HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Ballincollig Tidy Towns was proud to be a part of Ballincollig’s St Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade was organised by Ballincollig Business Association and the theme this year was ‘Standing in Solidarity’. Many dressed in Ukrainian colours and carried Ukranian flags in a show of support.
There was a fantastic turn out with people lining the streets to watch the participants pass by.
PRIDE IN OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAY
Our committee member and horticulturist John Buckley was very busy this week. He gave the Parklet on Main Street a complete makeover in time for St. Patrick’s Day. It is looking lovely again. He also took time to do the wooden planters on Main Street and the planters underneath the ‘Welcome To Ballincollig’ signs.
BUSY AS USUAL
The litter collected during Sunday’s litter pick together with all that was gathered during the week was taken to the Allotment and segregated on Tuesday.
It gave us 2 bags of cans, half a crate of glass and 3 bags of plastic.
The turnout for the Sunday morning litter pick was well supported by both Volunteers and Transition Year students. We had 22 volunteers plus 5 TY students. We covered a huge area including the paths in the Regional Park.
It is great to see everyone pulling together to get the town looking its best, young and old working together.
Adrian pruned all the geraniums that have been stored in the tunnel over the winter in preparation for planting out in the coming months.
The capping had fallen off the raised bed on the Kilumney Road and David our volunteer did a magnificent job repairing it.
PROJECT COMPLETE
The remainder of the bird and bat boxes were put in place last Saturday morning. These projects are made more enjoyable by the camaraderie that exists between all the volunteers. While this work was being done there were other volunteers litter picking.
The boxes appear to have caught the eye not only of those for whom they are intended but also of passersby. The results have been very positive. It will be interesting to see the new homeowners taking up residency in the coming weeks.
pics from the week:
CLIMATE ACTION – WHAT CAN I DO? SERIES OF FREE ONLINE TALKS
The Europe Direct Waterford Centre is based in Central Library in Waterford City. It is part of a community of 424 Europe Direct centres around Europe whose purpose is to reinforce the important connection between EU institutions and citizens.
From 21st – 26th March Europe Direct Waterford, Waterford Libraries and Waterford Council’s Environment Department are coming together to host a week of FREE online events. The events will explore what action everyone can take to contribute to the Waterford and National Climate Action Plans to create a better local and national environment for the present and the future.
The European Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 sets Europe on a responsible path to becoming climate neutral by 2050. All sectors of the economy and society can contribute, join the online talks to find out how we can all come together to achieve this goal.
Keynote:
Live Furniture up-cycling workshop with Marianne Heaphy from The Revamp Tramp
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/live-furniture-upcycling-workshop-tickets-294547077237
Monday 21 March online 7pm – 8pm
Lunchtime lectures – online 1pm – 1:30pm
Active Travel – Are our Communities ready?
A Talk by James Murray (Senior Engineer, Waterford City & County Council) on how Active Travel can impact climate change through schemes like Permeability measures in local communities
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/active-travel-are-our-communities-ready-tickets-294603054667
21 March 1pm – 1:30pm
The impact of climate change on coastal heritage: some examples from the Waterford coast
A Talk by Dr Edward Pollard archaeological researcher on the CHERISH Project based at The Discovery Programme: Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland in Dublin.
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-waterfords-coastal-heritage-tickets-271410344647
Tuesday 22 March 1pm – 1:30pm
What Can I do to help the pollinators?
A Talk by Kate Chandler from the National Biodiversity Data Centre https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/what-can-i-do-to-help-pollinators-tickets-294407941077
Wednesday 23 March 1pm – 1:30pm
Wildflower Workshop with Horticulturist Aoife Munn https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/wildflower-workshop-with-horticulturist-aoife-munn-tickets-294540367167
Thursday 24 March 1pm – 1:30pm
Grow your own Food – How to get started with GIY’s Mick Kelly https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/growing-your-own-food-how-to-get-started-with-giys-michael-kelly-tickets-294505091657
Friday 25 March 1pm – 1:30pm
The CHERISH EXHIBITION will run in the Index Gallery, Central Library from 14 March – 2 April. CHERISH is a team of archaeologists, geologists and geographers studying the effects of climate change on coastal and maritime heritage in Ireland and Wales. From the skies, at the coast edge, and beneath the waves they are using the latest technologies including planes, drones and sonar to carry out research. They are monitoring recent and long-term change to reveal the past and present impacts of weather and climate on our rich cultural heritage. The work of CHERISH involves investigating archaeological sites and environments around our coasts including shipwrecks, promontory forts, wetlands and sand dunes. The twenty-nine promontory forts on Waterford’s Copper Coast have been a focus of CHERISH Project research.
