Congratulations to Alan Downing who celebrated his 40th birthday with family and friends at Bertie’s Bar, North Main St. Youghal. Alan was born way back in 1969. Other births that  year were Steve Staunton, soccer player – Ken Doherty, snooker player -  Sonia O’Sullivan, runner – Michelle Smith, swimmer and the year Neil Armstong landed on the moon.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com  E-mail: news@youghalonline.com

Alan is a big music fan (favourite bands include The Strangler’s, The Clash and Ska Music) but his all time greatest song is ‘Tainted Love’ and Alan is known to give it a blast on Bertie’s Golf society bus when the boy’s are on tour.

Alan had a fantastic time dancing the night away but all his friends wanted to hear was Alan doing his party piece by singing and dancing to his favourite song……… Soft Cell’s version of ‘Tainted Love’.

Unfortunately by the time Alan starts singing everyone feels they want to run away, for some reason they just want to get away from the pain of the singing that he puts them through. Everbody packs their things and go!
Happy 40th Birthday Alan!
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Aesop’s Fabulous Foibles and Fables is a play for children, written by Jack Healy and George Hanover, based on the stories of Aesop. It was first performed to full houses at the Firkin Crane, during The Cork Midsummer Festival of 2008.

Since then it has enjoyed another run at the Half Moon Theatre in Cork and has been performed over fifty times throughout the country. It received a prestigious  invitation to the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris where it was performed in December of last year.
To coincide with the Youghal Chamber Christmas Festival and the  arrival of Santa in Youghal on Saturday, December 5th, there were two performances of the wonderful play at The Mall Arts Centre which went down a treat with the crowd both young and old

For further information on futher events contact: 083 360 6507.
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Youghal’s famous beach had touches of Hollywood glamour this week as camera crews, sounds technicans, lighting crew and of course the actors descended to put the finishing touches on a new film, being shot in East Cork, entitled ‘My Brothers.’
Report: Becky Grice Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com E-mail: news@youghalonline.com

This new Irish feature film is set in the 1980s and focuses on the story of three brothers, trying to come to terms with their father’s impending death, due to cancer, and will be released in Irish cinemas in 2010. RTE will also be showing it on television.

The filming in Youghal was shot in different locations around the town including Perk’s amusements, Windmill Hill and on the front strand. Part of the story line is where the three brothers stumble across a dying beached whale on Youghal strand. Local man and part-time actor Eddie Hayes plays the part of a Greenpeace environmentalist during this scene.

The film’s writer, Will Collins, is from Cork and Danny Crowley, Sound Designer for ‘My Brothers’, hails from Leap in West Cork and has worked with established British director, Shane Meadows on several of his feature productions, including Meadows’ latest, ‘Le Donk and Scor-zay-see’ which was recorded in just five days. The filming of  ‘My Brothers’ is on a 20 day schedule.

Cathleen Dore, Production Manager kept an eye on things, to ensure that nothing from the 1990s or later was seen in shot. Vintage cars and a van were brought in for part of the shoot to give it an ’80′s look.

UK writer, Paul Fraser – whose writing credits include ‘A Room for Romeo Brass’ and ‘Somers Town’ – has taken the director’s chair for ‘My Brothers’ said ‘We started shooting two weeks ago and everyone in East Cork has been terrifically understanding. It’s a great story and we’ve got some excellent local talent in it, including Kate Ashfield as the boys’ mum and three young actors who are set for greatness. We’ve also had support from the Irish Film Board and, as the writer is from Cork, we were keen to film the production in this area.’

Cathleen Dore, Production Manager states, ‘We’ve been filming all around East Cork since Gordon Wycherley – whose brother also features in the film – scouted locations for us. We’re also filming in Lisgoold, Bartlemy, Ballinacurra and in Midleton and will be shooting in Youghal until this Friday.

And this isn’t the first time that Treasure Entertainment, the company behind the film, have visited East Cork. ‘The Eclipse’ the story of a widower who sees and hears peculiar things in his house was filmed, in part, in Youghal. Starring Ciarán Hinds and directed by Conor McPherson, ‘The Eclipse’ was selected for the official competition at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
Motorists were asked to turn off their vehicles’ engines for short spells, so that ambient noise would not be picked up by the film crew, for fear of the need for re-takes. Traffic, of course, became backed up, but not because of the film crew, but because people were trying to see what was going on!
Oh by the way no mammals were hurt during the filming on Youghal Beach!
Click on the image to see scene’s of the filming on Youghal beach

Youghal Chamber of Tourism & Commerce have launched the pre-Christmas SHOP LOCAL campaign in an all-out effort to reinforce the importance of shopping locally and helping to sustain jobs in Youghal, particularly in these more challenging times.

The Shop Local Youghal campaign was launched on Tuesday, December 8th on the day that is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, in Brooks Supervalu Youghal.

Chamber President, Eddie Irwin, said “we are asking people to buy local, because all anyone needs for Christmas, Youghal can provide at competitive prices”. The Chamber has created a poster reminding the people of the town to support their local shops. The message will be on display throughout the town over the coming weeks. People are being encouraged to keep whatever money they can spend, in their own home town.

When you spend money locally it has a big impact, Youghal shops employ local people who spend their wages locally in other shops and businesses which pay more wages and so the money keeps flowing around the local economy.

Any retailers interested in getting a poster to display in their window and to support the shop local campaign can contact Youghal Chamber at 024-92447.

Another element of the campaign is the re-launch of the Youghal Chamber Shopping Voucher Scheme. Youghal Shopping Vouchers are accepted in most shops in town. Covering everything from Beauty treatments, eating out, fashion, home & garden, Home entertainment, even the Christmas Turkey! …and of course everything else in between

We are asking people to purchase the local shopping voucher rather than multi-location vouchers. By buying Youghal Shopping Vouchers YOU are supporting local jobs and are guaranteeing that your gift will contribute to our local economy. They are available to purchase from the Chamber office the Banks and Youghal Credit Union.

Comedy Night at the Gate starts about 9pm on Sunday December 20th.

Like ripples across a lazy pond Ireland’s comedy stand-up circuit is slowly spreading from urban centres across the rural hinterland. By Christy Parker

As far as East Cork is concerned, the past year saw stand-up reach the shore in monthly indulgence at McDaid’s (Midleton) and Short’s (Castlemartyr). Encouragingly, there has been no shortage of aspiring wits eager to push their patter on audiences that themselves are finding their feet in the stand-up genre. As one would expect in a process finding its way, performances have ranged from the majestic to the mediocre and all points in between. Yet even the worse of the bad can be said to have helped pioneer a new type of night out.

In any case, the man charged with headlining Youghal’s entry to the stand-up comedy circuit at the Gate bar this month is far from mediocre. Chris Kent enjoys a naturally skewed take on life and its daily minutiae. At the early age of 26, he has honed his wonderful comedic skills on stages as distant and diverse as Perth, Dublin and Castlemartyr. He has brought laughter from gatherings ranging from 40 to 400, played support to opened Jason Byrne and, last October won the prestigious Bulmers Nuttin But Funny Competition at the International Comedy festival in Dublin’s Olympia.

An electrician by trade, Chris -originally from Knocknaheeny but now living in South Douglas Road– performed his first routine at a now defunct Cork venue four years ago. “I was always into comedy and after watching some friends at the Tikai Lounge I decided to have a go. It was a bit daunting the first time but I thoroughly enjoyed it and that hasn’t changed since,” he smiles.

He quickly pursued his new direction through venues across the country, especially in Galway, Dublin and Waterford. Two years ago a sense of adventure brought him through south-east Asia en route to New Zealand and Australia. During a year in Australia he worked as an electrician by day and re-connected with his travelling experiences to light up comedy venues in Sydney and Perth by night. “I was a regular in Perth’s five comedy venues for seven months and I also go to the final of the Western Australia section of Australia’s annual Green Faces Comedy Competition,” he recalls.

The current recession has seen increasing demands for his abilities on the comedy circuit rather than the electric equivalents. His diary reflects dates nation wide as he rides the tide of swelling popularity, both of stand-up and his personal interpretations of it, like an Aussie on a surfboard. “Its been very good for me in the last few months, especially since I won the Bulmers title,” he declares  “I’ve been getting a lot of gigs in clubs and pubs.”

His continually evolving material is largely based on real life experiences and his acute observances, while he will cite “Peter Kay, Tommy Tiernan and Pat Shortt” amongst the comedy compatriots he most admires.

