The Other Place LGBT Resource Centre and Café, 8 South Main Street, Cork are hosting the G-Everyone Meet-up on Monday June 10th at 7pm. The Café is upstairs and is a fantastic venue.
This is a fantastic opportunity to help influence the G8 meeting this month.
The topics being discussed are:
How can innovation stimulate your local economy?
How can technology make your government more open?
How can online communities help build healthier societies?
I hope you will make it on the night, but if not the discussion will also take place on the facebook page and the #GEveryone hashtag on twitter.
Huge thank you to The Other Place for allowing us to take over the place on Monday!
Over the 12th and 13th of November I spent time in the Cork School Music on the Wave Change programme from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland which I blogged about here. Over the two days there were speakers, such as Bill Liao and Myles McCorry of Bike Pure.
We also had workshops on online and offline communication as well as some activities to get us thinking and learning about our skills.
There was also a great opportunity to brain storm our ideas and help each other with our projects. A lot was learned during these sessions!
The weekend was extremely enjoyable and the fact that everyone there was there to take part and learn meant that we all took something from the weekend.
This weekend sees the Dublin weekend happens and in Galway on the 21st and 22nd of January.
A crash happened this morning before 10am at Cork Airport. Manx2 Flight NM7100 from Belfast to Cork crashed in fog on its third attempt to land.
6 people have been confirmed dead. 12 people were on board the plane.
The Airport is currently closed. All arriving flights have been diverted to Shannon, all departing flights have been cancelled. Ryanair’s flights will be operating to and from Shannon.
All travellers are advised to check with their airline before making alternative arrangements.
All road traffic is being diverted away from the Airport causing significant delays on the South Link and other roads.
Air Traffic investigators are on their way to Cork Airport.
*UPDATE 12:30*
The emergency plan has been stood down and bodies are being currently removed from the scene.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
*Update 13:25*
6 survivors of the crash have been taken to Cork University Hospital. 4 are described as being in a serious condition, while 2 others are described as comfortable.
Simon Coveney has confirmed that Fine Gael has cancelled all campaigns today in Cork as a mark of respect. I assume other parties will also suspend campaigns.
The aircraft was carrying ten passengers and two crew members – a captain and a co-pilot. The aircraft involved was a Metro Liner leased from Flightline BCN in Spain.
The aircraft left Belfast City Airport at 07:50am this morning and was due to land in Cork at 09:00am.
Due to weather conditions at Cork Airport the aircraft tried to land twice, and the incident took place on its third approach.
We are working with all relevant authorities to establish what happened.
We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
The air investigation will be across three jurisdictions involving teams from Ireland, the UK and Spain. The Spanish authorities have been informed as the plane was registered in Spain.
Manx2’s website is currently down. Manx2’s helpline 0044 289 042 7004
A number for Airport information has also been set up 021 4428820
More information as this develops.
*Update 16:10*
The Taoiseach will this afternoon travel to Cork Airport and Cork University Hospital to meet with those involved in the response to this morning’s air tragedy. He will be briefed by the relevant authorities at Cork Airport and Cork University Hospital and will be available to brief the media between 4.30pm and 5.00pm at Cork Airport.
The Nominations opened yesterday for the Rebel Awards 2010.
The Cork Rebel Awards were set up as a collobartion between the Cork Gay Project, Cork Pride & GayCork.com in order to acknolwlege LGBT people and organisations for their contributions, work and support to the Cork LGBT community.
This year they are inviting everyone to nominate people and organisations whom you feel should win an award.
The Categories are as follows:
The ‘Straight-Up’ REBEL Award
This award recognises a non-LGBT individual who has made an outstanding contribution working with and by having a positive influence on the lives and rights of the LGBT community. The REBEL Award for Men’s Initiative of the Year
This award recognises deserving individuals who have contributed new ideas or projects that have benefited the life of Cork Gay Men.
The REBEL Award for Women’s Initiative of the Year
This award recognises an individual or group who, either through professional or voluntary work, has contributed positively to the lives of lesbian and bisexual women in Cork.
The REBEL Award for an Honorary Corkonian (for people outside Cork)
This award recognises an individual who is either a non-native or non-resident of Cork who, through working with the Cork LGBT Community through various medium, has made such a positive contribution to the community that they are awarded honorary rebel status, a title aspired to by every non-Corkonian. The REBEL Award for Outstanding Social Group of the Year
Cork is very lucky that we have a diverse network of social groups from activity groups to hobby groups. This award recognises a deserving social group that has shown outstanding organisation that has helped in bringing the community together. The REBEL Award for LGBT (friendly) Business Award.
