Thundercats Festivities In Youghal

Posted on June 23, 2008

By Jenny Regan | Photo: Ed Guiry and Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

The magnificent fireworks display seen from The Pier Head Youghal

One of the most highly anticipated events to ever come to Youghal, the Thundercat European Beach Challenge hit our beautiful shores on Friday evening. Thousands of visitors from home and abroad arrived for this spectacular power-boating extravaganza and the excitement around the town was palpabale.

Thousands of people turned out to watch the Fireworks

The festivities commenced with a fantastic welcoming reception at the Mall Arts Centre where the guests were greeted by the newly elected Mayor Olly Casey. Visitors, supporters and organisers of the event milled around taking in the celebratory atmosphere and enjoying the scrumptious canapes and finger food generously provided by Le Gourmet. Some of the most prominent figures involved in organising and supporting the Thundercat European Beach challenge were there to see the fruits of their labour take shape, namely Aidan Foley and Fionan Murray (Medaza), Mayor Of Youghal Olly Casey, Local Td’s- Members of Cork Co. Council, Derek Kiely (media co-ordinator) Liam Ryan (Town Clerk), Aileen Ahearn and Siobhan Sheehan and staff (Youghal Tourism) Members of Youghal Town Council, Youghal Chamber represented by President Michael Farrell and Seamus Curran, Youghal Socio-Economic Group, All the Emergency Services-Fire Service under the direction of Station Officer Tommy Roche- Civil Defence- RNLI-Garda-Coast Guard-Safety Crew Air Sea and land-Security- Ambulance and Transport Garda-HSE Crew-Order Of Malta Ambulance Corp.-Sponsors and supporters- Council staff- Catering crews-Art Supple Transport-The Music Event crew and security, Fireworks Safety Crew (Ferrypoint), Safety Crew ( Inner Harbour and Beach), Youghal Harbour Master, Youghal Tidy Towns Committee and more.

Local Media were represented by Journalists Christy Parker, Michael Twomey, Oona Colin, Youghal News and Midleton News- Ger Flanagan, Becky, Denise and Michael Fitzgerald from The East Cork Journal, Derek Kiely- Midleton Post, Local Radio CRY- Noel Cronin-Kieran Kidney-Mervyn Scott-Tommy Collins and staff, Photographers John Hennessy, Ed Guiry, Ger Leahy and cameraman Willie O’Mahony, Dungarvan Observer and Dungarvan People, also Irish Examiner, Evening Echo, TV3, 96FM,103fm and of course all hands on deck from the YoughalOnline crew: Reporters Shane Supple and Jenny Regan, Cameramen Kieran McCarthy, Maurice Supple, Ger McCarthy, Michael Hussey and the catering staff Dee, Darla and Sofia at Web Media Ireland.

Next on the agenda was the World Record attempt of the P1 series boat’s circumnavigation of Capel Island. Spectators looked on excitedly, eager not to miss a glimpse of the action!! Try to imagine the skill and speed of Formula One racing…..but on water!!

Youghal’s potential as a superb location for the European leg of the Powerboat P1 World Championships next year cannot be underestimated. The Thundercat European Beach Challenge event was brought to the town to “test the waters” (if you’ll pardon the pun!). It is clearly very evident that Youghal has all the key ingredients, that is the infrastrucure, organisers, supporters and hospitality to make this dream become a reality.

The festivities continued on into the night with the highly entertaining open-air Abba-esque concert. With their flares, platforms and brilliant renditions of the most popular Abba songs, Abba-esque transported the crowd back to the seventies. Men, women and children all strutted their stuff and boogied the night away!!

For the finale, on this momentous and glorious night , the crowds of spectators were in for a real treat. Gasps of excitement were heard as the countdown began…..five….four….three…two…one!!!! to a truly spectacular fireworks display on the water. There were cheers and roars of glee from the crowd as the colourful display blasted off into the night sky!

People watch the dazzling fireworks from The Pier Head Youghal