Councillors were full of praise for the work done by Cork County Council on the ‘Real Cork Christmas’ project at November’s meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District (MD) in County Hall.
The Council has taken a really proactive approach in helping local towns and villages to brighten up their communities ahead of the Christmas season and a huge chunk of funding has been allocated for this.
Front and centre of the overall message is that Cork, despite the circumstances, is going to make the very most of this Christmas and prioritising local business support and community engagement is how we’re going to do it!
In order to push this concept as much as possible, the Council have been working in the background to create ‘town approach signage’ featuring Shop Local messaging, which will be erected at some of the most prominent locations throughout Carrigaline, Passage West, Glenbrook and Monkstown.
Pic: Tidy Towns hut with some added festive cheer
Meanwhile for some of the more rural villages, financial supports through the Community Fund will be supplemented, with lit Christmas trees being provided for Ballygarvan, Five Mile and Shanbally.
So far Carrigaline and Passage West have already seen their Main Streets filled with festive colours, with a few of the local Councillors seen hanging off ladders, putting some of the final touches together. However, there is more to come, with the Council suggesting some fantastic events that they are hoping can be organised.
Should Level 5 restrictions be lowered in December, the Council believe that Christmas Markets and other events can be facilitated in Carrigaline and Passage West. In both towns there is scope to engage with local stakeholders, community groups and businesses to hold mini festivals in the towns, Covid permitting.
This will give the opportunity to local enterprises to engage with the community and encourage residents to shop locally. To promote this further the Council are keen to reconnect with the committee members of the Project Act scheme, which was held over the summer.
In Carrigaline these events could take place in the Owenabue carpark, and the Council have indicated that there is potential to include artwork and related crafts from those involved in the hugely successful Owenabue Arts Collective. Meanwhile in Passage West similar markets could be held in Fr. O’Flynn Park, with the chance of including Passage West Creates.
Councillor Audrey Buckley (FF) also highlighted that Crosshaven is hoping to put on two Christmas fairs in the village across two weekends if current restrictions are lifted.
All councillors warmly praised Executive members involved with the Carrigaline MD, including Nicola Radley, Noelle Desmond, Madeline Healy and Sophie Ryan. Chair of the district, Councillor Aidan Lombard (FG) commended the efforts made by the Council and towards the end of the monthly meeting he noted the hard work done.
“Turning on the lights the other night I thought was just incredible”, Cllr Lombard said with delight. “All the work that Sophie, Nicola, Noelle, the area office, Councillors (Seamus McGrath, Marcia D’Alton, Audrey Buckley, Aidan Lombard, Liam O’Connor and Ben Dalton O’Sullivan) and the community put in, it’s enormous and I just wanted to say thanks very much. I really think it’s after brightening everybody up, just seeing all the colour in Carrigaline, Passage and all the villages.”