Please come along and enjoy a great night while supporting a very worth while cause.
The main objective of Solar Without Frontiers is the promotion of solar technology in Africa, as well as to provide information and training about this technology. We work with other NGO’s and have the full support of Irish Aid.
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Solar Without Frontiers
Event Flier
Cork sporting stars Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and John Gardiner kitted up with the Cork Rose, Bríd Ryan and Leo the Lion at Fort Camden to launch the Fort 2 Fort Cycling event. The event, on March 24th, will raise funds for the Lions Clubs of Cork, the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and the Rescue Camden initiative.
The exciting Fort 2 Fort Challenge has improved this year, offering an option of cycling 60km or a 112km loop of a spectacular route around Cork Harbour, the second largest natural navigable harbour in the world!
Cork Harbour is well known for its Importance to industry and Commerce and it’s fabulous forts are a testament to the Harbour’s former strategic glory. Cork Harbour deserves a lot more credit for its natural beauty and it is time to take advantage of the Harbours often overlooked recreational importance.
“The industrial performance of the harbour is healthy and it’s a chance to show that the inhabitants of the harbour are healthy too” Roared Leo the Lion.
The Fort 2 Fort Challenge is bringing cyclists on a spectacular route from Fort Carlisle to Fort Camden and back, starting at 10am on Sunday 24th March 2013 at Trabolgan Holiday Village.
Last years event was a huge succecss, when over 400 cyclists gave over €21,000 to charity, this year promises to be even better. “Every cyclist makes a huge difference and has something to be proud of. We have listened to the feed back from last year to make the experience even better” said Leo with a smile.
The Fort to Fort Cycle committee are very grateful to its sponsors for their generosity: Ulster Bank, Victoria Cycles, Fachtna O’Driscoll Solicitors, Butlers Transport and Arachas without whom, the event simply could never happen in the first place.
To partake in this great day out sign up online at www.mercyfoundation.ie registration costs €45, with a further discount of €39 before 1st Feb, and thanks to the very generous support of Ulster Bank and Victoria Cross Cycles ALL of the funds raised will benefit both Lions Clubs of Cork projects, the Mercy Foundation and the Rescue Camden initiative.
Michael Sheridan, CEO at the Mercy Hospital Foundation said “Fort 2 Fort is an exciting way to raise funds for two of Cork’s favourite charities. By participating in this truly challenging event, cyclists will help the Mercy Hospital Foundation make a real difference to the lives of patients using the Mercy Hospital. Funds raised will help us to buy equipment and to support projects at The Mercy Hospital which can lead to an earlier and more effective diagnosis of cancers like testicular cancer as well as cancers of the kidney and bladder. This could result in many more people being successfully treated for cancer and going on to enjoy a full and healthy life.
Regional Director, South, of Ulster Bank, Tom Leahy said “As main sponsor we are delighted to support the worthy causes of MUH Foundation and Cork Lions Clubs Charities. This is an ideal link for our Community support programme and sees our staff as active participants.”
Brian Thoma of the Carrigaline Lions Club furthered “This event is a joint venture between 5 local Cork Lions Clubs and reflects our involvement in activity based fund raising within the community. We are happy to support this worthy cause and to highlight the beauty of Cork Harbour and great restoration project at Fort Camden.”
Eileen Murphy of the rescue Lions Project concluded that she had no doubt that this year will surpass last year, which was an incredibly successful inaugural event.
Related links for this article
Mercy Foundation website
The formal launch of Energy Cork took place in the presence of Minister Pat Rabbitte TD at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa in Cork on December 7th 2012. Over 270 energy professionals and interested parties from allied sectors attended the event to mark the launch of the new industry cluster for the energy sector in Cork. Attendees heard from a range of speakers representing organisations.
Energy Cork, with the support of the Cork County Council and Cork City Council Economic Development Funds and with the backing of Cork Chamber aims to accelerate activity on its list of key actions following its successful launch. To achieve the aims of the cluster, the Steering Group is in no doubt that committed members are needed to lend expertise and determination.
For more information, and to view presentations from the launch event, click on the link below
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Energy Cork website, launch article
http://www.corkharbour.ie/pages/newsDisplay.php?id=232
Paul Brierley, Chairman of the Camden Fort Meagher rescue project, was recently awarded the Cork Person of the year award at a ceremony in the Rochestown Park Hotel. Paul won the person of the month award in July. The award was presented in recognition of the work done by the entire team at Camden, which, as the Camden Fort Meagher Facebook page states, Paul was keen to point out.
