Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Alan Hogan, Abbie Jayawardene, Nancy Collins, Shauna O'Hanlon enjoy their popcorn during the film interval with Catherine Desmond, Katrina Griffin, Aileen Ahern, Catherine Ryan and Nicola Lucey from Foroige and Deputy Mayor Mary Linehan Foley
The first ever Lights Out! National Film Festival for Young People organised by the Irish Film Institute drew to a close in the Mall Arts Centre,Youghal with the first local screenings of films written, directed, filmed, edited and featuring the young people of East Cork.
A total of nine short films – produced by the East Cork Film Project were shown in the Mall Arts Centre, to young people and their families.

Audience at the young-film-makers debut
The project initially set out to develop the skills and confidence of young people, involve them in the arts and provide an opportunity for them to express their creativity and have fun.
The Gala screening commenced with a brief introduction by Aileen Ahern, Tourism Officer, and followed with Councillor Mary Linehan-Foley (Deputy Mayor) welcoming everyone to the viewing while also commending the young film makers on their efforts.
Youghal Youth Project kicked off the screenings with ‘Puppet State’. This was followed by ‘Bad Day at the Office’ produced by Carrigtwohill Youth Project. Pobailscoil na Trionoide were next to feature with ‘Night Class’. Youghal Youth Project was next up again with the timely showing of ‘Crazy Pots Guide to Youth Cafes’ – a comical but clever take on the youth café due to open shortly in Youghal.
The first half concluded with Inch Forogie’s moving ‘Alessa L’isole’.

Nicola Lucey, Dennis O'Brien, Catherine Ryan from Foroige with Deputy Mayor Mary Linehan Foley
Following a ten minute interval Youghal Youth Project got the second half underway with ‘The Haunted Boarding School Project’. Inch Foroige stirred emotions with ‘The Night of Your Life Club’. Pobailscoil na Trionoide featured with ‘A Christmas Tale’ before Midleton CBS screened their impressive ‘Deckie Balboa’ and ‘The Final Act.

Youghal Young Film Makers Debut
Nicola Lucey of Foroige drew the evening to a conclusion by thanking all the sponsors of the Light’s Out Festival and The Film Gala, – which included The Ombudsman for Children, The Irish Film Board, The Ticket (The Irish Times), Irish Film Archive, The Arts Council, The Arts Office – Cork County Council, Youghal Town Council, SECAD and Perks Entertainment Centre Youghal.
































