Organising Group Meeting

Have a say, meet members, share your thoughts and ideas. 

Meetings of the CFE organising group are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm at the Clonakilty Lodge. All members are invited and welcome. The Favour Exchange works openly and democratically so please come along and join in the organisation and administration of the group.  If you can't make it, send items for discussion if you prefer, and keep in touch by reading the minutes on the website.

If you have any items or suggestions or comments, please email them to clonfavour@gmail.com or ring 089 4352675

Map of the Lodge - Pat Hennessy Way, Clonaklity

Michelle Ryan

Hi, I’m Michelle,  living in Clonakilty for nearly 10 years.  I work as a Nutritional Therapist and in Bodymind Balancing where I support people with mentoring and educating through nutrition and reconnecting energy throughout the body. Skills to Exchange I would like to offer energy balancing throughout the body which is calming and relaxing therapy and great for supporting stressful situations and challenging lifestyles. Qualifications and experience Michelle Ryan Dip NT (as above)  I am a member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and I’m CIPD qualified in Human Resource Development for over 15 years   Contact details michelle.ryan7@gmail.com 0876704930

Elaine O' Sullivan

Hi my name is Elaine, I would like to join the group. I'm a chef by trade and I'm currently working for a catering company called Claypot catering.  I am based in E.I.Lilly Kinsale Skills to Exchange I can offer ironing, housecleaning, cooking and gardening. Qualifications and experience I'm a chef by trade Contact details  087 6271702 osullivanelaine@rocketmail.com

Paula Curtis

Paula Curtis, woman, mother, hard worker Skills to Exchange Hair dressing, cleaning, driving, company, gardening, house sitting Qualifications and experience Masters in Hair Dressing   Contact details  palacurtis@gmail.com 0876080166

David Jeffery

My name is David, I work as a Homeopath and Iridologist in the city and  county of Cork.  I live in Lissicorrane, near Enniskeane co Cork. Skills to Exchange I am offering Homeopathic consultations and advice, an Iridological profile, and also Nutritional advice in relation to the 5 element system of health. Qualifications and experience  I qualified as a homeopath in 1996, and as a reiki practitioner (2nd degree) in 1997.  I trained with Rik Weinman in Vortex healing up to the  Multifrequency energy level. I trained in Natural Nutrition over 2 years between 2000 and 2002, and qualified as an iridologist in 2004.  I am a member of the Irish Institute of Iridology, the Homeopathic Medical Association and the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths. Contact details www.davidjeffery.org  doc.djeff@gmail.com 0868130337

Meeting Tuesday 4th September

Clonakilty Favour Exchange Coordinating Group Meeting Tuesday 4^th September, The Lodge 7.30 pm 

NB Have a look at the Incredible Edible video below forwarded to us by Una.  We plan to discuss the idea of bringing this to Clonakilty - see what you think.  Plus more about the community space project, and a chance to plan ahead for the first CFE swap day on Sunday October 7th.

Minutes for Clonakilty Favour Exchange Coordinating Group Tuesday 4th September

Present: Bev, Ger, Sara, Alice, Una, Yanic and Olive.

1. Minutes of previous meeting.

2. Matters Arising.

3. Membership and admin update.

Favours for Coordinating Group presented and approved.

Christine to be trained on Favour Admin. Olive and Ger happy to continue with Favour admin.

4. Asks.

Bev briefed Alice on her role as Asks coordinator. Alice to use web texting and emailing to match make members asks with skills and labour offered.

Bev raised idea to ask active members to contact newer and less active members in order to encourage more exchanging.

Bev suggested a lesson for new members in using website to best advantage.

5. Mums Pampering Session.

Sara offering to help with babysitting. 

Suggestion that non members could be gifted with voucher for the day approved.

A direct contact approach to mums suggested to spread the word.

6. Pilates and Women's Group update

Sara and Olive talked about their positive experience with Gillian on her Woman's Group.

