County Mayor’s Diary

As we look towards six weeks of Level Five restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, we must focus on our shared goal of driving the rate down for better outcomes in the long run.

We’re all experiencing the mental health impacts of this and I urge everyone to mind themselves, check in with others and avail of resources available when needed.

In other news, Cork County Council’s pilot Pollinator Plan for Midleton is set to be rolled out to six more county towns. The programme garnered national attention last year, with the surprise appearance of a rare Bee Orchid. The pollinator plans provide food and shelter for our pollinators, an integral part of our ecosystem and of course the bloom of colour in our towns will be very welcome come spring.

The East Cork Traveller Project invited me to Millennium Garden in my hometown of Youghal, for the first National Traveller Mental Health Awareness Day. Travellers are facing a mental health crisis.

With suicide rates seven times higher than national stats, over 80 per cent of the travelling community are affected. Building mental health takes time and care. As the tree planted in Millennium Garden grows, I hope the bonds between all people that call Cork home grow stronger too.

This week, the council’s NEWStart programme secured Dormant Accounts funding.

The programme supports people with low literacy levels, learning differences, visual or hearing impairments and those from disadvantaged groups, to develop invaluable skills.

These resources can be prohibitively expensive for individuals, so this support is great news.

Another major investment in the future was sealed with a contract signing for the €2 million works in Mallow Castle Park, Mallow Town Park and the Spa House Park. Mallow is considered the gateway to North Cork and with these improvements it will be even more widely regarded as a destination in its own right.

It’s Waste Awareness Week in Cork. Organised by Cork County Council, in association with the Southern Regional Waste Awareness Planning Office, the online event is highlighting the role of the council’s 11 civic amenities, providing information on correct disposal of waste and on reusing, reducing and recycling. The new council’s Environment Department Facebook page will also be posting lots of tips and fun facts.

I was delighted to raise the rainbow flag for this year’s Cork Pride. The festival has been reimagined for 2020 and while we’ll miss the parade, the virtual events present new opportunities to break barriers, and connect with a wider audience.

Finally, my heart goes out to businesses across Cork who found themselves once more cleaning up after flooding earlier this week. Dealing with already difficult circumstances, businesses again pulled together, with our emergency services and council crews, with great spirit.

All in all, the resilience of our communities is nothing short of awe-inspiring.