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

Having sent the Celtic Tiger packing, the Wolf of Recession may be baring its teeth for further havoc but Youghal town centre is determined to stare it down. Four new businesses have opened for business in recent months as the Clock Gate oversees an unexpected commercial expansion on its doorstep. A singular blanket of optimism enfolds their proximity.

Mara Mina Pharmacy replaced a similar trade from the leased premises in the Rivergate Mall last October 30th. It forms one link in a chain of six throughout Munster, Ardmore. The Youghal branch employs five staff but “we’d hope to double that in time,” says Egyptian-born proprietor Akram Hanna.

Arkam stresses customer care. “Patients can register with Mara Mina and benefit from a 24-hour service, 365 days a year,” he says. “If someone can’t get to the shop, we will try to deliver to them. People often focus too much on administration but I believe if you look after the customers, the business will care for itself.”

Three doors down, Helen’s Boutique opened on November 29th and represents “a life’s ambition to own her own business for proprietor Helen Brookes. Following 16 years working in local factories, Helen’s passion for fashion was stirred over six subsequent years in fashion retail, including Annette’s. Read more

TIMES STANDING STILL FOR DELIGHTED MARY SWEENEY

By Christy Parker \ Photo:Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)
Time flies but for some individuals, it seems keeping up with it isn’t a problem. The closing days of 2008 sees veteran Youghal athlete Mary Sweeney continue to defy the clock’s efforts to leave her behind, as she reflects on a year in which she ran equivalent to her pace 20 years ago!

Currently contemplating her preparations for the 2009 spring marathons in Belfast and Cork, the 46 year-old runner recalls her reintroduction to the distance in Cork in June 2007. “I’d only ran one marathon, 23 years before and was surprised to find I covered it pretty easily in 3.29,” she says. “So then I ran the Dublin city marathon in October ’07. I even won my category in that.”

Mary then ran two further marathons (Paris and, again Dublin) up to October 08, with that Dublin run of 3.07 clocking 20 minutes faster than her June 2007 effort. Equally amazing, it was roughly equivalent to her time 23 years ago! There are people who can’t walk to the post office at the same pace as 23 years ago, let alone run marathons! “To me that was a big achievement,” she adds, with admirable understatement. Read more

Report: Christy Parker

MONEY
Town Clerk Liam Ryan told Youghal’s December Town Council meeting that organisations awarded unclaimed grants during 2008 need to claim them before Dec 31st. “We won’t be in a position to pay respectively,” he said. The only criterion is the production of annual accounts.

Meanwhile Mayor Olly Casey requested details of Cork Council’s use of Youghal’s annual contributions. Cllr Liam Burke said Read more

By Christy Parker
The threat to life being posed by vehicles parked opposite Crowley’s shop at Greencloyne, was again raised by Cllr Mary Linehan Foley at Youghal’s December Town Council meeting. The vehicles obstruct the view of oncoming traffic to motorists exiting two nearby estates.

To witness a car laden with children edging its way on to the busy N25, or a child crossing the road whilst a lorry, van or car conceals the oncoming danger is, in itself, stressful; one assumes it is far worse for the hapless individuals.

The situation arises from poor planning and lack of foresight when the estates were being built, given that on whichever side of the road the vehicles park, visibility is obscured. Yet that nobody seems willing or able to rectify the problem remains irresponsible and, in the event of a future fatality, may be deemed criminal in due course.  Read more

Photo| Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com) Finbar in action with the singing group Harmony at the Mall Arts Centre

Finbar has always been interested in music, and learned to play piano at Presentation Convent, taught by Sr. Mary Colman, and later at St. Colman’s College, Fermoy, by Paddy Hegarty. In UCC he was a member of the Dramatic and Choral Societies. He joined the bass line of the Youghal Choral Society – founded by the late Mrs. Evelyn O’Regan and Mother Cecilia of Loreto Convent – in its second year. Marie, his late wife, was already a member. He was appointed conductor of the Read more

ISRAEL/OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO HUMANITARIAN WORKERS AND OBSERVERS ESSENTIAL
Jan 3rd ’09

As the number of casualties continues to mount, civilians in Gaza are in increasingly dire need of food, medical and other emergency assistance, Amnesty International said today.
International humanitarian and human rights workers, as well as journalists, have not been allowed into Gaza by the Israeli army since the beginning of November, with the exception of a few journalists who were allowed in for a couple of days earlier in December.
“Humanitarian workers, journalists and human rights monitors are urgently needed to assess needs, report violations and Read more

By Christy Parker
Cllr David Savage told Youghal’s December Town Council meeting that the “green algae problem on the town’s roads is far worse than he first feared.” The councillor, who also raised the issue in November, said many roads would become increasingly slippery and dangerous as the fungus grew. “Preventive measures now would save money later,” he said.  Town engineer Paul Murray said the problem arose from “lack of sunshine and loads of rain” but declined to spray for a solution.  Several councillors agreed that Jeyes Fluid is the answer.

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

Youghal Lifeboat is seeking somewhere to house a defibrillator. Cllr Olly Casey told the December Town Council meeting that crewmembers are currently learning how to use the life-saving equipment but once they acquire one there is no location close to the town centre at which it could be accessed 24/7.  Various suggestions, including the fire station, town hall, Quays Bar, were deemed unsuitable. A private residence could accommodate the device but its debatable if anyone would wish to carry the immense responsibility. At the heart of the matter lies the folly of closing Garda stations overnight of course.

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

Cork County Council was sharply criticised at Youghal Town Council’s December meeting over the ongoing delay to extend the outfall pipe at the Front Strand. Town Engineer Paul Murray said there was insufficient funding to undertake the work due to a severe reduction in development contributions.

Cllr Liam Burke described the announcement, as “dreadful” and said residents in the area, whose gardens were persistently being flooded, would be “extremely disappointed,” He said the project had been on the agenda for several years before a completion date for late 2008 had been promised. Mr. Murray said it was now intended that the project be included in the advance budget for the planned €20m main drainage works. Cllr Burke reminded that Youghal Town Council had contributed €30,000 to the work, which the County Cork was supposed to match and he’d like to know the whereabouts and the intended future for that money. Town Clerk Liam Ryan said it was in the council’s care and its destiny unaltered. On the other hand, informed Town Manager Patricia Power, a dive survey for Read more

THE AUGUSTINIAN priest who has undertaken a walk from Cobh to Dublin in atonement for clerical child sex abuse and in solidarity with its victims passed through Youghal last Tuesday.

Fr Michael Mernagh left St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, last Monday and hopes to arrive at Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral next Tuesday.Supporters welcomed him as he walked through the town en route to Dungarvan and then on to Waterford City.He has been receiving “wonderful support” and commented on “the fascinating conversations” he has being having with so many supporters.”A lot of people have spoken of the need for a new moral order in the country as a whole . . . people who don’t normally talk about such things,” he said. “They want a renewal of values.”

Bishop says sorry to diocese over abuse scandal.A DEFIANT Bishop of Cloyne, John Magee, read out a short statement to the congregation before celebrating midnight Mass at Cobh Cathedral on Christmas Day.Bishop Magee has faced an avalanche of calls for his resignation over his mishandling of child abuse allegations that came to light in the Church’s National Board for Safeguarding Children report.Before Mass began, he stood at the pulpit before hundreds of families and reiterated his apologies to all victims of clerical sexual abuse. Referring to the controversial report, he again said that he accepted its findings and that he took “full responsibility for the Read more