Editorial: Party in the 'Pool

Blackpool is one of the most historic parts of Cork city and is the birthplace of so many great statesmen, athletes and creative people.

Blackpool has a long and proud history as an industrial suburb of Cork city, being home to weavers, tanning companies and distilleries as well as the leather industry over the last few centuries. There were also major factories such as Sunbeam, Harringtons and Gouldings in the area. Now the historic area will have something new to look forward to as the inaugural Blackpool Block Party will take place on Great William O'Brien Street on Sunday 24 August from 1-5pm.

I love the idea of these street parties where people in urban areas get to see their streets in a new way, full of music and fun! It helps us all to have pride in our areas and to build a sense of community.

In partnership with Cork Community Art Link and the Blackpool Community Centre, organisers say the Blackpool Block Party is a celebration of community and everything local.

This fun-filled family afternoon hopes to bring a carnival atmosphere to the streets of Blackpool with a mix of live music, children’s entertainment, food, art, drama, dancing, arts workshops, acrobatics, crafts, and free giveaways, including local produce from the community gardens that have sprung up on the northside of Cork city.

Cork Community Art Link and The Blackpool Community Centre are hosting the Ceili All Stars, Kabin Crew, The Heppsters Jazz Trio, and the Tomás Mac Curtain Pipe Band on stage, as well as a diverse programme of events throughout the afternoon. This is a wonderfully varied musical lineup.

There will be street theatre from the Cork Community Art Link Drama Troupe, flash fiction workshops with Graffiti Theatre, a musical theatre performance by Super Stars Stage School and Ringo Bingo, the world's best music-intro and comedy-based game.

There are a huge variety of other events, many of which have a focus on sustainability and the circular economy. There will be DIY bike repair workshops with Cork Community Bikes, workshops on gardening from Glen Community Gardens, The Foyer, Meitheal Follaine, and NICHE Community Gardens - a repair café where you can learn to fix your broken stuff.

There will be a céilí with the Community Ceili Fusion Dance Group, as well as street games, and plenty of craft stalls. There will be a tea party under a large marquee, and free pizza and salad made with local ingredients will be served along with freshly baked traybakes and scones.

The horticulturalists from the Health Action Zone and the Blackpool Men’s Shed will be giving away free planters, pots, compost, and seeds, so people can grow their own at home! Organisers say the Blackpool Block Party is locally produced for local people and it sounds great!