County Mayor's Diary

Cllr Joe Carroll

With the summer well and truly over, we are now well in autumn.

It's an exciting week this week in the council as we gear up for Culture Night 2024. More than 120 free events are taking place around the county. From Abba in ancient castles, to DJs beside the sea and music and dancing in the streets, this year’s programme promises to be one of the most exciting yet. There’s a rich programme to be discovered in the 17 hub areas of Baile Bhuirne, Bandon, Bantry, Carrigaline, Charleville, Clonakilty, Cobh, Fermoy, Kinsale, Macroom, Mallow, Midleton, Mitchelstown, Passage West, Skibbereen, Watergrasshill, and Youghal as well as surrounding areas and the islands off the coast of Cork. I invite everyone to take a chance and try something new, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that our Library Headquarters Gallery is now accepting submissions for an open call winter exhibition. Entitled ‘Made by Hands,’ the exhibition will display handmade works from Irish artists, designers, and craftspeople from 22 November until 23 December. Applications to participate in the exhibition will be accepted online on the Cork County Council website until close of business on 7 October.

I’m happy to announce that 31 community-led climate action projects have been approved recently for funding totalling €1,000,265. It is really positive to see such a wide selection and range of projects from across all corners of Cork county receiving substantial funding under Strand 1 of the Community Climate Action Programme and it is testament to the strong and beneficial work being undertaken by our many vibrant and active community groups. Climate change is a significant issue for all our communities, and I would like to commend the successful groups on their work at a local level to deliver climate action.

There is great news for Macroom as a new affordable housing scheme was announced this week for the area. Applications for the new two and three bed houses at Meadowlands, Macroom will open at 12 noon on Monday 30 September. The development at Meadowlands is in an excellent location, withing walking distance of Macroom town centre and around 30 minutes drive to both Cork city and Killarney.

Lastly, I’m inviting members of the public to have their say in the upcoming public consultations for the proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway. This is a significant project that aims to provide a sustainable, accessible, safe, and attractive greenway for locals and visitors to travel between two important tourist locations. I am encouraging members of the public to have their say, to view the maps and to engage with the team behind this project. It is vital that we have community input at every stage.