Last Friday (13th August 2010) night at Farrells Summerfield Bar a cheque in the sum of  € 12,650.00 was presented to Amanda Stavrou,Norma Kenneally,& Mary O’Dowd,staff members of Marymount Hospice,in front of a large crowd.
Photo : Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Martin Drake, whose wife Caroline sadly passed away on 29th July  2009 in Marymount Hospice, together with his family decided to hold a road race/walk on 18th July in memory of Caroline and to raise much needed funds for Marymount Hospice.

A small organising committee was formed  consisting of  Martin Drake, Tim Twomey,Ger Flanagan,& Willie Dalton and all worked very hard up to race day to ensure the road race/walk was a huge success.Ger Flanagan of Flanagan Print was very helpful in promoting the race/walk as he very generously printed over a thousand race leaflets which Martin and Tim brought to all the road races leading up to our race .He also printed several large posters and over 200 sponsorship cards.

At the presentation last Friday night Twomey welcomed the Mayor Youghal, Mary Lenihan Foley and the large crowd in attendance and thanked them all for coming. He thanked the main sponsors for their very generous support, in particular Mike Farrell (Summerfield Bar) for the use of his premises on race day  and various other meetings, Jack O’Patsy Pottery, Flanagan Print, Kelkab Ltd.,The Quays Bar,Lidl, & Supermacs. He also thanked all the local shopkeepers and offices who were very generous in giving out spot prizes.

He went on to thank all the people who came out to help on the day in particular Sergeant Mark Ward and all his colleagues at the Garda Station for giving us a traffic free route,Pat McCarthy and his paramedic team, Willie O’ Mahony for his PA system, Tommy Roche, The Coast Guard Crew, the Wild Geese Motor Cycle Club for their help at stewarding the race, and The Ballycotton Running Promotions team for their help on the day.

Although it rained most of the day the Race /Walk was a huge success with 245 runners/walkers taking part. We raised € 2,500.00 approx from this event  with the balance € 10,150.00 coming from Sponsorship Cards.Twomey went on to thank all the people from East Cork, West Waterford that contributed so generously to this great cause.

He then called on Amanda Stavrou (Marymount Hospice)to say a few words.Amanda said she was delighted to accept such a large cheque on behalf of  Marymount Hospice and that the money would be well spent as they were hoping to move into their new Hospital/Hospice at Curraheen next year. The cost of the new facility is € 60M.She thanked everyone that contributed and particularly Martin and his hard working team. Twomey thanked Amanda and called on the Lord Mayor to say a few words.

The Mayor of Youghal, Mary Lenihan Foley said she was delighted to have been invited to say a few words. She said she was amazed to have seen such a great turnout on  race/walk day. The rain did not deter 245 competitors on July 18th,and she complimented the race organisers for doing such a great job and hoped it would be an annual event.

She then said the staff at Marymount Hospice had a very special vocation and said not everyone could do their work.  She said she was delighted that the race organisors had raised such a huge sum for Marymount Hospice and complimented everyone in Youghal and the surrounding areas for their very generous contributions in these recessionary times.She wished the three Staff members and all at Marymount the best of look when they move into their new Hospital/Hospice next year.

Twomey thanked the Mayor for her kind words and hoped everyone would enjoy the rest of the night.

Over 300 people turned up to the opening of the ‘Harvest Art Exhibition’ held at Ballymaloe House on Wednesday (11th August 2010) Mayor Mary Linehan Foley, Sheila & Nick Loughnane, Katie & Johnny Fitzgibbon and  artist Eileen McGoldrick  all  from Youghal.

The broad range of work on view in this exhibition fully represents the exciting artistic life of Cork and its environs, and is a wonderfully engaging and authentic reflection of a genuinely vibrant cultural scene.

Daragh Dukes a musician from Limerick, also from Limerick Colette O’Sullivan, Maeve Magill and Barra O’Toole. Guests were very impressed with the show,  a ‘stunning display of  talent’ was one of the many comments, most  people intend to return and see it again as it was so busy!

