15.10.20 TELLING CORK’S STORY FOR 15 YEARS 2005-2020 17 Nominee profiles BLARNEY VILLAGE safety for all, regardless of Six nominated for Blarney was nominated as a nationality, background, or small village with a big heart. abilities. It is a place where Blarney’s strong community there is always an oppor- spirit is shown through its tunity to meet someone, to many community initiatives make contact, find connec- such as Blarney Commu- tions and build community. nity First Responders who The project does this by pride awards have trained over 300 local offering learning opportuni- people, Blarney Tidy Towns ties in a community setting. group; Blarney Communi- During the lockdown the Niamh Áine Ryan ty Council, in existence for project found new ways to more 30 years who revived keep everyone connected [email protected] the Blarney St Patrick’s Day and the co-ordinators and Parade; Blarney Men’s Shed tutors used technology cre- Six communities and who recently created out- atively to keep in weekly groups are in with a door classrooms for the na- contact with everyone, in- chance of being awarded tional schools to help them cluding with live music per- for how they shape, as they reopened, and Blar- formances. ney Meals on Wheels which change and enjoy all that was a real community effort SHEP EARTH AWARE it good about their area. during Covid-19, tripling the AND ELDERS FOR EARTH Cork City Council has number of meals delivered. SHEP Earth Aware and El- linked with Co-operation ders for Earth are part of the Ireland in nominating the BALLINCOLLIG community education and communities, groups and The people of Ballincollig development organisation have been working hard for SHEP (Social and Health Ed- organisations for the 2020 the past three years, encour- ucation Project). They aim IPB Pride of Place awards, aging an ethos of working to raise awareness about which are an all-island together to benefit the so- the climate and biodiversity competition that recog- cial, cultural, environmental crisis and they work with a nises improvements made and economic well-being of wide range of other groups by local communities to their community. A strong to put on courses, work- community forum and work- shops, talks, films and con- create civic pride in their ing groups for initiatives and ferences. In 2019, in collab- area. areas to address particular oration with several other Director of Service for issues and bring forward groups, they organised the Community Culture & solutions contribute greatly Cork Conference on Inter- Placemaking in Cork City to this, a shining example generational Climate Justice Council, Adrienne Rodg- of which is the Ballincollig in the City Hall. It brought Covid-19 Community Re- together a speaker panel of ers, said: “Every year this Blarney and Tower Community Response Forum members helping the community during this year’s sponse Forum Area Team, adult and teenage climate competition is one that lockdown. who responded to hundreds activists with an audience of all community groups of calls during the lockdown. over 200, made up of equal look forward to as they over 3,000 population numbers of teenagers and get to show the rest of the • The Hut (Youth & Com- THE HUT older people. country the innovative munity Resource Centre) The Hut has proven itself to be a truly creative space THE SOUTH SIDE YOUTH in Gurranabraher for Cre- and interesting ways they and often a transformative FORUM help their community and ative Place Initiative one for young and old in The South Side Youth Forum its people; from the small • Lantern Project for the area. Community mem- (SYF) was established in village to the stand alone Community Wellbeing Ini- bers attending The Hut can 2018. Young people who at- community project group tiative work creatively through the tended a Positive Health and focussed on wellbeing the • SHEP Earth Awareand anchor project Youth Work Wellbeing event identified Ireland Cork through vari- the need for a Youth Forum. Pride of Place is just that, Elders for Earth for Com- ous mediums like art, mu- A meeting was set up with an opportunity for the munity Climate Action sic, spoken word, rapping, young people from partici- groups to showcase why Initiative group work and general pating schools who drafted they are so proud of their • The South Side Youth youth groups. The jewel in a plan of action on issues projects and places.” Forum in the category of the crown is the new crea- they faced. Cork City Council said it Community Youth Led Ini- tive space in the revitalised SYF’s aim is to change the rooftop garden which was way young people are per- had the “difficult task” of tiative. started by community mem- ceived in their communities nominating just one nom- ber the late Eileen Walshe and they work to create a inee in each of the above and now through local vol- positive impact in their lo- categories. The nominees RIGHT - Community unteers. cality. They do this through are: Health Worker Micheál positive community initia- O Connor and local LANTERN PROJECT tives such as adding a me- • Blarney Village for community gardeners, The work of the Lantern Pro- morial bench and tree in ject plays a very important their local park and creating Urban Neighbourhood/ who volunteer thier role in assisting in the inclu- mental health awareness Village under 3,000 pop- time, on the rooftop sion of those who are mar- among their peers. The fo- ulation garden of The Hut in ginalised or vulnerable and rum now has approximate- • Ballincollig for Urban Gurranabraher. PHOTO: are seeking to take steps to- ly 30 young people and a Neighbourhood/Village CLARE KEOGH wards improving their lives steering committee consist- or wellbeing. ing of teachers, youth of- Founded in 2007, and locat- ficers and representatives of ed in Nano Nagle Place, the Togher/Ballyphehane CDP, Lantern is first and foremost Cork City Partnership and Take a holiday break at Kinsale Hotel & Spa a place of welcome and Cork City Council. Are you looking for a week- Facilities include the the first hotel or last hotel end away? Kinsale Hotel & Rockpool Bar & Restau- on the Wild Atlantic Way Spa boasts a selection of rant, 70 bedrooms, 20 route. contemporary accommo- self-catering lodges, the It lies at the foot or tip dation on the setting of leisure club and luxury (depending on where you Kinsale's rugged coastline. spa, so the hotel is the per- begin!) of the Wild Atlantic Set in 90 acres of mature fect location for your next Way experience. There’s wooded parkland and short break. Furthermore, also an onsite playground, offering panoramic views the Rockpool Bar & Res- pathed walks on the over Oysterhaven Bay, the taurant creates and deliv- grounds and swimming 104 Oliver Plunkett St, Cork hotel is located less than 25 ers great tasting food using pool so there’s plenty for minutes from Cork Airport fresh quality ingredients families to do. and just a short five-min- sourced from artisan local Visit kinsalehotelandspa. ute drive from the town of suppliers. There’s an onsite swimming pool at Kinsale Hotel & ie or call 021-470 6000 for Kinsale. Kinsale Hotel & Spa is Spa. more details..