This year Cork City Council are calling on all members of our community to become involved in this event. Cork is a city of culture, and Culture Night is our opportunity to share with the City through the events, programmes and projects you are involved in.

Your event must be cultural in nature, free, take place in Cork city and be open to the public on Culture night. For example: a local dance group company could perform a short showcase in the event site or a theatre company could showcase an upcoming production.

Though funding is not available for programming, your event will be promoted as part of Cork Culture Night 2010 programme through direct marketing, online, press and other promotional methods as appropriate. In addition, free public transport was organised in previous years which took in many of the venues involved on the night. We will also be distributing branding materials to all venues in advance of the event.

Last year, 52 venues took part in Cork, with approximately 18,500 individual visits to venues. It was the unprecedented support of venues, artists and audiences which made the event so successful and we look forward to continue to develop it in 2010 with your help and ideas.

If you would like to take this opportunity to be part of the celebrations and showcase your work, please submit an event proposal to Trish Murphy, Recreation, Amenity and Culture, Cork City Council, City Hall, Cork or email trish_murphy@corkcity.ie . Deadline for Submissions is Monday, July 26th

Tuesday 20th July from 22:00hrs to 05:00hrs on Wednesday 21st July:

• Beaumont
• Well Road
• Silverdale
• Woodvale
• Church Road
• Blackrock Road (from Crab Lane to Blackrock Castle)
• Skehard Road
• Convent Lane
• Ballinlough Road
• Beechwood Park
• Belmont Park
• Ardfallen Park
• Browningstown Park
• Hettyfield

Wednesday 21st July from 22:00hrs to 05:00hrs on Thursday 22nd July:

• Togher Road
• Clashduv Road
• Glasheen Road
• Summerstown Road
• Deanrock
• Vicars Road
• Pouladuff Road
• Earlwood Estate
• Ardmanning Avenue
• Tramore Road
• and surrounding areas.

Thursday 22nd July from 22:00hrs to 05:00hrs on Friday 23rd July:

• Bishopstown Road
• Curraheen Road
• Halldene
• Uam Var
• Melbourn
• Leesdale
• Rossbrook
• Model Farm Road
• Kenley

Every effort will be made to keep the disruption to a minimum. Some slight discoloration may occur when water is restored. This discolouration is harmless and will clear in a short time.

Please check the clarity of the water at the kitchen tap before use particularly when operating drink vending machines, washing machines, dishwashers etc. Please ensure that all taps are in the closed position for the period of the shut off.

Please help us by informing your neighbours who may not read this notice.  Please contact the Water Services Department at 021/4924514 or 021/4924228 if you have any queries.

The slipway has separated from the quay wall and has become dangerous. It is proposed to replace it with a pontoon similar to the one recently installed in Custom House Docks. City Council agreed to meet the cost which will be in the region of €170,000 including consulting fees. It is planned to have the new pontoon in place by the end of August.

The pontoon will be owned by the City Council and made available by way of licence to the Lee Rowing Club and be managed by them for their own use and for use by other members of the general public.

I am delighted with the City Manager’s announcement of such a sizeable investment in a new pontoon on the Blackrock Marina. The slip-way fronting the Lee Rowing Club on the Marina has shown signs of lateral movement over a period of years. It is an issue that I have been lobbying in City Hall for since I joined Council three years ago and I am delighted that it has come to fruition.

This investment of €170,000 is something that will be enjoyed by the all the recreational users of the river – under the terms of the licence Lee Rowing Club will operate the pontoon and facilitate the smaller clubs in the area, which is very welcome.

Late last month I reported on the prosed new playground that was earmarked for Blackrock Village. Read details here

At this weeks council meeting the City Manager updated Councillors on the progress of the Blackrock Village Renewal Scheme. The first phase of which will comprise the provision of a children’s playground and small park with plaza and seating. It will be bounded by Convent Road, the main Blackrock Road and the entrance to the Ursuline School.