Hugh Lonergan CIT, Crawford College of  Art opened the show and  delivered a poignant and witty speech. Delicious canapes were provided in abundance by Hassets Bakery Carrigaline.

This exhibition is a ‘must see’ and will run in the Grain Store at Ballymaloe until Sept 18th, 12noon to 6pm daily.

Excerpt taken from RTE documentary on John Huston, broadcast on July 2010, interviews with locals Ollie Casey and Jim Horgan on the making of Moby Dick in Youghal.

It was in 1954 that John Huston chose Youghal for the location of New Bedford for the movie “Moby Dick”. The making of this movie brought such stars as Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart and Leo Genn to Youghal. During the months and weeks of building and filming, Youghal was a hive of activity and excitement with people visiting from all over Ireland and England.

But it was in Paddy Linehan’s pub that John Huston would sit in the morning and plan out the days shooting schedule. It was then in tribute to this unique time in the history of Youghal that Paddy renamed his pub, MOBY DICK, the licensed premises in the town still bears the name of the movie.

The organising committee are pleased to announce the launch of the Youghal Farmer’s and Craft Market in Dolphin square on Friday 20th August 2010 and every Friday thereafter from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

This Market will be a vibrant social and commercial year round amenity for the town which  will enable the townsfolk, visitors and people living in the area to access top quality farm produce, artisan food and craft products direct from the producers while meeting with their friends and enjoying a cup of coffee. It will also encourage more people to visit the town thus benefitting the local economy as a whole.

In tune with the current need to foster local employment, the Market will provide a valuable outlet for the products of  farmers, artisan food producers and crafts people from Youghal and the surrounding areas.

There will be a wide range of products to choose from including—
Organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables
Locally produced artisan cheese
Fresh fish
Meat and eggs
Home baked goods
Coffee and Chocolate
and Craft goods

The Committee wish to thank Youghal Town Council for their encouragement and support in granting permission for the use of Dolphin Square as the site for the Market,
South and East Cork Area Development Ltd for their support and assistance in the planning and development of the project and Cumman na Daoine for their support and the use of their facilities throughout the planning and development process.

Excitement is mounting as the countdown to the country’s largest FREE Medieval Festival begins!

The event takes place this year at St. Mary’s College Gardens, Youghal, on Sunday 22nd August 2010 from 12 – 6 PM.  Events are planned to coincide with The Irish Walled Towns Network celebrations of National Heritage Week.

Catherine Desmond of the organising committee explained the reasoning behind the festival: “This festival, which is now in its fourth year, is about bringing heritage to life. We always strive to make it enjoyable for all the family and this year’s programme of events is guaranteed to do just that. We have more Medieval Re enactments than ever before and the ‘Kids Kingdom’ is sure to be a big hit with children. We have a new edition to our entertainment this year in the form of a falconry display which we are confident will captivate our entire audience.”

This year sees the event back in its rightful place at St. Mary’s Historic Gardens, Youghal which will be transformed into a spectacular ‘Medieval Village’. Youghal’s Municipal Heritage Committee, the organisers behind the event, are expecting in excess of 5000 visitors to visit the holiday town providing a much appreciated boost to the local economy.

The town, which has been recently designated as a ‘Family Friendly Destination’ by Failte Ireland, is making a name for itself as a holiday location dedicated to cater for the needs of the family.

“It’s free events such as these that attract visitors to Youghal and subsequently provide an economic spin-off to our town”.  said Aileen Ahern of the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group.

Celebrations kick off at 12PM in the ‘Medieval Quarter’ with Medieval Re – Enactments by the wonderful UCC Medieval Society, Medieval Cookery Displays as well as fully choreographed combative scenes which will demand full audience interaction!

The fearsome ‘Freelance Knights of Redemption’ from Wexford will mesmerise its audience as it offers a unique and exciting blend of education, history and theatre.

