Culture Night Despite uncertainty regarding venues being able to fully open to visitors by September, Culture Night planning is underway both nationally and locally. Invitations to venues have been issued, and while most initial responses are cautious, there is certainly appetite to produce an event of some type. Venues will not be able to commit to Culture Night until the COVID-19 Phased Re-opening has progressed further, but it is likely that many online & pre recorded events will take place. ‘Promenade - style’ activities are also being encouraged. Sport & Sustainability _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Marathon At the end of May, the decision was made to cancel the 2020 Cork City Marathon. While there was no mandate from government or health authorities to do so, the financial risk of placing supplier orders for an event that might not happen was deemed too high. It was also considered unfair to our participants to have them train through the summer for a race that more than likely would not go ahead in the Autumn. The reaction from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. Although people were disappointed, they were very understanding and appreciative of our efforts to find an alternative. Participants were offered an automatic deferral of their entry to June 2021 or a cancellation and a refund of their entry fee. To date, 466 participants (19%) have been refunded a total of €24,358. For participants who’ll run with us next June, we’ve launched a series of virtual races to help keep people motivated and engaged throughout the Summer. The series is designed to be inclusive, with distances ranging from 1 to 42 kilometres making it suitable for all. Sports Capital Grants scheme put to good use by ‘The Barrs’ Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. John Sheehan met officials and players on the grounds of St. Finbarr's National Hurling & Football Club this week to view the two new dugouts on the grounds, funded through Cork City Council's Sports Capital Grant Scheme. The scheme is aimed at providing grant aid to projects that are directly related to enhancing facilities and of a capital nature. In 2019, €270,000 grant aid was offered through the s cheme and one of the 66 clubs who put their grant to good use was St. Finbarr’s National Hurling and Football Club, based in the Togher area. This club, locally known as The Barrs, with its royal blue and gold strip, was founded in 1876 and currently operates from grounds donated to them by Cork City Council. The club received €8,000 and put it to good use by erecting t wo dugouts on one of their pitches. The Lord Mayor commented “We are all too familiar how difficult recent times have been, but it has also shown the amazing community spirit and civic responsibility in Cork City typified by volunteers such as those running sports clubs and organisations all over the City. Also, it's vital to stay healthy i n body as well as mind and the Council’s Sport Grants play a big part in this.”
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