County Mayor's Diary Cllr Ian Doyle

I hope that you all have had the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful weather this weekend in your local area. We have all made a heroic effort to protect the vulnerable in our communities, and our work in that regard is paying off.

The challenge has been to adapt to a highly restricted way of life. Thanks to our efforts, we are beginning to see a gradual return, albeit different to what we are used to, of services and business operations. It’s important that we continue to hold firm so as to enter the next phase of our recovery from Covid-19 this summer. But we can be positive and set new goals to reach as a community.

We in Cork County Council are vigorously preparing for the next phase of our recovery, which will see the return of some local businesses and retailers while also allowing for greater use of our shared public spaces. This step will be vitally important for everyone, as we advance along the road to recovery.

A whole suite of measures are being taken under Cork County Council’s Project ACT (Activating County Towns) in collaboration with businesses and communities to get our towns and villages off to the best possible start once restrictions will allow.

I am excited to see the shutters lift on local retailers throughout the county. These small businesses are the heart and soul of many communities and have been sorely missed. Their return will bring a welcome boost of life to towns and villages throughout Cork and they will play a central role in the social, communal, and economic recovery of the county.

Some of the changes we have had to make have highlighted new opportunities, especially with regards to working. While the restrictions have seen many changes in the way we live and work, one of the standout changes in work practices has been the volume of people who are now working from home. There is no doubt that each and every town and village in Cork county is home to an incredible amount of talented workers. Under Project ACT, the Council, in partnership with Abodoo, is identifying and quantifying this incredible resource with a view to stimulate economic growth across Cork county by identifying the skills and talent that are available.

This information will help the council work to facilitate local working, identify the best locations to establish digi hubs, attract best fit employers and ultimately create ‘micro-communities’ to support local growth.

With further easing of restrictions within reach, we all have the opportunity to rediscover our locality. As Mayor, I have had the privilege of travelling the length and breadth of Cork county, seeing the incredible amenities, communities and businesses. There will never be a better opportunity to discover and appreciate the quality of life on offer in Cork county.

When the time comes, be sure to seize it, not just for yourself, but for the benefit of your local community.