Speaking on behalf of the Freelance Knights, Paul Wickham said “Our combat displays are as authentic as possible as they are from genuine Medieval Martial Arts. We also have a large display of armour and weapons including examples of replicas showing weaponry from the bronze age through to the last legally worn sword. The Georgian Small Sword”.

The Knights have also been involved in an impressive array of TV and Film appearances both in front of the camera and behind the scenes as fight choreographers.

The ‘Kids Kingdom ‘is always a guaranteed favourite and this year the line up won’t disappoint with the highlight being the ‘Mumbo Jumbo Circus Workshop’. Kids of all ages can learn how to stilt walk or ride a unicycle! With one of the largest bouncy castles in all of cork on the day, face painters, balloon making, shield smiles on faces will be guaranteed!

Visitors are invited to come along and indulge in the finest of local produce at ‘Maid Marion’s Food & Craft Fair’. Hosted by a variety of local traders, as well as from across Cork City & County, visitors are guaranteed there will be something for everyone to enjoy!

As if all that wasn’t enough, the open air stage will play host to some of the best local bands around providing music and entertainment throughout the entire day.

Youghal’s Medieval Festival takes place in St. Mary’s College Gardens, Youghal on Sunday August 22nd 2010 from 12PM – 6PM

If you wish to take a stand at the food & craft fair or get further details on the event contact:

Youghal Municipal Heritage Committee on: 024 – 81800, or email, youghalheritage@mail.com

Issued by:

Youghal Heritage Committee

7-10 Enterprise Youghal,

Emmet Place,

Youghal

Tel: 024-81814

E: youghalheritage@mail.com

All photos taken from previous Medieval Festivals held in Youghal. Photos: www.youghalonline.com/archive

Youghal Fire service dealt with a fire that broke out in the front strand, opposite Our Lady of Lourdes Church, an area known as the 21 acres in Youghal today (12th August 2010). Old car tyres and other materials left a long trail of smoke over the strand skyline with the smell of burning rubber as the fire raged amongst the tyres. Photos: Kevin Power and Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Nobody was injured in the fire which was brought quickly under control by the Youghal fire brigade. It is not yet known how the fire began.

Click on image to enlarge and see the Youghal Fire Service in action

Monday last (Aug. 9th 2010)Youghal native, Jim Horgan, returned to his hometown to embark on a boat-building initiative in conjunction with Youghal Town Council, Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group and SECAD. Report: Becky Grice | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

And he’s not planning on building it alone. This modern-day Noah is hoping that the people of Youghal will come out and help him create ‘A Yawl for Youghal’ – a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter, but with an additional mizzen mast well aft of the main mast, often right on the transom.
The boat-building will begin this coming Monday, August 9th, at Tynte’s Castle on Youghal’s North Main Street at around 2pm, and anyone and everyone is welcome to come along and help with the building process. For those who want to really enjoy the ‘hands on’ approach, Jim is offering people the chance to sign up for daily building sessions, from 6pm onwards, at a total cost of €50 for 2 weeks, or until the boat is finished.

The yawl was originally developed as a rig for commercial fishing boats and, in its heyday, the rig was particularly popular with single-handed sailors, such as circumnavigators Harry Pidgeon and Francis Chichester.
Within a historical context, the 1928 Webster’s dictionary defined a yawl as ‘a small ships boat, usually rowed by four or six oars’ and the seminal American yacht designer, Francis Herreshoff reflected this traditional definition of a yawl.

But modern self-steering and navigation aids have made the yawl’s ability to be trimmed to sail without rudder input less important, and the yawl has, sadly, generally fallen out of favour.
Cllr. Barbara Murray, a member of the Youghal Boat Building Committee, who was instrumental in getting this project off the ground and into the water, so to speak, picks up the story.
‘The Horgan family are incredibly well-known in Youghal,’ Barbara enthuses, ‘so when Jim came to me with this idea a while ago, it seemed like a fantastic option for the town. Sadly – to use a fishing metaphor – no one was biting, so I decided to take on the project myself and, with a core group of interested individuals, the Boat Building Project began to take shape.’
But Barbara was going to run aground with the project several times before it reached fruition, having to fill in SECAD funding application forms (‘It was a case of third time’s the charm!’) before finding out, just last Thursday, that funding had been granted.

‘It was then a case of all hands on deck,’ Barbara continues, ‘Jim is coming down early to get everything organised, and we’re hoping to have a core group of 8-10 boat builders who sign up for the ongoing project.’
Jim, who now lives in Galway, has boat building in his blood. Widely recognised as almost single-handedly reviving the tradition of boat building in Co. Galway, Jim’s passion for this ‘old tradition’ is self-evident, declaring Youghal as ‘very much a boating town,’ a fact that Cllr. Murray wholeheartedly agrees with.
‘We’ve two key things in Youghal,’ she states, ‘our beaches and our heritage – and we have to take care of both of them as if they were babies. They’re precious and uniquely ours. It would be such a shame if the “old ways” died out, and it’s people like Jim who are keeping them very much alive.’
Building a yawl in Youghal may have been just a clever marketing ploy, but there’s more to it than that, as Barbara explains, ‘In days gone by, over 1,000 salmon would be fished in Youghal every week – most of them brought in on yawls. Albert Muckley’s daughter has completed her thesis on the maritime geography of the town and it is, quite frankly, stunning. Why wouldn’t we keep this tradition alive?’
As part of the Youghal Boat Building Project, noted maritime historians and boat builders will visit the town, giving talks on their particular areas of expertise and about maritime history in general. Jim himself will give two talks at Youghal Library (not, as previously specified three talks) taking place on Thursday, August 12th and the following Thursday, August 19th – both at 6pm.
On the first Thursday night, marine archaeologist Darina Tully will be present and will talk about the traditional boats of Ireland. Discussions will then be led by Liam Coveney, local fishermen and river fishermen and will be of particular relevance to anyone with an interest in the history of Youghal and the Blackwater River. The following Thursday night, noted author and marine historian Niall O’Brien will be the main guest speaker. Entrance is free and all are welcome to attend.

The Youghal Boat Building committee consists of those with an interest in Youghal’s maritime history, including Patrick & Christy Buttimer (whose family were boat builders in the town) and members of the Horgan family including Tommy Collins, CRY, and it truly is a passion project for all involved.
‘It’s going to be fun and informative,’ Barbara states, ‘Jim will be using all the old boat building methods, so people will be able to watch the timber being steamed and carved and it will definitely evoke memories of times gone by.’
Many discussions have taken place about what will happen when the boat is completed, hopefully in time for Youghal’s Medieval Festival in mid-August: Will it be used? Will it be displayed? And, if so, where?
Cllr. Murray tells the East Cork Journal, ‘We already have a large collection of maritime memorabilia in Youghal at the moment, including fishing nets, barrels and nautical aids. It is hoped to add this boat to the collection, and to exhibit it on special occasions and, when possible – if Youghal can create its own maritime museum – to make it a permanent fixture there.’
This isn’t the first time that a project such as this has been attempted (with others taking place in Cappoquin and even in a Galway Shopping Centre), but what makes the Youghal Boat Building Project different is the timeframe and the invitition for anyone to participate.
‘Previously, these schemes can take up to 3 months to complete,’ Barbara admits, ‘but with enough people helping, we’re confident that Youghal’s yawl can be completed in two weeks. Actually, I think it will take three, but Jim’s convinced it will take a fortnight – and he’s the expert!’
The nautical expression ‘sailing close to the wind’ springs to mind…
Regardless of all that, the Youghal Boat Building Project is set to bring a smile to the faces of many who were involved with ‘a life on the ocean wave’ in the town, and is the perfect opportunity to introduce a new generation (who think that ‘ketch’ is just short for ketchup) to a bygone era where hands, not computers, shaped the world.
‘We have to collect history, before it’s lost forever,’ Barbara implores, ‘This way people can literally make history – and that‘s not something you get to do every day.’
So, if you feel like contributing to Youghal’s Boat Building Project, jump on board.
There’s no cost to take part on a daily basis, but if you’d like to be part of the core group or would like further information, please contact Barbara at 087 2854971.
And remember, get involved before it’s too late… don’t miss the boat.

