Cork communities urged to start getting creative
Time is flying by as always and there is so much happening in the realm of heritage and culture these days, not least with the recent announcement of two grant schemes being run by Cork County Council under the Creative Ireland Programme.
It is also a fantastic time for heritage dialogue as groups throughout the county and indeed around the country are busy putting in their submissions for the upcoming National Heritage Plan – Heritage Ireland 2030, which will be accepted up until March 31.
That date coincide with the start of Tree Week 2019 and with thanks to the Tree Council of Ireland, Cork County Council through its Environmental Awareness Office and Heritage Unit will have a number of trees to give out to local groups looking to organise events.
The recent announcement of the Creative Ireland County Cork Grant Schemes comes as welcome news for many different community groups and organisations throughout the county.
The Programme sets out to give everyone a chance to immerse themselves in culture and creativity, such are the benefits for young and old alike.
One of the key aspects of the Creative Ireland Programme is to encourage and assist communities who have the drive to put culture at the heart of their creative communities and the schemes just announced invite proposals with such vision and ambition in mind.
The first of the schemes is the Creative Ireland County Cork Grant Scheme and this covers a whole range of different projects, provided that they are in keeping with any one or more of the objectives/actions set out in County Cork’s five-year Culture and Creativity Strategy, which was launched by Cork County Council last November in Baile Mhúirne.
The objectives focus on putting culture at the heart of what we do here in Cork and include enhancing and investing in our local culture; supporting and promoting full community engagement with culture as well as showcasing the culture of the County and promoting the Irish Language.
The Pop-up Shops scheme further sets out to support projects that meet with these key objectives, by welcoming proposals for a range of different cultural uses for vacant properties.
Consideration will also be given to events that are being undertaken for the national day of culture and youth – Cruinniú na nÓg on Saturday June 15.
For full details of the schemes and to download an application form(s) visit www. corkcoco.ie/arts-heritage/creatve-ireland or email creativeireland@corkcoco.ie.
Cork schools to get involved ‘as Gaeilge’
With regard to the Creative Ireland County Cork Grants Scheme schools are encouraged to get involved.
For those schools with an interest in the Irish language there is also a competition that schools can enter at present.
Conradh na Gaeilge have partnered up with Cork County Council as part of the Creative Ireland Programme, with the support of the Council’s Irish Office, in the running of two fantastic competitions; the first for the best music video as Gaeilge and the second for the best Irish themed drawing/picture.
It should be an exciting project for schools and pupils involved and for further information visit https://www.peig.ie/comortaischorcai.
Eoin O’Mahony bursary for Irish History open
FOR those interested in archaeological/ history projects the Royal Irish Academy is presently running a few grant schemes including the Eoin O’Mahony Bursary for Irish History which is open to candidates engaged in historical research on subjects of Irish interest as well as a grant for Archaeology Research and a grant for Archaeology C14 Radiocarbon Dates Projects.
For further information visit https:// www.ria.ie/.
Help plant a seed for National Tree Week
WITH the end of March drawing near we are nearing the commencement of National Tree Week 2019, which runs from March 31 to April 7.
Organised by the Tree Council of Ireland and supported by Coillte. Cork County Council actively participates in and encourages participation in Tree Week each year and in 2019, with thanks to the Tree Council, will have trees to disseminate to community groups, schools and organisations around the county on a first-come first-served basis.
Such groups are also encouraged to organise their own Tree Week events which can range from woodland walks, nature trails, workshops and woodturning displays to readings, exhibitions and dramas.
All proposed Tree Week events can be registered on the Tree Council’s website https://treecouncil.ie/initiatives/treeweek/.
To ensure maximum exposure and promotion it is advised that event details are registered on the website as early as possible.
For any groups looking to avail of trees for planting and for any further queries contact conor.nelligan@corkcoco.ie.
Have a say in shaping Ireland’s heritage plan
WITH the end of March approaching it is also the last opportunity for people to have their say in the shaping of Ireland’s Heritage and the Policy for same over the coming years.
This plan will inform national budgets and priorities for the next decade, so it is a great opportunity for local groups, societies and community councils with an interest in heritage to submit their thoughts and suggestions.
One can make a submission by either completing the on-line survey, sending in a written submission or emailing.
For further details visit https://www. chg.gov.ie/heritage/heritageireland2030/.
Launch of book about the Fenian ‘Invincibles’
IN relation to upcoming events, this coming Friday (March 22) in Douglas GAA at 7pm, a wonderful book by Dr. Shane Kenna will be launched.
Titled ‘ The Invincibles’, the book looks at this radical off-shoot of the nineteenth century Fenian movement perhaps most famous (or notorious) for carrying out the assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish, the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Thomas Henry Burke, the Under-Secretary for Ireland, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on 6 May 1882.
The author, Shane Kenna, was one of the finest young historians of his generation, having established himself within the space of a very few years as the pre-eminent authority on the Fenian movement, with several full-length works on the subject to his name, including the first full-length English language biography of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.
Tragically, Shane passed away on in March 2017.
It is hoped that as many people as possible can attend this very special launch.