Mayor’s DiaryCllr Gillian Coughlan

March 2022 marks two years since the Covid-19 pandemic sent us to work from home, bake sourdough and socialise via Zoom.

This is a particularly nice March, as restrictions are lifted and we have the extra bank holiday to look forward to on Friday 18 March, as a national commemoration of those who lost their lives to Covid and to recognise those who worked on the frontline during the pandemic.

I recently joined with representatives of Cork County Council’s Covid-19 Community Support Programme at Gougane Barra to remember those lost over the past two years and to pay tribute to the efforts of the countless frontline workers and volunteers who worked tirelessly and selflessly to protect and bolster their communities during this time. A video will be available on Cork County Council’s social media platforms over the long bank holiday weekend.

St Patrick’s Day celebrates being Irish both here at home and for the diaspora. Today about 70 million people claim Irish heritage or ancestry worldwide. I’m in Chicago now and had the honour and privilege to lead the Cork County delegation at the Chicago St Patrick’s Day parade at the weekend. It was a beautiful bright day and Baltic cold to boot.

It’s been a very busy few days in Chicago. I met with representatives from Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to discuss economic opportunities between Cork county and USA. I was interviewed on the Pete McMurray Show to talk about all things Cork county and encourage visitors to experience what us Corkonians already know - Cork county has it all.

For those coming through Cork Airport this year I want talk about the Explore Cork app which forms part of the new advertising campaign I had the pleasure of launching.

It is targeting our inbound visitors to help regenerate our tourism economy in Cork. The Explore Cork app features over 850 places to see and things to do in Cork across 18 categories of activities such as trails, family fun, visitor attractions, arts culture and beaches is linked to the Pure Cork website and its database of dining and accommodation options in Cork.

St Patrick’s Day and the diaspora has made me think of the people of Ukraine. Ireland waived visa requirements for those travelling from the Ukraine. While the preferable outcome would be a peaceful resolution to this crisis, many Ukrainians will be displaced. I know that we will extend the warm hand of friendship and support to those that reach our shores and like our diaspora they too may find a home away from home.

So let us see a society that strives for inclusivity in all aspects of life. Let’s continue doing what communities do best – look after each other and look after those who need our support at this difficult time in their history.