Archive for Schools

Cycle to school in Skibbereen!

· March 2, 2020

Starting on Thursday 5th March children in Skibbereen will be able to cycle safely to school as part of the new Cycle Bus scheme.

Three schools are taking part- St Patrick’s Boys, Abestrewry National and the Skibbereen Gaelscoil. Any students who want to cycle safely to school can register with their school and join the convoy as it travels through the town, picking up cyclists on the way and delivering them to the three schools.

The convoy will run on Thursdays and be accompanied by adult volunteeers and a cycling Ban Garda. It is being organsied by Katie Mann of Cycle Sense.

Cycle Sense write “Soon children in Skibbereen will be able to go to school on their bike by joining a Cycle Bus (a group of cyclists supervised by marshals) This group will stop at various places around town and finish at the school… Watch this space!”

To find out more contact your school.

Why cycle to school?

In the Uk and Ireland many local authorities and cities are encouraging cycling for all generations. Broxap reports

With children spending more time behind screens than outside, cycling can be a healthy and fun way of encouraging children to enjoy the outdoors. People of all ages can enjoy cycling, but learning to ride from a young age will equip children with a skill for life. Cycling to school is a good starting point to get children out and about and on their bikes. Providing cycle parking at school will encourage more pupils to ride to school.

Benefits of Cycling To School

Encourages independence and builds confidence
Good for the environment
Reduces congestion – especially around school gates, making it safer
Provides an active start to the day, children will be more alert in lessons

Pictured are Katie of Cycle Sense and Brian of Sustainable Skibbereen and St Patrick’s BNS.

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Alicia O’Sullivan talks about climate action

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· October 17, 2019

Bev and Rob from Sustainable Skibbereen interview climate activist, campaigner and Skibbereen resident Alicia O’Sullivan. The interview explores Alicia’s many roles as Ambassador, climate change activist and rights campaigner. Praised by Senator John Kerry as a teenage activist alongside Greta Thunburg, Alicia talks about local and global issues, and the future.

From Our Ocean Wealth: “At an early age Alicia began volunteering and campaigning for change on many different issues. She joined Cork County Comhairle Na nÓg (i.e. youth council) in 2016 and has been part of a group successful in working on the reform of sexual education in Ireland.

In 2017 she began working with YMCA Ireland and with this organisation she began developing her digital media skills for advocacy and creativity.

In 2018 she won a mentorship with the ESB as ‘TechSpacer of the Year’ for her outstanding participation in digital creativity projects by using digital tools to achieve social change.

In 2019 she was titled Lions Club Youth Ambassador for Ireland and began developing ‘GenerationZ’ which is a project aimed at helping parents understand their children and to succour communication on a variety of issues like mental health and LGBT+ matters.

Alicia is one of millions of Climate Strikers around the world and is passionate about youth voice and engagement. She hopes to pursue law and politics after school”.

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Chapel Quay

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· May 28, 2019

Today we had to forego our painting as the rain came! However it did give us a chance to do some
more planting. We decided to go for some more wildflowers and chose the banks, bunks and ditches
mix from wildflowers.ie. We prepared a seed bed by removing some bindweed and grasses, leaving
some plants already growing which looked interesting. We raked it and scattered our seed mix and
are looking forward to the results. Otherwise the garden is looking fantastic and it is so nice on the
lower section to feel like you are really at the river’s edge. We sat and had coffee and croissants and
discussed future plans, including a bug hotel for the garden, our upcoming seedbomb event among
other interesting conversation.

World Bee Day is the 20 th May and it really is vital that we plant for the pollinators. The phacelia we
set at the garden is coming up really well and the bees love that. Our wildflowers will also be a big
hit with the bees. Tidy towns have installed a water butt at the garden next to the downpipe which
we will be able to use. The sticks we cleared and left for the council have still not been collected. I
think at this stage they won’t be so the plan is to move them to the boys school and incorporate
them into their dead hedge.

Wildflower mix, banks, bunds and ditches

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Seed Bomb Workshop

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· May 20, 2019

@ St Patricks National School, Skibbereen. Wed 22nd May 2019 7pm

From From Gardenista.com
“Seed bombs are the main weapon guerrilla gardeners can use to spread flowers in bare spots, creating pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators. Gardening without permission is another way of describing these activities: not strictly legal but filed away by the authorities under the category of “What’s not to like.” Alex Mitchell in her book The Rurbanite shows us how to make seed bombs, using guerrilla tactics to spread cheer.

“Seed bombs are best, and the most fun, when thrown into neglected roundabouts, central reservations, flower beds, and planters,” says Mitchell.

Many guerrilla gardeners arm themselves with trowels and work nocturnally. But with seed bombs it is possible to make a difference without that considerable commitment; lob a bomb from a bicycle, a car window, or when passing on foot.

Seed bombing is best done in spring and autumn, says Alex Mitchell. Or, time your attack to coincide with heavy rainfall.

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An open discussion about Skibbereen and its future

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· May 16, 2019

The Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to an open discussion about our town at the

Eldon Hotel

Thursday 16th May

7.30 pm

Candidates invited

All West Cork candidates standing for the County Council elections next week have been invited to participate.

Come along and meet the candidates for the local elections and discuss their VISION for the Future of Skibbereen.

This will be an opportunity to think about what you want for the future and to start a discussion with those who would be our elected councillors.

Speakers and Topics

Invited speakers will introduce various aspects of Skibbereen and its future. Tourism, jobs, the environment and the public realm.

Candidates will be asked to respond and answer questions from the floor.

Please come, all are welcome.

This is a chance to discuss our town and its future with our prospective County Council representatives.

