County Mayor's Diary Cllr Mary Linehan Foley
This year has presented many challenges that we’ve met by coming together as a community, locally, nationally and globally. The nature of this solidarity is unprecedented in our lifetimes, and each person’s individual actions have never been more important.
The support we give, in our personal, family and professional lives has never been more important. Cork County Council launched a special campaign to recognise this.
A Real Cork Christma' is an opportunity for everyone to connect with one another in solidarity and hope.
Last Thursday, businesses, households, and Corkonians near and far answered the call to light up for A Real Cork Christmas. Towns and villages countywide turned on their lights at 7pm. People came together in a show of solidarity and support sharing images of lights and candles in their windows with the hashtag #ARealCorkChristmas.
I was in my hometown of Youghal for the light up and saw your amazing contributions on social media. Although times are tough and the nights are getting longer, all our lives were a little brighter last Thursday. I’m grateful to everyone who took part on the night, and for everyone who has and continues to contribute to the struggle against Covid-19.
A Real Cork Christmas aims to engage everyone in the county, and I was delighted to send invitations to schools to contribute Christmas Postcard designs. Fourth class students countywide will compete to have their designs printed and published, to be shared with friends, families and loved ones the world over.
The Council’s Christmas Marketplace Listing on corkcoco.ie is now available to shoppers who want to buy local this Christmas, with new suppliers being added all the time.
Just as keeping within our 5km and restricting our contacts helps prevent the spread of Covid-19, spending money locally helps to mitigate against the virus’s economic impact. Check the listing for gift ideas and to connect with local suppliers and craftspeople. If you wish to have your business details listed for shoppers, go to YourCouncil.ie to register.
As A Real Cork Christmas looks for ways we can support one another and our communities, another council campaign is providing resources to help you take care of yourself - Keep Well. This comprehensive campaign provides advice and resources to promote health and wellbeing this winter. This includes resources on keeping active, keeping in contact, switching off, eating well and managing stress. Details on the campaign are available on Cork County Council’s website corkcoco.ie and will be shared across social media platforms @corkcoco, just follow #KeepWell and share resources with the people in your life who will benefit from them.
If you have one take away from these campaigns, let it be that you are not alone. You are part of a community that cares about you, we can make it through this pandemic together.