1st September 2020
In response to COVID-19, with so many Summer Camps, programmes and activities cancelled, Cork City Council teamed up with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Cork Sports Partnership to develop Soccer on the Green. Aimed at young people and held on greens in housing estates across the city, coaches helped a socially diverse group of young people develop their soccer skills, while having fun. With help from the Residents’ Associations, sessions were held in Greenwood Estate in Togher, Bracken Court Estate in Donnybrook, Lios Rua Estate in Ballyvolane, Bishopscourt Green in Bishopstown, St. Joseph’s Park in Glanmire and Coolroe Meadows in Ballincollig. Sessions were also held in conjunction with Foróige in Mahon and Curraheen, with Tusla in Fitzgerald’s Park, and with a local youth group in Churchfield.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh, an avid soccer fan, said: “I’ve been really impressed by how engaged and inventive about keeping fit the young people of Cork have been during this pandemic and they deserve great credit for this. We aim to make Cork a responsive and inclusive city but also a fun, active and healthy one and Soccer on the Green meets all of these criteria.”
Dympna Murphy, Head of the Sport and Sustainability Section in Cork City Council, added: ‘The City Council is delighted to be involved in activities like this. It was wonderful to see the kids getting fresh air and exercise on their doorstep. It's important to stay healthy in body as well as mind. If you're struggling for ideas on how to stay active, fit and healthy in spite of COVID-19 restrictions, you'll find some fantastic resources on the Community Wellbeing page of our website.”