The wall along Convent Avenue will be set back to allow for residents parking. The wall fronting the main road will be replaced with railings to improve safety and to afford a view of the new facility from the centre of the village. The old public toilets will be removed.

The Part 8 process will begin immediately and, all going well, the City Council should be in a position to commence the physical development work by late Autumn.

It is estimated that the overall cost will amount to €1.2m and at this weeks Council meeting, Councillors approved this spend.

Kinsale Harbour is currently decorated with international flags adorning the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Fleet. All ten yachts have now crossed the finish line and the crews are enjoying a heroes’ welcome and a well earned rest ahead of the Cork Clipper Festival which begins in Kinsale on this Friday.

The town has been preparing an array of entertainment with 14 venues hosting 20 national and international musical acts. As well as Artisan Food and Craft markets there will be circus entertainment and walking tours to display the beautiful surroundings of Ireland’s “Gourmet Capital” to the anticipated 3000 overseas visitors.

On Wednesday 07 July the fleet will make its way in a parade of Sail to Cork Harbour. Cork City is no stranger to international celebrations; since playing host to the Tall Ships in 1991, Cork was crowned City of Culture in 2005 and very recently was named as one of Lonely Planet’s “Top Ten Cities 2010”. To celebrate the Cork Clipper’s homecoming in style the Port of Cork will be transformed into a Race Village with a large stage for music events and food, drinks and crafts stalls. The main stage on Albert Quay will play host to several big name musical acts including Fred, John Spillane, Crystal Swing and The Walls.

The Cork Clipper project is funded by Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council with the principal objective of promoting Cork as a tourism and business destination around the world. Working alongside Tourism Ireland, Cork is promoted to consumers, trade and the media in key markets that the race visits including Rio de Janeiro, South Africa, Western Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, California, Panama, Jamaica, New York and Cape Breton Island before returning to Cork culminating in this fantastic free family festival!

For more information on the festival and the race itself, check out the clipper website at www.corkclipperfestival.com

Currently there is just one hour available to the public, from 1-2pm each weekday which many people find inconvenient to access. However over the summer months, the public schedule is as follows:

Family Fun Swim Monday – Friday 2pm & 3pm

Giant pool inflatables, Toys & games Noodles, Balls and More

Aqua Aerobics – Monday & Wed 7pm Keep

Fit & Tone up, low impact & fun in the water

Public Swimming sessions – Monday to Friday 12pm – 2 pm 4pm – 7pm

3 fitness swimming lanes available.

For more details contact the Douglas Pool at: douglas@leisureworldcork.com or

021 4293073

www.leisureworldcork.com

The Council would welcome applications for the following Graduate Work Placements:

§         Graduate Accountant JB552049

§         Graduate Architect JB552047

§         Graduate Business Administrator JB552040

§         Graduate Civil Engineer JB552046

§         Graduate Civil Engineering Technician JB552056

§         Graduate Environmental Technician

(Archaeology and Ecology/Botany) JB552051

§         Graduate IT Operator JB552054

§         Graduate Mechanical/Electrical Engineer JB552072

§         Graduate Mechanical Technician JB552060

All applications must be made through the official Fás procedures as outlined on the website.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5pm on the 16^th July 2010.

Following on the success of the last two years Bonfire Night Events Projects on June 23rd, the Council is again organizing and supporting a number of family friendly events throughout the City on the evening of Bonfire Night. The project is being managed by the Recreation, Amenity and Culture Department, with the support of Community Wardens, RAPID Coordinators, the Gardai, Emergency Services, local community groups and other agencies .An Event Coordinator has been engaged to assist with the delivery of the project.

