The Special Olympics Young Athletes Programme is an early-childhood sport and play initiative that focuses on developing physical, social and emotional skills through simple, enjoyable and structured activities. Rather than competition, the emphasis is on building strong foundations — movement, coordination, confidence and communication — so that every child can participate in a way that suits their abilities.

The West Cork Warriors have ambitious plans for the future. As membership grows, the club hopes to expand its age range and introduce additional sports, enabling athletes to continue their Special Olympics journey into adolescence and beyond. In time, the club aims to see its athletes competing at regional events and potentially representing Ireland on the international stage.

Community support has been central to the club’s early success. A standout example came from the College of FET Skibbereen Centre, which raised and donated €621 through a Christmas bake sale, reflecting the strong local commitment to inclusion and opportunity.

Although only at the beginning of their journey, the West Cork Warriors are already having a lasting impact. Through an empowering programme for young athletes and the backing of an exceptionally supportive community, the club is creating a space where children can thrive, families can connect and inclusion becomes part of everyday life in West Cork.

To contact the club, email westcorkwarriors@sosportsclub.ie or follow West Cork Warriors Special Olympics Sports Club on Facebook and Instagram.

West Cork Warriors athletes, volunteers and parents receiving the funds raised by Cork College of FET Skibbereen’s Christmas Bake Sale

Traditionally, the annual festival brings award-winning live theatre to towns, villages and island communities across West Cork. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s event will see twenty-eight outdoor performances in Ballydehob Community Park.  A large tent with open sides has been erected for the festival which is proudly supported by Cork County Council and the Arts Council

The popular performer and writer Seamus O’Rourke opened the festival with his new show Padraig Potts. His second play Indigestion takes to the stage on Wednesday, July 21st.

Over the course of the festival, Cork comedian Tadhg Hickey will put on three performances of his first solo comedy In One Eye Out The Other. It tells the story of Feargal, a downtrodden but cheery man who fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming an alcoholic.

Timmy O’Mahony has the World Premiere of his new play The Story. Aindreas de Staic’s The Man from Moogaga, which was a hit at the 2019 Festival, returns and his companion play Around the World on 80 Quid also features. Other plays include Irene Kelleher’s new drama Wake, Ronan Dempsey’s Edinburgh Festival hit The Words Are There and Sara Jane Scott’s Appropriate.

Welcoming the return of live performing arts events to West Cork, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan said,

“Covid 19 has had such a devastating effect on every sector of society, but perhaps none more visibly that on the performing arts sector, with virtually all live performances cancelled over the past 15 months.  Cork County Council warmly welcomes the return of the West Cork fit-Ups Theatre Festival.  This festival has been a core part of the county’s event offering over many years  It is now something of an institution and a regular fixture in the county’s cultural calendar.  The return of live performances is another sign of a return to more normal times and I would like to congratulate everybody involved in organising this year’s event.”

Due to continuing Covid safety requirements, strict audience limits and Covid-19 safety measures will apply. Pre-booking is essential and tickets must be purchased directly from the Box Office on 087 607674

For further information please visit http://www.fit-uptheatrefestival.com/

The webinar, led by Breast Cancer Nurse Counsellor at Cork ARC Fiona Moriarty will bring together the expertise of Professor Roisin Connolly, Medical Oncology consultant at CUH, Shirley O’Shea, Senior Health Promotion Officer with the HSE and Fiona Rush, Senior Dietitian with the HSE.

Breast Cancer Nurse Counsellor at Cork ARC Cancer Support House, Fiona Moriarty, said: “We have been running these sessions for Hormone Therapy patients over the past seven years, teaching women how to manage the side effects of their treatment – helping them to stay with their therapies and maintain a good quality of life.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW:  bit.ly/corkarc-hormonal-therapies

This Cork ARC Webinar is kindly sponsored by Novartis and will give expert advice and guidance to cancer patients and their families.

Winnie O’Sullivan, Chairperson Bantry Age Friendly hopes that the cards will encourage older people, many of whom are living alone and really missing human contact due to Covid restrictions. She  says ‘this is a real example of  so many individuals and organisations pulling together to bring what we hope is joy to many people for Easter’

Bantry Age Friendly  would like to thank Marie Power in the Convent of Mercy NS,  Brian Gleeson in St. Finbarr’s Boys NS and Jacinta O’Connor in Colaiste Phobail for their cooperation and support of this project. We would like to also thank Charles Coombs of BARA House, Aiden McCarthy of Bantry Care of the Aged who identified recipients and arranged distribution. Residents  in Deerpark Nursing Home will also receive cards, thanks to the assistance of Josephine Walsh.

