Pictures: Bumper year for Togher and Ballyphehane communities
of Ballyphehane Tidy Towns celebrating their Pride of Place Award win with Lord Mayor, Cllr Kieran McCarthy at the recent IBP event. Ballyphehane Tidy Towns were winners in the Urban Neighbourhood/ Village over 3000 people category.
2023 proved to be a bumper year for the community of Ballyphehane and Togher with a number of organisations, clubs and schools enjoying a busy and successful year.
Ballyphehane Tidy Towns were once again to the fore in the community over the past 12 months.
From organising and taking part in a number of initiatives and events, the group of volunteers was rarely not busy.
In recent weeks, the local group hosted its Christmas Fair which proved a fantastic, festive event.
In a statement, Ballyphehane Tidy Towns said the event ensured they “said goodbye to 2023 on a high”.
“What a year it has been - from our Cherry Blossom festival, weekly litter picks, building a maze and sensory garden, installing some fantastic Welcome to Ballyphehane signs, a leaf mulching project, winning multiple awards, and ending the year with our Christmas Fair!
“Before we take a well-earned break until the new year, we just want to say thank you to every business and person that has ed us this past year.
“No doubt 2024 will bring even better things for the Hane,” the group added.
Togher Tidy Towns also enjoyed a busy 2023, installing a ‘Welcome to Togher’ sign, organising the monthly Togher markets and getting involved in a host of other events.
In recent weeks, volunteers from the local group installed two Christmas trees of remembrance in the community, encouraging people to hang decorations in memory of a lost loved one.
The group also received a cheque for €10,000 to put towards projects and plans in the local community next year.
Togher Tidy Towns was nominated for the Aviva Broker Community Fund by Frank Ramsay Financial Services.
The Togher Community Garden also enjoyed a successful 2023, being nominated for and receiving a number of awards and accolades throughout the year.
In other local news from 2023, a time capsule was buried in Ballyphehane during the year, and it will not be reopened until 2043.
Independent councillor Mick Finn highlighted the importance of the project, stating: “Picking snapshots of time and preserving them for future generations to reflect on is a fantastic concept, and well done to the community of Ballyphehane for ensuring our stories locally will be read by those who follow us in the years to come.
“When the time capsule is eventually opened, in 2043, it will be like Reeling in the Years - hopefully I'll be around to see it!”
It was also a busy year for the Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project (CDP), which, like the local tidy towns group, was involved in a host of events and initiatives during 2023.
The CDP ended the year on a high, hosting its Christmas Jumper Party in aid of Cork Simon Community on Wednesday, December 20.
2023 was also a busy year for local schools in the area, including Coláiste Éamann Rís.
Students and staff from the local school were involved in a number of initiatives during the year, teaming up with local tidy towns group and organisations to make a positive impact in their community.
Earlier this month, more than 700 pupils at the local secondary school celebrated Christmas early, with a special festive feast at school.
As part of a tradition that started eight years ago, pupils were served a traditional Christmas meal including turkey, ham and all the trimmings at school.
Meanwhile, it was revealed this year that Presentation Secondary School Ballyphehane will transition to a co-educational school, commencing September 1, 2024.
The transition comes after a 57-year history as an all-girls school, whose past pupils include Gemma O’Connor and Linda O’Connell both All Ireland Camogie Winners, Siobhan Keogh – award winning architect, Lauren Falvey - All Ireland Basketball winner and Claudia Long - The Voice UK contestant.
Morning Star National School recently unveiled renovation works at the local primary school, and it turns out the school was far from finished with its ongoing improvement works.
In recent weeks, the local primary school praised from the community as it prepared to unveil a new room.
The new room, which will be used for a number of purposes at Morning Star National School, was largely financed by of the community who ed the school’s Buy a Brick fundraiser, which raised almost €2,000.
Another local primary school also enjoyed a busy and productive 2023. Pupils from Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa came together earlier this year to put some pride back into the local parklet on Tory Top Road, and ensure it can be used by locals and visitors once again.
Speaking to The Echo, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa teacher, Síle Ni Dhonaile, praised students from the school who decided to tackle the project and bring the parklet back to life.
Among other groups and clubs to enjoy a very productive 2023 were the Ballyphehane Pipe Band, Barrack Street Band, Ballyphehane GAA, and the Ballyphehane Community Centre to name just a few.
With a strong sense of community and civic pride in the local area, 2024 should prove just as successful.
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