Five major outdoor events are planned in City Council parks as follows, with a range of activities such as games, bouncing castles, sports, face painting, karaoke etc

• Kilmore Park, Knocknaheeny 6.00 pm – 9.00pm
• Pophams Park, Farranree 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm
• Glenamoy Park, Mayfield 5.00 pm – 8.00pm
• Loughmahon Park, Mahon 6.30pm – 9.30pm
• Clashduv Park, Togher. 5.30pm – 9.30pm

Organised, supervised bonfires will take place at the Clashduv Park, Loughmahon Park and Kilmore Park events. Particular focus has been placed on having local groups and clubs participate in all projects.

In addition, support is also being given to other community events being organized in Black pool( Blackpool Youth Club) ,Kerryhall Road, Willow Park/Glencurrig/Ballincurrig, Douglas and Bishopstown ( Bishopstown Youth Project, Community Ass, Gardai) . At Leesdale, Model Farm Road and at Willow Park/Glencurrig, at the request of residents, the Council has erected No Bonfire signs in the estates, and written to all residents advising that no bonfires are being permitted on the green areas, and that the residents associations are organizing alternative activities on the night. It is encouraging to see a number of new events this year, at Glenamoy Park in Mayfield, Bishopstown and Willow /Gelncurrig Park it being the Councils intention to support additional

Last year, 8000 people attended these events, with over 40 community groups involved in their organisation, as well as over 150 local community volunteers. It is particularly encouraging to note a number of new projects this year. (Glenamoy Lawn, Willow Park and Bishopstown) .

The Councils Parks Department as in previous years will endeavour to remove bonfire material where possible , but in recent years, much of the material is hoarded securely until the actual night itself. Priority will be given to removing material where there is a risk to health and safety, property, power lines etc.

The GAA wish to redevelop and upgrade Pairc Ui Chaoimh to a 50,000 seater stadium and the development of a Centre of Excellence which would share stadium facilities including gymnasium, medical room, dining facilities and changing rooms.  In order for this redevelopment to go ahead, the GAA will require 6.82 acres of the publicly owned lands at the former Muster Agricultural Site. This acreage would include provision for circulation areas and a full GAA sized All Weather Playing Pitch that will be floodlit.

Recently the council members have been provided with reports from different department of City Hall, with regard to this proposed development, set out below.

Report from City Manager, Joe Gavin here

Report from Docklands Director of Services, Pat Ledwidge here

I am hugely supportive of the GAA’s wish to redevelop Pairc Ui Chaoimh, something that the stadium has been in need of for a great many years. At present, Cork does not have a stadium with the capability of hosting major sporting events. As the second largest region in the State, the absence of such a facility has been holding us back and has resulted in the City missing out on the revenues that accompany such major sporting events.   The potential to the City if the GAA do go ahead with this proposal is immense. From both an employment perspective during the construction stages and also the longer term benefits to the City from an economic perspective. Pairc Ui Chaoimh represents the best opportunity for the region to have a high-quality sporting and outdoor concert venue.

However I have concerns with regard to the all-weather pitch in terms of its impact on the planned Marina park.  The provision of a major sub-regional park centred on the Showgrounds has been central to all City Council plans since the idea of developing docklands was first put forward in the Docklands Development strategy 2001. This park would be a flagship project and would be a catalyst in changing the image of the Docklands. The park would be planted and landscaped to include amenity areas, waterways and it would also make provision for active recreation. It would link the showgrounds, the Atlantic Pond and the Marina into a large amenity area designed to the highest international standard to serve the City.

The GAA is one of the world’s greatest sporting organisations and I welcome the County Board proposal to redevelop Pairc Ui Chaoimh to provide a modern stadium with improved facilities for our players. However the accommodation of a full size all weather pitch is not compatible with the plans to develop a flagship park for the Docklands and the City. If the pitch goes ahead as proposed the opportunity to realise this vision will be lost, with consequences for the overall plans for Docklands.

To download the City Council’s “Public Realm Strategy” section of the South Docks Local Area Plan click here.

Peter was a Dáil TD for Cork constituencies between 1969 and 1997. He served as tánaiste in 1987 and deputy leader of Fine Gael between 1979 and 1987 and from 1989 to 1993.

