ballincollig Basketball Club’s men’s Super League team turn up to help the volunteers of Ballincollig Tidy Towns (BTT) on their weekly clean-up.

The Ballincollig men’s team competes in the Domino’s Men’s Super League, which is the top-tier men’s basketball league in Ireland.

The team has been doing very well this season, with a strong mix of Irish players and recruits from Spain, the UK, and the US.

They’ve made it to the National Cup final against Tralee Warriors at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin at 8pm this coming Saturday night.

Joining the BTT volunteers last weekend were Ballincollig basketball players Latavious Mitchell, Josh Steel, Latrell Jossell, and Alberto Valiente, as well as Super League committee member Jonathon Ulrich.

Mr Ulrich told The Echo they had used a break between Sunday’s heavy showers — “we dodged between the raindrops” — to help the BTT volunteers.

“Tidy Towns is a very successful and respected organisation in Ballincollig, and having won the national award in 2024, there’s huge pride in their work,” Mr Ulrich said.

“It’s built on consistency, focus, and a lot of effort behind the scenes — which is very similar to the mindset of the Ballincollig Super League team, especially heading into a big game like the National Cup final.

“The lads are grounded, putting the work in, and giving something back to the community is part of that same approach.”

Daniel O’Sullivan, who also sits on the Ballincollig Super League committee, said: “Latrell, Alberto, Latavious, and Josh have been terrific additions to the community, embracing the culture and being a part of Ballincollig’s community at every opportunity they get.”

Senator Garret Kelleher, a long-time BTT volunteer, said it had been great to see the team join them, especially after their long journey down from their game against St Vincent’s in Dublin the previous evening.

“It’s fantastic for Ballincollig to have such a talented team competing so successfully on the national stage and inspiring the next generation in our community,” Mr Kelleher said.

“We wish them every success in next weekend’s National Cup final against Tralee, and we look forward to getting out to work together on another community project again soon.”

A supporters’ bus will depart Coláiste Choilm at 2.15pm on Saturday heading for the big match, and returning to Cork afterward, although tickets are already scarce.

See linktr.ee/bbcpro

Alzheimer cafe due to return

The Ballincollig Alzheimer Café is due to return for the new year on Thursday, January 15, running from 3pm to 5pm in the Chapel Gate Café.

Alzheimer cafés provide a warm and welcoming space for people with dementia, and for their family and friends and social and health care professionals to meet, and to exchange ideas, and thoughts. The Ballincollig Alzheimer Café provides an informal way to meet others who are living with dementia, and to meet health and social care professionals.

The café takes place on the third Thursday of each month and follows an international model, usually opening in the early evening, providing light refreshments and a mix of education and support.

Each month, the café offers a safe space to sit down and have a chat and enjoy a social occasion, and an expert speaker will discuss a topic of interest.

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

Cuanlee walk-in clinic

On Thursday, January 29, an outreach worker from the Cuanlee Refuge will hold a walk-in clinic in the Ballincollig Family Resource Centre on Station Road, P31AE86.

Cuanlee Refuge provides safe and secure crisis accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Cuanlee is a purpose-built refuge for women and children experiencing domestic, emotional, physical, economic, sexual, or psychological abuse.

It helps women who wish to move on and live independently, free from violence.

Cuanlee’s professional staff support women and children during their stay in the refuge.

The clinic takes place on the last Thursday of every month and runs from 10am-1pm.

Contact info@cuanleerefuge.org or 087 3859743.

Ireland Lights Up and Healthy Steps challenge 

Ballincollig GAA, Camogie and LGFA is again taking part in the annual Ireland Lights Up and the Irish Life GAA Healthy Club Steps challenge.

The steps challenge commenced on Wednesday January 7 and runs until February 11. More than 50 people have already signed up on the Irish Life MyLife app. The challenge offers participating clubs the chance to win a share of €30,000 in club funding, and Ballincollig GAA is looking to build on its numbers from 2025, encouraging club members and the wider community to sign up to the challenge.

The Ireland Lights Up walks, which are separate but complimentary to the Steps Challenge, will commence at 7.30pm tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, and will run for five weeks. The first week will be led by members of the Ballincollig senior camogie team, who are the current Munster Intermediate camogie champions. The walks start from the GAA club and run along Old Fort Road and back along Main Street.

Sponsorship is provided by SOS Binding and Quish’s Supervalu, with tea, coffee and fruit provided in the club bar afterwards.

Christmas tree disposal 

Cork City Council is operating bring centres for free Christmas tree recycling across the city throughout January. Running until January 31, the facilities will be open from 8am to 5pm.

In Ballincollig, trees will be accepted in the Regional Park at the green adjacent to the bring bank site.

Other points across the city include: adjacent to green by the Gus Healy swimming pool in Ballinlough; adjacent to the bring bank site by Clashduv Park in Togher; adjacent to the green in Murmont Rd in Montenotte; adjacent to the green by the Sam Allen sports complex in Gurranabraher; Tramore Valley Park on the South Link Rd; and at the Cork City Council offices in Glanmire, T45 YYD83.

Bird box presentation 

The Cork Biodiversity Hub in Ballincollig will this week host a presentation on bird boxes.

The talk will introduce the different types of nest boxes, with pointers on how to choose the right one. Positioning and maintenance of boxes will be covered, as will protection from predators, and plants to encourage birds into gardens.

The presentation will include a demonstration on how to construct a bird box.

A limited number of 2026 calendars will be on sale on the night.

The presentation takes place at 7.30pm at the Cork Biodiversity Hub, which is located at P31 PX67.

Ballincollig GAA Club weekly lottery 

The weekly Ballincollig GAA Club lottery returned on Thursday last, January 8, after taking a break for the Christmas holidays, with a €19,200 jackpot.

The numbers drawn were 9, 13, 15, and 27. There was no winner of the jackpot, but there were three consolation prizes drawn for club supporters, with €100 going to Sinead Beale, €50 to Gillian O’Brien, and €50 to Rachel O’Sullivan.

Ballincollig GAA Club has migrated its lottery to its club platform ClubZap.

For further information, see ballincolliggaa.clubzap.com.

The jackpot now stands at €20,000.