Doneraile Court going green for St Patrick’s Day
Plans to find a way to mark Covid-19 blighted St Patrick’s Day celebrations could see buildings lit up in green and possible virtual events.
The issue was discussed at the recent Fermoy Municipal District meeting, where councillors were requested to identify potential ways to celebrate the national holiday.
Pauline Moriarty, Municipal District Officer, canvassed the views of members as it is proposed that a virtual celebration be devised.
“Physical parades have been cancelled nationally. The Council CEO would welcome ideas on virtual proposals - Cork County Council is welcoming ideas on how it would be done virtually. The physical parades of Fermoy and Mitchelstown were funded by the Council through community grants. Is there anyway of working with those communities?” she asked.
INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE
Most councillors were at a loss as regards what would be the best course of action to generate a Covid-19 era St Patrick’s Day celebration.
Cllr Frank O’Flynn asked if it was possible to light up buildings in green, similar to the plan utilised over the Christmas period.
Cllr Deirdre O’Brien also voiced her support of lighting buildings to mark the day as it had ‘attracted a lot attention’ previously.
Ms Moriarty said that the Town Hall in Fermoy and in Mitchelstown did not have the required infrastructure to light up the buildings. She explained that the infrastructure in Fermoy was present, but was broken.
She added that there were considerations that would have to be made about where to place a projector in each location. Ms Moriarty said that it was unsuitable to light the Town Hall in Mitchelstown, but said that it could be considered for 2022. The municipal officer said that an immediate decision was not required, but rather that councillors would canvass the views of local groups.
Mary Hayes of Cork County Council said that the lighting up projects would be very innovative and added that ‘something creative can be done’ with the possibility of schools providing help.
DONERAILE TO GO GREEN
The Office of Public Works (OPW), in association with Fáilte Ireland and the St. Patrick’s Festival Organisation, this week announced details of the ‘greening’ of Heritage sites and State buildings for the duration of the 2021 St. Patrick’s Festival. These will include Doneraile Court in County Cork, along with Cahir Castle and the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary.