Mayor of Cork Cllr Gillian Coughlan. Photo: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

County Mayor's diary

Councillor Gillian Coughlan

We are well into the new year now, however for those of you still holding onto the twinkly lights of Christmas, the council’s free Christmas tree drop off service at our civic amenity sites is available until 31 January.

New year’s resolutions and RTE’s ‘Operation Transformation’ go hand in hand this time of the year. Keep an eye out for the Youghal boardwalk which features in an upcoming episode.

I use the Explore Cork app developed by the council last year to plan trips with family.

We wrap up, get fit safely using the walking trails on the app, then round it off with a warming lunch or coffee in any of our wonderful towns and villages.

Connectivity and inclusivity are important to all of us. The council is working with Pop Up Projects to support a writer in creating a children’s book featuring LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences.

The book will form part of The Rainbow Library.

The story will be conceived and developed with the help of LGBTQIA+ young people aged 16-24 from Cork county. The deadline for applications from writers is 31 January. For more information, contact Cork County Council’s Arts Office at 021-4285995 or email arts@corkcoco.ie.

I would like to encourage for community and voluntary groups to make an application to the €1.8 million Community Fund Scheme.

The scheme provides financial assistance to a range of projects and initiatives, including the work of Tidy Towns groups and community associations, infrastructural works, and sports and leisure facilities.

Guidelines for the scheme and application details are available online at yourcouncil.ie, and the closing date for applications is 4pm on 15 February.

The publication of the Proposed Amendments to the Draft Plan is the final opportunity for individuals and groups to have their say in the final Cork County Development Plan, 2022-2028. This is your opportunity to get involved and have your say in forming the future development of county Cork.

Submissions on the Proposed Amendments can be made up to and including midnight on 15 February. Full details of the Proposed Amendments to the Draft County Development Plan are available at corkcoco.ie/en/cork-county-development-plan-2022-2028.

As Omicron’s prevalence continues across our communities, many may find their personal supports restricted. For anyone in this situation or anyone who knows someone in this situation, I urge you to contact Cork County Council’s Community Support Programme Helpline by calling 1800-805819, texting 085-8709010 or emailing covidsupport@corkcoco.ie.

You can connect you or someone you care about with local practical and emotional supports, as well as providing reliable information.

It has been so mild this winter that I’ve spotted the first green shoots of daffodils peeping through which heralds the start of looking forward in 2022.