County Mayor's Diary Cllr Joe Carroll

Seachtain Na Gaeilge takes place this week until 17 March and I’m encouraging everyone to use cúpla focal to mark the occasion.

There are several events that are taking place around the county in our libraries hosted by Irish speakers and webinars that can be accessed by visiting the events section of the Cork County Council website. Our Irish Office is also teaming up with the Library and Arts Service to provide additional Irish language books across the library network. The Library Service will also highlight their Irish language book catalogue throughout Seachtain na Gaeilge, with something for everyone, including both fiction and non-fiction titles for adults and children.

We have recently issued an open call for events to celebrate culture, creativity, and the arts as part of Culture Night 2025. This year, Culture Night will take place on Friday 19 September. It sees cultural venues open their doors late and communities come together to deliver free cultural events for all. In 2024 over 17,000 people came out to celebrate Culture Night attending outdoor film screenings, electronic music workshops, underground music events, community parades, and so much more.

Culture Night is an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate our rich arts offering in the county. From brass bands to rock bands, and arts centres to town centres, Culture Night is a true celebration of the arts. We look forward to receiving proposals from the community.

We are thrilled to join with OPW, under the State’s Per Cent for Arts Scheme, to announce a call for submissions for a public art commission as part of the Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme. Per Cent for Art is a Government initiative where 1% of the cost of any publicly funded capital, infrastructural and building development can be allocated to the commissioning of a work of art. The commission is open to all art forms and the work can be permanent or temporary. Croppy Park, Clonakilty was chosen as the location for the work of art.

Lastly, we have now opened applications for the County Cork Heritage Grant Scheme 2025. The scheme was established in 2021 to recognise the unrivalled heritage of the county and the numerous community and voluntary groups who actively engage with their local heritage, protecting and promoting it for locals and visitors alike.

Over 100 projects have been supported with a funding allocation of over €125,000 since this scheme was launched in 2021.This level of support is not just an investment in our past, but a recognition of the work being done today by heritage groups throughout the county, to inspire and inform our collective future, these projects are creating a legacy for future generations.