SECAD training

This meeting will be a forerunner of the planned training in Skibbereen by SECAD

“Would you like the chance participate in the process of planning for your local community? Join SECAD for the free My Town, My Plan training programme, funded through the LEADER programme and aimed at community group members and individuals who are interested in planning for their own town and surrounding areas. It will run from Autumn 2019 in your town and will allow neighboring community members to discuss the future of their own area. Groups can choose four of the topics listed below

Theme A: Enterprise and Asset Management:

Developing Community / Social Enterprise

Owning and managing community assets

Incubating and supporting the development of local business and trade

Future opportunities for retail and developing a retail strategy

Communities and Renewable Energy Production

Theme B: Social: Community & Volunteer Supports:

Designing an Age Friendly Town

Developing A Healthy Town Programme

Community financing for development of community services

Social inclusion in our town

Integration of new communities

Mental Health

Theme C: Environment:

Climate Change – How we can make a difference at a community / town level

Eco-Aware Town Design

Creating our Town Biodiversity Development Plan

The first meeting in May 2019 will be critical as it will allow SECAD & trainers from Cork Institute of Technology’s (CIT’s) Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence to shape your specific training programme to be delivered from September 2019.

We need as many people from different backgrounds, interests, ages and cultures to participate. Please take this opportunity to become part of this important process aimed at sustaining your community’s vibrancy and resilience”

THE SECAD MEETING WILL BE AT THE WEST CORK HOTEL SKIBBEREEN MONDAY 27TH MAY 7.00 PM

APPLY TO SECAD TO ATTEND.

TRAINING EVENTS PAGE SECAD

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Chapel Quay: Civilised activism

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· May 16, 2019

We met on the 11 th May at Chapel Quay to continue our work on the biodiversity river garden there. We are making great progress with the space and it is wonderful to see it taking shape. The phacelia flowers we sowed have germinated and our coming up nicely. These are beautiful blue flowers which the bees love. We have created two arcs in the lower section of the garden for these flowers. We added some bee friendly wildflower seeds into that area too.

The grass was cut by Bev and Rob painted the gate using our sponsored paint from fusion home interiors. Beata joined us too and helped out. She loves visiting the garden with her daughter. The hard work was rewarded with some freshly ground coffee from Colm in O’Neills coffee shop. A great café in town which we are lucky to have. We moved the picnic bench to a new spot down by the river and had our coffee along with some croissants. Some great conversation and plans for an upcoming seedbomb event were discussed. A great morning and keep an eye on our page for any meetups at Chapel Quay. We try to be there most Saturday mornings between 9 and 11 am.

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Fusion Home Interiors – History in the Re-making

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· March 4, 2019

Ciaran from Fusion Home Interiors donates paint to restore and improve the railings and gates at our project at Chapel Quay. The neglected garden will be restored and become a wildlife observation area for schools, and a picnic area for visitors and families. Sustainable Skibbereen members under the guidance of wildlife expert Calvin Jones will be working on the garden over the coming months.

The restoration is also supported by the County Council who have said

…Historic Quays – Comprising of old disused stone quays along the town side of the River Ilen between the two road bridges, these quays were once the primary means to transport goods and people in and out of Skibbereen. Some of the quays are in private ownership, others are unrecognisable and some have been blocked with stone and deposits. However,what is unquestioned is the historic significance and value of the quays and therefore their protection should be considered as part of this plan. In the past, communities and public bodies turned their back on water bodies but now the tide is turning in this regard. Therefore an opportunity presents itself … by ensuring that the quays are redeveloped as part of any proposal on adjoining land…

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Wildlife Garden Bee Friendly Arc

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· February 18, 2019

Our intrepid volunteers get to grips with the Wildlife Garden at Chapel Quay. From a rubbish strewn wilderness it is slowly being converted into a wildlife observation area by the river for schools and picnic area for residents and visitors.

Men’s sheds meanwhile are renovating the benches and tables.

Plus phacelia for the bees will be planted in the arc shown.

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Compost Workshop Feb 20th 7.30pm

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· February 15, 2019

A Sustainable Skibbereen Workshop presented by

Donal O’ Leary of Stop Food Waste. Learn about composting of both food waste and garden waste with practical use of different composting systems. Approximately 1/3 of all food bought in Ireland is thrown out – at great financial & environmental cost.

This workshop should be of interest to householders, caterers, members of Tidy Towns groups, residents’ associations & other community & environmental interests.

BOOK HERE

Date And Time

Wed, 20th February 2019
19:30 – 20:30 GMT

Add to Calendar

Location

Russagh Mill Hostel Creative International Adventures
Castletownsend Road
P81 EV84 Skibbereen

The workshop will involve an introduction to the Stop Food Waste programme www.stopfoodwaste.ie with a discussion of domestic food waste and how to prevent it. This workshop will show you how to save waste, save money and save the planet!!!!

You will also be able to hear more about the series of 4 Stop Food Waste workshops planned through March and join the stop food waste challenge.

BOOK HERE

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Blogging Workshop for Community Groups

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen

· February 15, 2019

Blogging is the single the most successful way to improve organic traffic to your website, and to reach new people who might be interested in your cause or group.

A free workshop is happening on Tuesday 19th Feb at the Ludgate Hub from 2.00- 5.00 pm. and is about writing and sharing successful blog posts. This will include hands on preparation, writing and feedback on your blog post. Laptops needed!

Bev and Phoebe of Sustainable Skibbereen will be presenting the workshop as one of a series designed to help community groups and organisations make the most of the internet. These are a free series kindly hosted but the Ludgate Hub.

Information and booking here

To find our more join our mailing list.

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