The Bantry Age Friendly group are currently working on preparing their initial plan which will include a number of steps to make Bantry a  great town and community to grow old in . For updates, see our Facebook page.

Pictured above is a small selection of Easter cards beautifully written and decorated by National & Secondary school children for older people in Bantry.

TO SAVE THE KELP!

 SPRING 2021 (When Restrictions Allow, TBC)

AT THE BANTRY BAY HOTEL, BANTRY, WEST CORK

All artists and crafts people in West Cork and beyond are invited to use the current lockdown to get creative to Help the Kelp!

The Campaign to Protect the Native Kelp  Forests of Bantry Bay will be holding a display and sale of art and craft works as soon as restrictions allow, with all donations going towards the cost of the on-going legal case to prevent the mechanical harvest of the Kelp Forest of Bantry Bay.

Everyone, including children, are encouraged to take part – there is no need to be a professional! Prices can start as low at €5, or be as high as €500 or more, pieces can be framed or unframed, and be of any subject.

Contributors are asked to drop off their work at  Fast.net Print & Stationery, Bantry by 15 April 2021 or call 0858308918 to make an alternative arrangement. A label should be FIRMLY attached to the work stating the Artist or Craft person’s name and contact number (or anon if preferred) with the Title, Medium, Size and Price of the piece. Any work that is unsold can be returned to the artist at the end of the sale if desired.

More information about the Campaign

The Bantry Protect Our Native Kelp Forest campaign was formed in response to the granting of a licence to permit the mechanical harvesting of kelp forests in Bantry Bay, Cork.  The licence to extract 1860 acres of Kelp seaweed was granted with no public consultation, no requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment and inadequate advertising. Kelp forests are the foundation of many marine ecosystems, and members of the community were concerned about the detrimental effects to marine life, local business and tourism.  As well as supporting an ongoing legal case which opposes the licence, the group actively takes part in citizen science surveys, beach cleans and is forming a snorkeling/scuba club.

For more information about the Art Display and Sale, please call Emily: 086 8879766

or Catherine: 085 8308918

For the Kelp Campaign visit www.bantrybaykelpforest.com

ENDS

Advice from the Citizens Information Service

The impact of Brexit is now being felt by Irish consumers up and down the country. As a result of the UK leaving the EU, there are changes to consumer rights that everyone needs to be aware of when buying from online retailers in the UK.

In particular Irish consumers should be aware of the following changes when it comes to purchasing goods from a UK retailer online:

• The sale of goods from the UK to Ireland are now treated as imports to Ireland, this means additional import charges and VAT may apply when buying from UK websites
• EU consumer protection legislation may no longer apply, instead Irish consumer rights will be set down in UK law.
• It may be more difficult to resolve a dispute with a UK business

As a general guide, packages valued more than €22 are subject to import taxes and charges. The consumer will have to pay import taxes/customs duties and also VAT charged at the Irish rate of 21%. In some cases, the duty and tax for EU deliveries will be covered by the UK company, but this is completely up to the individual retailer. So, check the small print!

Speaking about the impact of Brexit on Irish consumers, Anne O’Donovan, West Cork’s Citizens Information Manager said, “From 1st January 2021, you should be especially careful when buying from a UK seller. It is very important to carefully check the terms and conditions on the seller’s website and familiarise yourself with their proceedings. If you have any concerns relating to buying online from a UK retailer please contact your local Citizens Information Centre, we remain open and are here to answer any questions you may have.”

For anyone needing information, advice or have an advocacy issue, they can call a member of the local Citizens Information team in West Cork on 0761 07 8390, they will be happy to assist and make an appointment if necessary.  The offices are staffed from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm, and 10am to 4pm on Friday.  Alternatively, you can email on bantry@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie for further information and contact details.

The South Munster Citizens Information Service

The South Munster Citizens Information Service is a regional service providing free, impartial and confidential information, advice and advocacy services to the public on their rights and entitlements through its 18 Citizens Information Centres located throughout Cork and Kerry.

