County Mayor's Diary Cllr Joe Carroll

There was great news for Bantry recently as I had to pleasure to welcome Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD to officially open our first Cost Rental scheme at An Cnocán.

The development of 10 newly built A-rated two, three and four-bed homes aims to provide affordable rented accommodation to people on middle incomes. Further cost rental schemes will open in Midleton and Bandon in the coming months with the rent at least 25% below private market rents in each area.

Moving on to libraries, I’m inviting teens and young adults to take part in the One County One Book initiative this year. Written with sensitivity and care, ‘Freya Harte Is Not A Puzzle’, by author Méabh Collins, does a fantastic job of showing how the language and terminology we use matters deeply. It is a school-based exploration of a young teen’s diagnosis as an autistic person and an exceptionally good insight as to what it is to be an autistic person.

Now in its fourth year, the One County One Book programme allows us to support Irish authors and homegrown literature that encourages young people to embrace diversity and build a more inclusive society.

Cork county community groups have been excelling on the local and national stage in recent weeks. At this year’s Tidy Towns Awards, a total of 26 medals were awarded to county Cork towns and villages with special awards given to Bere Island and Sherkin Island. Ballineen and Enniskeane TidyTowns Association was also named the National Winner of the Waters and Communities Award. The West Cork Community of Durrus took home the prestigious Pride of Place Award in Monaghan with runner-up awards for both Milford and Mallow Castle Development Committee. Carrigaline Tidy Towns also won first place for their flour milling sculpture at the Pride of County Cork Awards.

Our communities have so much to be proud of especially the hard work and dedication of the countless volunteers who go that extra mile to make a difference in their local area. It is always heartening to see our villages, towns and community organisations be recognised and rewarded nationally. I would like to offer a huge congratulations to all involved.

There was good news for Michael Collins House Museum as a linen handkerchief, which was in Michael Collins’ pocket at the time of his death has been acquired for permanent display at the Museum in Clonakilty. Shortly after his death, Michael Collins’ siblings gave several of his close friends and colleagues similar personal items to remember him by. Luckily, a number of these items have found their way into the Michael Collins House collection including the necktie worn by Collins during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations and a small personal prayer book, among other items.