Bev talked about the upcoming Pilates session to be offered by Heidi. Dates and venue to be decided.

7.First Sunday Swap Day October 7th.

Any member can set up a stall. It was decided that in order to encourage participation there would be no favours needed to do so.

Direct swapping or favours to be used.

Members asked to encourage other members to attend and participate.

No tea and coffee to be provided as we would like members to support O Donovans with a purchase of tea or coffee.

Tables will be provided but it would be helpful to book one so we have an idea of numbers.

New members can be signed up on the day.

8.Update on Cafe space project.

Christeen and Lisa have been meeting and planning to get project off the ground.

Grace Centre to be the venue for the project. An open-ended approach to be used in deciding what the community would like to use the space for.

Bill to facilitate a workshop to raise funds. Free places to be offered to members. Date and time to be decided. 

Favour Exchange to sponsor and run.

9. Logging Project.

Ger updated plan to get project going. Price to be sought for transportation of wood. Xavier has a possible storage barn offered by a neighbor.

Justin suggesting planting replacement trees.

Paul and Michele to advise on tree felling.

10. Kindergarden Request.

Members may offer business and fundraising advise. This would be funded by the Favour Exchange.

11. New forum on Website.

Bev shared his new forum this week. This will be an interactive discussion forum for members to share upcoming events or information.

12.Incredible Edible Clonakilty Project.

Video available to watch on CFE website.

Collaboration with other groups i.e.; G.I.Y.Tidy Towns and Sustain Clon was suggested to discuss the possibility of getting such a project going in Clon.

Alice talked about a community orchard in Kinsale.

Beth talked about getting local people to sponsor planting.

Community discussion needed.

13. AOB

Sara and Beth to take over Face Book page.

Sara proposed a CFE Sand Circle and picnic day at Inchydoney beach on September 23rd.

Beth talked about the possibility of having a permanent community cafe in Clon. She spoke of other such projects around the country.

Minutes of previous meeting Tuesday 7^th August 

Present: Ger, Bev, Idriz, Gjin, Lisa, Christine, Trish, Sara K

Apologies: Jo, Olive, Miriam, Beth, Vic, Deborah

Energy sub group progress and wood cutting exercise. Wood group set up and plans to collect, store and distribute wood from CFE members – investment in favours – spare wood to be exchanged for favours

Ballinspittle members and news from round the country

News of Dublin, Ballinspittle and Ballydehob Favour Exchanges

Cafe space project update and favour giving request

Lisa and Christine brought group up to date with new shared space idea. Group approved using favours to help run the space – two hours per week

Update on admin

Group approved favours for admin and other work

Ger and Olive & Christine also going to share website and favour registration updates. 

New Asks person!

Alice will step in in September to help put members in touch with each other

Mother and women sub group info

Claire has a great project for mum’s to be pampered and children minded. 

Incredible Edible video

Feathers for Favours

Here is a taster for the swap day planned for early October.  Sara is offering a good supply of ex laying hens as organic stock pot chickens. They are great flavour and just require long slow cooking.  2 favours per hen.  Why wait!

Sara says

Put in a pot with some bayleaf, herbs and simmer away for 3 -4 hours... If you want to roast for a little bit at the end that is fine. Slow cookers are excellent as well. Wine, lemons are all all good additions and of course vegetables towards the end. A little Kombu seaweed as well would add to the softening and mineral content of the delicious stock. Many of you will know the benefits of eating Organic stock. So healing and strengthening. let me know how you all get on...

You might be suprised about how much meat there is and wonderful flavour. Most peoplle boil two at at time so that is more economical gaswise and you can freeze after..

Here is another great recipe if you are interested.

