A new website has been launched for the parish of Youghal. The website was launched to coincide / facilitate the launch of the parish child protection policy. Click here or click on any of the pages below to visit the website www.youghalcatholicparish.com.

At the moment it is in its infancy. Through this website the parish hopes to keep parishioners up to date with what is happening in the Parish. We hope also to use it as a tool in proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord.

Youghal is steeped in history, from St. Coran to the Franciscans and Dominican Friaries to Walter Raleigh and Oliver Cromwell. Youghal is a place of faith and its history is marked by the faith of so many lay faithful, religious and clergy who have served Christ and his Church faithfully; one such faithful servant was, Blessed Dominic Collins.

Today the faith continues to survive, though in different circumstances.  The parish is unique in that it has 3 Churches in the town within a mile of one another and 1 Church in the Gortroe, country area of the parish. The parish welcomes many holiday makers and visitors from Easter to winter. Many come to experience the Historical town, but many others come for the beautiful beach, and relaxation. Youghal has a great reputation as a ‘Caring Town’, for within the parish boundaries, many people who are ill or elderly are looked after in the various homes, hospitals and houses. The Parish offers support and the Sacraments to the residents and patients.

The Parish has three Catholic primary schools, one second level school, and two religious communities. At the present moment there are four priests ministering to the parish.  Many lay people are involved in the pastoral activities of the parish; eg. ministering to the sick, baptismal team, Legion of Mary, Pioneers, Lectors, Ministers of the Eucharist, Choirs, First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation, etc.

Information courtesy: www.youghalcatholicparish.com

The Annual Multiple Sclerosis Church Gate collection will take place in Youghal and Gortroe, on Saturday July 31st and Sunday August 1st 2010. Please support this worthy cause.

Support MS Ireland

Multiple Sclerosis Ireland relies on the generous support of the public and businesses to help fund and operate the many services and resources we provide to over 7,000 families living with MS in Ireland.

What is MS?

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). The central nervous system acts like a switchboard sending electrical messages along the nerves to various parts of the body. These electrical messages instruct the body to perform various tasks, such as movement or thought. Most healthy fibres are insulated by myelin, a fatty substance which aids the flow of messages.  In MS, the myelin breaks down or becomes scarred.  This distorts or even blocks the flow of messages, resulting in the many symptoms of MS.  Many people explain MS like a faulty electrical flex on a kettle.  If the insulating flex breaks, it exposes the wires underneath making them more vulnerable to damage.

A diagnosis of MS will bring up lots of questions and concerns; some practical, some more emotional and sensitive.  The questions listed below are some of the general questions first asked about the disease.  While this will give you an insight to what the condition is, you may find the rest of the Living with MS section helpful to understand what living with MS can be like.

CLICK HERE to visit the Multiple Sclerosis WEBSITE

Thanks very much, to all the 6th class students of Clonpriest National School, for organising a successful year end Jumble Sale in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation.

The €950 raised was gratefully received from 6th class teacher Áine Uí Neill who pointed out that it was the students themselves who decided to donate the funds to the Irish Heart Foundation.  It is very encouraging to know that young enthusiastic people are joining us in raising much-needed funds.

The money raised means we can continue funding our lifesaving CPR and resuscitation programme and continue to fund school resources such as Bizzy Break and Action for Life and the promotion of positive experiences in physical activity.

Rosarii Ryan| Junior Fundraiser | Irish Heart Foundation | 42 Penrose Wharf | Penrose Quay |Cork

T: 021 4505822 | f: 021 4505374 | m: 086 7969975 | e: rryan@irishheart.ie |

www.irishheart.ie  | www.facebook.com/irishheartfoundation

Youghal’s status as a walled town of significant merit on the national and international stage has been enhanced with a €200,000 grant to the town council from the Irish Walled Towns Network. The sum, which represents 30% of the network’s entire 2010 national budget, will fund the removal of vegetation and the re-pointing of a wall section nearest Aher’s Terrace, according to town councillor and heritage committee lynchpin Liam Burke

Youghal Town Council has also received €15,000 for a Conservation Plan for Myrtle Grove, €4,900 for an Architectural Appraisal of the town’s historic quarter and €2,700 for the Graveyard Trail at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church. The information is contained in the latest Heritage Municipal Policy Committee report as delivered by Cllr Burke to the July Town Council meeting.

