News from Cork
Weight loss queen gains a sparkling stone
A Glanmire woman who completed a weight loss programme this week might have lost over 20lbs, but managed to gain another stone on Friday evening – the sparkling diamond on her engagement ring. Lorraine Healy is walking on air this week, and not because she just completed the 96fm ‘Fat Factor’ 2011, losing over 20lbs in four weeks....
Voices from Shandon
Corkkonians will have the chance to lift their voices and get involved in an exciting new arts project in Cork from this weekend as Voices from Shandon launches on Saturday, 18 June. The project is being run between Cork Community Art link and Didier Gallot Lavalée, a performer, teacher, creator and member of internationally renowned street company, Royale de Luxe, for over 20 years....
Over €52,000 for Cork GAA clubs
Over €52,000 has been generated for GAA clubs throughout Cork thanks to an innovative scheme from the county’s main sponsor. O2 Engage is an affinity scheme which gave Cork GAA supporters the opportunity to donate five per cent of their monthly mobile phone spend to the club of their choice during the past twelve months....
New scenario
Cork’s Church of Ireland bishop has called on the church to explore how it will support couples that have recently had a civil partnership in light of recent changes to legislation. Bishop Paul Colton of the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross was speaking at the Diocesan Synod of Cork, Cloyne and Ross at the Charleville Park Hotel in Charleville on Saturday when he asked how the church was...
New book on Showgrounds
A new book by Cork Independent columnist, Kieran McCarthy (http://www.corkheritage.ie), will be launched this weekend, highlighting the history of the Munster Agricultural Society from its foundation in Cork in 1806. ‘Munster Agricultural Society the Story of the Cork Show grounds’ will be launched at the Cork Summer Show, which runs from Friday, 17 June to Sunday, 19 June at...
Mutiny
Tall ship, HMS Bounty, is due to arrive in Cork City today (Thursday) where she will berth at Albert Quay, Port of Cork until Sunday, 19 June 2011. This famous tall ship will be open to the public on Friday, 17; Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 19 June from 11am to 6pm daily, during her visit to Cork city....
Mixed reaction
A group representing the pharmaceuticals sector in Ireland expressed disappointment at this week’s decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission to Indaver Ireland for a waste incinerator in Cork Harbour. However, local interest groups have welcomed the decision which comes after a 10 year battle....
Minister offers commitment to flood solutions
The Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has committed to fighting the case of Cork flood committees with the Irish Insurance Federation, after visiting West Cork this week....
Mallow playground needs public support
The Park Road playground in Mallow is one of ten playgrounds across the country shortlisted for a Brennan’s Bread playground makeover to help bring family playtime back. Members of the public can help the residents of Mallow win a makeover for their playground by logging onto BrennansBread.ie (http://www.brennansbread.ie) to register your vote....
Local talent's art exhibition
Blackpool Library will show an exhibition of works by local artist, Seán Ó Caoimh. Northside native Seán is self-taught and specialises in works that allow the imagination free rein and reward close scrutiny. Painting since he was a young man, Seán acknowledges Joseph Keys as an early influence and one or two of the pieces on show reflect that in a way complimentary...
Kinsale gearing up for Sovereign's Cup
Kinsale Yacht Club is gearing up to host over 100 boats and their crews for the biennial Sovereign’s Cup. The four-day sailing and social programme will take place between Wednesday, 22 June and Saturday, 25 June. Entries are rolling in each week, with both regular competitors and newcomers to the event from all over Ireland and the UK gearing themselves for the festival....
Jog for Jockeys 5km run
The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund has announced details for the inaugural ‘Jog for Jockeys 5km’ run, which will take place at Cork Racecourse on Sunday, 21 August. The run, starting at 12 noon, will take place at five different racecourses simultaneously also including Down Royal Racecourse, Galway Racecourse, Leopardstown Racecourse and Naas Racecourse....
Jobs boost welcomed in Cork
News that Aruba Networks is establishing in Cork its International Headquarters and Shared Services Centre for all regions outside the Americas, is being widely welcomed. The centre is expected to create up to 40 jobs over four years. The centre will have responsibility for shared services, supply chain management, inside sales and customer support. IDA Ireland worked closely with the company to...