During Covid19 the main centres are:-

Bantry CIC

Wolfe Tone Square,

Bantry,

Co. Cork, P75 TN96

Phone: 0761 07 8390

Email: bantry@citinfo.ie

Opening hours:10-5pm Mon-Thurs & 10-4pm Fri

Manager: Anne O’Donovan – West Cork Cork City Centre CIC

13-15 Cornmarket Street,

Cork City, T12 F773

Phone: 0761 07 6950

Email: cork@citinfo.ie

Opening hours: 10-4:30pm Mon-Fri

Manager: Yvonne Rayner – Cork City (South)

Fermoy CIC

66 Lower Patrick Street

Fermoy

Co Cork

Phone:  0761 07 7970

Email: fermoy@citinfo.ie

Opening hours: 9-5pm Mon Tues

9-12:30pm Weds / 9-1pm Thurs

Manager: Ciara O’Gorman (North & East Cork)    Hollyhill/Knocknaheeny CIC

Community Building,

Foyle Avenue,

Knocknaheeny,

Cork, T23 KHE0

Phone: 0761 07 6850

Email: hollyhill@citinfo.ie

Opening hours: 09:30-4:30pm

Manager: John Beausang – Cork City (North)

Tralee CIC

4 Bridge Lane,

Tralee,

Co. Kerry, V92 XE22

Phone: 0761 07 7860

Email:  tralee@citinfo.ie

Opening hours: 10-4pm Mon-Fri

Manager: Frances Clifford (Kerry)

Youghal CIC

128 North Main Street

Youghal

Co Cork

Phone:  0761 07 8040

Email: youghal@citinfo.ie

Opening Hours: 9-5 Mon-Fri / 10-5pm Tues

Manager: Ciara O’Gorman (North & East Cork)

Patrick O’Sullivan has been running an annual raffle for Concern for over 40 years, after he saw images of the famine in Bangladesh on TV while in a friend’s house.

“I was playing cards, and the news report came on the television, we didn’t have a television at home at the time as we’d no electricity, and you couldn’t help but be moved.  I won a couple of turkeys through card games, and got two more and went door to door to about 40 or 50 houses selling raffle tickets for them. I’ve been doing raffles around Christmas time ever since,” he said.

A cash price has replaced the turkeys, which Mr O’Sullivan and his family donate from their own pockets. He estimates he visits over a 100 houses every year, about ten to eleven a night. “Most people like to see me coming, they’re expecting me. We have a bit of craic, I tell them a few stories, some nights I might get to only one or two we’re having that good a time.”

Along with running the raffle Mr O’Sullivan also does the church gate collections in Enniskeane and Drimoleague parishes, with help from his daughter Alison. At one stage he looked after nine churches but that had been reduced down to three.

2019 was the first year Mr O’Sullivan didn’t run the raffle due to the ill health of his wife, Bernadette.  She sadly passed away earlier this year in February. “We were married 51 years, we had a great time and lots of laughs, we had nine children, they’re all over the world now,” he said.

Concern’s Chief Executive, Dominic MacSorley, praised the organisation’s volunteers and all those who support them in their efforts at the awards held virtually on the 5^th December.

“The extraordinary commitment of Concern volunteers has kept a flame of compassion alive in communities around Ireland,” he said.

“Their commitment has been integral in sustaining Irish people’s solidarity in action across the world’s hardest hit areas. We cannot thank them enough for their support, particularly at this most challenging time.”

Concern’s Volunteer Awards began in 2013 to celebrate the vital contribution made by the charity’s  1,700 volunteers around Ireland. Many raise funds that enable the organisation to continue to alleviate poverty and hunger in the world’s poorest countries.

Its volunteers also include 500 people from towns who adjudicate at Concern’s national primary and secondary school debating competitions – when students debate topical global issues.

Concern was formed by volunteers in 1968 as part of a major humanitarian response to the Biafran famine in Nigeria caused by civil war. Last year the charity helped over 28 million people in 24 of the world’s poorest countries.

More information about its work or how to support the aid agency can be found on its website at concern.net.

Cork County Older People’s Council (OPC), through Cork County Council’s Age Friendly Programme, is distributing Winter Care Packs along with the OPC Winter Newsletter to older people across the County.

The newsletter includes useful information and news from around the County including updates on the Council’s library services, fire safety advice, ‘winter ready’ advice, road safety advice, and details of the Council’s COVID-19 Community Support Helpline.