The report impresses with several other items of information. For example heritage footpaths will soon run from St. Mary’s College to DeValera Street, mirroring the same design and materials as already deployed in Emmet Place. The work will cost €100,000.

Next month’s Medieval Day will return to the College gardens on Sunday 22nd. Organised through voluntarily efforts from Cllrs Linehan Foley, Murray, Coyne and community members, its onus on family entertainment will include historical enactments, fencing, food and craft fairs, stalls, music and hopefully sunshine.

A business plan for the Clock Gate is underway, as a prerequisite to acquiring funding for the future development of a multi-purpose, heritage facility. Meanwhile the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group is seeking funding for a conservation plan for the monument.

Two new signs have been added to St. Mary’s Collegiate Church’s Graveyard Trail. These are based on i) historic headstones and ii) fauna. The new grant (see above) will secure additional signage, while the town council will provide wooden walkways and mulched (protective covering, usually of organic matter such as leaves, straw, or peat, says the dictionary) pathways to assist public access.

Waterford Institute of Technology’s architectural department is to conduct projects in Youghal, in a new partnership intended to be of mutual benefit.

Irish Historic Towns Atlas:

Finally, Youghal is to be included in the Irish Historic Towns Atlas. The atlas is part of a wider European project and 23 Irish towns have now signed up. The Youghal entry is being voluntarily “authored” as the report puts it, by Professor Tadhg O’Keefe of UCC and local engineer and rotary club member David Kelly, while the Royal Irish Academy meets most of the research and production costs.

However a local contribution of €30,00 is required. Mr Kelly has already raised much of this. A  donation of €15,000 from the Christian Brothers’ sale of Youghal properties, €3,000 from the Youghal Heritage Society, plus private donations brought in €34,000. As Youghal Town Council typically allots €25,000 towards heritage works in its annual budget, July’s council meeting agreed to earmark €6,000 of that towards the atlas project.

The project will see a large-scale map of Youghal digitalised for colour printing as the main reference. Youghal’s history, constructed from original sources and illustrated with further maps, will also feature, while a topographical, 22-part, information section will include copies of historic maps and pictorial images of the town. The streets section already has about 200 entries for street names, with dates and sources included. The earliest reference dates to1342. Original manuscript of Youghal’s local authorities since 1610 will also be included in original manuscript form.

The completed atlases are distributed to academic institutions and libraries across Europe and form  ‘a primary source of information and a base form which to launch further research.’

Between Wednesday 28 July and Sunday 1 August it will be non-stop for lifeboat fundraisers and supporters in Ballycotton.

The annual Golf Classic takes place at East Cork Golf Club, Midleton on Wednesday, 28 July.  Participants are hoping for the fine weather to continue and that their game won’t let them down on the day.  They will be hoping that they are in the running for the prize giving that evening at 8:30 pm.

The 5-a-side Soccer competition has been moved from Saturday afternoon to Thursday evening, 29 July, at 7pm at the school grounds.  The ladies will be showing the men how to play this year when they take part for the first time.  The prize giving for this event will take place later that evening at the Blackbird, Ballycotton, during the final heat of the Karaoke competition.

Friday, 30 July, will see bus loads of supporters arriving at Garryvoe Hotel for the final of the Karaoke competition, which took place throughout June and July.  Doors will open at 8pm and tickets are available at the door.

On Saturday, 31 July, a special Junior Karaoke competition will be held at 6pm at Waves Café, Ballycotton.  Karaoke singers have an opportunity to hear what their future competition will be.  Later that evening the annual Table Quiz will be held at The Schooner, Ballycotton, at 9:30 pm.

The lifeboat fundraising committee hopes Sunday, 1 August 2010, will be a fine day.  Last year their hard work on Ballycotton pier was washed away by the incessant rain.  A full afternoon’s entertainment, from 12 pm to 5pm, is planned for all the family.  A Food Fair will run throughout the afternoon.  The Greasy Pole competition will start at 12pm and there are a few surprises planned for this fun event.  A Kiddies Disco will take place at 1pm on the pier in front of the stage.  The children entering the fancy dress competition will be invited to gather at the barrier at the top of the pier at 2:15pm for a parade down the pier and judging in front of the stage.

