Active Cities Projects

Title: MapRun in Cork City 

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, Irish Orienteering Association, Cork Orienteering Club, Bishopstown Orienteering Club, Cork City Council

Overview: MapRun is a free app, that when downloaded to your smartphone, is used to participate in an orienteering event. The app will show a map on your screen with the orienteering course marked on it. As you navigate around the course the app will record your GPS track and which controls you have visited. When you finish your course the app will produce your result!

A number of courses have been developed in Cork City as part of the Active Cities Project including; 

• Ballincollig Regional Park
• Ballyphehane/The Lough 
• Blackrock
• Cork City Centre
• Mayfield Community School
• Tramore Valley Park
• Churchfield/Farranree

Outputs To Date:

• 6 x MapRun Courses in Cork City

Click here to get involved  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.fne.maprun6

Title: Sport on the Green

Partners: Cork City Council, Cork Sports Partnership, Cork ETB, Munster Rugby, Athletics Ireland, Munster Technical University (MTU), FAI, Rebel Og Cork GAA.

Overview: The Sport on the Green project seeks to provide children from disadvantaged communities across Cork City with the opportunity to participate in a multi-sports camp on identified green areas in the community. 

Outputs To Date:

• Delivered throughout the summers of 2021 & 2022
• 500+ children participating in 2021 with 840 in 2022
• 36 venues in 2021, 56 venues in 2022
• 108 sessions delivered in 2021, 224 delivered in 2022

Title: Permanent Orienteering Courses

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, Orienteering Ireland, Bishopstown Orienteering Club, Cork City Council

Overview: To develop permanent orienteering courses in parks across Cork City to promote on-demand orienteering events for families, schools, youth/disability services/groups.

• Tramore Valley Park
• Murphy’s Farm
• Ballyphehane
• Gerry O Sullivan Park
• Glen River Park

Outputs To Date:

• 5 City parks mapped (currently awaiting installation)

Title: Outdoor Table Tennis Tables

Title: Cork Sports Partnership, Cork City Council, Table Tennis Ireland, Beech Hill Table Tennis Club, Leeside Table Tennis Club, Munster Table Tennis Association

Overview: The project aims to increase physical activity opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in Cork City parks through the installation of outdoor Table Tennis tables in identified parks in the city. 

Outputs To Date:

• Tramore Valley Park (Currently awaiting installation of 2 tables)

Title: Teqball 

Overview: The Teqball project aims to provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be physically active through the 5 sports of Teqball.

Outputs To Date:

• 3 x Teqball tables available for loan to clubs, groups & services

Title: Outdoor Volleyball Court

Title: Cork Sports Partnership, Volleyball Ireland, Cork City Council

Overview: The project aims to increase physical activity opportunities for people of all ages and abilities through recreational outdoor Volleyball in Tramore Valley Park by installing a semi-permanent outdoor volleyball court.

Outputs To Date:

• Tramore Valley Park (Currently awaiting installation)

Title: Basketball in the Parks 

Overview: The Basketball in the Parks project was established during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities to engage in outdoor physical activity through Basketball over a 3-week period utilising public amenities and MUGA’s. 

Outputs To Date:

• 9 x city programmes delivered to date (8 x Youth, 1 x Disability)
• 100+ participants

Title: Play for All Ages Campaign

Title: Cork Sports Partnership, Let’s Play Cork, Cork Healthy Cities

Overview: The project aims to create awareness of the different types of play and the benefits that play has for all ages and abilities.  The video was launched as part of an inclusive play seminar organised in Cork as part of the National Playful Paradigm project. 

Outputs:

• 1 x Play for All Ages Video

Title: Playground Stencil Schools Initiative

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, HSE Health Promotion & Improvement, Let’s Play Cork, Cork Healthy Cities

Overview: The aim of the initiative is to make play the easier option for primary schools and promote play opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in Cork schools.  The playground stencils on a schoolyard enhance the physical environment to promote physical activity, child development and play. 

Outputs:

• 13 city schools completed for 2022
• 2 direct provision centres 

Title: Junior Parkrun Ballinlough & St Marys Health Campus

Overview: The project seeks to provide opportunities for children on the south side of the city to get active through walking/jogging/running by establishing a new volunteer-led junior Parkrun in the Japanese Gardens in Ballinlough and St Marys Health Campus, Gurranabraher on Sunday mornings. 

Outputs:

• 1 x Junior Parkrun in Japanese Gardens Ballinlough
• 1 x Junior Parkrun in St Marys Health Campus, Gurranabraher
• 1 x Junior Parkrun in Clashduv Rd, Togher (launch date 2023)

Title: Active Cork Orienteering Maze

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, Orienteering Ireland

Overview: The project seeks to provide opportunities to try orienteering in urban areas such as community greens, schools, and parks as part of family fun days, active play days and other identified events. 

The Orienteering Maze is available to loan through Cork Sports Partnership to any clubs, groups or organisations in Cork.

Outputs To Date:

• 1 x Orienteering Maze
• 1 x Orienteering Maze Training with 8 leaders trained

Title: Active Community Walking Programme (Cork City)

Overview: The project sought to expand the Active Community Walking Programme in Cork City following COVID-19 by supporting Community Groups to establish new walking groups and rebuild the capacity of existing walking groups.

Outputs To Date:

• Tutor led 8 week programmes delivered in Hollyhill, Farranree, Turner Cross, Tramore Valley, Ballincollig, South Lee Road and Glanmire.
• 73 people took part in the walks.

