By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Youghal’s main street will be come a ‘walking art gallery’ once again when the town’s third annual Visual Arts Festival runs from Friday July 19th-26th. Businesses throughout the town will create a mile-long showcase by displaying art works, which can be purchased, on their windows. Amongst others, paintings by Youghal’s FETAC Level 5 students and the Youghal Art Group will feature.

The festival promises an unprecedented myriad of attractions. Under the theme ‘The Lost Summer, a Central Gallery at the 71 North Main Street (ex-Horgan’s fruit & veg store) will exhibit works by names with local, national and international resonance, including Eileen McGoldrick, Chris Yowell and Rayleen Clancy. Works by the late, local artist Billy Flavin will also be exhibited.

Semi and fully professional artists may avail of a one-day conference during which f/t artist Sarah Searson will address aspects of career development. Meantime, tomorrow’s professionals can be viewed in emergence through an exhibition of winning entries from an inter-primary schools competition at the library.

Further artistic variety is enhanced by the local ‘Windy Lane’ puppeteers, who base their shows on Beatles’ and other medleys (Mall Arts Centre July 22nd). A family sand sculpturing workshop will occupy the Mall beach on Sunday 20th. Children’s workshops of an indoor climate permeate the week, with skills to be honed in sessions drawing, paining, chalk, pastel, jewellery and papercraft amongst a smile-inducing menu. For 5+ years, prices are €8.

Cinema as art will be to the fore too. An exhibition on Youghal-born Irish Film Society founder Liam O’Leary will form part of the Walking Gallery. Liam helped found the Society in 1936 and in 1945 produced ‘Invitation to the Film’, which pleaded for the establishment of an Irish film industry.

In 1947, sponsored by Seán MacBride’s Clann na Poblachta, he made Ireland’s first ever election campaign film ‘Our Country’. Depicting urban poverty, it dismayed Fianna Fáil, who subsequently stifled his next project, A Portrait of Dublin (1952). Liam left for London, where he worked at the National Film Archive until 1965. On returning to Ireland in the 1970′s, he worked for RTÉ. Liam sister Margaret (Peg) provides material describing his career.

The historic Regal cinema and the Mall Arts Centre will co-host a series of five films in tandem with the Cork Lights Out! Children’s Film Festival and Cork County Arts and Library Service, through Thursday and Friday. Admission €5 and €3 respective of venues.

The curtain falls on cinematic art at 7pm Saturday 27th when six films by local young filmmakers are screened. Three films by Youghal Youth Project are included, two by Inch Foroige and one by Pobal Scoil na Trionoide. Adm free. Credit to the ‘reel’ talent of tireless Youth Project worker Nicola Lucey for this spectacular finale.

Festival Details: 087 2146213 and www.youghalvisualartsfestival.net; Youghal Tourist Office: (024) 93905