Off stage, Chris is working on sketches, based on characters and incidents he encountered when working briefly as a butcher’s assistant in Cork several years ago. “It might be suitable for television,” he muses, as ever eager to expand his horizons.

Meanwhile the historic ‘date at the Gate’ in Youghal is very close on the horizon. “I’m looking forward to it a lot as I’m sure are the other performers involved,” he says. “Its great to be bringing stand-up to new areas and hopefully help to establish a base for it,” he concludes.

Comedy Night at the Gate starts about 9pm on Sunday December 20th.

Ireland’s first ever officially timed Sleddog Racing event took place on Youghal’s front strand last Sunday (6th Dec. 2009). The venue was ideal for the races. It was a hugely successful day and it was largely due to the people of Youghal giving the event organisers a very warm welcome.
Photo: Deirdre Finnerty / Kevin Power / Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com
E-mail: news@youghalonline.com

Members and supporters of the Irish Federation of Sleddog Sports travelled from all over Ireland to compete at this event. The front Strand in Youghal provided the perfect venue for such an event, and thanks to the cooperation of both the Youghal town council, and Cork County Council, we had the unlimited use of the carpark and the strand, which helped make an enjoyable day for everyone involved.

The presence of the Deputy Mayor who took time out of her busy schedule was greatly appreciated by the Committee Members and locals alike. Even Santa made a trip from the North Pole with his Huskys to meet all the boys and girls with his sack full of goodies.

Youghal man Michael Hickey kept up the Cork side by coming in 2nd in his four dog rig racing class. Spectators cheered him and his team on to the finish line as he battled it out with Tipperary man Liam Noonan. Maybe next year it will be a first for the Youghal man!!

Sled Dogs Ireland – Irish Federation of Sleddog Sports promotes, advises and educates on all aspects of sleddog sports in Ireland. We are Irelands only Internationally recognised sleddog sports body. The Federation holds events throughout the country during the year, and everyone both young and old are welcome to become involved. Not all sleddogs are huskys, as many breeds can be used in the broad range of sleddog sports.

If you wish to learn more about the world of sleddog sports, you can contact the federation on info@mushing.ie or call the secretary on 086 3562544. The website address is www.mushing.ie
Click on image to see the Sleddog event on Youghal beach

“An A to Z of Cork”
Monday, December 14, sees the publication of “An A to Z of Cork”– an entertaining guide to Cork’s history and people.

The publisher is Youghal native Tom FitzGerald. “The first book in this series was “An A to Z of Youghal”, says FitzGerald. “That book was very well received in Youghal by advertisers, book-sellers and readers. The people of Youghal proved to be very enthusiastic and supportive for what was a new format in local history books. Now, there are several other titles in production, including another Youghal book. However, the next title for publication is “An A to Z of Cork”.

As with the Youghal book, the content is presented alphabetically as a series of stand-alone items that readers can dip into. Each item deals with an aspect of the city’s history or one of its remarkable people who have made history, either at home or abroad.

Topics from history include the impact of the Black Death during the Fourteenth Century when more than half of the population was wiped out leaving the city unable to pay its taxes. There is also an account of the Burning of Cork in 1622, which was seen as Divine retribution on a sinful city following a curious warning in 1621 in the shape of flocks of warring starlings. In 1922, the Civil War reached Cork when 800 Free State troops landed at Passage West and engaged in a three-day gun battle with 600 anti-Treaty guerrillas for possession of Cork.

Among Cork’s famous emigrants is Stephen Moylan who acted as George Washington’s aide-de-camp and secretary during the American War of Independence in the 1760s, and who achieved the rank of General in the United States Army. Another Cork man, Daniel O’Leary took part in the wars to liberate Spanish America in the 1820s, becoming aide-de-camp to Simón Bolívar and achieving the rank of General at the age of twenty-eight. The most famous Cork woman in the United States was Mary Harris. She became known as “the most dangerous woman in America” for her work as a political activist and union organizer and her campaign to abolish child labour in the 1900s. She is best remembered by the song “She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain (When She Comes)”, written about her work among the miners in the Appalachian Mountains.

Strange events in Cork include the resurrection of Patrick Redmond, hanged in 1766 but revived by surgeon-turned-actor William Glover, who was among the spectators at a public execution at Gallows Green. When Father Mathew started his campaign of Total Abstinence, little did he realise the craze for drinking ether that this would spark, which ultimately prompted government intervention.

