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Church concerts cancelled – due to ‘health & safety’ issues
3 comments | 
Youghal town council has pulled the plug on concerts at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church due to ‘health & safety’ issues. Consequently Saturday’s (March 20th) Luka Bloom concert has been transferred to the council’s €750,000 headquarters at the Mall Arts Centre (Town hall), which also hosts concerts. Report: Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey Youghalonline.com
St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Youghal - Concerts cancelled due to health and safety issues
Youghal Town Manager Patricia Power says consultants have expressed concerns that the doors at the 800 year-old church, which the council owns, “do not open quickly enough” to ensure a safe exit in the case of emergency.
“We recognise the value of the church as a venue but we have to consider people’s safety first,” she said.
Ms Power says the estimated cost of rectifying the exits is €5,000. “The council be seeking funding and we hope to complete the process within a few months,” she says. The venue will remain open for Church of Ireland services.
Bobby Lee (centre in red) with Dublin based band "KILA" pictured last February at the church
The news is a blow to voluntary concert organisers Sacred Roots, who channelled concert profits into a Foroige-supported youth centre and café. “The young people also benefited from helping to prepare the venue for gigs,” says local musician, youth worker and Sacred Roots co-founder Bobby Lee. Mr. Lee says the group had been operating with insurance cover since concerts began last October.
Declan O'Rourke live on stage at St. Mary's Collegiate Church Youghal last Febuary 2010 Pic: Michael Hussey
Since last October the 300-capacity church has also provided a mini-boom to the local economy with stars such as John Spillane, Liam O’Maonlai and Declan O’Rourke gracing a venue more synonymous with Oliver Cromwell, Walter Raleigh and the Boyle family. It has been acclaimed for its unique ambience and an amazing 500 year-old acoustics system provided by round earthenware jars placed high in the chancel
St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Youghal - Will remain open for Church of Ireland services
Recent concerts attracted large crowds at the church
3 comments |
Lordy, how have people been allowed to use this dangerous and deadly facility all these centuries without people being killed? It’s awful. I even took my mother there (she likes Liam O) we could all have been killed!!
Thank you Youghal Town Council once again for doing the right thing!!!
God Bless you.
Why can’t we decide ourselves if we want to take the risk?? PLEASE give us credit for something.
How is St. Mary’s ok for Church but not for music??
I think these major Irish artists came to Youghal for three reasons:
1) Bobby Lee who is a friend and fellow musical genius who they respect
2) The Venue is special and appealing to these great artists who appreciate a special venue
3) The Kids, unlike some of our own in Youghal these artists believe in the power of music.
From a very sad Corkonian (who travelled to the venue as I love the acoustics) who will not be going to future concerts as I don’t think the new venue is as special. I will continue to support Sacred-Roots through donations.
Careful Now!