All About Cork: Switching on of new floodlights at Blackpool Community Centre

Tue, 22 Apr, 2025 - 07:00

Robert McNamara

At the switching on of the new floodlights at Blackpool Community Centre recently were Jenny McSweeney, Frank Leahy, Ken O’Flynn TD, Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle, Noel O’Flynn, Ber Daly, Cllr Brian McCarthy, Greg Aherne, Liam O’Rourke and Mark Barry.

Youth training centre to celebrate 40th birthday

A local training centre at the heart of helping young people gain skills and employment is due to hold a very special celebration to mark four decades of service to the people of Cork.

Blackpool, Glen, and Farranree Community Youth Training Centre general manager Michael Shanahan told The Echo that former board members, learners and staff are welcome to attend this occasion.

“We would like to invite you to our 40th birthday celebration and annual award ceremony due to take place in City Hall on Tuesday, May 6, at 6pm. It promises to be a memorable occasion to acknowledge the contribution of Blackpool, Glen Farranree Community Training Centre to the training and development of the potential of the young people that have come through our doors.

“The centre opened its door in 1984, with three 12-week courses in catering, woodwork and a preparation for work course that later became a metal work course. At that time, all courses were followed by two weeks’ work experience. In 1998, the centre added a fourth course, this was in computers. The final addition to the suite of courses offered by the centre was in 2014 with the addition of a course in hairdressing.

“All courses in the centre are full-time, with a continuous intake policy and accredited at QQI level 4, which is equivalent to the Leaving Certificate.

“The centre was flooded in 2012 and in 2023, despite these and other setbacks staff have been to the forefront of doing whatever is necessary to keep the centre afloat, always putting Learners as the cental focus of what the training centre stands for.

“In 1991, the centre received the Excellence Through People award in recognition of achieving the operation of a human resource system that achieve excellence through training, development and involvement of its most important resource, its people.

“In 2018, the centre was awarded a special award as a social enterprise at the Northside for Business award ceremony. Over the years, numerous learners have been recognised for outstanding contributions to their local communities in the annual Garda Youth Awards. More than 2500 learners have been though our door in the last 40 years. We are proud of each and every one of them.

“We look forward to meeting former board members, staff and learners and reminisce over the past 40 years as we remain committed to learners, to help them achieve their potential in a safe, supportive and worthwhile endeavor.”

Attendees at the Tomás MacCurtain 105th anniversary commemoration at the Republican Plot at St Finbarr’s Cemetery last month.

Art Link workshops in The Lido

Cork Community Art Link will be hosting a series of workshops in The Lido, Blackpool, for International Workers’ Day. These workshops are open to all who want to create vibrant placards, visuals, and props for the May Day March, which will take place on May 1 at 7pm, starting from Connolly Hall.

A spokesperson said: “Cork Community Art Link is proud to be part of this ongoing tradition of advocating for equality and social justice. Our workshops aim to infuse colour and energy into the Cork City rally.”

The workshop schedule is