He was also Minister for Foreign Affairs, when he helped negotiated the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Minister for Transport & Power 1973/76, Minister for Education 1976/77 and Minister for the Environment in 1981/82,

The custom of awarding the “Freedom of the City” whereby persons distinguished for public service become Honorary Burgesses of the City dates from the 14th Century. Prior to the reform of the Cork Corporation in 1841 the city was generous in awarding the distinction to prominent representatives.

For a list on all those on whom the Freedom of the City has been conferred, click here.

This year’s headline events include the first performance in Cork by the legendary composer Philip Glass, Corcadorca’s Plasticine and the interactive computer game performance Best Before from German theatre pioneers Rimini Protokoll. The legendary New York story-teller Mike Daisey who will be performing three of his brilliant monologues at the Half Moon Theatre.

We’ve got big shows on Cork’s biggest stages – and they don’t come much bigger than The Show Must Go On, the Irish premiere of this international smash hit created by French enfant terrible Jérôme Bel. With 18 dancers and 18 pop classics this is one of the most original and entertaining nights at the theatre you will ever experience.

At the Everyman Palace Theatre we premiere our very own production F*ck My Life – the world as seen through the eyes of a group of Cork teens. It’s been a year in its creation and after its Cork performances is set to take the world by storm in an international tour.

This year we say farewell to the Spiegeltent after five great years. Instead we have our Heineken Midsummer Nights programme at the Crane Lane Theatre and the Pavilion. There will be cabaret and comedy at the Crane Lane, and music, DJs and the Midsummer Festival Club at the Pavilion.

The Midsummer wouldn’t be the Midsummer without opportunities to take part in some great events. Join in with Danish artists Superflex when we see if the power of words can change the state of the nation in Today We Don’t Use the Word ‘Recession’, or undertake the ultimate act of trust by letting a 9 year old cut your hair in Haircuts By Children.

This year we’ve made it easier and cheaper than ever to book tickets. We see the return of the very popular 5 for 55 deal and we have done away with all booking charges on events booked through our website and over the phone as well as in person.

Click here to see a full line up of events for the Midsummer Festival.

The race is 15 nautical miles. It begins in Crosshaven, then out to the mouth of Cork Harbour, Roches Point, (boats that are suited to Ocean rowing will be going to Roches Point this year if weather conditions are favourable) back into the Harbour and down the long straight to Cobh, passing in front of the quays. It continues on past Monkstown and on to Passage West before entering Lough Mahon.This wide expanse of water is the toughest stage, as there is nearly always a strong cross wind.

Once completed the sheltered home stretch down the “Marina” beckons. This is the most exciting part as the real race for positioning occurs here as the crews spurred on by the crowds and the approaching finishing line battle it out.

This year the race is going to finish the race at Lapps Quay in Cork City Centre providing more of a spectacle and festival atmosphere for participants and the public alike.

If you’d like to cheer on the participants, below are the approximate times that they will be passing through different points on the course:

11.30 Race Start @ RCYC Crosshaven

12.00 Cobh

12.30 Monkstown

13.00 Passage West

13.30 Blackrock – Youth Race

15.00 Lapps Quay – The Big Finish!

Events from 1.30pm at Lapp’s Quay include:

- Street Market @ Lapps Quay – ALL DAY!

- Face-painters & Balloon Artists

- Pirates & mermaids

- Acrobats

- Boatbuilding Demonstrations

- Heritage & Craft exhibition

– Clarion Hotel

- Live Music from the Poitín Boys

Do you (or any of your friends) fancy a pre-race paddle in a kayak round Cork city by night? Ocean to City Night paddle Friday June 11th – Cost €45 – Starts at Boardwalk Bar and Grill @ 19:30hrs – Runs for 2 ½ hours – for more details contact Jim @ +353 (028) 210 58http://www.atlanticseakayaking.com