Title: Women’s Social Soccer Project 

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, Football Association of Ireland, Cork City Council, Leisureworld Bishopstown

Overview: The project seeks to provide opportunities for women to play social soccer with a focus on fun, fitness and football in a supportive environment.

Outputs To Date:

• Over 100  participants 
• Two celebration blitzes with other social groups throughout Cork

Title: Activator Poles Project

Overview: Activator poles are an adaptation of Nordic Walking poles and have been developed by Canadian therapists to promote balance and improve mobility.

This project sought to provide older adults with access to training and equipment for use in the community. The programme is particularly focused on people with balance concerns or mobility issues. They are suitable for all, including people with; arthritis, an acquired brain injury, or people with Parkinson’s disease.

Outputs To Date:

• 6 Activator Pole packs (15 sets per pack) were purchased for use across groups in Cork City.
• 12 tutors attended Fitwalk Ireland training in 2021 to deliver sessions
• 38 older adults took part in Activator Pole programmes in 2021.

Title: Walking Football Project

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, Football Association of Ireland, UCC, Cork City Council, 

Overview: This free weekly programme offers participants the opportunity to return to the game they love at their own pace, while newcomers to football can easily get involved! Walking football is a very easy & enjoyable way for older adults to stay active, have fun & enjoy the game!

Outputs To Date:

• Over 50+ participants

Title: Neuro Functional Training Programme (NFTP)

Overview: The NFTP enables individuals with a neurological condition to exercise in a supervised setting within a community facility. Physiotherapists devise a tailored programme that is specific to the individuals functional impairment, the individual can exercise within an appropriate community facility under the supervision of the fitness team.

The aim of this project is to optimise exercise participation for individuals with a neurological condition, enhancing long-term self-management, preventing secondary complications and supporting self-care. 

Outputs To Date:

• Neuro Functional equipment (Medical Treadmill & 2 x HIIT Upper Body UBE machines with ramp attachments) purchased for use across multiple groups in North Cork City.
• Initial Pilot programme confirmed for January 2023

Title: Walk21 Satellite Conference 

Partners: Cork Sports Partnership, Get Ireland Walking, Walk21, Cork City Council 

Overview: The Walk21 Satellite Event took place at the end of the International Walk21 Conference which took place in Technological University Dublin in September 2022. The Cork satellite event highlighted the ‘Get Cork Walking’ Initiative and the efforts made by the City Council to make Cork a more liveable and walkable community.  

Outputs:

• 37 people attended the conference including representatives from Local Authorities, the HSE, Sport Ireland and local communities around Cork city and county.  

Title: Wheels for All Initiative

Overview:

The aim of this initiative is to increase awareness and knowledge of adaptive bikes; handcycles and racing chairs, which will create participation opportunities for people with reduced mobility. Wheels For All offers these adaptive bikes to users for a set duration of time and removes the cost barrier. This initiative empowers the person and creates a positive experience for them to enjoy moving freely and independently.

Outputs To Date:

• A fleet of 12 adapted bikes including; Handcycles, track chair, trikes, and a petra race runner. 
• Adapted Bike Friendly routes aims to identify cycling routes that are suitable for adapted bikes for people of all abilities in Cork City. 

Title: GAA For All

Overview:

GAA For All aims to provide GAA to people with disabilities in their local community club settings in Cork and promote the ethos of a community club for all.

Outputs To Date:

• 2 x City Clubs (Blarney & Nemo Rangers)
• 40+ children with disabilities participating in Gaelic games.
• 2 x Fun & Run Packs
• Access to subsidised training
• Established GAA For All Committees in clubs.

Title: Learn to Cycle Programme

Overview:

This Learn to Cycle programme aims to assist participants to learn how to cycle independently in a fun & safe environment.

Outputs To Date:

• 2 x Learn to Cycle programmes for children and teenagers with additional needs to date. 
• 1 x online family learn-to-cycle video series developed with Wild Atlantic Sports which was delivered to families during government restrictions. 

Title: Youth BMX Programme

Overview:

Provide young people with a safe and enjoyable environment to learn fundamental BMX bike handling skills while offering a gateway to all cycling disciplines.

Outputs To Date:

• One 4 week youth group pilot programme complete. Review currently ongoing

Title: Cycling Projects & Programmes

Overview:

Continue the development and increase opportunities for people in Cork City to get cycling 

Outputs To Date:

• Older Adult Cycling With Confidence Programme
• Youth, Direct Provision and Refugee Bike Projects
• 3 x Women On Wheels Programme
• Numerous Learn To Cycle Programmes for adults, teens and children with special needs
• More projects in the pipeline

Title: Cork BMX Club Development Programme

Overview:

This club development programme aims to increase the capacity of Cork BMX Club to cater for the demand for its youth section in particular the FUNdamentals programme

Outputs To Date:

• 160 children new to the sport have participated in the FUNdamentals programme
• 20 children with special needs
• 24 new coaches and volunteers

Title: Glen Sli na Slainte 

Overview:

Provides an easy, accessible and inexpensive environment for regular exercise for walkers. The attractive signage aims to encourage people to incorporate more walking into their lifestyle.

Outputs To Date:

• Signage installed at numerous points incorporating the Mayfield and Glen area
• Plans well underway for a northwest city Sli na Slainte route extension

Title: Social Volleyball

Overview:

This programme aims to provide an opportunity for beginners and those new to the sport to play volleyball in a fun and supportive environment.

Outputs To Date:

• 4 x six week programmes delivered with over 100 women participating
• Ongoing support to the start up of two new social volleyball groups for both men and women in Turners Cross and Blackrock