The Friday View 09/12
The great waste problem, a bypass for Macroom, plus our round-up of events from Christmas markets to folk clubs, singing circles and a new immersive play at The Granary.
JJ writes…
A few years back I interviewed Kon Mari, the pre-eminent decluttering guru from Japan who subsequently found worldwide fame through Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, the Netflix show in which she helps people get rid of stuff.
Her wisdom can be distilled to this nugget: that which does not spark joy, get rid of it. But, while decluttering and sparking joy are great in and of themselves, part of the process is overlooked. Where does the ocean of unwanted stuff end up?
I was reminded of this while conducting an interview at the recycling centre at Tramore Valley Park last week. The park has been transformed since its days as one of the city’s biggest dumps. Next year, a new bridge over the N40 will connect the park with Grange and Frankfield, which will make it easier to access the park, and without needing a car to do so.
But it was the volume of stuff that we possess that made me think of Kon Mari, and how easy it is to get rid of our stuff. Cars kept rolling into the recycling site as old suitcases, bottles, cardboard boxes, mattresses, teddy bears, paint, food waste and pieces of furniture were all discarded into separate bins. Bar nuclear weapons, you can probably drop it off at the recycling centre. But where does all this stuff that we no longer need or want end up? While it feels good to dispose of our rubbish in the right way, recycling centres are really only clearing houses. Stick around for a while and you’ll see the constant caravan of trucks lugging away the giant skips from Tramore Valley Park to yet another clearing house. And from there, much of our waste gets exported to all points across the world.
Ellie wrote a feature on where the contents of Cork’s wheelie bins end up in last year’s print edition of Tripe + Drisheen. In that piece she reported that in 2020 nearly 50,000 tonnes of paper and 2,500 tonnes of plastic was shipped from the Port of Cork to Turkey. Our waste was also shipped out to India, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan and Vietnam from the quays in Cork.
This week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its findings about municipal waste in Ireland for 2020. It’s grim reading, especially as we face into Christmas, a period when waste piles up and up. That EPA report shows that as a nation we are producing more and more waste. In 2020, for the fourth year in a row packaging waste exceeded 1 million tonnes. Municipal waste was up from 3.1 million tonnes in 2019 to 3.2 million tonnes in 2020, and according to an OECD study, Ireland has a circular material use rate of 1.8%, relative to an EU average of 12.8% .
On the upside, we have made great headway in moving away from disposing of our municipal waste in landfill sites. The municipal waste landfill rate in 2020 was 16%, down from 58% in 2010. But, at the same time we are producing more waste, and we are increasingly reliant on exporting it. Forty per cent of Ireland’s municipal waste is exported while 50% of all packaging waste and nearly all electrical waste is sent abroad. While Ireland is not alone in exporting vast amounts of its waste, it is neither sustainable nor equitable.
The EPA has called for more brown bins, which are used to collect food waste, to be rolled out, and more plastic and packaging to be recycled in Ireland. At the same time the government is pushing the concept of the circular economy, one that is premised on less waste while reusing materials to a much greater extent.
This is the right track to go down, even if our progress is slow. One way to get to the goal of less waste is to have more of, well, less. We need less stuff and less packaging and less waste, because honestly does all this stuff really spark that much joy?
Picture of the week
News in brief
Cork’s next hospital?
St Stephen's Hospital at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire is the government’s preferred site for a new elective hospital to serve Cork. The Echo reports that the Cork hospital would have nine theatres, seven endoscopy suites and nine minor operation rooms and is expected to provide 180,000 extra procedures, treatments and diagnostic appointments per year. The government’s preference of Glanmire has opened up a northside - southside division amongst some politicians. Senator Jerry Buttimer wants the new hospital to be built in Curraheen, close to CUH, which he says is better served by public transport connections.
Community centre boost
There was welcome news this week for 32 community centres across the city and county as they are all in line for central government funding to the tune of €3.2m. 11 Cork centres are to receive €100,000 each, while Midleton and Douglas community centres are to receive the maximum amount of €300,000 for major upgrades.
As well as community centres, scout halls, parish halls, youth clubs, family resource and sports complexes are in line for the grants which range from €25,000 up to €300k. This could also be a much needed boost for public toilets in community centres, making more of them available to the public, especially in communities that are sorely lacking access to public toilets.
Manifesto for a new cycling republic
Cork has a new cycling collective. Called the Republic of Bike, the group released their manifesto this week. Cork organisations, T+D included, do love publishing manifestos and you can read the Republic of Bike’s manifesto here.
Cycling advocate Tom Hennessy is one of the founding members of Republic of Bike. Tom also helped launch the first school cycle bus in Ballincollig earlier this year and he told T+D that the Republic of Bike will be centered on creating fun cycling events that are open to all. A big part of the manifesto for fun will be the monthly Ibop cycling events, which are designed to show cycling as “a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport.” It just so happens that there’s one on this weekend. See Out+About for more details
Macroom bypass opens
The first part of the Macroom bypass was officially opened this morning, Friday December 9. The 8km stretch of dual carriageway bypasses the length of Macroom and will link up with the second phase which is expected to be completed in 2024. According to Cork County Council around 13,000 vehicles, including a substantial number of trucks and lorries, pass through Macroom on a daily basis. The council estimates a reduction of up to 40% of traffic flowing in and out of Macroom now that the bypass has opened. Construction started in 2020 with a budget of €280 million.
Tweet of the week
A sarcophagus from Egypt dating back thousands of years and in the possession of UCC for nearly 100 years is to be returned to the Egyptian state. Medical photographer Tomás Tyner this week tweeted pictures of the sarcophagus which were taken back in 2011. The sarcophagus, along with other antiquities, will be returned to Egypt, the college announced this week. The return journey is to be documented by artist Dorothy Cross and producer Mary Hickson, according to The Irish Times.
