FIREFIGHTERS were called to the scene of a gorse fire in East Cork last night (Tue.2nd June). Five units, including three from Midleton, one from Youghal and one from Mallow, were called to the scene in Knockadoon, near Ballymacoda, after 10pm last night. Photo: Kevin Power (YoughalOnline.com) and www.jhennessy.net    e mail news@youghalonline.com

More than 20 firefighters from Youghal, Midleton and Mallow brought the gorse fire under control and stayed on to dampen down the area to make sure it didn’t flare up again. They were back in the station after 8am this morning. Read more

The art world is a wide and varied terrain but not many connoisseurs would have assumed a close link between Youghal’s 1980′s landfill site, Sir Walter Raleigh’s former home at Myrtle Grove and Sotheby’s of New York! Report Christy Parker Photo: Michael Hussey e mail news@youghalonline.com

According to a story just surfaced in the Sunday Times, a painting discovered at the rat-infested dump in 1987 has just been withdrawn from auction in the American capital, following intervention by Simon Murray, current proprietor of Myrtle Grove and great-great-grandson of Sir Henry Arthur Blake, a British colonial administrator and former Governor of Hong Kong, who retired there in the late 19th century.The painting, Children Under a Palm Tree, is a watercolour by renowned American artist Winslow Homer and depicts Sir Henry’s three children seated on a couch. An English tourist, fishing in the area, discovered it at the dump in 1987, in the wake of a series of robberies at Myrtle Grove during the mid-1980s. Last year the BBC’s Antique Road Show valued the painting at €40,000 -and more if restored. The fisherman’s daughter consigned it to Sotheby’s, where it carried a reserve price of approximately €110,000. Then, two days before a scheduled May 21st auction, Simon’s mother, Shirley Rountree, with whom he shares Myrtle Grove, discovered the impending sale and had it stopped.

Murray, who works as a lawyer in London, is said to be “disappointed” that Sotheby’s had not become aware of the painting’s history. Sotheby’s insists it carried out “extensive diligence.”

Interestingly, neither Mr Murray nor his mother had been aware that what they now call “our painting” was missing! “The fact that this portfolio of paintings was taken was clearly missed,” Murray has said and adds that his family are partial to providing a ‘finder’s fee’ by way of consolation to the fisherman’s family.

The BBC refuses to name the fisherman who had the painting evaluated, while Sotheby’s says it has still not received documentary evidence of the “oral” claim. One senses a row looming.

Meanwhile the painting is now on the Art Loss Register and Read more

East Cork HipHop/Rock fusion band Dodge and The Urban Druids will be performing in the Village, Dublin on the 11th June promoting their new ep  called Pagan Rhymes for ya Ailing Minds recorded at Claycastle Recording Studios, Youghal and will be available online from July 1st. Report K. McCarthy- Photos: Michael Hussey e mail news@youghalonline.com

Dodge & The Urban Druids are an original Hip Hop/Alternative/rock band. The Urban Druids are influenced by numerous music genres of the last century like the fun loving criminals, N.E.R.D, The Streets, The Beastie Boys, Cypress hill, Faithless, The House of Pain, Immortal Technique, Republic of Loose.
The Urban Druids came to be when MC Dodge teamed up with musician /producer Warren Tivy to make an album of their material and Read more

Lee Travel has taken over the running of the long established Macdonald Travel in Youghal. The Lee Travel group already has office in Cork, Kinsale and Midleton and now is very proud to add MacDonald Travel to the fold.

Declan O’Connell, Managing Director of Lee Travel says, “We are delighted to acquire Macdonald Travel and look forward to offering the benefits of our strong buying power to the people of Youghal and the surrounds. This acquisition fits well with our existing presence in Midleton where we have had an office for over 20 years. Lee Travel itself is established since 1975 with MacDonalds trading in the East Cork town since 1958″

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“Instead of trying to predict Youghal’s future-Let’s create it” -David Daly  Photo: Michael Hussey  e mail news@youghalonline.com

As we move into more uncertain economic times, one thing is certain, Youghal needs the best candidates elected on June 5th if it to have any chance in riding out the worst global recession since 1929. It is a common misnomer that local councillors have little or no power, Local Councillors through effective communication and negotiation can influence the ‘Real’ power brokers, The Cork County Council, local TD’s, The IDA, anyone that can help Youghal to its feet, and this in itself ‘IS’ power to change things for the better. Read more

Sandra McLellan was first elected to Youghal Town Council in 2004 since then she has been active on a range of issues concerning the people of Youghal. Sandra is also Sinn Feins candidate for Cork County Council. Photo: Michael Hussey-YoughalOnline.com  e mail news@youghalonline.com 

A former SIPTU Shop Steward, Sandra has direct experience of traditional industries closing down and leaving towns desolate of good jobs. She believes that job creation is the biggest issue facing East Cork. Read more

Michelle Hennessy is standing for Sinn Fein in Youghal Town Council in this year’s local elections on 5th June.

Since her co-option just over two year’s ago to the seat vacated by Cll Martin Hallinan, she has worked hard to continue the strong tradition of representation that Martin established. Read more

“I am Mary Linehan-Foley a member of Youghal Town Council since 1999. I would like to thank you for electing me and continuing the Linehan membership on that Council” Photo Michael Hussey ( YoughalOnline.com)

I am asking you to re-elect me to Youghal Town Council on June 5th. Also on this occasion I have being selected as a candidate for Cork County Council. I will also be looking for your number 1 vote for this. It would be of great benefit to the town of Youghal to have representations on both levels and having had the experience of the last ten years in Youghal Town Council I feel I am now ready to represent the people of Youghal on the next level. Married to John with five children. Read more

Amnesty Cork members petition local election candidates in order to highlight the profound problems with our mental health services. Photo: Courtesy Amnesty Cork

Amnesty Cork members gathered on Saturday the 30th May outside Debenhams on Patrick Street, Cork and asked members of the public to sign a petition which would be copied and sent to each of the local election candidates.

This petition asked the candidates to act on five simple promises: Read more

Taoiseach Brian Cowen paid a fleeting visit to Youghal on Saturday last (May 30th). Youghal Mayor, Cllr Olly Casey greeted the Fiana Fail leader and presented  him with a glass plaque of the Youghal Coat of Arms as a memento of his visit. Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com) and courtesy of John Hennessy www.jhennessy.net

He was also warmly greeted by the four Fianna Fail local election candidates Eoin Coyne, David Daly, Cllr. Sammy Revins and Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley who is also contesting the Cork County Council Read more