Haven seeks 100 volunteers for final Build It Week
A recruitment drive will be held by NGO, Haven (http://www.havenpartnership.com/), at the Silversprings Moran Hotel this evening Thursday, 16 June in an attempt to gather 100 volunteers for the final Haiti Build It Week in October. Volunteers are now being sought for the project, which will try to help repair the damage of the earthquake in January 2010 by helping build houses for some of the...
Ground the hanging garden to save money
The now infamous hanging garden should be mounted on a platform, which would save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of Euro. That is the suggestion of Fine Gael city councillor, Des Cahill as Diarmuid Gavin’s masterpiece continues to court controversy....
Go west
West Cork is the place to be at the end of July. The Clonakilty Waterfront Festival returns for the second year due to the success of last year's event. The idea of the festival has grown from a humble conversation between friends on holding an event in the summer to creating a food and music festival which will compliment the peak summer trade in the town....
Get fit, stay fit
A new way to get fit and stay fit has come to Cork. The Get Fit-Stay Fit studio is located on Penrose Wharf, and proprietor Louise Devoy says the concept is simple. I've tried to introduce a new way of getting fit and staying fit while having fun, she says....
Fun at the Teddy Bear Picnic
Following last year's huge success, Select Hotels will make this year’s Teddy Bear's Picnic at Fota House even bigger and better. The picnic will take place this Sunday, 19 June with all proceeds going to children’s charity, Barnardos....
Foodies look forward to Cork festival
Preparations are well underway for TasteFest, the upcoming festival of food, drink and culture, which takes place over four days in the beautiful surrounds of Fitzgerald Park, Cork from 23 to 26 June. The Live Chef’s Theatre is sure to attract many foodies to TasteFest with cookery demonstrations from leading celebrity chefs throughout the weekend....
Entries sought for annual Mercy Cancer Appeal Golf Classic
Calling all golf enthusiasts, the 2011 Mercy Cancer Appeal Annual Golf Classic will take place at Fota Island Resort next month. The event will follow a four-ball format, with two shotgun starts at 9am (early bird) and 2.30pm. Golfers without official handicaps will also be accommodated in the non-GUI section....
Enormous relief
A decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission to Indaver Ireland for a waste incinerator at Cork Harbour has been welcomed in Cork. A member of the member of the Cobh-based Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE) said last week that the news was “an enormous relief for the communities of the harbour”....
Cork farmers disappointed at closure of agricultural schemes
The Cork branch of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmer’s Association (ICSA) has expressed its disappointment at the decision by Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD, to suspend applications from farmers to the Targeted Agricultural Modernisations Schemes (TAMS)....
Cigarette seizure credited with saving jobs
The seizure of approximately ten million smuggled cigarettes in a major international anti-fraud operation at the Port of Cork this week has been credited with saving 170 retail jobs. The smuggled cigarettes, which represent a potential loss to the Irish Exchequer of around €3.5m, were in a container marked as ‘paper stationery’ and came from Malaysia....
Cake anyone?
The launch of a fundraiser for Down Syndrome Ireland takes place at Miss Katie's Tea Rooms, Blarney tomorrow (Friday, 17 June) at 4.30pm. The launch will have a sporting theme with cakes depicting different local sports....
Anger management
Monday night’s meeting of Cork City Council descended into a farce after councillors disrupted the meeting, confronted each other and shouted obscenities. In what long-standing Cllr John Kelleher (Labour) described as the worst he had seen in 28 years, chaos ensued as a number of councillors shouted over each other incessantly for over half an hour....
50 new PLC places for Cork
A total of 50 new Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places were announced for Cork this week under the Government’s Jobs Initiative. The additions were announced by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, as 50 of 1,000 places nationwide which will come into effect in September....
Record broken in Cork for most Wallys
Wallys of all ages, shapes, sizes and even a couple of different species made up some of the 2,563 participants who broke the world record for the most Wallys in one place in Cork on Sunday. The world record attempt took place as part of the Street Performance World Championships and saw the red and white striped cartoon characters taking over Fitzgerald Park with participants ranging from...
