All About Cork: Eucharistic procession and Darkness Into Light return to Blackpool

'Grow At School' Programme

The Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, continues to champion sustainability and

education as he embarks on a series of visits to five out of the eight primary schools participating in the Grow at School programme.

Pictured speaking with students from St. Brendan’s Girls National School, The Glen

Following the successful launch event held at City Hall, underscores the Lord Mayor's commitment to ing grassroots efforts to promote environmental stewardship and food education among our city's youth, especially our Slaintecare Healthy Communities.

Eucharistic procession set for return to the Northside

The Annual Cork Eucharistic Procession will return to the Northside, beginning at the North Cathedral, for its 98th year on May 26.

The event is a milestone in the religious and community life of Cork City since 1926.

On the Parish website Bishop Fintan Gavin said: “Each year people from parishes and faith communities throughout the city and beyond walk in the procession or prayerfully participate along the route as the Bishop carries the Blessed Sacrament from the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne to the city centre.

This year will be the 98th celebration of the Cork Eucharistic Procession as we look forward to its 100th anniversary in 2026. Last year people gathered in their thousands to the first Cork Eucharistic Procession since 2019 due to Covid. This year we hope even more will us.

“Preparations are underway for several months to reach out to many people (particularly young people), parishes, and faith groups to ensure a dignified and prayerful celebration. A programme has been created for primary schools to share the meaning and history of the Eucharistic Procession with children and to encourage them to be part of the procession with their families. Post-primary school students have also been invited to take part this year.

“Choirs and music groups throughout the Diocese are invited to one great choir to raise up voices together in the procession.

“I am very grateful to the many people who have helped with the preparations.

I invite you to the procession on Sunday, May 26th to walk together in faith as people and families from different parishes, age-groups, communities and countries.

Road scheme update

An update has been issued by Cork City Council on the Ballyvolane Strategic Transport Corridor Scheme — North Ring Road to Mervue. 

Cork City Council has said that An Bord Pleanála “has confirmed the compulsory purchase order” and that the council “has subsequently published the notice of confirmation for the O and are continuing with related landowner engagement, along with the preparation of tender documentation”.

This project entails upgrading Ballyhooly Road from North Ring Road junction to Fox & Hounds junction and on to Mervue Lawn and along Ballyvolane Road from North Ring Road to Banduff Road. 

This will form part of a transport corridor between Ballyvolane and Cork City centre.

Northside Darkness into Light

Darkness into Light will return to the Northside on May 11 after an absence of five years.

The event will take place on May 11, gathering at 4am and leaving Glen Rovers Hurling Club at 4.15am. All are welcome and there is still time to sign up and/or volunteer.

Organisers, including from the previous Darkness Into Light Ballyvolane committee, set about bringing the walk back to the locality and to the Mayfield, Blackpool, The Glen, Dillon’s Cross and Dublin Hill areas for 2024.

The event will begin at Glen Rover’s Hurling Club at 4am and will continue to Glen Heights, onto Mervue, to Ballyhooly Road, to Glen Avenue, down Assumption Hill into Blackpool and back to the Glen Rover’s Hurling Club.

To get involved or for more details see Darkness Into Light Cork Northside on Facebook and Instagram.

To see visit Darkness Into Light.

Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Cork Arts Theatre

As part of their ongoing centenary celebrations, The Cork Shakespearean Company will present Romeo and Juliet from tonight until Saturday at Cork Arts Theatre on Carroll’s Quay.

The classic is described as “the story of the star-crossed young lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare”.

“Addressing the issues of the consequences of immature blind ion, but also the current climate of hatred and prejudice that we are seeing all too often, not just in other countries but here at home too. Romeo and Juliet are young teenagers who fall deeply in love, but their families are bitter enemies. Regardless of the feud between their families, they marry in secret. Despite every effort to conceal their actions, the story ultimately ends in tragedy.

Bookings can be made at www.corkartstheatre.com or call 021 4505624

Call for community centre

Labour councillor John Maher has called on Cork City Council to build a community centre in Ballyvolane.

Mr Maher proposed a motion at the Cork City North East Local Area Committee (LAC) and got a response from Cork City Council’s interim director of services, community, culture and placemaking, David O’Brien.

“The director committed to re-engage with the community and also to update the Ballyvolane / Dublin Hill Environs Area Action Plan,” Mr Maher said.

This is crucial as a lot has changed in the past five years in our community.

“There are thousands of houses being built, which are to be welcomed, and we have the Ballyvolane strategic corridor progressing, after years of being held up with An Bord Pleanála, and we are awaiting the decision on the route of the northern distributor road.

We need a community centre for our various groups to have a home. 

"Ballyvolane and its surrounding areas are home to the community with the most potential for development in Cork city over the coming years and we must have local amenities to that development.

Lotto jackpot is up to €18,250

The parish lotto continues to rise with the jackpot now exceeding €18,000.

There was no jackpot winner of the parish lotto again last week. As a result, this week’s jackpot rises to €18,250.

You can watch the draw on the Cathedral Facebook page.

Tickets are available on the parish websites and parish Facebook pages.

If you choose to buy your tickets online, there is a minimum spend of €10, but you can use this to buy a ticket for the next four draws. If you decide on auto renew it will renew your payment until you decide to cancel it.

Tickets are available after all Masses and in the parish offices at the Cathedral and Blackpool during the week.

To share Blackpool, Shandon and Ballyvolane news, Robert McNamara here.