The newsletter has been prepared by Cork County Council’s Age Friendly Office in association with the Council’s Fire Services, Road Safety Office and Library Services in consultation with the Cork County Older People’s Council.  Also included in the pack is a high-vis vest, a keyring torch and a Winter Ready Fridge Magnet which has been developed by Cork County Council, the HSE and An Garda Síochána.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, welcomed the initiative, saying,

“As we get older it can become more challenging to mind our health through Winter and this year may be tougher than usual. The newsletter put together by Cork County Council’s Age Friendly office with Cork County Fire Services and the Council’s Road Safety office is this year accompanied by a Winter Ready Care Pack to offer as much support as possible to our older people as we face into the Winter months. We can all reach out to older friends, family members and neighbours to check in with them, a phone call can go a long way.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey said,

“Cork County Council has been steadily expanding its Age Friendly Programme with the addition of four new county towns this year. Bringing together voluntary groups, local businesses, clubs and organisations to create better communities for older people to live in. The Council is working with Cork County Older People’s Council and listening to the voice of our older people. We value their contribution to our communities while we strive to meet their specific needs. The newsletter and Winter Ready Care Pack empowers our older people to take the best care of themselves by providing the resources and supports available to them this Winter.”

Welcoming the initiative, Liz Maddox, Chair of Cork County Older People’s Council, noted that the packs are being very warmly received by members of Cork County Older People’s Council. “Older people are delighted to receive these packs in the post. People have contacted me to say it has brightened up their day.”

Further information on this initiative is available by contacting Cork County Council on 021 4285557 or by emailing agefriendly@corkcoco.ie

Project NUTRICO is a novel postgraduate research project being undertaken by Miss Niamh O’Callaghan from the Institute of Technology Sligo. The project aims to evaluate the current dietary patterns and relationship with food and nutrition of cancer survivors across the Island of Ireland. NUTRICO is one of 209 research projects being funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships, which were launched Friday  23^rd of October, by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.

The demand to recognise the individual and distinct needs of the growing number of cancer survivors has been highlighted by the government through the development of a National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. A major issue for the strategy is that in Ireland there is limited data available on the nutritional needs, persistence of treatment related side effects, and current dietary intake of survivors.  Project NUTRICO aims to address this deficit in information to inform the future development of resources and interventions that are specific to and appropriate for cancer survivors.

Project NURICO is under the supervision of Ms. Laura Keaver of the Department of Health and Nutritional Science at Institute of Technology Sligo and Ms. Pauline Douglas of the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE) from Ulster University. Team NUTRICO is trying to reach and connect with as many cancer survivors in Ireland as possible. The project team have a short online survey designed to evaluate nutrition related life in Irish cancer survivors. All information participants provide will be treated with strict privacy and confidentiality. The survey takes no more than 8-10 minutes to complete. To access the survey, please scan the QR code below using a smartphone camera which will bring you to the online survey. Alternatively, to access the survey you can visit our twitter page @NUTRICO4 or contact Niamh at 0857805868 or niamh.ocallaghan@mail.itsligo.ie.

Cork City Council and Cork County Council have received funding from the EPA’s Local Authority Prevention Network (LAPN) programme for the joint scheme, which will see unused water-based paints in Civic Amenity Sites diverted towards one of two social enterprises.  The social enterprises, Northside Community Enterprise (NCE) in Farranferris, Cork City and Cycle Sense based in Skibbereen, will then filter, remix, recolour and repackage the paint before selling it at reduced rates in the local community.

The pilot project will involve the City Council’s Civic Amenity Site at Kinsale Road and three of Cork County’s eleven Civic Amenity sites; two in West Cork at Derryconnell and Clonakilty and one in South Cork at Raffeen.

This unique collaboration between Cork City and County Council will divert paint from disposal and incineration to provide affordable, good quality paint for reuse in the local community. Not only will the project benefit our environment, it will also deliver economically in terms of job creation and reduced costs for the community groups and individuals who use the paint.

A similar scheme run by the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin has been hugely successful and will provide mentoring for the new Cork scheme, which is due to begin later this month.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said,

“This collaborative project between our two local authorities here in Cork is based on the Circular Economy model. We’re all increasingly conscious of the finite nature of resources available to us. Circular economies keep products in use for as long as possible and avoid waste. I find it very encouraging to see this pilot Paint Re-use Scheme starting up. It’s positive news for the environment and for our communities and I hope it inspires more projects in the same vein.”

Cork City Council’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Joe Kavanagh commented,

“This is a really exciting collaborative project which sees Circular Economy in action in our city.  I am delighted to see that the paint reuse initiative will deliver environmental, economic and social benefits to the community and wish to congratulate all involved in securing the funding to establish such a project in Cork.”