Tour de Munster
David O’Gorman from Glanmire, cyclist Sean Kelly, little Katie Connolly from Douglas and Emily Coleman from Blarney were all at the official launch of the 11th Annual Tour de Munster Charity Cycle in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland at Vertigo, County Hall on Tuesday evening....
€194m city investment
Cork City Council has committed to spending almost €194m on works in the city over the next three years. Among the works to be completed are the long awaited repair of the Quay Walls near the Mercy Hospital, the development of the Carrigrohane Park and Ride, the development of the Fitzgerald Park/Mardyke Gardens and improvement works to City Hall....
20 Cork people on tax defaulters list
Contractors, publicans, property letting agents, farmers and a ladies fashion outlet all feature on the list of tax defaulters from Cork for the first quarter of 2011. The list was published by the Revenue Commissioners this week. From 1 January to 31 March, a total of 20 Cork people were listed as having made penalty settlements of over €340,028 with the Revenue Commissioners....
Eight weeks before TB screening results
Full results of the TB screening process at Mercy University Hospital (MUH) will not be known for eight weeks. A staff member at the hospital was diagnosed with TB on 26 May. 137 patients and 37 staff are being screened for the disease but results will not be available for over two months....
I've been through hell
A Cork mother who has been on the County Council housing list for eleven years says she has been through “hell”. Married mother of four, Sabrina O’Mahony Strelcs (29) from Ballincollig, says she has exhausted every avenue and has nowhere to go. Her Latvian husband, Agris, lost his job two years ago and since then they have had to rely on her parents to help feed their children....
Pat Cox joins Cork FG branch
Cork’s only declared Presidential hopeful, Pat Cox, has become a member of Fine Gael, the party announced this week. Mr Cox has joined the St Luke’s Branch in the Cork North Central constituency amid news that the Limerick born co-founder of the Progressive Democrats is lining up for the race to the Áras....
World refugee day
Cork city will mark the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) 'World Refugee Day' with a celebration of rich cultural diversity on Sunday, 19 June in Bishop Lucey Park from 2pm. Everyone is welcome to share and enjoy this energetic and entertaining atmosphere which will be a feast of colourful national costumes, sounds and art from many parts of the world, as well as a chance to learn more...
Relief at incinerator decision
A decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission to Indaver Ireland for a waste incinerator at Cork Harbour has been welcomed in Cork this morning....
'1 Day for Rehab' launched
Rehab's chocolate lollipop appeal was launched last week by one of Ireland’s biggest cricket names as part of 1 Day for Rehab. The lollipops will be on sale in all EUROSPAR supermarkets in Cork and other outlets nationwide in aid of Rehab during the month of June....
13,000 Cork students start state exams
Almost 13,000 students in Cork started state exams yesterday in exam centres all over the city and county. It was predicted that 6,505 students would sit this year’s Junior Certificate while 6,359 would sit for their Leaving Certificate. Numbers for 2011 are up on last year’s figures with 116,527 students across the country sitting some form of state exam yesterday between the Junior,...
68 injury awards for minors in Cork
There were 68 awards made to minors injured in Cork in 2010 at a total value of over €1m, according to an InjuriesBoard.ie report this week The independent statutory body stated that, second to Dublin, Cork had the highest rate of awards with eleven per cent of awards totalling €1,184,168.63 being paid out for minors last year. This is compared with eight cases in Kerry and no awards in...
Book smart
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is seeking public support for its campaign to reduce the publication of unnecessary new schoolbook editions. It is asking parents to sign a petition calling on the Minister for Education and Skills to set up an effective national book rental scheme....
Call for apology
A former resident of the Bessboro home in Cork has spoken of her joy at this week’s UN Committee Against Torture’s (UNCAT) judgement requesting the state to provide more information about the Magdalene laundries and issue a formal apology....
Carers Association Cork launches 'One Voice' Campaign
Following television revelations about the effects of state cuts on the lives of family carers, The Carers Association has unveiled its 'One Voice' campaign. The organisation is urging almost 20,000 family carers in Cork to join them in the fight for a better life for family carers....