Rachel Allen will escort the fancy dress entrants and will officially open the festivities at 2:30 pm.  Following her address the Battle of the Bands will commence.  The prize for this is a recording session in a professional studio.  A Tug-of-War will take place on the Conger Strand, at the top of the pier, at 3:30 pm followed by the Raft Race at 4pm.  The winners from Friday night’s karaoke final will be invited to sing at 4:30 pm and DJ Mossie will wind up the afternoon with fun and games from 5:00pm.

The organisers of the weekend hope that they have supplied enough entertainment for all throughout the bank holiday weekend.  This is one of their main fundraising events for Ballycotton lifeboat and hope it will be very successful.  They are hopeful that it will be as well supported as in previous years.

The 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.

At approximately 8am on Sunday morning (25th July 2010), Youghal Lifeboat crew member Patsy O’ Mahony was walking along near the mall and spotted two people a male and female having an early morning swim.
Photo: www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

He went to buy his morning newspaper and on the way back heard a young woman cry for help near the Lifeboat station where he could see that the young male had got into difficulty.  Patsy immediately went for the Life ring only to find that it was not there.  Patsy shouted to a passer by to call 999 and entered the water himself to help the casualty.  He got to the casualty in the nick of time as he was in danger of drowning.

From Patsy’s experience as a Lifeboat crew member and professional diver he managed to bring the casualty safely to shore where he was met by fellow crew member and local resident Sean Slattery where they brought both the male and female into the Lifeboat station and treated them for hypothermia while waiting for the Ambulance.

Thankfully both casualties recovered well and were taken away in the Ambulance for caution.  In order to save this man Patsy had to put his own life in danger.  If the Council provided life ring had been in its holder he would not have to do this.

Legendary Waterford-born entertainer Brendan Bowyer performed to a capacity crowd at the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal, last weekend. Brendan was accompanied on stage by his daughter Aisling and his 5 piece backing band.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Another legend of the showband era, local man Art Supple, performed prior to Brendan’s show, which went down a treat with the music loving audience. Both artists were happy to meet the crowds and to sign autographs after the show. Bowyer, has been bringing music lovers to their feet for over 50 years and Art Supple is the proud winner of the inaugural CRY Showband “Hall Of Fame Award 2009″ award, which was presented to his son Shane at the star studded ceremony last year.

Click on image to enlarge

Youghal, Co. Cork celebrated its designation by Failte Ireland as a ‘centre of excellence’ in family fun with its inaugural Family Fun Festival over the weekend (16th -18th July) with an action packed festival programme of free family entertainment.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com and John Hennessy

In excess of 5,000 visitors over the course of the weekend took part in a whole host of events which kicked off in style on Friday evening, 16th July 2010 with a ‘Mardi Gras’ parade setting the seaside town ablaze with colour.  The official launch of the event was by this year’s Kerry Rose, Veronica Hunt – a Youghal native.  Highlights of the parade included the contestants in the ‘Queen of the Sea’ competition as they cruised through the town in a range of vintage cars, led out by the nationally renowned ‘Youghal Pipe Band’.  Music and dance were the order of the day as visitors and locals saw dance troupes and street performers take centre stage, but it was the ‘Graham McDermott School of Dancing’ which stole the show and claimed first prize in the parade; sponsored by T & M Fitzgerald.

Speaking to Youghalonline.com, Dance teacher, Graham McDermott said, ” The kids were thrilled to win 1st prize, everyone was in great form as they just had their end of year party and they didn’t care if rained or snowed!” – ” I would also like to thank Sal Tivy and the organising committee for their invaluable help and thanks also to the generous sponsors of the Mardi Gras Parade T&M Fitzgerald Builders.”

The dance troupe had previously won the ‘Best Group’ at the Youghal St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2010 and will have two groups participating in this year’s HIP HOP Championships in Dublin. The ‘Graham McDermott School of Dancing’ has 125 students and are looking forward to moving to their new premises in South Main St. Youghal next September.

“The festival exceeded all our wildest expectations”, said Sal Tivy, Festival Chairperson. “On reflection however, I believe the secret of our success was that all the fun events were free and the simple, old fashioned ideas will always be enjoyed by kids of any era,” commented Sal.

The response from the public was uplifting as families of all ages enjoyed the various activities all day Saturday and Sunday. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere was truly evident throughout the day in the Family Food Festival in the Market Square, with local traders reaping the economic benefits of the influx of visitors to the town.