The most famous character from recent history is Bernie Murphy. Regarded as a joke political candidate with radical policies, things look different in retrospect. His ambition to reduce the number of TDs, abolish pensions for sitting TDs, abolish state cars for politicians, introduce better regulation of banks, reform the health service and abolish the Senate are issues that are now being taken more seriously.

These are just some of the items that reveal the unique evolution of the city on the Lee.

“An A to Z of Cork” is from all good bookshops in Cork, Midleton and Youghal and on-line at eBay.ie.

Liam Clancy (1935-2009) the Irish ballad singer was buried today (Monday 7th Dec. 2009) in the new cemetery, An Ring, Co Waterford. Hundreds packed into St Mary’s Church in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, to raise a parting glass to the Irish balladeer, praised by Bob Dylan as the best ballad singer ever.
Photo: Michael Hussey E-Mail news@youghalonline.com

Fr. Conor Kelly PP said Liam Clancy had a joy of life driven by a belief that it was too wonderful and mysterious to just get through skimming the surface or living in the shallows.

The youngest and last to die of the Clancy brothers, who along with the late Tommy Makem were dubbed Ireland’s first pop stars, had rejoined his bandmates in eternity, mourners were told.

Musician Shay Healy said America had Elvis, Britain had The Beatles and Ireland had The Clancys and Tommy Makem.

Coming from Carrick-On-Suir in Tipperary, Liam emigrated to the US in 1956 and along with his brothers Paddy, Bobby and Tom, became involved in the theatrical scene in New York.

He first emerged as a star as part of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, who played the hugely influential Ed Sullivan Show in 1961 – and never looked back. They became a huge succcess in the US singing raucous Irish rebel songs and emotional ballads – and returned to Ireland as stars. On the Ed Sullivan Show they had worn bawneen jumpers – or Aran sweaters – which became their trademark stage gear for many years afterwards.
Liam was the youngest and last-surviving member of the group. All of the group died relatively young: Tom at 66, Paddy at 76, Bobby at 75 and Tommy Makem at 74.

The film The Yellow Bittern, directed by Alan Gilsenan, and released in 2009, is a fine tribute to one of the great legends of Irish music.

Led by wife Kim and children Eban, Donal, Sean, Andrew, Siubhan, Fiona and Aine as well as sisters Peg Power and Joan Butler, mourners spontaneously burst into song during the Mass as Donal played traditional airs, including ‘Mo Ghile Mere’ and ‘Oft In The Stilly Night’.

There was standing room only in the church as figures from Irish music and politics, including representatives of President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Brian Cowen, jostled for space among the many who turned out for the send-off.

Singers Liam O Maonlai, Finbar Furey, Paddy Reilly and Arts Minister Martin Cullen were also in attendance.

The service was celebrated in both English and Irish, the first language of Clancy’s adopted Gaeltacht home in Ring, Co Waterford, and was marked by music, story-telling and humour. Liam Clancy was buried afterwards in the new cemetery, An Ring, Co. Waterford
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Click on image to see the Irwin’s 2009 Family Fun Christmas Brochure

On Friday (4th December 2009), Youghal Coast Guard hosted a celebration for Clifford Winser (Retired Officer in Charge Youghal Coast Guard), to mark his recent retirement. Representatives of Ardmore, Ballycotton and  Gyleen Coast Guard attended. Mr. Norman Fullan attended on behalf of Coast Guard HQ.  Mr. John Goggin (Senior Helmsman) represented the local R.N.L.I.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com E-mail: news@youghalonline.com

The local Coast Guard Unit presented Cliff with a glass anchor inscribed with the Coast Guard insignia and he also received a silver medallion, acknowledging his long service and contribution to the organisation.

Mr. Michael Lee, Officer in Charge presented both gifts. He spoke most eloquently on Cliff’s career and exploits. Mr. Liam Hegarty (OiC) Gyleen gave an amusing account of the adventures that he and Cliff participated in, stretching back to the days before mobile phones and e mail.

Mr. Norman Fullan recounted his involvement with Cliff at the formation of the present service, and his active role in securing the building and facilities that the local Coast Guard enjoys. Mr Anthony White (Assistant Officer in Charge) spoke on behalf of the present and past Coast Guard members.

After the formalities, refreshments and craic were enjoyed by all, at the Coast Guard Station.
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