Newsletter 30 August 2024

Weekly Litter Pick

On Sunday morning:

This morning 26 volunteers.
8 bags collected.

During the week 3 bags litter and 1 glass collected.

Welcome to our newest volunteer, Gabriela.

Clean Air Day 2024

The BehaviAir Team are delighted to give you an update on the upcoming Cork Clean Air Day on Saturday 7th September 2024, organised by Cork City Council to mark the UN International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies and the second Clean Air Day celebrated in Ireland. All events are free to attend (more info on www.cleanair.ie, live from Wed 28th August).

Our BehaviAir Team will co-organise a lunchtime Community Celebration that day in the Cork Council Chamber, Anglesea St, 1:30-3:30pm. We will share progress made on air quality activities in Cork one year from the first Clean Air Day, and hear Clean Air Stories from community members, practitioners and academics. Refreshments provided at the start of the event. You are most welcome.

Book a free ticket for the lunchtime event at: https://bit.ly/CleanAirDay24Celebration.

Monday Cutting

On Monday Morning Gay had a Full crew with him. They started by cutting the grass and over hanging briars from Gaelscoil Uì Riordain to the Killumney road roundabout. The difference was amazing.

They collected two ton bags from Island way in Muskerry Estate and forty bags of edging from Leesdale. The 40 bags of edging were as a result of the great work of a father and son team namely Kieran and Cillian O’Toole who did an amazing job.

Transformation

Over the last few weeks artist Kevin O’Brien has done an amazing job designing and painting beautiful pieces on 10 utility boxes around Ballincollig. We commissioned Kevin to do this work and we are thrilled with the results. The art reflects the Pollinator Friendly Commitment by BTT in our Community

We have been thrilled with the positive feedback we have received and Kevin said that he was very pleased with the comments he received from people who stopped and spoke to him as he worked.

We are not finished yet so watch this space!!!!!

Sunday Morning Clean Up

On Sunday Morning Denis and Cillian did a great job cleaning the kerbs across from The Church of St Mary & St John on Station Road. The lads cleaned the kerbs and took bags of weeds and silt away.

Special Visitor

On Tuesday Morning Vince, Sunday, Keith and Tom were busy at HQ despite the inclement weather. While working they had a surprise visit from our First Citizen Cllr Dan Boyle Lord Mayor of Cork City. We were surprised and delighted to learn that BTT HQ was part of his Biodiversity tour in Ballincollig.

He was accompanied by two Biodiversity officers from City Council also arrived out, Usna Keating and Rosemarie McDonald and Cllr Garret Kelleher.

The Lord Mayor was given a tour of our Biodiversity garden and other items we do to help sustainability and biodiversity.

Everyone was very impressed with our efforts and especially, the compost bays, our recycling areas and our water harvesting from Scoil Barra’s roof.

It was nice that the Lord Mayor and the Biodiversity Officers saw first hand the work that goes on in BTT and more importantly to meet some of the people who make it happen. After they left it was work as usual and the lads did a great job tidying around HQ.

Tuesday Worknight

On Tuesday Night we had 16 Volunteers out edging on The Link Road. There was a great buzz and a huge amount of work done and an even bigger difference made.

What can’t be put into words is the camaraderie that is out there on the Worknight. The chat, the laughs but above all the Pride is so evident. In One Hour we achieved a huge amount and will be back next week to continue.

Wednesday Works

On Wednesday Ger, Tom, Keith and Sunday cleaned the path edges on both sides of entrance to Castleknock Estate and also brought a full van load of bags of sods to recycling. The very positive thing is that all of the sods are recycled and then all the empty bags are cleaned and stored away until the next Worknight.