Captains Prize 2010
Our captain Martin Keohane’s prize was played for over the weekend of
16th May. The members were out in force to support Martin who has
given years of dedicated service to the club both on and off the
course. Martin plays a crucial roll in the running of the club with a
lot of his work done unassumingly  behind the scenes and so it was
right that there were well over 200 cards played over the weekend. The
rising star of Cork pitch and putt Johan Brosnan was the proud winner
of the magnificent prize. Johan recorded a new course record of 45
(-9) on route to claiming his first major win in the adult ranks. The
future certainly looks bright for the man from the front strand and
all the hours of practice are now paying dividend. Hot on Johan’s tail
was another young gun James Howes, who finished just two strokes back
in second place. James won’t have long to wait for his first major
success.
Results-O/A Nett- Johan Brosnan, O/A Gross- Anthony O’ Loughlin,
Gents- 1st Nett- James Howes, 1st Gross- Paudie O’ Sullivan, 2nd Nett-
Colin Sheehan. Ladies- 1st Nett- Sally Wallace, 1st Gross- Joy Bryan,
2nd Nett- Joan Hyde.
A huge thanks to all who took part and donated so generously to our
scramble in aid of Cystic Fibrosis on Monday evening. A cheque for
€200 was presented to Harry O’ Hanlon (The Acres) who has undertaken
an immense  challenge of playing each course in Ireland over a thirty
day period in memory of the late Barry Kelly R.I.P. (E.S.B. and
Ranges). Well done Harry and to all who helped in the organising of
this epic quest.
The club Matchplay has reached the final where Brendan McCaughey will
take on Anthony O’ Loughlin. Tee off is at 6.30pm Thursday evening
with the presentation taking place after the game at ‘Farrells Bar
Summerfield’ who are kindly sponsoring the competition.
Result of fourball kindly sponsored by ‘Brookes Supervalu‘- 1st Nett-
Seamus Murphy/John Wallace, 1st Gross- Ed Long/Martin O’ Regan, 2nd
Nett- Sally Wallace/Ed Long, Drawn prize- James Howes.
Colin Sheehan and Paudie O’ Sullivan performed well recently at the
St.Stephens scratch cup. Colin shot 95 (-13) for his 36 holes and won
the best 36 prize while Paudie won the final 18 with a blistering 42
(-12) where a putt for the course record stayed agonisingly short on
the lip of the hole on the 18th green. Gary O’ Sullivan and Johan
Brosnan also made the cut. Paudie also claimed the final 18 prize at
the Rocklodge scratch cup with a score of 48.
Best of luck to Paudie O’ Sullivan, Gary O’ Sullivan, Martin Keohane
and Anthony O’ Loughlin who take their place in a star studded field
at the Cork Matchplay in Collins this weekend.

Filmmaker Mike Hannon’s ‘My Beamish Boy’ screens on RTE One at 7pm on the 7th June

Youghal native Mike Hannon was in town recently and  special guest on the  ‘Shane Supple Show’ on local radio CRY last Friday. Mike is the son of Finbarr Hannon of Harmony Music and Drama. ‘My Beamish Boy’ was awarded the Made in Cork Award for Best Short Film at the Corona Cork Film Festival 2009, and was screened at the Chicago Irish Film Festival, 2010.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com EMAIL:news@youghalonline.com

The much-loved two hundred year old brewery has shut its gates forever. As they reminisce, the ex-workers must come to terms with their grief at its closure. Suffused with bittersweet memories and wry affection, these are the stories of the famous Beamish and Crawford Brewery. All things must end, but the human spirit persists.

My Beamish Boy (director Mike Hannon), a half hour documentary on the people and stories of the closed Beamish & Crawford brewery, is to be broadcast on RTE One on Monday, June 7th at 7pm.

Part funded by Cork City Council Arts Office, the documentary is an affectionate piece of social history, recording the anecdotes, memories and feelings of many of the Beamish workers, as well as the unique traditions and character of the brewery itself.