Celebrating 60 years
Celebrating 60 years: James and Pat O' Sullivan of M P O' Sullivan Cash Carry making a presentation to Duncan Lennox of Jackie Lennox famous chip shop at Bandon Road to commemorate its 60 years in business. Photo: Billy macGill....
Coping alone
A young woman suffering from arthritis who cares for her disabled father at their Kinsale home has criticised the State for leaving them to cope alone. When Sarah-Louise Murphy was just 17 years old, her 49-year-old father, David, suffered a massive stroke, which initially left him paralysed and completely dependent on his daughter, the elder of two children....
Cork Harbour Open Day
The third Cork Harbour Open Day will take place on Saturday, 10 September. The idea for a Harbour Open Day emerged three years ago following discussions between various stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the Integrated Strategy for Cork Harbour....
Cork ICSA warns of farm crime
The Cork branch of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) this week has issued a serious warning to farmers in the county to be extra vigilant to the threats of farm crime on the back of a spate of recent thefts. According to the ICSA farm and rural crime has become more and more prevalent with an increase of five per cent being noted in 2010 from 2009....
Cork Macra launch a 'Know Your Neighbour' weekend
Macra members in Cork have helped launch the 2011 ‘Know Your Neighbour’ weekend. Irish people are calling out for more ‘Know Your Neighbour’ type events according to a recent survey commissioned by Macra na Feirme and ESB Electric Ireland....
Cork scientist shortlisted for international award
A Cork writer and scientist has been shortlisted for a prestigious writing award. Eoin Lettice, owner of the Communicatescience.eu blog has been shortlisted for the international 3 Quarks Daily (3QD) Science Prize for an article he wrote about President Barack Obama, Guinness and statistics....
Cork to host international Zoological conference
Fota Wildlife Park in Cork is set to be the centre of the Zoological World when it hosts the British and Irish association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) AGM on 10 and 11 June. Fota Wildlife Park, a leading contributor to conservation is hosting the conference in the Clarion Hotel in Cork City and it will be the first time the BIAZA AGM will be held outside of the UK....
Crystal Swing it
Hucklebuck heroes Crystal Swing are the 2/1 hot favourites with Paddy Power to represent Ireland at next year’s Eurovision song contest. The singing siblings, alongside keyboard playing mum Mary, rose to fame after their hit single ‘He Drinks Tequila’ caught the attention of US chat show queen Ellen DeGeneres. They were subsequently invited onto the show where they performed in...
Dance offering 2011
Students from the Alan Foley Academy of Dance will present Dance Offering 2011 at the Cork Opera House, Saturday, 11 June at 7.30pm for one performance only. They will be accompanied by dancers from Cork City Ballet and the full-time dance students from CSN Dance....
Fermoy shows 'can do' spirit with summer festival
Fermoy's upcoming Summer Festival has been welcomed by Avondhu Blackwater Partnership as a further step in the establishment of Fermoy on the festival map. Last Christmas Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, the local action group for Fermoy, created the idea for the Winter Wonderland Festival and the collective efforts of the businesses, clubs, organisations and people of the town ensured a wonderful...
I just want a break
One of the 9,000 people on Cork’s local authority housing list has spoken of his despair at the prospect of waiting ten years for a home. Séamus Gorman from Togher spent three-and-a-half years in Temporary Convenience Letting while awaiting a mortgage on a City Council affordable house. However, by the time the mortgage came through he could not afford the repayments and had to give...
Make a model boat with Cllr McCarthy
Cork City councillor, Kieran McCarthy, is inviting young people to participate in McCarthy’s ‘Make a model boat project’. All interested participants must make a model boat at home from recycled materials and bring it along for judging to Cork’s Atlantic Pond on Sunday afternoon, 12 June 2011 at 2pm. The event is being run in association with Meitheal Mara’s Ocean to...
Marriage proposal among highlights of marathon
The weather held off this year and the numbers participating rose to over 8,500 people for this year’s Bord Gáis Cork City Marathon held on Monday. Along with people toiling for 26 miles and sweating on whether they would finish or not, one man who ran the marathon had to sweat on something different....
