Category Archives: Cork City Events

McCarthy’s Upcoming Blackrock Historical Walking Tour

Cork City Events, Cork History, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Events

 

        Cllr Kieran McCarthy will lead a historical walking tour of Blackrock Village on Saturday 30 September, 12noon (starts at Blackrock Castle, two hours, free). Cllr McCarthy notes: “A stroll in Blackrock is popular by many people, local and Cork people. The area is particularly characterised by beautiful architecture, historic landscapes and imposing late Georgian and early twentieth century country cottages to the impressive St Michael’s Church; every structure points to a key era in Cork’s development. Blackrock is also lucky that many of its former residents have left archives, census records, diaries, old maps and insights into how the area developed, giving an insight into ways of life, ideas and ambitions in the past, some of which can help us in the present day in understanding Blackrock’s identity going forward”. More on Kieran’s heritage work is on www.corkheritage.ie

San Francisco Delegation to Cork, September 2017

Cork City Events, Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized

 

MR EDWIN  LEE, MAYOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LEADS A LARGE DELEGATION TO CORK CITY THIS WEEKEND.

   Mr Edwin Lee, Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco will lead a delegation of over 80 from the Golden Gate City to Cork. The delegation represents a wide cross section from the business, political, education, government and art and culture sectors. San Francisco is a sister city of Cork with the relationship between both cities having been established in 1984.

   Last September, Mayor Lee accepted an invitation to attend the 3rd UNESCO Learning Cities Conference which is being held in City Hall, Cork September 18- 20. Mayor Lee will address over 600 national and international delegates who will share experiences and explore how Learning Cities can foster sustainable development for all our cities.

   This delegation, the largest of any to date to Cork, will further foster the strong links between San Francisco and Cork. In particular, two areas for future further collaboration have been identified- education and food.  On Sunday afternoon, the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the fields of education and lifelong learning will take place at City Hall. On Wednesday morning, another MOU, or agreement, will be signed in the English Market between The English Market and The Ferry Plaza, San Francisco.

   The MOU’s will put on a formal footing both cities commitment to strengthening relations and enhancing cooperation in the areas of lifelong learning and the artisan food communities.

   The delegation has a very busy itinerary while in Cork.  This itinerary includes among many a visit to Pairc Ui Chaoimh, meetings and events with Cork City Council, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, Cork Chamber, UCC, Port of Cork, An Garda Siochana and various arts bodies in the city. Various site visits and walking tours will also take place including visits to Apple, Johnson Controls and Voxpro, a Cork company with a base in San Francisco.  This will provide both cities with the opportunity to discuss best practise in a wide variety of fields.

UNESCO Conference – Cork Learning City 2017

Arts, Cork City Events, Cork History, Enterprise, Improve Your Life, International, Kieran's Council Work, National, Uncategorized

   Cork has been successful in its bid to host the third UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Conference in Sept. 2017. The two previous conferences were held in Beijing 2013 and Mexico 2015, each involved over 600 delegates from countries worldwide. The conference will be presented by UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning, held in Cork City Hall, from Sept 18th -20th 2017, supported by Cork City Council and Cork ETB hosted with its Learning City Project partners, UCC, CIT, and other agencies in the city.

Sept 20th Learning Festival Showcase Programme

This is a first for Ireland and for Europe:

    Cork is the only Irish city currently recognized by UNESCO for its excellence in the field of Learning, and was one of just 12 cities globally, and 3 in Europe, presented with inaugural UNESCO Learning City Awards in 2015. A case study of the city was published by UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning (UIL) in Unlocking the Potential of Urban Communities, Case Studies of Twelve Learning Cities also in 2015. The other two European cities are Espoo (Finland) and Swansea.

   Cork successfully bid against 3 other European cities to host the conference because of its track record. The international conference presents Ireland with a unique opportunity to further cement the reputation of the country and the city as a centre of excellence in education and learning. The UIL Directorate team visited Cork during the Lifelong Learning Festivals of 2015 and 2016 and selected the city following a strong bid prepared with the assistance of the Cork Convention Bureau who have recognised experience of hosting international conferences of this scale in the city previously.

Blackrock Village Festival, 16 September, 2pm-6pm

Arts, Cork City Events, Improve Your Life, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Events

Blackrock Festival poster, 2017

 

   The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald has praised the work of the local community in Blackrock ahead of the inaugural Blackrock Village Festival. The Festival takes place on Saturday 16 September 2017, from 2pm to 6pm.

“It is just a short three months since the Blackrock Harbour Renewal Project was completed and formally opened”, said the Lord Mayor. ˜Cork City Council has invested over e2.5 million in upgrading the harbour and the public realm in this historic village. We are delighted to be supporting the local community in celebrating the history, the heritage and the spirit of Blackrock Village”.

The festival will include live entertainments, an open market, puppetry, boat racing and much more.

The various community stakeholders including residents and business interests have worked proactively to create this new festival.

 

Tram at Blackrock Pier, c.1900

Cllr McCarthy to stage Songs from the Heart, An Evening of Musical Theatre

Arts, Cork City Events, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized

Cllr McCarthy to stage Songs from the Heart, An Evening of Musical Theatre

   Cllr Kieran McCarthy directs Cork City Musical Society’s “Songs From the Heart, An Evening of Musical Theatre” at the Firkin Crane on Sunday 24 September at 8pm. The Musical Director is Michael Young and the producer is Yvonne Coughlan of Red Sandstone Varied Productions. Tickets are e15 and are online at www.firkincrane.ie

  This is Cork City Musical Society’s fourth outing having staged the musical Crazy For You in 2016 and Dreams of the Soul and Sweet Charity in 2015. Founded by Cllr Kieran McCarthy in 2015, it was years of performing in shows and being involved in community work that led Kieran to create the musical society.

   Cllr McCarthy advocates that Cork City is vibrant in drama education, various musical genres, musical theatre and all forms of opera, all of which are brought to the Cork masses through stage schools and theatres.

“It goes without saying that a rich vein of musicality runs underneath our city, Cork’s DNA embraces the promotion and development of music as an artistic discipline to be developed and one that brings a community together to engage with and appreciate it. The city in musical theatre terms is particularly blessed by several stage schools, small and large, who promote amongst our young people creativity, skill development, education, performance, community building and audience development, and the charity of sharing their craft, amongst other important traits'”.

“Amateur musical societies are multiple in nature up and down the country. All bring their local communities together under a volunteer and charity umbrella – collaborating and bringing people together to create an outlet for people and to put drama, music and all ultimately form a key cultural vein within towns and villages'”.

“The city proudly can boast being an ongoing European Capital of Culture. Many personalities and more have done so much for music and drama education over many years in the city. All inspire and forge a sense of community, charity of heart, togetherness and education, skill building and lifelong learning approaches”.

   Continuing Cllr McCarthy highlighted that Cork City Musical Society in particular “focuses on the aspect of community building and the promotion of musical theatre amongst adults and the idea of inclusivity and self-development for all who wish to engage with it”.

European Opportunity for Elizabeth Fort

Arts, Cork City Events, Cork History, Enterprise, Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized