The Wren boys returns - important info you need to know this St. Stephen's day!

To facilitate the Wren boys Street festival in Carrigaline on St Stephen’s Day the Main Street from the Bank of Ireland to the Corner House will be closed to traffic from 10 am to 2 pm. The Wren boys will arrive from the south at the Gig Rig outside Phelans Pharmacy at 11 am and Straw Boys will arrive from the north. Families from near and far are invited to the colourful spectacle of Hunting the Wren, to dress up and join in the fun and the craic of the Wren in Carrigaline. All musicians and singers are invited to join the Wren and more particularly everyone who attends is invited to dress up and make it a most colourful event to sing and to dance on the street. A collection will be taken up on the day in aid of Marymount Hospice and Cork Simon. The Wren will visit all the pubs playing and singing as they go and while traffic will be diverted all car parks will be accessible.

The Wren Boys returns this St. Stephen's Day!

Christmas Mass Times

The Christmas Mass times in Carrigaline are Christmas Eve Children’s Masses at 4pm and 6pm also Christmas Eve Masses at 8 pm and 10pm.  Christmas Day will be the same as Sundays, 8.30am, 10am,11.15am and 12.30pm.  The 10.00pm on Christmas Eve and 11.15 am Mass on Christmas Day will be livestreamed and live on radio 107.1fm.  The weekday Masses will be at 11.30 am until Saturday January 3^rd and will revert to the normal 9.30am. from Monday 5^th.

Reconciliation Service

The Christmas reconciliation service will take place on Wednesday December 17^th at 7.00pm.A number of priests from our family of parishes will also attend.

Active Retired

On Thursday 4^th Carrigaline Active Retirement Association had over 30 members at the Community Complex when they had stories and poetry in memory of their Active Retired friends who passed away during the year including one of the late Chairperson Pat Goulding’s stories read by her friend Eileen. It was lovely to remember them during the month of the Holy Souls. CARA took 37 members to Kinsale by bus where they enjoyed Christmas Lunch in the Trident Hotel on Thursday last the 11th.  They were served a lovely meal after which the music provided encouraged them to dance.  They all had a very pleasant evening. CARA will have a break now for a few weeks and will be back in the Community Complex on Thursday 8th of  January  2.30pm..

Aifreann na Nollag

Bhí Aifreann na Nollag trí Gaeilge á chéiliúradh ag an Moinsíneoir Aodhán Ó Drisceóil ar an Domhnach seo caite 14ú Nollaig.  Bhí slua mór teaghlaigh i láthair ag an Aifreann. 

Léigh Clár Scully na léachtaí agus can páistí ón nGaelscoil an Salm.   

Léigh daltaí ón nGaelscoil Guí an Phobal.  Bhí Cór ón nGaelscoil in éineacht leis an gCór Gaeilge a chan carúil Nollag faoi stiúradh Múinteoir Nora agus Brian, agus sheinn an Grúpa Cheoil ón nGaelscoil ceol binn. The next Aifreann trí Gaeilge will be on Sunday January 11th at 10.00 am, beidh billeoga Aifrinn ar fáil ag na dóirse.

Annual Pioneer Draw 2026

The annual Pioneer Supporter’s draw is one of the Pioneer Association’s main fundraising initiatives to help it to develop the association. The draw runs for six months and takes place on the third Wednesday of each month beginning on January 21^st and continuing each month until June 2026.  The monthly prizes are first €1,000, second €400, third €200 and fourth €100. The Carrigaline Centre has Cards available, €7 a month of €40 for the six months enquiries Aislinn 087 9699 488.

Community Carol Service

This year the Carrigaline Community Carol Service will be held in St Mary’s Church of Ireland on the Church Road, Carrigaline at 7:30pm on this Friday December 19th

Daidí na Nollag as Gaeilge

Bhí Daidí na Nollag le Gaeilge i gCarraig Uí Leighin ar an Satharn13ú Nollaig i Halla an Banna ó 2.00 to 5.00 pm.  Tá Cóisir na Nollaig do dhaoine fásta ar siúl ar an 17ú lá Nollag ar 8.00i.n i Tig an Cúinne P43 VP08.Tá fáilte roimh cách €10

Men’s Shed

The Carrigaline Men’s Shed are gearing up for Christmas. The Men’s Shed choir have added some new Carols to their Christmas programme.  They plan to sing for charity at SuperValu Mall this Tuesday December 16^th, at the Co-op Superstore on Friday 19^th and at Cork Airport on Sunday 21^st.  The men will be helping with bag packing in Dunnes Stores that weekend..  At the Shed the men are erecting their Christmas tree and putting up the decorations. On Monday 8th some of the walking group walked from the Shed to the CETB Further 

Education and Training unit in Heron’s Wood P43 VF30.  They had received an invitation to its Culture Fair and Coffee morning where they got a great welcome and treated to hospitality. This was a great opportunity for the men to see what the Centre has to offer in the line of education courses for the Spring. 

