The fight against drug dealing in Cork is being stepped up this week with the re-launch of the Cork Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign today (Thursday). The line was first launched in Cork in March 2009 and encourages members of the public to pass on helpful information to the gardai involved in ongoing investigations into drug dealing in Cork. David Lane, Co-ordinator of the Cork Local Drugs Task Force, who will speak at the event, said:

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin this week launched a new masters in diplomacy at UCC. Minister Martin was on hand to cut the ribbon on the new MBS in International Public Policy and Diplomacy, giving a public lecture on contemporary global challenges. The MBS in International Public Policy and Diplomacy is a new masters degree targeted at those hoping to work in international affairs.

Community groups in the Macroom area were awarded over €12,000 in amenity grants this week to help provide sports and security equipment, as well as help afford community cleaning and wheelchair access. Cork County Council awarded €1,250 for a security system to the Kilinardrish Underage Soccer Club, while the Innishvilla Soccer Club will get €1,250 towards improving the grounds.

Euromedic Ireland, a leading provider of accessible diagnostic healthcare, has opened a state-of-the-art diagnostic clinic in the Elysian building in Cork City. The centre is Cork's first purposes built out-patient diagnostic centre and will make a range of diagnostics accessible to private and public patients in the Munster region.

On Thursday 4 March, the annual MedSoc Public Health Day takes place on UCC campus. Stands on display include: free health screening (Diabetes Ireland and Irish Heart Foundation), free First Aid and CPR lessons/Demos (St John’s Ambulance), free advice on all aspects of your health and well being:

A charity gig will take place to rise vital funds for Cork Fighting Blindness Choroideremia Project at the Crane Lane, next Wednesday 10 March. Aoife Walsh from Bishopstown decided to run an event that would not only create awareness for this worthy cause in the city but as a daughter and mother to Choroideremia sufferers, she felt the need to help raise funds for this very worthy cause.

Some of Cork's best known musical celebritieswill join forces to present a Gala Concert in Cork City Hall on Friday 12 March at 8pm. Featured artistes will include Mary Hegarty, soprano; Breffni Horgan, tenor; and Louise O'Sullivan, mezzo soprano. Also appearing are the City of Cork Male Voice Choir and the Chorus of Opera Cork. Conductor is Frank Buckley, accompanist, Eleanor Malone and narrator, Kevin Goggin.

Speculation that tremors from the devastating earthquake in Chile caused a sea angler to be swept out to sea in Cork last weekend has been discounted. The 28-year-old man was washed offshore in West Cork and rescued by an Irish Coast Guard helicopter at the weekend. Tsunami warnings were issued for over a quarter of the planet after the earthquake, which registered 8.8 on the Richter scale.

Cork publicans have backed calls from their Limerick counterparts to have The Munster game on Good Friday rescheduled to give the recession-hit pub trade a boost. But Gardaí have warned that, should the game go ahead, the law remains the same and pubs will have to be closed.

Singer Gavin Moore, dance students from Colaiste Stiofain Naofa's Dance Diploma and members of the Polyphonics Barbershop group rehearsing for an evening of song and dance at the Firkin Crane on 19 March in aid of Haven and Plan Ireland, in association with the Cork Independent. The evening will be hosted by MEP Brian Crowley and St. John's Gospel Choir will also perform.