County Mayor's DiaryCllr Mary Linehan Foley
By the Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Mary Linehan Foley
Last week I visited Ballineen and Enniskeane, where council funding and the hard work, commitment and dedication of the local Tidy Towns Association have brought a heritage trail to life.
It was an incredible feat of vision and local pride that could never be realised without the initiative of the volunteers who put their time and energy into ensuring their local area is looking its best.
Supporting local activists and volunteers is one of the most rewarding and most important aspects of working in local government, and its importance has magnified greatly due to the events of the past year. Volunteers were the backbone of the community response to the pandemic and continue to play a vital role as we begin our reopening efforts.
€156,000 is available through the 2021 Community Enhancement Programme to support such groups. While opportunities for fundraising may have been supressed by the pandemic, the needs of the community have not, nor has the community spirit that drives these groups.
Any not-for-profit community or voluntary group can apply for funding towards worthwhile projects. I encourage relevant groups to reach out for information to communitydevelopmentunit@corkcoco.ie or call them on 021-4285561 or 021-4285295. Applications can be made online at YourCouncil.ie before 4pm on 2 July.
This week I was out and about in my hometown of Youghal, joined by Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development, for a very special event - the official opening of Youghal Boardwalk. This opening marks the completion of the second phase of the project, which extended the existing boardwalk from Claycastle Beach to Redbarn Beach, two Blue Flag beaches managed by the council.
Signing the contract for those works was my first official undertaking as Mayor of the County of Cork last June and officially launching the boardwalk has been fitting as one of my last official engagements. This Friday 25 June, a new Mayor of the County of Cork will be elected at Cork County Council’s AGM.
I think it’s fair to say that my term in office was like no other. Cork county and its people were faced with immense challenges. What I will remember most from this term is the incredible resolve, compassion and creativity with which the people of Cork met these challenges. We seized every advantage and rallied without hesitation to protect our community when it was needed.
As a county, we showed remarkable selflessness in looking out for one another. I know it was a tough year, but I am so proud of our community. You have made it a true honour to serve as County Mayor and inspired me to continue to give it my all in the years ahead in my role as councillor.
Signing off,
Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr
Mary Linehan Foley