Mayfield woman left waiting for repairs
A mayfield woman whose home flooded last January when frozen pipes burst in the house is still waiting for Cork City Council to complete the repairs while she lives in what one City Councillor described as a derelict building....
McGrath stands over brother's appointment
Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath has called for clarification on the issue of family members working for Oireachtas members. It comes as a number of Cork TDs were criticised this week for employing family members as constituency secretaries and Dáil assistants....
Midsummer's Ball to raise funds for Motor Neuron sufferers
The Cork Regional Volunteer Group, working on behalf of the Irish Motor Neurone Association (IMNDA), will hold its Inaugural Midsummer’s Ball on 11 June next at Fitzgerald’s Vienna Woods Hotel. It is expected the event will attract over four hundred people to raise much-needed funds to support the continued work of the Association, ensuring that those suffering with Motor Neurone...
Murphy backs pursuit of advance release of farm payments
Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Dara Murphy has backed Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney in his attempt to bring forward the awarding of the Single Farm Payment (SFP) by the EU Commission. Minister Coveney announced his intention to have the payments worth €600m brought forward from December to October at yesterday’s meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Luxembourg....
Musical summer camp
The ninth annual musical theatre summer camp comes to The Firkin Crane - Shandon on Monday, 4 to Friday, 15 July. Theatrix productions proudly present these exciting two weeks. This musical theatre course has become an annual event for many of Cork's young performers....
O'Callaghan to submit new planning application for events centre
Property developer Owen O’Callaghan has confirmed he will submit a new planning application for a new 5,000-seater concert and events centre in Cork city. The proposed €50 million facility on a 134-acre site at Albert Quay near Cork City Hall is hoped to be a fully adaptable events centre that could house concerts, conferences, leisure and sporting events and trade shows....
Proceeds from Musgrave triathlon to top €3m
This year, proceeds from the annual Musgrave Triathlon are set to top €3m all in aid of charity. To date over €2.9m has been raised in aid of Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC), the Irish Cancer Society and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin....
Punctuation queen to appear at Cork festival
A literary Tea hosted by Lynne Truss, the author of the phenomenon that is ‘Eats, Shoots Leaves’ is one of the highlights of the 2011 West Cork Literary Festival which takes place in Bantry, Co. Cork from 3 to 9 July. A writer and broadcaster, Lynne Truss was as surprised as anyone when her book ‘Eats, Shoots Leaves:...
RNLI called into action in Cork Harbour
A major rescue operation took place this week when a person was reported overboard from a bulk carrier ship berthed at Ringaskiddy. The coastguard at Valentia alerted the volunteer RNLI crew at Crosshaven who launched the Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat within five minutes. When the lifeboat arrived on the scene, the man had been swept underneath the pier supports....
Silver Springs fashion show for Deaf Association
The Cork Deaf Association is hosting a fashion show in conjunction with Focus Model Agency as part of its on-going fundraising efforts. Professional models will sashay down the runway along with members of the deaf community as they showcase the best of Cork fashion....
Small but mighty
A massive gathering of Wallys, jugglers and street performers of all shapes and sizes will take place at Fitzgerald's Park this weekend. On Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 June a whole host of entertainers will compete for the title of 2011 Street Performance Championship. With an array of different acts of sword swallowers, jugglers, acrobats, contortionists and magicians, among them is the world's...
Two Cork girls get national award
Cork girls Catherine Murphy and Doireann Ní Mhuirí were among eleven dedicated volunteers honoured by the Government last week. The ‘National Awards to Volunteers in Irish Sports’, celebrates the contributions of volunteers to Irish sport. There are over 400,000 people throughout the country who voluntarily dedicate their time every year through their involvement with...
Unemployment figures drop for May
There was a drop in unemployment figures across Cork County in May, while Cork City remained close to April levels, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). At the end of May, there were 44,245 people signed on the Live Register in County Cork, 313 less than in April. The May figure is also 610 less than the same time in 2010....