"Although the award is personal by name the nomination was accepted for all involved and it is with great pride I look forward to representing the team at Camden Fort Meagher. I am delighted that the efforts of so many are being recognised at the highest level by our very own here in Cork.
“This project has grown from strength to strength and all credit must go to the people behind it's success. Our Volunteers, Staff, Project partners and supporters continue to defy acceptable norms and instead consistently deliver exceptional results. Pride, passion,determination and an incredible team ethos are to the core of everything we do and this nomination is a reflection of these qualities at the fort.
“We are very grateful to Manus O'Callaghan, award organiser, his sponsors and our nominator Vincent O'Donovan for recognising the team's quality and success."
Plans for the summer schedule in Camden Fort Meagher are well advanced. Keep up to date on their website and Facebook pages.
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Facebook Page
Camden Fort Meagher website
As part of the non-statutory public consultation for the East Tip Remediation Project, Cork County Council is holding a third and final Information evening:
Venue: The Commodore Hotel, Cobh
Date: Thursday 31st January 2013
Time:6.30pm (Doors open at 6pm)
Free Transport will be provided for residents of Ringaskiddy with a bus leaving the Community Centre at 6:00pm, returning after the meeting.
A number of presentations on the proposed design solution will be made by the Project Team who will then be available to discuss the project, record feedback and answer any queries that people may have.
You can also contact the Project Team by:
Email: haulbowline@rpsgroup.com
or
In writing to: East Tip Remediation Project, RPS, Innishmore, Ballncollig, Co. Cork
Follow the progress of the project in the latest news section of the Cork County Council website (link below)
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Large version of the flier
Latest project news
Pictured is Brendan Keating, Chief Executive of Port of Cork and Captain Michael McCarthy, Commercial Manager of Port of Cork, raising The Gathering 2013 flag at the Port of Cork City Marina. The Port of Cork is proudly supporting The Gathering 2013 and announced that this year’s Schools Initiative competition will take the theme of ‘The Gathering 2013 – Cork Harbour - Ireland’s Maritime Gateway to the World’. © John Allen Images
Calling all 5th Class Teachers – Win a Free Boat Trip around Cork Harbour for your class
The Port of Cork has launched their Schools Initiative for 2013 and is calling on all 5th class primary school teachers to get their class involved. This year’s theme ‘The Gathering 2013 – Cork Harbour – Ireland’s Maritime Gateway to the World’ is celebrating The Gathering and Cork Harbour’s strong links with Irish diaspora, both as a tourism hub today and as a departure point for Irish emigrants in the past.
The Port of Cork Schools Initiative aims to teach 5th class primary school children about the rich history of Cork Harbour and its uses today as a natural harbour, commercial port and excellent leisure amenity. All participating 5th classes who take part in the Port of Cork Schools Initiative will be treated to a boat trip around Cork harbour, compliments of the Port of Cork and each class will also receive a certificate of participation. In addition to the overall prize, awards will also be given for the best artwork piece and best photograph. The overall best project will receive a tour on board one of the many large cruise liners visiting Cork during the summer of 2013.
Speaking about the 2013 theme, Port of Cork Chief Executive Brendan Keating said: “As 2013 is the year of ‘The Gathering’, we are encouraging classes to think about Cork Harbour and its role as Ireland’s maritime gateway to the world both as a departure point for emigrants in the past and as a gathering point for tourists today. Cork Harbour has a long association as the departure point for many Irish emigrants in the 1800s and in the 1900s. Now thousands of visitors come into our spectacular harbour on passenger ferries and on cruise liners from all over the world. For many of these tourists, their visit also provides them with the opportunity to see the place that their Irish ancestors departed from so many years ago.”
Projects are to be presented in artwork format using paintings, models or photographs. Submitted projects will go on public display in Customs House before the winner is announced in April 2013. Closing date for entries is 29th March 2013.
For more information on this year’s schools project and how to get involved, please contact Sinead Kavanagh, Tel: +21 4625375 or email skavanagh@portofcork.ie.