The screening of the film “The Sea the Boat and Me” took place last Saturday (August 7th 2010 ) in The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal. Brendan Ahern who made the film gave a brief questions and answers session after the screening. Copies of the DVD and T shirts were also on sale, for further information call 083 360 6507. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

The Sea the Boat and Me covers the restoration and relaunch of the Kathleen & May, the only remaining three masted wooden topsail schooner and her second maiden voyage to Youghal, Ireland. It is the story of the passion the boat evokes in the people who have worked on her as original sailing crew or modern day restoration crew.

The Continuing Story of the Kathleen and May is a film about just that – the boat, the sea, the crew, the life, the stories, the history. But there’s more than that. Yes. Something else. .There’s the passion – of the crew, of the captains, of the seafaring way of life, of the people who are restoring her today, of Steve Clarke who rescued her from decay at a Gloucester dock. And who was Captain Joe, my grandfather? Of my own fascination with the sea, water, just the water and the tales it has to tell.

Click on image to enlarge

10% growth in numbers out of work since this time last year.

Fine Gael T.D David Stanton has expressed concern at the number of people on the live register in East Cork. 6,594 people are now out of work there , a 10% increase on a year ago. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Deputy Stanton says figures in Midleton , Cobh and Youghal are still increasing on a monthly basis and people need access to training and education opportunities to upskill and get back into employment. One thousand and fifty seven young people alone are without work in East Cork and David Stanton is concerned that these men and women could become long term unemployed.

“There are now 466,834 people of working age on the live register. Our national unemployment rate now stands at 13.7% up 1.5% from 12.2% in July 2009. While this is much lower than countries such as Spain which has a 20% unemployment rate, it is well above the EU average across 27 Member States of 9.6%. More needs to be done here by the Government to create jobs.

“What is even more frightening is the huge amount of young people who are out of work here and across Europe. EU youth unemployment rates now stand at 20.3%.”

Donie Daly to resign town council seat – Tommy O’Connell set to be co-opted

Youghal Town Councillor Donie Daly is set to resign his seat in the coming days. Report: Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com | Email: news@youghalonline.com

Sources close to the Youghal Labour party say the councillor’s seat will be co-opted to veteran Labour member and former councillor Tommy O’Connell, pending ratification at a meeting of the local branch next Saturday (August 14th).

Party sources say Cllr Daly has decided there is no point trying to meet his mandate following the decision by the town council to retain Tuesday mornings as its monthly meeting time. The council switched from Monday nights last April following a work to rule policy adopted by the council executive over pay and conditions. This meant the town clerk and other clerical staff would not attend night time meetings.

When that issue was eventually resolved, voting amongst Cllr Daly’s eight council colleagues were split 4-4 on whether to return to Monday nights, before the Mayor’s second (casting) vote decided in favour of Tuesday mornings.

Cllr Daly, who polled 308 first preferences in his first council election in 2009, says he cannot attend daytime meetings due to out-of-town work commitments.

The financial consultant, having missed the past four consecutive meetings, would be obliged under the Local Government Act to vacate his seat automatically should he miss six meetings in a year. “He doesn’t feel he can serve the people who elected him in circumstances whereby he is effectively prevented from attending meetings,” says a party colleague.

Tommy O’Connell, who managed Cllr Daly’s election campaign now finds himself about to be propelled into his charge’s seat. Mr. O’Connell 64,  previously served as a Youghal councillor in the 1970’s and ‘80’s. He was elected for Sinn Fein in 1974, before resigning, disillusioned, from the party four years later.

He topped the poll as an Independent in 1979, joined Labour in 1981and was re-elected under that party‘s banner in 1985. However he resigned from local politics a year later when he and his family decided to emigrate to London for some years. Mr. O’Connell has declined to comment on his likely return to the Youghal chamber prior to next Saturday’s meeting.