Cobh

<h3>Cobh Tidy Towns</h3>
<h3>We’re at the final hurdle!</h3>
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<p>The mammoth task of completing the Tidy Towns entry form is nearing the end with lots of behind the scenes work from Ruth and Hendrick. It encompasses a whole town effort over the last year across a wide range of categories from Biodiversity and Sustainability to Streetscape and Litter, Approach Roads and Residential areas to Landscaping and Community Involvement. Closing date is 20th May! Adjudication begins in June.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This week Stuart is cleaning signs around town, Eileen &amp; Barbara are chatting with businesses about our SHINE campaign to welcome customers, the stained yellow road on Old Street is being painted, Save Our Swifts are getting ready to welcome back our swifts from their long travels and the managed for biodiversity sites are blooming at the Rock, Christchurch, Titanic Garden and Ballynoe bridge. The Mens Shed have finished our beautiful herb boxes and you’ll see them soon for you to take a snip as you pass by at Carrignafoy Community College and Cobh Hospital Park Road Centre. The TY students in Colaiste Muire completed bat boxes and the 1st years decorated them before they are put up. Great collaboration across the community.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The last year has been a busy one and we welcome the arrival of our framed certificate today from Tidy Towns for Cobh’s success in 2021 winning ‘Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town’’. All of the projects for this years entry have come from all over our community. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to it. Help us with adjudication from the beginning of June by keeping where you live and work clean, colourful and welcoming for all to enjoy Cobh. Gicn Cobh Cobh Edition Cobh News</p>
<h3>Beavers</h3>
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<p>Beavers covered boat safety, boat parts and rowing skills tonight, all in preparation for getting out on the water in a few weeks!</p>
<h3>St Mary's</h3>
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<p>First Class had great fun researching and creating their very own projects recently.</p>
<h3>School Facilities</h3>
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<p>David Stanton is calling for school facilities to be opened up after hours for community groups and clubs.</p>
<p>This would lead to stronger and safer communities right across the country.</p>
<p>Learn more:</p>
<p>https://www.finegael.ie/schools-to-be-used-in-evenings-for-community-groups-stanton/</p>
<h3>Editors note.</h3>
<p>I must say from my experience both Post Primary schools in Cobh Carrignafoy Community School and Colaiste Muire are very generous is facilitating clubs and organisations in Cobh for the use of their facilities. I know Colaiste facilities Ladies Football Basketball and Soccer.</p>
<p>Carrignafoy  for soccer, walking and the grounds are open 365. The grounds were open all during the pandemic and were constantly in use by people for walking in particular. But compared to England  facilities there  are far more comprehensive. During a visit to London this past weekend,  I went for a walk Monday morning before coming g home and came across a school near Canary Wharf,  with huge grounds, including a 400m tartan track about 4 astra turf pitches , tennis courts etc and I did not get a chance to see the indoor facilities. Its only in recent years that local authorities are supporting schools in particular to provide  better facilities, Bandon and Mallow are supported for the provision of a 400m track. From a personal point of view when I was in Midleton form 1970--77,  I was a member of the group which spearheaded the drive to provide a sports hall for the town. The main hall designed by a friend of mine the Olympic athlete the late Fanahan Mc Sweeney. At the time it was the biggest in Ireland 75'x175, with 2 floors of ancillary rooms and  a huge stage you could drive a motor car on to it from the outside. After a visit to the Crystal Palace Sports centre in London,  with a group of Midleton athletes,  for a high jump coaching session with Olympic coach Ron Murray, I was fascinated by the indoor facilities, with a 60m sprint track. I decided to go a little bit longer and at the end of the hall in Midleton,  there was an opening left and a 4 lane runway was constructed which was later enclosed and that gave the facility for 110m indoor straight for sprints and long jump. Not one single cent of public money was given for the project. Vandals set the extension on fire,  before it was fully functional and the powers  that be,  to make more room for housing removed it, what a shame, how important for the community would that have been and especially in this more enlightened age,  when authorities are