Out + About
🎄Wreaths and cards and a warm Glow: Test Site, the aptly named parcel of land owned by the City Council at the River Lee end of Cornmarket Street, is home to festive events throughout this month. As part of the Glow Christmas festival, Test Site is hosting two festive-themed free workshops this Sunday. From 2pm Darren O'Connor will lead a workshop on making pop up cards. Materials will be provided. At 4pm, Maggie O'Shea will show you how to make a dried Christmas wreath. Materials provided, but you’re welcome to bring along your own decorations if you want to add to your creation. Both events are free, but you’ll need to register first.
Time, date, place: From 2pm, Sunday December 11, Test Site, Kyrl’s Street.
🚲Bop on your bike: Republic of Bike will hold a Christmas-themed IBop cycle this Sunday. The events are open to cyclists of all ages and abilities, but you’re invited to get your bling on for this month’s edition. IBop is designed to be fun, inclusive and social, with cyclists taking to the streets of the city as they ride along with music - that’s the bop part of it. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Time, date, place: 4pm, Sunday December 11, meeting at Emmet Place.
🖼Fine art fair: If you’re looking for some affordable local art for a Christmas present you might check out the Christmas Print Show at the Cork Printmakers Studio Gallery in Wandesford Quay. The exhibition features a range of prints from members of the studio. If you can’t make it down to the studio, they are also selling prints and Christmas cards via their online shop. Visits by appointment only. Contact details here.
Time, date, place: Ongoing, Cork Printmakers, Wandesford Quay.
🧵🎼Crafts and tunes in Inchigeelagh: Creedon’s Hotel in Inchigeelagh will be mixing art, craft and music next week. First up is a Christmas market from 7 - 9pm. The market will feature art and crafts from local artists and crafters and it will be followed by the monthly outing of the Inchigeelagh Folk Club, so you can come for the art and stay for the music and song. The monthly folk club takes place on the second Wednesday of every month and although it’s only been up and running since March of this year there’s been no shortage of musicians, singers, poets and storytellers coming along. Ukranians, new to the area, have also come along to the folk night to share their musical heritage. All are welcome whether you prefer to partake or just want to sit back and enjoy.
Time, date, place: 7-9pm for Christmas market with folk club taking place afterwards, Wednesday December 14, Creedon’s Hotel, Inchigeelagh.
🎭3D theatre: What does immersive 3D animation as a play look and feel like? That’s just one of the questions Doireann O’Malley’s new play Conversations on a Cross-Town Algorithm looks to answer when it shows at the Granary next week. Presented by The National Sculpture Factory in association with Cork Midsummer Festival, the plays centres around a conversation between two characters, Samantha and Olda Wiser—performed by Mathea Hoffmann and Juan Carlos Cuadrado. As you might expect from a play with algorithm in its title, there’s a lot under the hood in the play, including a system virus. Tickets and more information here.
🎶Sunday song exchange: This Sunday, Maureen’s up in Shandon will be hosting its montly singing circle in which you’re invited to come along, armed with a song. Over the two hour session the singing public can delve into the story behind the song. They also welcome canons, rounds and songs to sing together. No instruments, and you’re asked to register to reserve a space via this link. Tea and the possibility of cake.
Time, date, place: 2-4pm, Sunday December 11, Maureen’s, 14 John Redmond Street Street, Shandon
Time, date, place: 6pm nightly on December 15, 16 and 17, The Granary Theatre, Dyke Parade.
🤶Nano Nagle Christmas Market: The Christmas market at Nano Nagle Place returns this weekend on the front plaza, which extends onto Douglas Street. It will feature offerings from local crafters including artist Keith O’Brien, chocolatier Lauana Designs, ceramics artist Creative C and designer To Have and to Have Knot.
Time, date, place: 10am - 4pm, December 10 and 11, Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street.
🧶🍺Vintage East Cork: An evening Christmas fair with the option of pints will be taking place in Poc Ar Bhuile, Ballinrostig next Thursday. Buying vintage gifts is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of presents and there’ll be a selection of vintage stalls on hand for the evening.
Time, date, place: 6pm-9pm, December 15, Poc Ar Bhuile, Ballinrostig.
This week on T +D
On Monday we published a news piece from the quarterly Joint Policing Committee in which Cork North-Central TD Thomas Gould said that it was “only a matter of time” before a life is lost in a fire in a derelict property. Full story here.
On Thursday our long read was from Kilian McCann, a new Tripe+Drisheen contributor. Kilian’s opinion piece covered a lot of ground, but it centred around the live music venues in Cork city, or the lack of them. Kilian writes:
Cork just has a serious lack of choice when it comes to venue spaces, and it’s been worsening in the past few years as a few pub owners consolidate the available choices.
Alternative music and cultural spaces have become marginalised in the city and venues which welcome young, alternative bands, as well as spaces for them to practice, are getting rarer and rarer.
Thank you to all our subscribers for your support of Tripe+Drisheen and helping us to expand the pool of writers contributing to T+D.
And finally, it’s the season for gift giving and a subscription to Tripe+Drisheen is a great (plastic free) gift. Also, if you give a gift of an annual subscription to T+D between now and Sunday 18, and we'll send out one of our beautiful organic cotton T-shirts anywhere in Ireland for free. Full detail of that special offer below.
That’s it for this week’s Friday View. Any tips, news or events you’d like to share with Tripe+Drisheen, contact Ellie at emailellieobyrne@gmail.com. We are always happy to speak to people off the record in the first instance, and we will treat your information with confidence and sensitivity. Get in touch.