Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn

Since I wrote my last column, life has been busy; we celebrated the end of an era when I addressed our final full council meeting with Chief Executive Tim Lucey in attendance. It was a bittersweet moment, for Tim has been a dedicated public servant who has played a pivotal role in the development of our beloved county. I expressed our heartfelt gratitude for his unwavering commitment to Cork county.

Life in Cork County Council continues at a pace, and I was delighted and thrilled to introduce the Affordable Housing Purchase Scheme, offering new two-bed townhouses and three-bed houses in Cluain Ard, Cobh. Constructed by Sirio Homes, these homes present an opportunity for first-time buyers and Fresh Start Applicants to own a piece of The Great Island, with its rich history, vibrant community, and picturesque surroundings.

These high-quality, A-rated homes are priced below market value, with two-bedroom townhouses available from €215,000 and three-bedroom houses from €245,000. This scheme reflects our commitment to providing affordable housing options for our residents.

It was a fortnight bookended with housing news, moving swiftly from the affordable options in Cobh to celebrating the innovation of a competition focused on creating age-friendly and disability-aware designs. I had the pleasure of presenting the awards at the Cork County Council Age Friendly Housing Competition, in collaboration with the Cork Centre of Architectural Education, Cork County Architects, and the Cork Age Friendly Alliance. This competition showcases the talents of second-year architecture students. The winning projects, crafted by Amy Cotter, Kamil Labuda, and Ellie O’Connell, demonstrated the creative potential within our community.

I am encouraging all eligible businesses to enter the Best in Cork Awards, a celebration of local businesses that go above and beyond for their customers, teams, and communities. It is open to businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to large multinationals, to participate in this recognition of excellence. Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of these awards, with a focus on the positive impact on the environment.

This is a golden opportunity for businesses in county Cork to showcase their successes, boost morale, attract top talent, and receive well-deserved recognition. I am particularly excited to announce the Mayor’s Best Overall Business, which will be revealed at the gala ceremony on 23 January at Vertigo, Cork County Hall.

The deadline for businesses to apply for Best Start-Up, Best Small, Best Medium, and Best Large Business is 15 October, while entries for the remaining categories will be accepted until 12 November. To enter, visit the official Best in Cork Awards website.

Let’s embrace new housing opportunities and recognise the incredible talent and innovation within our county. As we look ahead, may we continue to foster a vibrant, sustainable, and prosperous community that we can all be proud of.