Here Comes the Summer?!?
Hail, rain or snow, the sun shines for hundreds of children and young people taking part in their local community Summer Recreation Schemes.
Ógra Chorcaí Summer Schemes have been running in communities across the city and county for 33 years and have catered for over 115,000 children. This year there are eighteen summer schemes running in communities throughout the month of July.
One of the oldest and longest running of these is Blarney Street Summer Scheme which got underway on Monday 6th July with a special Opening Blessing ceremony at St. Vincent’s Church by Fr. Colm Mc Adam. The Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy attended the ceremony and was given a great welcome by all the children. This scheme caters for 150 children from the local area and they will enjoy an action packed two weeks including day trips to Trabolgan, Parsons Green, Redbarn and Ardmore beaches. The older age group will even try out surfing at Garrettstown Beach. Great credit is due to the organising committee of volunteers and to the co-ordinator Liz Matthews.
Each of these Summer Schemes are planned, organised and run by local volunteers and parents who are giving freely of their time for months in advance in the mammoth tasks of fund raising, planning and booking the activities.
Jennifer Walsh of Ógra Chorcaí noted: “Thanks are due to Cork City Council, Cork City VEC and County VEC who have supported Schemes financially throughout the years. And our biggest ‘Thank You’ goes to all the Summer Schemes committees, volunteers and local parents who have put in hours of work to make these Summer Schemes safe and fun for all the local children”.
(Kmc- What an honour to be Deputy Lord Mayor at this event)