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Youghal Transition informal get together
Posted on Monday, June 29th, 2009Youghal Transition invites you to an informal get together at Padrone Restaurant
The Priory, 56 North Main Street, Youghal, Tuesday June 30th, 2.30 – 4pm.
Youghal has changed so much over the last 10 years. The legacy of the Celtic Tiger includes the bypass, the Aura Leisure Centre, Youghal News, the Community School, Tesco, Lidl, the RAPID process, Cumann na Daoine, the suburban type housing developments, the Mall Arts Centre, the closure of the factories, the Redbarn Hotel the Youth Café and www.youghalonline.com. What changes will come in the next 10 years? In the next 20?
Ireland used to have loads of sustainable communities. We called them towns and villages. The oil boom of the early 20th century led to a more complex global society, with increased production, consumption and waste. We are now dependent on cheap and plentiful oil for the food coming into local shops, for transport, agriculture, energy and tourism.There are over 200 Transition Town initiatives throughout the world as people get together to prepare their communities for change. Aware of the challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change, Transition groups set out to start conversations about the potential local impact of these global issues. Questions arise as to how Youghal could continue to prosper as oil gets more expensive, and more scarce. What do we need to do to prepare for the impact of Climate Change, which could mean rising sea waters, erratic weather and changes to local agriculture.
To what extent do we need to factor in the challenges of Climate Change and Peak Oil into our vision for Youghal’s medium and long term development? Can we prosper by using less energy? Can we reduce our collective contribution to Climate Change emissions? Can we support local enterprise by sourcing our food and other necessities locally?
Over the autumn and winter, Youghal Transition will launch a series of education and awareness raising activities about these big global issues, and positive local responses to them. But the summer is the time to socialise and get out and about so on Tuesday June 30 in The Priory, we’ll be meeting up informally, sharing news and planning a few trips to local and distant Transition type activites.
Anyone fancy a trip to Kinsale, where the Transition Town concept was born? Or the short hop to see the demonstration veg garden at the Blackwater Garden Centre? How about a visit to Corrigan’s City Farm in Cork? Have you ever been to a wind farm?
You’re welcome to join us at The Priory, Tuesday June 30, 2.30
Further information:
youghaltransition@gmail.com
086 3315096
www.youghaltt.ning.com
Keep up the good work Donnie.
Report from Youghal Transition at Padrone Restaurant June 30 2009
Youghal Transition at Padrone restaurant, June 30
Sixteen people gathered on a grey day at the Padrone restaurant Youghal for a get together about Youghal Transition. Éanna Dowling welcomed everyone and gave a
brief description of what Transition Town groups are all about. Mentioning developments at Kinsale and other places, he explained that Transition Towns are about finding local solutions to the pressing global issues of Climate Change and Peak Oil. This may have implications for how Youghal sources its food and energy, amongst other things. A lively conversation followed featuring contributions from all present.
Presentation to Town Council in September
Two Town Councillors attended, Liam Burke and Donie Daly. They agreed to bring Youghal Transition to the attention of the next meeting of the Council in July, and to
organise a presentation to the Town Council in September. This was warmly welcomed by all present.
Town Hall meeting and Local Agenda 21 funding application
Cynthia Post suggested that there be a Town Hall meeting to invite the wider community to discuss the issues involved. There was support for this with Éanna agreeing to work with Cynthia on it. A recent funding application to the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund sought funds for such a meeting as part of a community education programme. Other elements of the programme as set out in the
application include: Powerdown Training Course; Transition Film Club; Articles in the
local media; Get Youghal Growing campaign.
Schools
The matter of engaging with local schools was raised with broad agreement that an approach be made to the schools in September.
Food
Food was a major theme of the meeting. Mike McKenna from the Blackwater Garden Centre attended. He spoke of his online gardening club, his demonstration veg garden and the children’s gardening and summer crafts’ workshops to be held in mid July. People were interested in hearing about the raised bed system he uses, with small areas bordered by painted scaffolding planks. All are welcome to visit the Blackwater Garden Centre in business hours to see for themselves.
Bernard Kavanagh spoke about his experiences studying organic horticulture in Youghal. He and Teresa Watkins (who also attended) have completed a one year course at Youghal’s Adult Education Centre. The instructor there pomotes a non-dig system of gardening based around planting through layers of manure and straw mulch.There are plans to run a two year course beginning in September. The Centre has a polytunnel and some outdoor beds, fruit bushes and trees. Bernard offered to show interested people around.
Farmers’ Market
People also discussed Farmers’ Markets and were concerned that they actually sell locally grown produce. No definite news on the forthcoming relaunch of Youghal’s Farmers’ Market was available though eye witnesses reported activity down by the Bridewell, the chosen site. Youghal Transition have written to the Youghal Farmer’s,Artisan Food, Arts and Cafts Market Committee for permission to have space at the
weekly Friday market to provide information on Transition Town initiatives.
Allotments
Allotments were on the minds of many. Marietta O’Connell reminded all that Youghal had allotments before in the 1990s, but they were discontinued due to lack of support.
A number of potential sources for allotment plots were discussed including asking the Town Council and State Agencies, empty polytunnels on the Ballymacoda side of town
and using some of the space in the Town Gardens at St Mary’s College.
Four people agreed to form a food group to continue researching possible sites for allotments for Youghal and will report back in due course.
Energy issues
Various local energy issues were articulated. The lights illuminating the Town Hall and other civic buildings are left on all night, thereby costing quite a bit of money. Could they be put on a timer to save energy?
Councillor Burke informed the meeting that the Town Hall has a geothermal heating system. When it was renovated a number of years ago, the system was put in place
along with the passive solar heating of the glass annexe. People were interested in this and are keen to learn the whole story.
Another local issue of interest was the future of the landfill. The contentious facility which has covered part of the town with an unpleasant odour over the last year and
more, is due to close soon. The exact date of closure keeps shifting. The site will be covered with soil and landscaped on closure. But the meeting was interested in what’s being done with the methane that builds up under the rubbish. Currently it is being flared off – could it be harnessed to provide energy?
Following the meeting a latecomer, Geraldine Lynch met with some of the group to catch up on what she missed. With a particular interest in energy and waste, she
agreed to do some work with Éanna on the possibility of reducing the energy impact of the town’s public buildings.
Thanks, next get together, July 28
The meeting ended with agreement from all to meet again at the end of July and to bring other people with them.
Thanks are due to Padrone Restaurant. Not only did they open the space especially to accommodate the meeting, they did so for free and refused all payment for the excellent teas and coffees enjoyed by all.
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 28, Padrone Restaurant, 2:30 – 4:00