Vicious assault
A Cork woman, whose Italian husband and two friends were viciously assaulted in Cork city early on Sunday morning has appealed for the public’s help. Fabio Formisano (34), originally from Italy, but living in Glanmire with his wife Katherine went out on Saturday night with his brother Massimo and their friend Maurizio. They were in Douglas early in the night where they watched the Irish...
Volunteer week
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Michael O’ Connell’s Volunteer Week takes place next week from 7 to 12 June. There are two major events during the week, the first of which is the Cork Volunteer Management Seminar on Wednesday, 8 June starting at 10am in The Millennium Hall, City Hall. The seminar will be of interest to non-profit, volunteer-involving groups....
Youghal library archives
The county library has added the Youghal Tribune newspaper to its microfilm holdings at its new location next to County Hall. The paper was published between 1940 and 1957 and will prove an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a glimpse into the past of the town and its hinterland in those years. Students, as well as the curious lay person, are welcome to visit the library to delve in to this...
Where's Wally?
Wally was at the Cork Independent offi ces yesterday to launch the Street Performance World Championships and Where's Wally World Record attempt which will take place on St Patrick's Hill on Sunday, 12 June at 12pm. PIctured LtoR were Wally (Brian McCartan), Wally (Christine Allen) and Wally (Peter Tobin). Photo: Billy macGill...
Active retired
Today, Thursday, 2 June, members of the Carrigaline Active Retired Association (CARA) and their friends are having a 'Picnic in the Park' at 2.30pm. Members of CARA, which had a demonstration of Nail Care by Georgina Campbell last Thursday are looking forward to an afternoon of fun music and craic. These senior citizens really know how to enjoy themselves....
Anti-homophobic guidelines for schools
New policy guidelines for dealing with homophobic bullying in schools announced by the Minister for Education this week have been praised by a representative of Cork Pride. The publication of ‘Including Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual students in School Policies – Guidelines for Principals’ was welcomed in Cork by JP McCarthy, the PRO for Cork Pride, who said the move supported gay...
Ashton reunion
The Ashton Comprehensive School classes of 1980 and 1981 will celebrate their 30 year class reunion on 18 June in the Boardwalk Bar Grill, Lapps Quay, Cork at 7.30pm. The class consists of students at Ashton who did a two year cycle Leaving certificate exam in 1980 and those who did a three year cycle in 1981. This is the first reunion for the combined class of 1980/1981....
Ballintotis community hall plans still in tune
Plans to build a community hall in Ballintotis are gathering pace following a funding grant. Building is expected to begin in the Cork town in the coming weeks with funding grants secured from South and East Community Area Development (SECAD) and Cork County Council....
Brighten up your day
Retailer Centra aims to put a smile back on people’s faces by hosting a series of free comedy gigs around the country to ‘Brighten Up Your Day’. On 21 June Karl Spain, one of Ireland's biggest comedians, will 'brighten up your day' by headlining at the Pavilion in Cork....
Carers in crisis
A Cork carer who has to spend around €110 on heating and electricity each week to care for his disabled wife has called on the Government to stop ignoring the plight of carers. Pat O’Mahoney is a full time carer for his wife, who was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome in the 1990s and is now bedridden. Pat worked in the aviation industry as an engineer before he retired to care for his...
Ceili Mor
The monthly Ceili Mor in the Carrigaline GAA takes place on Sarturday, 11 June at 9.30pm with music by the Annaly Ceili Band from Co. Longford. The Annaly are one of the most popular ceili bands in Ireland and play at all the top venues at home and abroad. They play their own brand of exciting traditional music and are sure to draw dancers from far and near. There is always a Céad...
City centre gets car rental point
Cork city centre is to get its first car rental pick up point with the opening of an Avis pick up/drop off point at Q Park in Cork City Hall. The pilot scheme is being rolled out by Avis Ireland on the back of increasing demand from local Cork hotels and guest houses whose customers want a hire car for short trips without the hassle of having to travel to and from the airport for pick up and drop...
Cork artists among winners in Texaco competition
Fourteen students from Cork city and county claimed top prizes in this year’s 57th Texaco Children’s Art Competition. The Texaco Children’s Art Competition provides children from around Ireland with an opportunity to showcase their talent and receive a platform to get that talent recognised....