All About Cork: Model behaviour to boost community engagement
"The Hollyhill Express: A Northside Christmas Journey"
A 40ft winter Northside Christmas Village model constructed by members of the Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill communities has been hailed a huge success by the project team.
“The Hollyhill Express: A Northside Christmas Journey” was a community-led artistic initiative organised by NICHE Health Project Cork at Hollyhill and Knocknaheeny Community Garden, designed to foster social engagement and creativity within the northside of Cork city.
The project culminated in an immersive Christmas experience. Through the collaborative efforts of local participants and artistic leadership, the project successfully delivered a high-quality installation that engaged hundreds of community members.
The primary goals of The Hollyhill Express were to promote community engagement, foster teamwork, provide participants with hands-on experience in set design and construction and celebrate local identity.
The construction phase spanned four months of intensive activity which involved concept development, material sourcing, structural building, and artistic detailing. The timeline was adhered to strictly to ensure the installation was ready for the festive season.
The project was led by Davy Dummigan, who served as the Artist and Set Designer, while the core team consisted of 12 dedicated participants who met weekly.
The project placed a heavy emphasis on teamwork, requiring this group to solve problems collectively and manage different aspects of the set design.
The project was supported by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). They awarded €1,500, and NICHE Community Health Project (Cork) CLG offset the remaining cost.
The grant was utilized to offset the costs of materials, construction supplies, and operational expenses required to bring the set design to life, and the funding was essential in ensuring the project could be completed to a high standard without placing a financial burden on the participants.
The project launched officially on the evening of Wednesday December 10 January at an opening night attended by 177 people.
A spokesperson for NICHE said: “The Hollyhill Express was more than just a Christmas attraction; it was a testament to the power of community collaboration.
“By combining the artistic vision of Davy Dummigan with the hard work of 12 dedicated locals and the financial support of SICAP, the Northside successfully created a magical experience. The project met all its objectives regarding teamwork and engagement, providing a lasting memory for the 177 attendees and a sense of pride for the builders.”
Works to erect palisade fencing along the boundary between McSweeney's Farm and the Fair Field, commenced on Wednesday morning.
A senior executive engineer for Cork city council told elected members: “This is an interim measure to address ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour, littering, and unauthorised storage on McSweeney's Farm, a City Council site.
“Decorative fencing solution remains proposed for the external perimeter of the park; final design details are still to be confirmed. There are other proposals for the future development of McSweeney's Farm (outside of the Rapid Deployment remit).
“Palisade fencing became available for reuse after being removed from a nearby site, so this is an interim low-cost intervention intended to secure the park boundary and safeguard the park and its users.” He added that the Parks Department were carrying out hedge cutting in that area separately also during the week.
Sinn Féin councillor for the area Kenneth Collins told The Echo that this was great news, especially following a spate of recent incidents of antisocial behaviour which saw multiple motorbikes stolen, burnt out and dumped in the amenity on Christmas day.
He added: “They’re putting fencing up inside to secure it from antisocial behaviour, things like stolen which is a step forward.
“The outer section is going to be done in the next couple of months, hopefully by March, so progress is happening and it’s fantastic news for the local community, that they’ll be able to go for walks there without seeing stolen burnt motorbikes.”
The Annual General Meeting of Blackpool Community Centre will take place on Thursday January 2026 at 8pm, and is open to all.
The event, held at Blackpool Community Centre, Great William O'Brien St, Blackpool, Cork, T23 TR7A, will be of interest to anyone who takes part in any of the many activities and services provided by Blackpool Community Centre and who is interested in community affairs.
As families begin the New Year, the HSE South West is encouraging uptake of the children’s nasal flu vaccine (LAIV) by attending free walk‑in clinics in Cork.
This includes a clinic which will be held from 1pm to 5pm on Monday January 19 at St. Mary's Primary Care Centre, Gurranabraher, Cork (T23 V09X).
The LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine) nasal spray is a quick and painless vaccine administered into each nostril. It provides strong and effective protection for children aged 2–17 years, helping to reduce illness, prevent the spread of flu within households, and support families during the busy winter period.
Dr. Rebecca Marshall, Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, said: “Flu can be serious for children and those around them. These walk‑in clinics offer an accessible way to ensure children are protected and to help reduce the spread of flu in our communities.”
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