The film was shot in 2009 around the time of the brewery’s closure and features creative contributions from some of the Beamish staff, including David Creedon’s photographs of the brewery interior. Johnny McCarthy, who was a fourth generation Beamish worker, and his son Cormac  play flute and cello respectively, with Hugh McCarthy (cello) on the original soundtrack which was composed by Irene Buckley and on an original song, My Lovely Smiling Beamish Boy, written by John Spillane for the film. The documentary was produced by Pat Comerford.

The documentary had very humble beginnings. I bumped into my friend, Pat Comerford, on the streets of Cork in December 2008 and he told me that the brewery was going to close. Pat had worked in the brewery for the previous ten years. He knew that I worked as an architectural photographer and he suggested that I document the buildings, and the people at work there. We subsequently decided that it would be better to make a small scale documentary, perhaps ten minutes long, featuring interviews with some of the people who worked there over the years.

The scope of the project grew as Pat convinced more of his co-workers that our project was worthwhile. We wanted to make a film that would be a tribute to the historic brewery and to the unique spirit of the people who worked there. We realised that we were making a longer piece – the final documentary is 25 minutes.

We interviewed fifteen people over the course of a number of weeks. These interviews took place around the time the brewery was closing. They were held in the upstairs premises of a bar, the Spailpin Fanac, which overlooked the brewery, and was like a second home for many of the workers. Since we were unable to secure permission to film in the brewery itself, this was the next best thing.

The final documentary also includes archival photographs dating as far back as the nineteenth century, and contemporary photographs from David Creedon, who worked the night shift in the brewery, and would take beautiful long exposure images of the brewery while on his “lunch” break!

Eighteen minutes of original music were composed by Irene Buckley, and local singer-songwriter John Spillane wrote an original song for the film. This music was performed by Johnny, Cormac and Hugh McCarthy, some of whom had worked in or been associated with the brewery. The music is a huge part of what makes the film successful.

The documentary is being screened on RTE One at 7pm, Monday 7th June.

The benefit night at Youghal Rugby Club in aid of Marymount Hospice and Bru Columbanus which took place last Saturday night (15th May 2010) was a huge success and a massive €3,755 euro was made from the for the two worthy charities.
Photo: Barry Lawlor contact www.lawlorimaging.com

A huge thank you to The Grip and The Recession Band for giving up their time for free.

Thank you also to the Youghal Rugby Club and staff for the use of their premises on the night.

To Susan McNamara of dmdesign.ie for designing and printing of the posters and tickets.

To the many sponsors who generously donated spot prizes for the draw on the night.

To Youghalonline.com and the Youghal News for advertising the event for us.

Finally , thank you to Michelle Horgan & Mary Landers for organising the event and making it happen.

The night was all about the two charities Marymount Hospice & Bru Columbanus. They  provided exceptional care and support to my father Gus Horgan on his recent battle with cancer. Anyone who has had the misfortune of having a family member or friend suffer from cancer would have seen first hand the professionalism and service they provide. We are delighted to give a little back through the generous support of the people who were attended on the night and to those who could not make it. A big thank you to everyone!!!

Anthony Horgan
Redbarn,
Youghal.
Photo Captions to follow – Photo: Barry Lawlor contact www.lawlorimaging.com
Click on image to see who was at the event

All eyes will be on Youghal this June Bank Holiday weekend, as representatives and coaches from Youghal United will attempt to break the current Guinness Book of World Records held for the “Longest 5 aside soccer game” in the world. The current record stands at 27 hours and 15 minutes and is held by 2 teams from Surrey County Council in England.
Photo: Youghalonline.com/sports EMAIL: news@youghalonline.com

Our objective of this event is to raise much needed funds for our school boys, girls and our academy. and without the generous support of our event sponsors, Michael Farrell of Farrells Bar, Paul Dempsey of Berties, Brian Hennessy of Sports & Leisure and Thomas & Michael Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Homes we would not be able to attempt this.

Twenty six players are currently training for this event from which the organising committee will have to pick sixteen to attempt the record. There will be ten disappointed players comments Emmett Perry one of the organising committee but the moral is very high and the lads that do not make the final cut will be there to offer support and help out in the attempt in other ways. We are planning two six hour games in the next few weeks and this will give us a good idea of how the players react both physically and mentally.

Pierce Hennessy another of the organising committee and who is also hopeful of getting his place in the team comments that the final sixteen will have to be both physically and mentally prepared. This is the equivalent of running three consecutive marathons.

Apart from the actual game we are also busy planning a family fun day with bouncy
castles, food stalls and attractions. Local radio station community radio youghal will be covering this event live on 104fm.

The committee of Youghal United are working overtime preparing for this event and we are currently preparing a commemorative book to celebrate our 25th anniversary.

If you want to take part in sporting history and raise money for a great cause
Please contact Kevin Gallogley 087 2750855 / Emmett Perry 087 2835286
or email record@youghalunited.com
Click on image to enlarge

Youghal C.Y.M.S. junior players Aaron Tobin and Kenny Wight have qualified for the Irish U-16 snooker team. Both players will represent Ireland when they take part in the 6 player Irish team in The Celtic Challenge that takes place in Wales at the end of June. They will also play in the home internationals in Wales in the 1st week in September in what promises to be a great experience for them when they line up against the top players from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Congratulations to both players and Youghal C.Y.M.S. wishes them every success.
Pic: Youghalonline.com/sports Email: news@youghalonline.com

Meanwhile the the very popular weekly senior snooker blitz has begun and all players are required to be at the start time of 7pm every Friday evening. The Youghal C.Y.M.S. played host to Fermoy C.Y.M.S. in a snooker friendly tournament on the four championships tables on Sunday last. The junior players did extremely well and won the friendly tournament. Well done to all the organisers involved in the youth work of both teams.

Congratulations to Kieran McCarthy from Youghal who celebrated his 40th birthday with family and friends at The Marine Bar, Youghal. Kieran is a popular musican in town and a member of the famous Youghal Pipe Band. Kieran’s musician friends turned up in their numbers for the big jam and a great night was had by all.

Click on image to enlarge

The meeting commenced with confirmation that Environment Minister John Gormley had sanctioned funding for the new Youghal drainage network and the accompanying wastewater treatment plant. The sums allocated are €8m and €10m respectively. Work on both is due to start later this year.  The news was widely welcomed. By Christy Parker

Votes of Congratulations:

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley congratulated the Youghal Ladies Div3 Badminton team on winning the Cork County League and Cup double. The team members were Marie Mason, Frieda Kearns, Lucy Kearns and Susan Ashman. Cllr Michael Beecher congratulated performers, producers, parents and all involved in the “fabulous” Cinderella show at the Community Hall recently. Mayor Sandra McLennan paid tribute to Amber Walsh, Kate Clerkin and Lan Murphy of Pobalscoil na Trionoide -and their teachers- on winning the Overall award at the recent Millipore Science Competition in Cork. The girl’s 15-minute presentation outlined three ways to pollinate different species of plants using a mechanical pollinator in place of bees.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Burke asked that the diving board be installed at the Lighthouse Hill. He said signage at the bottom of Cork Hill was turned the wrong way. Other problems to which Cllr Burke drew attention were: potholes at Raheen Road and loose gravel at Nealon’s Quay car park.

Cllr Eoin Coyne was concerned about debris on the beach area near the lifeboat station. He asked that Tesco’s be consulted regarding the broken fence dividing its car park and Gallagher’s Mews. Litter in the vicinity was attracting rats, he added and suggested Tesco’s might install CCTV. The councillor also requested that the fence between Lidl and Millennium Park be repaired as children were accessing the park (and playground) after closing hours. He wondered if a bench now idle at a cordoned overhang at Moll Goggin’s Corner be moved to North Abbey cemetery. Cllr Coyne also said he had been asked whether a voluntary group could clear rubbish from Buttimer’s Dock in similar fashion to Foroige’s beach clean. Town Clerk Liam Ryan said that “all voluntary work is greatly appreciated in the current economic climate” and asked that those interested contact him.

Cllr Beecher said an information sign at the town entrance needed changing from old disc parking reference. The councillor further ordained that a sign at Moll Goggin’s Corner needed facing in appropriate direction, Green Hole beach needed cleaning, hand railings at Chestnut Drive needed urgent attention, as did the steps at John Paul Estate -especially at the church side. He pointed out that the Front Strand toilets be painted before requesting news on the proposed car park for Sarsfield’s Terrace and extra dog fouling bins along Golf Links Road, Town Walls and Strand area.

Cllr Michelle Hennessy said Fr. O’Neill was looking “very green” and needed “a good scrub.” She was referring to the statue in Green Park.

Cork County Council Items:

Cllr Linehan Foley asked if grass cutting at Meadowlands/Summerdale Lawn, which has just been taken over by the county council, was that council’s responsibility or if residents held responsibility. Town manager Patricia Power said usually residents convened and bought a lawn mower or employed a contractor to do it. The councillor said when the town council took over an estate it helped out but whither regarding the county council? Town engineer for Cork County Council, Paul Murray, said he would look into it.

Cllr Linehan Foley said a ‘concealed entrance’ sign on the route from Meadowlands towards Ballyclamsey had been removed and wanted it restored.

She sought news on the road liners for Cork Hill and was told that work there was imminent. The councillor complained that wheelchair entrance on Catherine Street footpath was being compromised by cars parking at access points, meaning wheelchair users accessing Cumann na Daoine often had to negotiate the road for some distance to gain access to the pavement. She wondered if the path could be slanted more generally. The councillor said a structural crack on the Lighthouse Hill was widening and people were concerned, especially as the roadway had collapsed previously, some decades ago. The councillor said the residents of Kilcoran Road residents were very pleased with the road re-surfacing outcome but wished also that the “ancient” hydrants on the road be updated.

Cllr Linehan Foley described the “massive” drop from the steps onto Green Hole beach was “very dangerous.” She had been approached with regard to voluntary work being undertaken to rectify it but had advised that “insurance and doing other people’s jobs” needed also to be considered. The town clerk said he understood the motivation but that “a whole plethora” of factors, such as engineering services, materials, etc was involved. “Unfortunately, local authorities throughout Ireland are now starved of funds and staff” to do such work and though the will is there, it can’t be done as had been previously.

Tallow Street, Redbarn and Tallow Street again

The councillor suggested “a short term solution” to parking on the pavement at Tallow Street. She advocated restoring a pole bearing a ‘no parking sign’ that had been removed when Eircom were installing two boxes. The pole had hindered   and largely prevented cars accessing the footpath. “Someone will be killed there,” she warned. Alternatively, some bollards might have the same affect. She appreciated that a lot more parking fines were being issued meantime. Finally, she sought an update on the fire station situation, saying funding had been granted two years ago, before plans were altered. The town manager said she was meeting the senior architect “next Thursday” on the matter.

Cllr Coyne asked if a gap between the road and the footpath on island View (near St. Coran’s Well), to which he had referred last January, could be mended. The town engineer said he expected it to be repaired in the next couple of months.

Cllr Burke inquired whether Redbarn was to receive Blue Flag status this year. The town manager said it was not expected that An Taisce’s decision would be made public for a few more weeks. Meanwhile that body had not consulted her on whether a lifeguard needed to be deployed in the area to facilitate Blue Flag status.

The councillor referred to “the usual list of broken footpaths” aka Chapel Street, South Main Street ad the junction of South Abbey and Strand Street. Moving quickly over the cracks, he drew attention again to the absence of a ‘concealed entrance’ sign for Summerdale Lawn and understood that the engineer had visited and may soon make a recommendation. He said vegetation was obscuring a speed limit sign at Pobalscoil na Trionoide. Finally, he sought an update on the work due to be conducted at Moll Goggin’s Corner and bemoaned the fact that two outstanding viewing areas at the mouth of the harbour are incapacitated as another tourist season dawns. He requested that the engineer’s report be made available to the councillors.

Cllr Beecher described potholes from the road turning off at Greencloyne for Copperalley to the duration of the Quarry Road as “very bad.” The Knockaverry potholes were no better but he was told that several of these had been filled in the day previous.

The councillor also, stridently, condemned parking on the footpath and on double yellow lines between Cork Hill and North Abbey, labelling it as “very serious.” He warned of cars “driving on the footpath at speed” as traffic negotiated the area and said serious injury or a fatality was imminent between this practice and pedestrians, including those with buggies, being forced to walk on the road. He called for no parking signs to be erected and the matter afforded “top priority.”

Town Engineer Paul Murray said he was awaiting an engineer’s report but meanwhile, with traders in the area some balancing between pedestrians’ interests and unloading necessities was needed. Hw would be advancing the chamber’s concerns to the senior executive engineer, he added. Cllr Beecher said pedestrian safety was the prime concern. Cllr Linehan Foley suggested a loading bay from 9am-4pm be accommodated, with car parking facilitated on that space thereafter.

Town Manager Patricia Power said she too would consult with the senior engineer but meantime she would ask the traffic warden to increase yet further the prevalence of fines. “Three or four €60 fines may make people reconsider,” she advocated adding, “It is not acceptable that vehicles on the footpath make people, whether children, disabled, mothers with buggies or able-bodied walk onto the road,” she stated. “Its not just parking, its dodging cars as they mount the pavement,” reiterated Cllr Linehan Foley.

Cllr Hennessy asked for an update o the Disability Audit on Phase 1 of the  proposed project. Mr Murray said reduced staff levels were a hindrance but the work was ongoing nonetheless and he’d have news in due course. The councillor appreciated some road signing had been deployed at Gaelscoil but she wondered if the town’s zebra crossings be re-painted. Mr. Murray said they would be.

Mayor McLellan asked that a yellow box by Fitzgerald’s Terrace be considered.

Mayor’s Business:

The mayor said loan repayments on the swimming pool had come in at under €budge by 8,000 last year. She sought and was given permission to transfer the money tot Claycastle Leisure Centre for repair and replacement of the steam room.

Secondly, she brought to the attention of the council that a petition had been formally received from residents in the North Abbey area regarding underage drinking and anti-social behaviour the environs. The petition proposed such measures as lighting, securing of boundary fences and tree pruning which, she noted, had also been discussed at the previous meeting.

There were three tenders for refurbishment work at 100 Blackwater Heights. They were supplied by, Glounthaune Property Development Ltd., Moroney Construction Ltd and MMD Construction Cork Ltd. No prices were given under new rules defining procedure.

The council approved a donation of €200 from its contingency fund for

Marcella O’ Riordan in regard to a window display of artefacts to be conducted in conjunction with a forthcoming Youghal Carpets photographic exhibition and titled ‘End of an Era of Carpet Making in Youghal.

There was some discussion of an e-mail forwarded by Cllr Donie Daly in which he stated he would be unable to represent the council at the annual meeting, as agreed last June. The meeting, which takes place on May 27th , in the Burlington hotel, Dublin, demands a statutory attendance over each of five years. It was agreed that Cllr Linehan Foley would deputise for the forthcoming event but she was adamant she would not attend subsequent meetings.

Draft Casual Bye Laws 2010:

Several amendments to a rather detailed document were proposed and accepted. The Town Clerk will return the amended document at a subsequent meeting for ratification. Some analysis will follow in a future addition of the Youghal News.

However it can already be revealed that fish gutting will not be allowed at public events due to the likely prevalence of unsavoury odorous and attendant health risks and inconveniences.

Correspondence:

Referring to Cluid Social & Affordable Housing priorities for 2010, Cllr Barbara Murray strongly condemned the standard and maintenance of the housing association’s development in Kenny’s Lane. She lambasted its proposal to address defects and improve installation through training courses on efficient use of energy as “a joke.” The councillor said she couldn’t believe “that an organisation like Cluid could install the most inefficient heating system to a marginalised sector with predominantly low incomes.” She said there were prevalent cases of inefficient insulation and even no insulation at all in Kenny’s Lane Residents were having to use storage heaters and bills were being ‘crucified’ by heating bills exceeding €400. She believed Cluid should place proper heating systems –such as gas tanks, as work well in other developments- amongst their priorities for 2010.

Cllr Murray said the council should write to Cluid informing them of their deficiencies in installing “appalling” heating systems and recommending they rectify it. She would certainly not like to see them building any more houses in Youghal.”

Mayor McLellan concurred with the councillor’s sentiments, also citing reports of non-insulation and crumbling fireplaces, before Cllr Murray also condemned Cluid’s house designs and the fact that “they operate without a green area in this day and age.”

Any Other Business:

At the bequest of Cllr Linehan Foley, the chamber viewed a DVD from Team Youghal, the marathon cycling side that will again participate in the (second) gruelling Round Ireland (1,350 miles) World Cup Cycling event later this year.  The team is fundraising for the Emer Casey Foundation on the back of the event but also promoting Youghal through its nationally-circulated promotional DVD. The councillors were highly impressed by the stunning vistas of beach, heritage views that included the town walls and Clock Gate and not least by cyclists surviving an ascent on Windmill Hill!

One unfortunate aspect of the viewing was the failure of the council’s chamber’s equipment, apparently, to facilitate the accompanying soundtrack. A second unfortunate occurrence was that there remains no ready cash on the council’s contingency coffers to allocate a donation. Reminding that all organisations are best served by registering funding applications around budget time, the town clerk said he would nevertheless investigate if a solution could be found to allow a contribution for 2010. (See www.teamyoughal.com for details of this year’s challenge)

e-mails

The meeting concluded with a discussion on how to reduce drastically the volume of paper communications issued to councillors. Cllr Michael Beecher initiated the discussion, vigorously criticising the ‘wasteful’ practice supplying printed matter on so many issues. There is damage to the environment as well as the cost costs of printing and even delivering it to us,” he argued, “There must be a more efficient way.

The town clerk said he had advocated increased usage of e-mail some years ago to know effect. However, there was now consensus that telecommunications technology be employed and his proposal that the council work towards commencing a new approach from the budget month of January 2011 was accepted. ‘If it means allocating laptops to some members we can recoup the outlay through savings on paper,’ he concluded.

Between ash clouds and rainfall, most of us by now consider the Irish summer more of a threat then a promise. For two Youghal girls however, the horizon is a far distant place, beyond which a major mission of mercy will enable them to bring sunshine to some of the world’s most needy inhabitants. By Christy Parker

On June 17th Muriel Foley and Aoife Bulman will fly to Kenya to spend eight weeks working in a children’s care centre and orphanage in Bombululu, an extremely deprived suburb of the capital Mombassa. The centre was actually founded in 2001 after some children asked a labourer to pray for them as they were hungry.

Most of the impoverished children whose lives Muriel and Aoife will commit to improving will be derived from homes torn apart by alcohol abuse and other dysfunctional circumstances, as well as orphans of AIDS victims, some of whom will carry the HIV virus themselves.

Muriel, 20, is the youngest child of Gerard and Catherine, from Knockmonlea. Aoife, whose 20th birthday will occur on August 5th, is the second youngest child of George and Carmel, of the Bog (Redbarn) Road. Muriel’s dad teaches at Carrigtwohill National school while George is managing director of a storage company in Waterford city. Both girls were educated at Loretto and Pobalscoil and attend UCC, where Muriel is in her final year of English and Politics studies and Aoife is in her second Social Science year.  Off campus, as it were, Muriel works in Tesco’s, while Aoife plies the pumps at the Point bar in Tallow Street.

Both girls harbour a wish to work with vulnerable children and discovered their opportunity online, through voluntary aid agency Global Vision International (GVI). The company run dozens of community care and conservation projects across the globe (see www.gvi-world.com).

Empowering

The main thrust of the aid agency’s work is to empower the vulnerable. In a slum region where destitution is endemic and life is lived on a ledge overlooking disaster, education offers escape. (The fact that the centre provides daily food has itself enticed dozens of children to school by way of staving off hunger.)

Once they have applied –or enabled to apply- themselves to learning and allied to care and assistance such as Muriel and Aoife will contribute, many of the children will transfer to mainstream education. Statistics show that most remain in the top 10% of their classes. The centre, which relies on private sponsorship, is eager to expand its space and services to provide further this alternative to substance abuse, crime and prostitution.

GVI’s website offers details what the east African coast holds for the girls. Working in a multinational team of six, their day will start at 7.30 am in a shared, self-catering compound. “Mondays to Wednesdays we will be teaching basic English, maths, science and nature studies, to classes of about eight,” says Aoife.

On Thursdays and Fridays they will work in the orphanage, where the children will be aged three to ten approximately. “Some of them are apparently quite withdrawn,” Aoife proceeds. “Part of our job will be to communicate with them one-to-one, to nurture their confidence. On Saturdays,” she adds, “we’ll be taking children to Haller National Park to see crocodiles, elephants, monkeys, giant tortoises, etc as part of their environmental education.”

Sunday us rest day and the chance to uncork a beer, explore a beach or grab a boat. The area offers diverse pursuits that would turn Youghal Chamber green as Swahili grass with envy. Albeit at one’s own expense, there are game reserves, city trips, snorkelling, caving (with bats) and sacred shrines to visit, while learning how elephant dung is turned into saleable recycled paper products is something everyone from Youghal should know in these times of economic uncertainty.

Dreads and donations

Sundays aside, the girls fully expect that the education process will be two-way street. “I know a few people who have worked in Africa and they have described as a life-changing experience,” enthuses Muriel. “It’s a very exciting prospect.” The Knockmonlea student’s main fear is “meeting big spiders and cockroaches”, while Aoife, a veteran of FCA camping trips, simply “dreads flying.”

Meanwhile they speak of eating only fruit that can be peeled, not washing their teeth with tap water and “keeping our moths closed in the shower,” laughs Muriel. Yet, despite being inoculated against about 10 potentially fatal diseases, both expect “to be hit by something at some stage.” Well, sunburn might be a novelty for Irish girls…

The venture is costing €3,000 each to cover flights, accommodation and inoculations. A bag packing in Tesco’s, a table quiz in the Point and an ongoing collection bucket in Centra, has raised over half the necessary do far. “People have been unbelievable generous,” they both chorus. “We really want to say a huge thank you to everyone.” Further fundraising, including bag packing in SuperValu (May 29th) is imminent before the stricken children of Bombululu feel the warmth of Youghal compassion this summer.

YOUGHAL AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY ALERT MAY 2010

By Christy Parker

Prior to the meeting, PRO Garda John Sharkey circulated information packs covering such areas as home & holiday security, scams, child protection, safe driving and victim support. Pa Forrest chaired the meeting in the absence of Jack Dempsey. Shortly after commencement, treasurer Michael Beecher quoted the current finances as €704.58.

Community Safety Week

Sergeant John Sharkey delivered an account of the previous week’s Garda Community Safety Week. He referred to Community Garda Peter Queally’s involvement with the Foroige beach clean up and also reported that Garda Queally had called to crime victims, including an elderly man duped and robbed by a man posing as a garda detective. The sergeant said yellow ‘calling cards’ are available on which householders ask unknown callers offering services to enter their details with a view to being contacted later, rather than being immediately admitted to their homes. The cards are available at the garda station or through Cuman na Daoine, Meals on Wheels and the Rotary club. The sergeant said the Community Alert committee had selected the first 15 of the current 40+ personal security alarm applications for government funding.

Celebrations and Signs

The PRO said Sergeant Kennedy and the Pobalscoil Parent’s Council had discussed a celebratory disco in lieu of the upcoming Junior Cert examinations, with regard to sidestepping underage drinking. He informed the meeting that car burglary warning signs had now been erected at the Front Strand, Claycastle, Glenbower and Gortroe, with the group contributing €50 towards costs.

Sergeant Sharkey said the gardai had discussed anti-fraud measures with the Chamber of Commerce.

Crime statistics

There had been only one reported assault since the previous meeting, although there had been at least one other ‘unreported’ assault in which the victim had declined to file a complaint. “Unfortunately this sometimes happens and hinders us taking action,” he added. The crime statistics for the month April 6th to May 4th were as follows:

Burglaries (5) – Youghal Bridge, Cork Hill, Summerdale Lawn, Clashadonna and O’Reilly’s Terrace. One involved a business premises and the other private. In regard to the ‘bogus garda’ incident, at Clashadonna, the sergeant said a similar incident had occurred in Cobh and a suspect has been identified and is being sought. He is not from the Youghal area The burglaries at the business premises and at one private residence were also being resolved.

Assault (1) Store Street.

Criminal damage (11): Tallow Street (3), CBS school, St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Chestnut Drive, Pearse Square, Raheen Park.  These included a number of tyres being slashed in Tallow Street area. The sergeant declined to relate the incidents to underage drinking but said CCTV was being studied regarding four non-Irish individuals who may or may not be involved.

Drunk Driving (1): Lighthouse Hill

Caught In Possession of Drugs: (4): Seafield/Perks, Claycastle, Mill Road, Dolphin Square.

Possession of drugs with intent to supply (1): Quarryvale. This followed on a house search and amounted to an estimated €1,000 worth of cannabis. A DPP file is being prepared.

Fraud (1): Tesco’s and detected.

Public Order Incidences (6): Bayview Grove, Friar Street, Claycastle (2), Blackwater Heights, O’Brien’s Place. These involved drunkenness, disorderly conduct, etc.

Street Searches for Drugs (30): At Seafield, Ballyvergan, Clashanonna, O’Brien’s Place, Green Park, Tallow Street, Killeagh Road, Front Strand.

Thefts (6): Centra Supermarket Killeagh, Ballyvergan (from car), Claycastle, Lighthouse Hill (from car), Lidl’s, Aura (from car), Tesco. Three of these were thefts from cars.

Underage drinking (3) South Main Street, Dun Coran, Ashe Street.

Licensed Premises: Twelve premises were visited and all found to be in order as regards late or underage drinking.

From the floor:

Sergeant Sharkey said an off licence proprietor had sought a meeting with gardai relevant to alcohol purchases for underage consumption. “He is being conscientious and we will give him whatever assistance we can,” said the sergeant.

One member of the attendance provided the garda with a knife he had discovered while out walking and agreed to give further details on location later. Sergeant Sharkey recalled a campaign theme called “How Big Do You Feel?,” which emphasised that knife-carriers, contrary to their own self-estimation, held minimal status in the wider picture. Regarding an imminent diving knife promotion at Lidl’s, the sergeant said it was up to the retailers to police such sales. “If someone buys a knife for diving, that’s fine,” he commented, “but they’d have no business carrying it around on a Saturday night.”

Asked if on-street drug detections were increasing or otherwise, the sergeant said the rate of infringement seems to have subsided compared to 2009, when there were ‘strong concerns about heroin, which fuels serious crime.” He also explained that gardai need “reasonable suspicion” before searching someone, although some individuals might be searched regularly. The meeting heard that Youghal is shortly to be the focus both of a pilot referral scheme and also a ‘dial-up and stop drugs’ project, whereby the public will be urged to assist the battle against drugs.

On foot of an inquiry from treasurer Michael Beecher, Sergeant Sharkey explained that June to August would see increased local garda resources with the deployment of the Midleton-based traffic unit and increased overtime allowance to assist weekend policing.

Concern was expressed about anti-social behaviour in the college gardens. It was reported that some youths had leapt from heights nearing 20 feet at the town walls to escape detection, barely avoiding serious injury. The sergeant further informed that an individual brought to the garda station on another matter could also be breathalysed. Regarding the supply of alcohol to minors, a shopkeeper in attendance said a first offence can close a business while a second discretion can result in failure to have a licence renewed. “It’s a big risk for retailers because should an accident subsequently occur, it will be traced back,” observed Sergeant Sharkey.

Alcohol was deemed to be regularly involved in assaults, the meeting heard, while the majority of victims know their assailant/s, as being domestically related, friends, rivals, school enemies, etc.. “Its up to the victim to follow up with an official complaint,” stressed the sergeant.

The next  meeting is on Tuesday June 1st at 7.45 pm.

All proceeds in aid of : Marymount Hospice & Bru Columbanus

2 Bands  : The Grip supported by The ReSession Band

Venue: Youghal Rugby Club -Saturday 15th May 2010

Doors : 9:30pm

Admission : €10 on the door or by ticket

Door raffle & spot prizes galore on the night……