This award highlights a business person or company who through their commercial ventures has contributed significantly to the LGBT community in Cork. The contribution may be, but is not confined to, financial contribution. The award may also recognise an employer who supports diversity in their workplace.
The GayCork.com People’s Choice REBEL Award
This award is decided by the members of the online community of GayCork.com. It is for a venue or individual, that the members of GayCork.com feel are deserving of recognition for their contributions to the gay scene and wider gay community in Cork. It is by its nature a diverse award but due to the wide membership of GayCork.com, from Cork city, county, and beyond, the recipient should be in no doubt as to their importance to the entire community of Cork. The REBEL Award for Outstanding Contribution The REBEL Award for Lifetime Service to the LGBT Community
Fair play to the committee for organising this. You can nominate your candidates here
As posted earlier there will be an event in Cork City for Europe Day. This will take place on May 7th at lunch time. The event will be a canvass and will involve the handing out of pens and lollipops and of course talking about Europe.
So why am I blogging about this? Well we need volunteers! Anyone who volunteers will be fully briefed and supplied with t-shirt, bag, pens etc. They will also be fed!
You do not need to be an expert on Europe and you will be given all the information you need. If you do get a difficult question then there will be someone on hand to answer it for you!
If you want to get involved email me at Stephen[at]stephenspillane[dot]com there is a similar event being planned in Dublin (and maybe Galway) to get involved with these contact Billie in the European Movement Ireland on 01 662 5815 or email billie(at)europeanmovement(dot)ie for more details.
PS: Don’t forget to check out My Europe Week if you want to take part in an online celebration of Europe Day
A Cork South Central Branch of Young Fine Gael is being launched on Friday 15th of January is Soho Bar on Grand Parade at 7:30pm.
This is one of the new branches being set up by the Munster Regional Council of Young Fine Gael. YFG is the largest of the youth political parties in country and its expansion into the city should mark another stage in its growth.
The meeting will be attended by local and national politicians who will answer questions.
The first task of the branch will be to set up a committee and then get things moving in the City.
With one local Counciollor a member of Young Fine Gael I am sure they will have plenty of support.
I got this via email. Check it out and its for a good cause.
We were all completely shocked at the devastation so many people in Cork suffered during the recent floods. We couldn’t just stand around doing nothing, so colleagues at H+A Marketing+PR decided to organise a fundraiser to help those whose homes and lives have been devastated.
We’re holding the Raising Cork Quiz in Silver Spring Moran Hotel on Monday December 7th in aid of the Cork Flood Victims – with all proceeds going to the SVP Cork Flood Victims Fund. We are aiming to have 200 teams of 4, and raise in excess of €30,000 for this worthy cause.
George Hook has kindly offered to be the Quizmaster, and Silver Springs Moran Hotel have generously offered their Conference Centre as a venue. So far businesses in Cork have been very generous in their sponsorship, and we have secured some amazing prizes; this includes 2 footballs and a Cork jersey signed by the legendary footballer Pelé. (If you can arrange or provide more please let me know)
We’ve set up a website where you can register your team. Go to www.raisingcork.com – all the information you need can be found there, and it will be updated regularly over the next week.
We have set up a twitter account so if you tweet, you can follow us on twitter.com/raisingcork.
We all really hope you can arrange to get a team together and get involved in this initiative. Please print out this poster or circulate it amongst your family, friends and colleagues. If you can’t attend, you can always make donations directly to the SVP Cork Flood Victims Fund, all the details are on the site.
I promise you, H+A’s Raising Cork Quiz will be great fun, and a lovely way to start the Season of Giving.
When is it happening? Saturday 14th Nov. at 1.30pm
Where is it happening? Patricks Street, Cork
How long will it last? Around 3.5 minutes
Why? To stand up (and dance a little) for the arts. And to bring fun and bewilderment to Patricks Street punters.
What do you need to do to take part? You need to come to two rehearsals at the newly revamped Savoy Theatre, Patricks Street on Wednesday 11th November, 7.30pm – 9.30pm and Saturday 14th November, 10.30am Then let Mr Blue Sky in at 1.30pm
Sign up for it now RSVP to letmrblueskyin[at]gmail[dot]com
This sounds like a bit of fun and sounds like it will make a point at the same time. Fair play to the Campaign for Arts for it! It will be a marked contrast to the disruption cause by the Union Protest on Friday!
For more on the National Campaign for the Arts, see their website, twitter and facebook. Best of luck to them!