The Men’s Shed had a pop up shop in SuperValu Mall on Saturday last where they did a great trade. The Men at the Shed are very creative and make a selection of bird boxes and bird feeders, beautiful fairy doors and wide range of crafted wood products. Many items are on show and for sale in the Shed and would make suitable Christmas presents.

Carrigaline Men’s Shed will hold their annual table quiz in the GAA pavilion on Saturday January 17^th. New members and new ideas are always welcome contact Roger Morrissey 087 220 3547.

Blood Donors

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service will hold a blood donation clinic in The Educate Together Primary School, Carrigaline on January 5^th and 6^th  from 4.50pm to 9.00 pm. The blood supply is currently low and with a high demand for blood from hospitals nationally, it is imperative that they continue to maintain the blood supply. 

Pipe Band

Carrigaline Pipe Band were guests at a special Civic Reception hosted by the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, in the County Hall last Monday. A civic reception is the highest honour the Mayor of the County can give to a group or individual.  Others to be honoured at the civic reception were Epsom Derby winning jockey Wayne Lordan and All-Ireland U18 Ladies Football Champions, Cork Minor Ladies Team.  Carrigaline Pipe Band were honoured for winning the World Pipe Band Championship, they also won the World Championships in the drumming corp.  Both the County Mayor and the Chief Executive Moira Murrell congratulated and paid tribute to the band members and their families.  Pipe Major Gary Stephenson in his acceptance speech paid tribute to the pipers and drummers for their dedication and commitment throughout the year.  Mayor Mary Linehan Foley presented Gary Stephenson with an engraved glass vase.  The guests at the reception were all treated to hospitality.

Carrig Tractor Run

The Carrigaline tractor run on Sunday 7^th organised jointly by the Church of Our Lady and St John and the Carrigaline Union of Parishes left from the GAA grounds shortly after 2.00 pm for a run through the southern hinterland and back to St Mary’s Hall for refreshments.  The tractor run was led by Fr James Mc Sweeney on his veteran 1960 restored Fordson Dexta tractor drawing a decorated trailer with a lit decorated Christmas tree and a Happy Christmas sign.

Senior Citizens

Carrigaline Senior Citizens held their annual Christmas dinner in the Carrigaline Court Hotel on Sunday 7th. All were delighted with the excellent meal served by the hotel after which they danced the afternoon away.

Tidy Towns

Carrigaline Tidy Towns volunteers did a big cleanup of the Main Street two weeks ago. All the footpaths were meticulously weeded, scraped and brushed and looked so good in the sunshine. Tidy Towns are very thankful to a group of transition year students and their teachers from the Community School who helped out. Enquiries

carrigalinett@gmail.com.

Comhaltas

Comhaltas na Dúglaise held the first of their Christmas class concerts in Gaelscoil na Dúglaise on Wednesday December 3^rd. The two hour show ran continuously from 7.00 to 9.15 pm followed by refreshments.  A wide range of age groups and instruments helped to provide wonderful entertainment. The branch encourages group playing with no less than five groups performing, two underage and three adult Grúpaí Cheoil. 

The second night of concerts took place on Wednesday 10^{th .}  The early concert which started at 5.00 was mainly young beginners who proved to be exceptionally good.  Refreshments were served and a short break was had before the next concert  The second concert followed with more experienced and accomplished members who attend weekly classes from 6.00 to 7.00.  All present comprised of the families of the participants who were thrilled and amazed at the talent of their own children. They are tutored by an exceptional team of talented musicians.  

The branch will take a break for Christmas until Wednesday January 7^th 2026. However a group played at St Finbarr’s Hospital on Sunday afternoon 14^th. They will play at Cork Airport on Saturday 20^th from 9.30am and at a number of Nursing homes over Christmas and for the Wren on St Stephen’s Day at Blackrock Pier and in Carrigaline.

Comhaltas na Dúglaise delegates attended the Thermo Fisher Scientific Community Award night in the Carrigaline Court Hotel on Monday December 1^st where they received a grant.  Delegates from the branch attended the annual Convention of Cork County Board of Comhaltas in Macroom on Thursday 11^th . Delegate Ger O’Driscoll, branch Vice Chairman and Chairman of this year’s successful Munster Fleadh Cheoil was elected County Board Vice Chairman.