Monthly Archives: October 2009

Heart to Hand

October 10, 2009Improve Your Life, Uncategorizedadmin

A very good friend of mine, Rosarie Murphy, is a great supporter of the charity Heart to Hand. I have helped her out with bag packing and fundraising.

The Registered Charity called “Heart to Hand” was set up to care for the poorest of the poor in Countries like Albania, Bosnia, Moldova, Romania and other countries where the need arise.

This care consists of providing food, medicine, clothes and other forms of humanitarian aid, in latter years education and training to help these people fend for themselves has been put in motion.

This charity is non-denominational, voluntary and therefore what comes in goes out to help the poorest of the poor.

Below is a pict I took of the Cork volunteers at a get-together last night with Ciaran Byrne, a national co-ordinator, and who also received an award from the Knight of Columbanus in Cork recently (back left).

Heart to Hand, Cork

Culture Night Civic Reception

October 10, 2009Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorizedadmin

Yesterday, Friday evening, a civic reception was held in City Hall to celebrate the success of Culture Night in Cork but also give much warranted appreciation to all those venue organisers and volunteers who gave freely of their time. Below are pictures I took from the Civic reception. Well done to all and sincere thanks!

More information of what happened on Culture Night can be found on Cork City Counci’s website: http://www.corkcity.ie/culturenight/

Culture Night civic reception

Kieran’s Motions, Cork City Council Meeting 14 October 2009

October 7, 2009Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorizedadmin

Motions for City Council Meeting, 14 October 2009:

(1) In an effort to sustain the amenity of Douglas Swimming Pool and as a deterrent against vandalism that that the City Council consider the painting of a community artwork / mural around the exterior walls of the Swimming Pool; that the latter would also take place linking with local schools and community groups (Cllr. K. McCarthy).

(2) That a review of health and safety take place of the old medieval laneways along South Main Street and North Main Street. Those laneways open to the general public are now subject to anti-social behaviour such as urinating and rubbish disposal (Cllr. K. McCarthy).

Cork City Hall

Ceili Mor, 4 October 2009

October 4, 2009Cork City Events, Uncategorizedadmin

People dancing on the streets – only in Cork – great music and atmosphere! well done to all involved in the Ceili Mor!

Ceili Mor crowd, October 2009

Ceili Mor piper, October 2009

Ceili Mor crowd, October 2009

Web of Stars, Blackrock Castle

October 3, 2009Cork City Events, Uncategorized, Ward Eventsadmin

On last Friday night, Blackrock Castle Observatory partnered with Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland California for “Web of Stars,” a unique pilot remote astronomy project, designed to teach astronomy across two continents using a live video link. Astronomers at Chabot will observe the sky at night, delivering real-time astronomical images to students in Ireland in order to discuss their properties and share information about the night sky.

This project was conceived to celebrate the 25th anniversary of San Francisco and Cork becoming sister cities as well as 2009 the International Year of Astronomy.

The sister city initiative was spearheaded by US Senator Dianne Feinstein during her tenure as Mayor of San Francisco. Diarmuid Philpott, Chair of Cork Sister City committee at San Francisco City Hall, has been instrumental in developing the local educational and political ties. This enables progress of the unique teaching exercise which takes advantage of the time difference between the two cities allowing the live link to take place.

“This educational opportunity is an extraordinary way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of San Francisco and Cork becoming sister cities,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The telescopes at Chabot Space & Science Center will provide inspirational science education to the students in Cork. The two cities will continue to strengthen the links between them and explore possibilities for further commercial, tourism, cultural and educational contacts.”

For more information, Blackrock Castle Observatory has a mission to provide the people of Cork city and Ireland with a centre of excellence in science by fostering interest in science, engineering and technology through the medium of astronomy. www.bco.ie/webofstars

Web of Stars event, crowd at Blackrock Castle

Rob at Chabot, Blackrock Castle link-up

Blackrock Castle grounds

Blackrock Castle Observatory is a 16th century castle located about 2km from the heart of Cork city on the banks of the river Lee. At the castle you will find:

Cosmos at the Castle, Ireland’s first interactive science exhibit
BCO Labs, with researchers from CIT
The Castle Bar & Trattoria
First Quarter moon viewings where you are invited to learn how telescopes work and see the moon up close.
Hands-on workshops exploring different themes in science and engineering
Discover Primary Science program

Lifetime Lab Science Programme

October 1, 2009Cork City Events, Uncategorizedadmin

Lord Mayor Cllr. Dara Murphy with Jim Barry CEO of NTR plc. officially launched 2009/10 Lifetime Lab School Science Programme on Friday September 11th

During the opening address Lord Mayor Cllr. Dara Murphy spoke of the importance of science education to the local economy and the need to continue the trend of offering a highly educated, skilled workforce to the many multinational in the Cork region. He added that and Lifetime Lab is one of the first steps in this process, a visit to the classroom is a “science” must do for primary schools in Cork City and County which is highlighted by all available workshops being fully subscribed within two days”. Speaking at the event Jim Barry stressed the importance of educating our children in science and engineering at an early age, and said “the pupils who attend Lifetime Lab are the potential scientists, doctors and engineers of the future, who in turn will help Ireland and the global community become a greener, more sustainable world”

Lifetime Lab launch

Pictured at the opening were Cathal Gallagher Bord Gáis, Cllr.Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor Cllr.Dara Murphy, Mervyn Horgan Lifetime Lab, Michael O’ Brien Cork City Council and Jim Barry NTR plc.

Lifetime Lab school science programme is a unique collaboration between Cork City Council, the Department of Education and Science and a number of private sector sponsors. The programme will welcome close to 20000 primary school pupils from all over Cork City and County by June 2010, all of which will travel on a dedicated bus funded this year by Bord Gáis.

For further information see classroom workshops

or contact Lifetime Lab at: 021-4941500

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy

Independent Councillor, Cork City Council