more committed to providing worthwhile facilities. Up to a few years ago the centre was used as a Gael Scoil until the new state  of the art  school building was constructed. I can see where deputy David Stanton is coming from. On Leaving Midleton in 1977 to the parish of Tullylease in North Cork, the National school had an attendance of 39 in total absolutely no facilities and again conscious of the importance of facilities, the land commission were dividing a farm and I arranged in conjunction with the local Community Council to purchase 5 acres for £3,502 and a 400m all weather track again designed by Fanaahan McSweeney free of charge, with a sports field in the middle appeared and it hosted Olympic Champions Steve Ovett England, John Walker New Zealand  World Champions Eamonn Coghlan John Treacy X County Frank O'Mara world indoor, Ray Flynn who still holds the Irish record for the miles at 3.49  and Liam O'Brien whom I coached in Midleton and won11 National Steeplechase titles and reached the Semi Final of the even in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. In fact Liam was the chief organiser of the event today for the South Munster schools. Again I emphasise not a cent was contributed in public funds. Now recognising the need for better facilities to promote better health money is available and it should be channeled  into school facilities where the need is greatest. Of course it goes without saying  a proper PE system should be essential in schools,  where all sports should be encouraged without fear or favour, not at the whim of those with vested interests in their own sport. My biggest worry during the pandemic was what would happen to sport, Before the pandemic  I spent part of each school day helping pupils  in athletics   and Gaelic through Sciath na Scoil Competitions. Its great to be back again but my regret is I never got the chance to help with sport in Post Primary schools. Despite the work being done in Primary school Cobh Schools had just one representative competing today, point made.</p>
<h3>South Munster Schools Track and Field</h3>
<h3>Brilliant days athletics at MTU track in Bishopstown on today Tuesday for the girls South Munster   Post Primary track and field championships.&nbsp;</h3>
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<p>There was a huge turnout from schools all over  Cork and Kerry. An example of the numbers,  32 teams competed in the Junior girls relay that's 128 athletes. It was won by St Al's  Carrigtwohill with Cobh native Ava Chandler part of the team. Their school also won the girls minor under 14 relay and were 3rd in the Intermediate under 17, while the senior team under 19 finished 5th.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The school makes a huge effort to promote all sports and they have John Sheehan from Leevale,  coach to Derval O'Rourke world and European medal winner,  once a week doing athletics. When I was in Killeagh I was invited to help out and a  team who finished 2nd in the Irish Schools relay   which included Joanne Sillet from Cobh.  Cobh natives  Aisling O' Leary  3rd and Caoimhe Carolan 2nd got medals for St Als in the 800m and 1,500m. Caoimhe got a silver in the Intermediate relay as well.</p>
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<p>Caoimhe came through for 2nd in the 1,500m under 17</p>
<p>Every school should make the effort to give pupils the opportunity to complete, athletics forms the basis of all sports. The only girl from Cobh schools to my knowledge was Aine Sheridan who finished 4th in the steeplechase.  After winning the 300m hurdles,  a distance  she was competing in for the 2nd time.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I would have helped out in any school like I do in Primary if I was asked, on a total voluntary capacity, I was offered a coaching post in the USA but could only get a visa for 3 months.</p>
<p>&nbsp;The happiest person I met today was Paula McCarthy from Bantry who brought athletes from Schull where is a PE teacher and it was the first time the school was represented at Munster Schools on the track.</p>
<h3>Camogie</h3>
<p>Fixture 9th-15th May:</p>
<p>Well done to the u16s who won their challenge game against Castlemartyr yesterday evening!</p>
<p>We also want to wish Chloe Cashman and the Cork u14s the best of luck as they head to Meath Sunday to play Antrim, Derry and Kilkenny in a Blitz!&nbsp;</p>
<p>Tuesday:</p>
<p>J2 League vs Tracton&nbsp;</p>
<p>📍Tracton&nbsp;</p>
<p>⏱ 7:30pm</p>
<p>Sunday:&nbsp;</p>
<p>U10 v Castlemartyr&nbsp;</p>
<p>📍Castlemartyr&nbsp;</p>
<p>⏱11am&nbsp;</p>
<p>U12 League v Dungourney&nbsp;</p>
<p>📍Dungourney</p>
<p>⏱11am&nbsp;</p>
<p>U16 A League v Aghabullogue</p>
<p>📍Aghabullogue&nbsp;</p>
<p>⏱12 noon</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


Cobh and Great Island News May 10th

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