Contact details

 087 2350900 

jsdevoy@eircom.net

See Sara's CFE membership page here

Tom O'Donovan

Hi Tom here.  I don't have much time away from the hotel but want to support Cloankilty Favour Exchange. Skills to Exchange I am offering the space behing the hotel for the montly swap day where members can exchange goods and services Qualifications and experience Lifetime in the hotel business www.odonovanshotel.com Contact details  info@odonovanshotel.com

Anne Scallan

I'm Anne. I'm relatively new to West Cork and delighted to find the CFE as it sounds like a great way to give something to the community and in so doing hopefully meet new people and make some pals. I work from home in IT but far prefer to spend my time knitting, sewing and generally messing about with fabric and textiles in general. Skills to Exchange  Creative sewing - in particular I love to make bunting, You know those rows of little flags you can use for all sorts of celebratory events. You provide the fabric I'll sort you out some bunting. If you want something special like "memory bunting" I can make it from your children's old clothes or other cotton fabric that holds particularly special memories. I'm also happy to make little items like pincushions, needle books, simple soft toys etc etc etc  any of which can be made from your "special memory" fabrics.  ps I can only do regular cotton fabrics, afraid t-shirt jersey or the like won't work Qualifications and experience BA in Fine Art helps! Contact details  anne.scallan@gmail.com   085 277 8114  (reception bad so text messages best)

Richie Tyndall

Hi. I'm Richie Tyndall, photographer. I'm living in Courtmac but can generally be found around Clon Skills to Exchange I am mainly offering Photography work. Qualifications and experience See some of my work on facebook Contact details  086 8603608  rich.tyndall@gmail.com

Dave McClelland

Hi I'm Dave. Drummer, and regular Clonakilty performer. Skills to Exchange Drumming and drumming lessons. Qualifications and experience Many years drumming with bands, and recording Contact details  musicamusica@mac.com Easy Baby feat Dave

Mackerel Fishing Suspended

Look at this photo of Vic's boat and send your suggestions about what you think might have happened, and what to do next.

Pilates and Nutrition Sessions

If you are interested in health and well being from a Pliates and nutrition expert, Heidi is offering 2 special group sessions for CFE members.  Back Care and Family Nutrition.


Pilates with Back Care – a one hour session covering body and postural analysis to help people understand their aches and pains as well as showing people simple Pilates exercises they can do at home to help them walk taller and feel healthier.

Nutrition for the family – a session to guide families to making better choices with their food for the entire family. Top tips on easy recipes and yummy recipes the kids will love just as much as the adults.

Here is a link to Heidi's CFE page and here is her nutrition and Pilates health blog.

Mammy Pampering Day

A great CFE event for mums or mums to be to get pampered and fed and meet up.  Contact Claire for details or to book!

Greg Bradley

Hi, I am a Dad of 2 youngsters and for work I am an acupuncturist and chinese herbalist. I am a "would be" football analyst and would happily bend the ear of any long-suffering Liverpool supporter. Long term projects and interests of mine would be to produce a children's story book and play in a musical group. I have started drumming lessons and workshops lately. I am also interested in any group activities or projects that members may develop. Skills to Exchange I am offering acupuncture treatment on the CFE. Consultations for chinese herbs are also available, the herbs themselves will have to be paid for. I travel to Cork once or twice a week, lifts and or drop offs considered. Qualifications and experience 20 years exerience of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Registered and insured and covered by all medical insurance companies. Contact details   greg@gbacupuncture.com 086 6088639

Dominic Conlon

My name is Dominic ; I am 64 and live in Ballylickey, between Bantry & Glengarriff. After almost 35 years in Sales, managing, & Training, I took early retirement, due to arthritic problems. I am married to a nurse, Mary, and have four children, three living & working in Australia, and one in Ireland. Skills to exchange Sales, management and training Qualifications and experience I have been in direct sales since 1970, and formed my own company, Conlon & Associates 121 Sales & Management training. I was a full member of the Irish Institute of Training & Development  (IITD) and the Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII). I designed & conducted courses, on a 1-2-1 basis, which at the time was unique to Ireland and the majority of the UK. Contact details  dominicmconlon@gmail.com 085 7333883