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Port of Cork Website
The Community Gain Fund is an initiative of the members of the Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group
The Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group (CLHEG) has awarded Cobh Community Allotments a grant worth €7000 as part of their Community Gain Fund. Cobh Community Allotments, a not-for-profit community organization, intend to use the grant to install a well, install lighting and improve signage.
The Community Gain Fund is an initiative of the members of the Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group and intends to provide funding for environmentally sustainable projects within the Lower Harbour area. The fund will have a value of €180,000 with each of the four companies committing to contribute €15k each year for three years.
The Cork Lower Harbour Energy Group is made up of four healthcare manufacturing sites collaborating to develop a renewable wind energy plan for each site. The member companies, Janssen Biologics (formerly Centocor), DePuy, GSK and Novartis, are committed to improving the cost competitiveness of each site in order to attract additional investment into Ireland.
Visit the Community Gain Fund section of the CLHEG website to access more information and download application forms.
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More about the Community Gain Fund
The European Commission is organising workshops with the Atlantic member states to ensure awareness of the Atlantic Forum and EU funding processes
Two major maritime conferences are to be hosted in Cork this Spring.
To coincide with Irelands presidency of the EU, UCC will host a conference on behalf of the European Commission between 4th-5th March 2013. The Commission is organising workshops with the Atlantic member states to ensure awareness of the Atlantic Forum and EU funding processes to feed the Atlantic Action Plan and to assist stakeholders in coming forward with well-prepared projects. The conference will focus on research and innovation and overview of the Action Plan. Further details to be posted shortly.
The second conference entitled ‘Space Innovation Powering Blue Growth’ is a conference on Space, Innovation and Growth in the Maritime Sector and will be held in the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy between 18th- 19th April. The conference will gather policy makers, scientists, maritime operators and EO application specialists. Participation will be free of charge and limited to 120 people.
Martin Riordan, County Manager, Cork County Council, and Cllr Barbara Murray, Mayor of County Cork at the recent launch of Cork events for the Gathering 2013
A Ceremonial 21 Gun Salute by the First Southern Brigade Army took place on Spike Island on New Years Day, Tuesday 1st January, 2013, to mark Day One of the Gathering 2013 in Cork and to send out a call to all the Diaspora to come home to visit Cork in 2013.
This is the first time such a national 21 gun salute was fired from Cork Harbour in almost 30 years. Cork Harbour is one of only two fixed national saluting stations in Ireland, the second being on the end of the East Pier in DunLaoghaire. Therefore, the firing of a salute to herald The Gathering 2013 is a national event being hosted in Cork.
This 21 gun salute was the first Gathering Event in Cork for 2013 which has a 12 month calendar of activities planned for the year ahead. To date there are in excess of 220 Events pledged on the GatheringIreland.com website for Cork, which is the second highest number of Events being planned nationally after Dublin.
2013 is set to be a spectacular year long celebration which will attract Irish, and particularly those from Cork or with Cork connections, who have travelled abroad over the years, to come back to Cork in 2013 to join all Corkonians in the wonderful year that is planned.
There are lots of different types of Gatherings being organised in Cork from Community Events, to Clan Gatherings to Sporting Events and Business Gatherings. Included in this diverse range of events scheduled are quirky events like the Redhead Convention in Crosshaven, Co Cork, Overseas Choirs singing deep within the Copper Mines in Allihies and Cork’s keynote Gathering initiative Rebel Week which will showcase a week-long series of specially commissioned events running from 14th to 20th October, 2013. Lots of information on this event is available on www.corkrebelweek2013.com
Significant investment has been made by key stakeholders Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Failte Ireland, IPB and Cork Airport to the tune of over €1million to ensure that Cork has The Gathering of all Gatherings 2013. The Leader Companies are also funding many Community Groups and Organisations throughout Cork County to assist them in making their own Gathering Events happen in their Communities.
Cork Harbour and Spike Island was the starting point for many emigrants resulting in a natural link between Cork Harbour and the Diaspora. It is therefore very appropriate that a ceremonial 21 gun salute opened the Year of the Gathering 2013.
The 1st Southern Brigade of the Army fired the ceremonial 21 gun salute from the recently restored saluting battery on the southern rampart of Spike Island at 1pm on New Years Day.
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Spike Island website
Rebel Week, 14th to 20th October, 2013