Local trader, Judy Ansbro of ‘The Coffee Pot’ described the Food Festival as “the best food market ever to be held in Youghal”.   Therese Donnelly of The Quality Hotel & Leisure Club, Youghal, also commended the festival organisers on the fact that over 90% of the events over the weekend were free.  “Our customers were thrilled with the fact that so much of this festival was free; everyone is so budget conscious at the moment, and this festival sends out a great signal that Youghal is giving visitors what they want.”

The highlight of the entire weekend however was the crowning of Youghal’s very own ‘Queen of the Sea’; Susie Fitzgibbon -  who represented Aherne’s Seafood Restaurant.  Susie was presented with a cheque for €500, along with a perpetual trophy which was generously sponsored by local businesses; Claycastle Recording Studios and The Seahunter Charter Boat.  Sal Tivy heaped praise on all of the 31 contestants commenting: “all the participants were absolutely magnificent.  I am proud to say Youghal holds a record in beautiful women!  They were stunning.  This competition was not solely about looks, it was about mind, body and soul and each contestant displayed this and represented their sponsors with great pride.  The really special surprise that came from this festival however, was the sponsor cards which each queen got for ISPCC Childline.  The astonishing amount of €5,000 was raised by the Queens” said Sal.

Despite the inclement weather on Sunday, the Walter Raleigh Hotel very generously stepped in to provide the venue for ‘Sunday is Funday’.  Hundreds of children were not to be disappointed as the ‘Fastest Daddy Competition’, ‘The Walter Raleigh Spud & Spoon Race’; ‘The Teddy Bear Hospital’ all took place on dry land!

The festival drew to a close with a ‘raft race’ in Youghal Bay.  A team of fearless ‘water babies’ calling themselves the ‘Water Rats’ clinched first place in a closely fought event, sponsored by Aquatrek Sea Skills. At the closing ceremony of the event, Sal Tivy paid tribute to the hard-working committee who worked behind the scenes to make the event possible.  “They were magnificent; a fantastic, hard working team of ladies and 3 gents.  I would personally like to express my thanks and say it was these people who made it such a successful event for Youghal.  I would like to say it was my privilege to have worked with them.”

The Youghal Family Fun Festival would like to thank its sponsors for their support in this inaugural event.

For further information contact:

Aileen Ahern

Youghal Family Fun Festival

Tel: 024-81814

E: tourism@youghal.ie

The Family Fun Festival festival drew to a close with a ‘raft race’ in Youghal Bay.  A team of fearless ‘water babies’ calling themselves the ‘Water Rats’ clinched first place in a closely fought event, sponsored by Aquatrek Sea Skills.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The raft race which was part of the Family Fun Festival 2010 began at 7.30pm at the Mall Dock and finished at the Ferryslip. Great credit to all the entrants who represented their clubs and businessess with their colourful and clever designs, the  rafts were kept afloat using combination of buoyant materials such as wood, sealed barrels, or inflated air chambers. MC for the event Barty Murphy said it was great fun for the people who gathered at the quayside despite the bad weather.

At the closing ceremony of the event, Sal Tivy paid tribute to the hard-working committee who worked behind the scenes to make the event possible.  “They were magnificent; a fantastic, hard working team of ladies and 3 gents.  I would personally like to express my thanks and say it was these people who made it such a successful event for Youghal.  I would like to say it was my privilege to have worked with them.”

The Youghal Family Fun Festival would like to thank its sponsors for their support in this inaugural event.

Photos: www.youghalonline.com
Click on image to see the fun race

Youghal Art Group are busy preparing for their annual art exhibition at the Methodist Church Hall, Friar street. Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Youghal Art Group spokeswoman Marina O’Loughlin told YoughalOnline.com that the group are “looking forward to the exhibition which will be officially opened by local author and award-winning radio journalist, Youghal man, Colm Keane, accompanied by his wife RTE newsreader Una O’Hagan”.

This years’ exhibition will run from 11.30am to 7.30pm daily from Fri. July 30th to 8th August.

The members generously make a donation to local charities in lieu of cheese and wine at the opening night.
This will be their 16th exhibition. Admission is free and donations to defray expenses optional. Details from Marina on (024) 93376 or 087-7670413

The group now meets on the first Wednesday of the month at Cumann na Daoine, Catherine Street, Youghal. New members are welcome