The Race Around Ireland have decided on the provisional route for September 2010 and it’s passing through Youghal.
Photos: John Hennessy | Michael Hussey ( Youghalonline.com) Email: news@youghalonline.com

The Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal has been named as an official time station and the Hotel has thrown its doors open for the race. Michael Davitt, Hotel Manager, said; “We’re very proud to be supporting The Race Around Ireland and Team Youghal as we see it as being a fantastic opportunity to enhance Youghal as a tourist destination while seeing up close what an extreme endurance race involves and supporting a well deserved local and international charity in the process.” The Walter Raleigh Hotel has made accommodation available for all teams that are competing in the race and also will have a dedicated press room available for the media that will be following the event.

Time Stations will be set approximately 40 to 80 miles apart. At each Time Station a competing team must call into Race Headquarters and report their location and time. This information will be posted on the Race Around Ireland website and it will allow the officials, as well as team fans, to track the team’s progress.

Ger Flanagan from Team Youghal said; “We are delighted that The Race Around Ireland organisers have chosen Youghal as an official time station and also appreciate the support from Michael and The Walter Raleigh Hotel Team  in putting Youghal on the cycling map for this endurance event. Team Youghal are training hard for the event and now that we have the provisional route we can start forming our race tactics to retain the eight man team accolade for 2010. We are still actively looking for sponsors to support Team Youghal and so far the response has exceeded our expectations but there is still a long way to go to reach our target. We are very appreciative of the support received so far considering the present economic climate.  Our involvement in the race will be to raise awareness and funds for The Emer Casey Foundation which is doing very valuable work around the detection and treatment of ovarian and uterine cancer.”

Team Youghal consists of an eight man cycling team with support crew. All cyclists are leisure cyclists who cycle for a hobby and include a Garda, Fire Officer, Electrician and a wide diversity of other professions.

Team Youghal will be competing in The Race Around Ireland which is part of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) World Cup series which includes other huge endurance races such as The Race Across America.

Unlike other cycling races such as the RÁS or the Tour de France, the course is in no way roped off. There are no marshals controlling traffic flow and there are no planned rest stops or stages in this event. Once the clock starts in Navan at the starting time, it won’t stop until each rider reaches the finish line at the end of the 2,100 km circuit.

Further Information:

http://www.racearoundireland.com/default.asp ,   http://www.walterraleighhotel.com/

http://www.emercaseyfoundation.com/

Ger Flanagan; 024 93358

IN A spectacular display of pure raw courage, guts and determination in searing heat conditions of over 21 degrees Celsius, Youghal United AFC will enter the halls of history after beating the Guinness Book of Records for a ‘Continuous game of 5-A Side Soccer’ at Ardrath Park over the June Bank Holiday Weekend.
By Derek Kiely | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The official record did stand at 27 hours and 15 mins and as Youghal United started on their quest at 9.02am on Saturday the 5th of June they had beaten that record at 12.20pm on Sunday the 6th of June, where no less than 752 goal had been scored at that point in time, but the Youghal lads continued on their target of 33 hours plus which the incredibly achieved at 6.32pm on Sunday evening scoring 946 goals in total.

The concept of the whole event of trying to break the record came about in September 2009, when ideas were needed to raise funds for Youghal United’s Soccer Academy and money to support underage School Boy’s and School Girl teams.

The Original committee of Emmett Perry, Kevin ‘Jock’ Gallogley, Brian Wade, Finbar Walsh and Pierce Hennessy got the ball rolling on the record attempt and in just nine months the dream was achieved.

Emmett Perry said “It has been a long road, but the support we have received has been brilliant. Local sponsors like Farrell’s, Bertie’s, T & M Fitzgerald and the Quality Hotel Youghal has been great and the work by everyone involved in the attempt has been nothing short of miraculous”.

The rules governing a Guinness Book of Records attempt are very strict.

1. Only 16 players allowed in total.
2. An official referee has to be in control of the game at all times.
3. Every kick has to be recorded by Video, for proof of timing.
4. The game has to be played at a respectable pace and no time wasting is accepted.

All of the above were adhered to impeccably and Youghal United AFC must be congratulated for the way the venue was set up over the weekend.

The players were encamped in a special section of the ground visible to all and hundreds of people at some stage of the attempt either during the morning, afternoon, evening or during the night to support the lads.

Along with the obvious centre-piece of the Guinness Book of Record attempt, the Youghal United club also invited all the other sporting associations in the area to come along and set up stands displaying their sports, making the whole event a real community effort.

Perry said “The players are real heroes in my opinion, they have literally given everything they have for this attempt I can’t thank them enough. At 5 am on Sunday morning the will power was tested to the limit, it was cold, wet and fatigue was a huge issue, but they dug deep and showed unbelievable heart to keep going”.

The players who made this piece of Youghal sporting history are:

Patrick Morrissey, Christophe Colin, Kevin Gallogley, Barry Goggin, Diarmuid Schuel, David O’Keefe, Mike Lyons, Aidan Ryan, David Kenneally, Peter Geary, Leon Geary, Martin Cohen, Pierce Hennessy, Anthony Kelly, Gavin O’Leary and Stuart Hickey.

These 16 players will be admired and revered for many years to come after such an astonishing achievement.

Perry finished by saying “The support we have received is brilliant and we silenced the doubters who said we couldn’t do it and I must thank the referees, Eddie Foley, Ken Hennessy, Seamus Landers, Paul and Kieran Griffin, David Coleman and Ed McNally.

There are so many people we want to thank who gave their time up for this event and we would really like to thank Ken Dempsey who gave us all the Exercise and Nutritional advice we need throughout”.

Youghal United will now go into the history books for an amazing 33 ½ hour record for a continuous 5 A Side soccer match. Congratulations, it will take some effort to beat this one.
Click on image to enlarge – More photos to follow in later post – All Photos: www.youghalonline.com

The presentation of prizes took place in the Clubhouse on Sunday 6th June  at 10.00 pm sharp. Members and their partners were cordially invited to attend the presentation and music and dancing  followed. The Captain’s Prize was presented by the Youghal Golf Club Captain Jim Coleman and his wife Finnuala to this year’s worthy winner Ivor O’Callaghan.
Photo: www.youghalonline.com/Sports  Email: news@youghalonline.com

Click on image to enlarge: Photo: Youghalonline.com

The Youghal RNLI Lifeboat launched on Sunday 6th June at 15.44 to a report of a broken down jet ski somewhere between Red Barn and Capel Island.

The Lifeboat under the helm of Jason Ansbro and crew members Thomas Cliffe and Liam Keogh located the Jet Ski with one person on board at 15.50 where they took the casualty on board and proceeded to tow the Jet Ski ashore.  The casualty, a young male was safe and well.

For more information please telephone Noreen Varney Youghal RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0870506640.

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.ie  News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.ie/press

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations with 43 in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of the Coast Guard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Cork Summer Show 2010 – 18th, 19th & 20th June

Ballincollig will play host to the Cork Summer Show for the second year running, with the Munster Agriculture Society confident of beating last year’s record crowd numbers. Photo: Ailish Murphy Email: news@youghalonline.com

The site, just off the Ballincollig by-pass, will be packed with fun for all family. Alongside the traditional agricultural, equine, and bovine events, visitors can enjoy the Food Hall, Arts & Crafts Marquee, Wedding Marquee, Home Design Showhouse, and Flower Tent.

There will be cookery demonstrations, gardening displays and fashion and interior design advice from some very well known names including Peter Dowdall, Ronan Nangle, Stephen Dunne, and Charlotte & Jane, whose Kinsale-based fashion business is causing a real buzz in fashion circles.

The hotly contested Best Dressed Competitions will be offering fantastic prizes. The Best Dressed Lady will receive a prize valued at €3,000 from Michel Jewellers of Cork, with the Best Dressed Gent taking home a voucher for 4-ball golf at the world famous Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale. Other winners will receive beauty and food hampers, spa treatments, clothing and other treats. There will be a special prize for The Best Dad on Fathers’ Day, and a €200 voucher for the Most Creative Hat – a competition open to all the family.

The Cork Summer Show really does have something for everyone!

All-Ireland U-14 and U-16 snooker champion Aaron Tobin from Youghal C.Y.M.S.
It was a great weekend of snooker for 14 year old Aaron Tobin from Youghal C.Y.M.S. in Ivy Rooms, Carlow. Aaron retained his U-14 Irish Championship Title beating Christoper Duffy 3-1. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The following day, Arron completed a super double by winning the U-16 Irish Title 3-2 on the final black beating Josh Boileau. Congratulations to Aaron on acheiving this historic double and bringing the two All-Ireland titles to Youghal C.Y.M.S.

Aaron who is a 2nd year student at Pobalscoil Na Troinóide, Youghal, was delighted on his fantastic win and said that all the hours practice he put into the game during the winter months at Youghal C.Y.M.S. paid off.

Following an extraordinary debut event on the Culdaff beach in Donegal in May 2009, Dawn Chorus returned to waterfronts all across Ireland on Sunday 30 May. Over the past few months The Association of Irish Choirs and Active Retirement Ireland have encouraged choirs throughout the country to open their doors to retirement groups, to develop a short concert together and to sing on a scenic waterfront across the country to mark the end of the Bealtaine Festival 2010.

Pictured are members of Youghal Choral Society singing on Youghal strand to play their part in The Dawn Chorus at 7am at Youghal Beach – Photo: Bronwen Howley

The oldest Corpus Christi Procession in Ireland will take place in Youghal this Sunday (6th June 2010 at 12.00 noon) The procession started way back in 1898 and has continued ever since. Report/Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com) Email: news@youghalonline.com

Over the last few weeks two local men Noel Cronin and Barty Murphy have been busy installing cable and loudspeakers to broadcast the event both live on local radio CRY and through the loudspeaker system, all 47 of them. Noel told Youghalonline.com that he has been doing this every year since 1974 and remembers when the procession would proceed to the Green Park where the Loreto nuns would prepare the altar and decorate the bandstand.

The present route around the central part of town is in place since around the mid 90′s. Noel said that over two and half miles of cable is used with the loudspeakers attached at regular intervals.

Barty Murphy who helps Noel ‘surround sound’ the town said once the cables were sabotaged when someone cut the line but were soon repaired with a bit of insulation tape!. While local mariner Jim Horner has just sailed into Youghal harbour last Tuesday evening after circumnavigating the world Noel and Barty have been busy circumnavigating the town!

The Eucharist Procession will begin directly after 12.00 Mass in The College Gardens, Emmet place, Youghal. The Blessed Sacrament is carefully placed in the monstrance and elevated so that all adorers can see it. The Priest carries the monstrance with the Consecrated Host for the adoration of the people of the town through the streets flanked by Canopy Bearers.

The procession route is as follows: Emmet Place down Church St. on to North Main St.- Watsons Corner- Dolphin’s Sq.- Catherine St.- Grattan St- Market Sq. -The Mall- Strand St. turn at the Grotto on to Pearse Sq.- Friar St.- South Main St.- North Main St. turn up DeValera St. -Emmet Place and back to the College Gardens for Benediction.

The Procession will be broadcast live by local radio CRY on 104fm and on the internet www.youghalradio.com. You can also click on the link on the top corner of this page to go direct to CRY.  YoughalOnline.com will also cover the event. If you have photos of this years Procession and would like them posted on this site please send them in as soon as possible  after the procession to news@youghalonline.com.
If you liked this feature please feel free to leave a comment at the end of this page – All comments are moderated before publishing.

The video below was made by Youghalonline.com of last year’s procession-click on the centre to play.

Kick-off 9am Saturday 5th June 2010

Youghal United’s World record attempt begins this June Bank Holiday weekend. Canon Tom Browne P.P. will bless the players and event which will kick off at 9am this Saturday morning. 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

The 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

Mariner Jim Horner sailed in to Youghal harbour last Tuesday evening (1st June 2010) after circumnavigating the globe over the past five years. A flotilla of boats, including the Youghal Lifeboat, greeted Jim on board the catamaran “Lady Jane III” as he turned round Capel Island and approached the inner harbour on a beautiful Summers evening. The Horner’s told Youghalonline.com they were delighted to be back home with family and friends and were stunned by the warm welcome when entering the harbour. The horner’s sent the following message to say thanks to everyone.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com EMAIL: news@youghalonline.com

We set off from Youghal on a brisk day in May 2005, to a large crowd of our friends & neighbours wishing us well. We had spent the last 6 years building our 40′ catamaran “Lady Jane III”. We planned to sail around the world but had no timescale, & were told to sail south until the butter melts then go west!” We were a little better equipped than this & had an auto helm, GPS radar etc to help us. We have had  an amazing journey, highlights being, swimming with  6 foot Sting Rays  in the South Pacific, trekking through the Venezualan jungle for 3 days to see the Angel Falls (the highest in the world) & spending a night watching leather back turtles, some 100 years old laying eggs on a beach in Trinidad. Our “lows” included being boarded & robbed in the Caribbean & hitting bad storms, going down to New Zealand, which made us feel as if we were inside a washing machine for 4 days &  did damage to the boat.

We could tell so many more stories. I was unable to rejoin the boat when we left it in Greece to visit Children & Grandchildren, due to illness so Jim had to sail single handed for the last 2,700 miles home.
We have sailed more than 32,000 miles, stayed in 37 different countries, but nothing could compare with 8pm on Tuesday evening when a dozen or more boats from Youghal came  5 miles or more out to Lady Jane III to escort her to her mooring in Youghal, There was an even bigger welcome than when we left, & Jim was surprised & thrilled.

Having seen all these wonderful places we can honestly say, we haven’t found anywhere in the world we would rather live than Youghal. We tried to keep in touch, but only had internet when we were on land but everyone has been so supportive, we would like to thank them all for their kindness, but an especial thanks to our neighbours Bruce & Jill Bell who have taken expert care of the Boatyard in our absence, & looked after me whilst I was on my own.

The boat has done a lifetimes sailing in 5 years & now needs some serious TLC, but we hope to be sailing around Youghal bay in the not too distant future.

Click on image to see the warm welcome home as Jim and his wife Jane sail into Youghal Harbour – Photo: Michael Hussey YoughalOnline.com