The CHERISH Project is funded through the Ireland-Wales Programme 2014-2020, part of the European Regional Development Fund, which focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish Sea. The project will receive €4.9 million, and will run until June 2023. Find out more about the project at www.CHERISHProject.eu
Climate action is at the heart of the European Green Deal – an ambitious package of measures ranging from ambitiously cutting greenhouse gas emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment.
Fighting climate change and achieving the transition to a climate-neutral society will require significant investments, research and innovation, new ways of producing and consuming, and changes in the way we work, use transport and live together. Join the live talks during the Climate Action Week to find out what you can do.
NATIONAL TIDY TOWNS COMPETITION
Tidy Towns hopes to launch its annual national competition in the coming weeks, back in line with the traditional timelines from before the pandemic. The closing date with be in or around the third week in May. Groups are usually given six weeks in which to prepare and compile their material.
Entry to the competition this year will only be through email. Material should be kept to a minimum. Photographs can be copied into WORD documents and a single A4 page can hold up to 12 images, six on either side.
They have had discussions with a number of sponsors and will be bringing some new special awards to the competition this year in addition to some amended awards together with the favourites, many of which have been there for years. Thank you to all the special award sponsors. Tidy Towns encourages all groups to give these awards some consideration, there are some fantastic prizes on offer. Closing date for the awards will be a number of weeks after the main competition, this will give people some time to work on them. The School Award will have the same closing date as the main competition as it is adjudicated in line with it.
Please keep an eye on the website at www.tidytowns.ie for further updates on the main competition and all of the special awards.
Important –
The sponsor SuperValu/Musgrave have also put their shoulder to the wheel in donating €250,000 To Irish Red Cross and UNICEF Ukraine Crisis Appeal. There is also a facility in their nationwide SuperValu and Centra stores via a simple “Tap to Donate” mechanism in store at the till.
CLÁR 2022
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has recently launched the 2022 CLÁR programme. CLÁR provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of population decline.
Community Groups are encouraged to consider applying for funding for projects such as the provision of Youth Hubs, Multi-Use Gaming Areas (MUGAs), Skateboard Parks, Playgrounds, Handball Alleys, Community Cinemas and Gyms and much more (see full list below).
€7 Million Fund is being made available to develop community facilities & amenities in rural areas under CLÁR
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Applications invited under the 2022 CLÁR Programme
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Focus on developing local facilities and amenities in rural areas
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Grants of up to €50k available for wide range of projects including Youth Clubs, Handball Alleys, Community Gyms, Walking Tracks & more
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Minister introduces specific CLÁR measure to support Island communities
Minister Humphreys has increased funding for the 2022 CLÁR programme by over 25% this year, in recognition of the importance of the programme to some of our most remote rural areas.
Announcing the details of the programme today, Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of the 2022 CLÁR Programme. The priority of this year’s scheme is the development of facilities and amenities which will enhance our rural communities. CLÁR provides small grants which can make a big difference and I am encouraging local community groups, youth clubs, men and women sheds and sports clubs to apply via their Local Authority if they have an idea for a project which could make a difference in their area.”
Like many of our other CLÁR areas, our off-shore Islands have seen significant levels of depopulation over the years. They also face specific challenges such as rural isolation, population decline, service accessibility and social disadvantage. A new Measure specifically for our islands is also being introduced which is a key part of ‘Our Rural Future’.
The closing date for Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities is Friday the 6th of May but local authorities will have earlier deadlines so please check with them first as the local authorities administer the scheme.
The closing date for Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport is Friday the 8th of April with the closing date for Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’ is Friday The 6th of May.
Full details of the Programme and application process are available on the Department’s website https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/
