AllAbout Clonakilty

What a fantastic day in Clonakilty yesterday - great to see so many businesses open and people out and about enjoying the atmosphere!

- Great news for Clonakilty! The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) today announced that the Clonakilty 400, Urban Design Master plan, is Ireland’s favourite new building in the 2014 Irish Architecture Awards - that's the new look Emmet and Ansa Squares.
Clonakilty 400,designed by Architect Giulia Vallone from Cork County Council, Architects Department was voted for by the Irish public in the Public Choice category.
The RIAI received over 12,700 votes for this years’ public choice award. The winner, Clonakilty 400, won with 16% per cent of the vote followed by Clerys Department Store, Dublin designed by Jennings Design Studio and coming in third place the Waterford Medieval Museum by Waterford Architects- Rupert Maddock, Bartosz Rojowski and Agnieszka Zipper-Rojowska.

Home | RIAI.ie (The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland) The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is the Regulatory and Support body for Architects in Ireland. Support services are also provided for Architectural Technologists.

Well done to Alison Glennie and Cope Clonakilty clients on their big screen debut at the Park Cinema tonight...take a bow one and all!

All of Clonakilty are behind you Kevin and Andrew of Shannon Paddle for Down Syndrome 2014!

Lovely bright colours from Gooseberry Boutique on what's a lovely bright Bank Holiday Morning!

Ian McKellen | Cinema | Richard III (1995) Award-winning film adapation brings Shakespeare's RICHARD III into a twentieth century setting.

TIDY TOWNS REVIEWS BUSY YEAR AT AGM
With the clocks gone forward it’s off for another season of cleaning, brushing, weeding and watering for members of Clonakilty Tidy Towns Committee who held their AGM earlier this week. Joint Chairpersons Mike Deasy and Catherine O’ Connor extended a welcome to all and the latter mentioned some of the many highlights of the last year. She expressed her thanks to all who help out in any way, including the gallant volunteers; Town Council indoor and outdoor staff; FÁS supervisor and trainees and TÚS workers and the support of the businesses and residents who combine to make the Clonakilty Tidy Towns effort one to be envied. There was praise too for the ongoing good work being undertaken in the broader community, in particular the success of schools in attaining Green Flags. She also thanked the staff at PGI who assisted the Tidy Towns campaign as part of their community involvement.
All were very proud of the 5th May 2013 when President and Mrs. Higgins visited Clonakilty. The Tidy Towns volunteers were out from 8.00am that morning helping to make the town look good and they dressed up in period costumes for the visit itself.
Catherine said that they were happy overall with the marks in the 2013 competition which saw Clonakilty gaining an extra two valuable points - up to 311.
Secretary and President Noreen Minihan gave a blow by blow account of the activities – both the hard work and social of the group since the last AGM. She recalled the difficulties as the town was repaired after the floods of the previous year; the Litter Patrol children; Foróige involvement; anti dog fouling initiative and the sterling work undertaken by TT volunteers and workers in the town council. The “Meitheal” Group undertook a lot of heavy work and she praised the TY students at Sacred Heart Secondary School for their involvement. With the best summer weatherwise in years, Mike Deasy used river water for plants rather than scarce mains water. Noreen recounted the group’s entries in the two St. Patrick’s Day Parades and the fun at the various social events, including the closing ceremony on last New Years Eve to mark the end of the Clon 400 celebratory year.
Treasurer Cathy McCarthy reported on a very healthy bottom line, but there were concerns for the future given the impending abolition of the Town Council which has always provided generous financial and practical assistance – a theme that was raised several times during the AGM.
The election of officers saw most of last year’s officer being returned unopposed- President: Noreen Minihan; Joint Chairpersons Mike Deasy and Catherine O’ Connor; Vice Chair Jimmy O’ Regan; Secretary Noreen Minihan; Treasurer Cathy McCarthy; PRO Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin and the Social Committee were returned in block.
Many concerns were raised in the general discussions that followed about the support that may be forthcoming from the County Council post abolition of the Town Council in May. It was felt that the new regime needed to be contacted as soon as elections were over to press for the continuation of the spirit of support and co-operation that the town council always gave.
Many other issues were also mentioned with the chair pointing out that with the competition getting keener each year, there will be a new marking system this year. More emphasis is being placed on sustainability and nature and the Tidy Towns group would have to adjust to the new situation maximise points. Never ones to rest on their laurels, the work will start immediately this weekend with a clean up of approach roads on Saturday.
And cleanups also take place on Tuesday evenings also during the season. Assemble at Town Council yard at 7.30pm.
The group also place signs in areas to be cleaned in the lead up to their arrival as a means of informing residents of the clean up in their patch and welcome them to participate.

Nice collaboration between The Winery and Absolute Health and Fitness!

Asparagus frittata @The Winery http://youtu.be/iig9whyzsMc

CLONAKILTY PUBLIC MEETING ON ACCESS ISSUES

A public meeting to discuss access issues in public areas of Clonakilty town will take place at O’ Donovan’s Hotel next Tuesday 15th April at 8.30pm at which it is hoped to re-establish an Access Group which existed in the town up to a few years ago.

Over the last six months or so, a small group of people including representatives from the local Irish Wheelchair Association and CoAction centres - both of which opened in the town over the last year; Transition Year students at Sacred Heart Secondary School and local Town Councillor Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin have been discussing issues which impede or restrict the ease of access for people in Clonakilty who have physical disabilities.

Much progress has been made in recent years in the town, particularly with the re-developments at Asna and Emmet Square which are now totally accessible. However, there are some other issues which the group has identified which could be easily resolved and much of the barriers created are due to lack of awareness. The working group has compiled it’s own list of problem areas and solutions and now invite the general public, particularly people who have direct experience of encountering problems accessing streets, footpaths and public buildings in the town to come along on Tuesday night.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin who is co-ordinating the meeting is encouraging people with physical disabilities - wheelchair users; people who have suffered strokes; visually impaired as well as parents who have experienced difficulties when manoeuvring prams and buggies around town, as well as carers and those working with people with disabilities to attend.

"While a lot of work has gone into this already, we need the input of the broad community so that together we can resolve some problems at least. Everyone has a part to play on this project to make life better for individuals with challenges, but also help make Clonakilty one of the most accessible towns in the country, thereby boosting quality of life, as well as the local economy and encouraging tourists with disabilities to the area", said Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin.