The Mercy Hospital Foundation fundraiser at the Walter Raleigh hotel last Friday October 15th. was a great success. The event was a fun fundraiser and a fitting tribute to the late Mickey O’Connell from Gurranabraher, Cork. Mickey used spend his weekends amongs friends in Youghal where his gentle disposition and love for life endeared him to all who knew him. On September 19th 2009, Mickey, aged just 61, succumbed to cancer in Cork’s Mercy hospital. Now, through the Mercy Hospital Foundation, the friends whose lives he enriched aim to ensure his untimely passing brings benefit to others whose lives are infringed by the disease.

Admission on the night brought free entry to a raffle in which donated prizes revealed amazing generosity. The array included an i phone 4 (estimated value €700), two LCD televisions, two nights b&b with one evening meal in Ennis, €100 shopping voucher, a petrol lawn mower, a petrol hedge strimmer, dinner for four in Midleton and much more. “People have been exceptionally kind,” said Ger Kenneally from the organising committee, “All our outlays have been sponsored, so every cent we raise goes directly to the Mercy hospital. Mickey himself was a generous man and this is a very fitting way to honour his memory,” he added.

Click on image to start slideshow. Photos: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Youghal Womens Network presented “Operation Transformation”, where two local ladies Catherine Curley and Carina Byrnes got a ‘Makeover’ from KCH Beauty Salon, Team Bailey Hairdressers, Genesis and Poppy Boutique and Nu Shuz. The event was held at the Red Store, Youghal on Thursday the 7th of October. Pic: Michael Hussey Email: news@youghonline.com

Click on image to see “Operation Transformation”

The Dublin duo arrived in Youghal on Tuesday evening and stayed at The Old Imperial Hotel – Coachouse Restaurant and Bar courtesy of Chris and Eleanor O’Brien. Liam McCarthy and his son Ben welcomed the lads to the town on behalf Cystic Fibrosis Association Youghal. Liam congratulated the cyclists and said they were doing wonderful work for a great charity.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.YoughalOnline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Chat with Joe Duffy on Liveline.
On Tuesday October 5th there was a great piece on Joe Duffy’s Liveline show about Cystic Fibrosis. The segment highlighted the shamefully low standard of treatment facilities available to people living with CF in Ireland.

The people Joe spoke to included people living with CF, their family members and friends. All of whom spoke with great courage and dignity.

The one clear message that stood out from the segment was that something needs to be done immediately.

Cycling for CF also got a mention with Joe talking to Conor about the project.

To listen to the show visit www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/
Scroll down to Tuesday Oct 5th, click listen back and skip to 15mins in to hear the piece and Conor chatting to Joe about 1hr and 5mins in.

Info from the Cycling for Cystic Fibrosis Blogspot: In October 2010, Cathal Phelan and Conor Doyle will began an unsupported bicycle trip around the coastline of Ireland. The two Dublin friends will cover 2,500km as they trace and outline of our country in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.

The idea to undertake such an adventure stemmed from a growing sense of frustration and powerlessness which arose every time they visited their friend Avril in hospital. Avril McCarthy lives with Cystic Fibrosis, a condition which demands much of her time, efforts and attention.

The pair grew tired of not being able to do anything to help their friend, so decided to raise funds to improve facilities for her and people like her.You can offer your help by donating here.

Firstly, a huge thanks to Cliona for arranging a studio interview with WLR and Beat FM, the two “trendiest” radio stations in Waterford.
We arrived in Youghal after another scorching hot day. This weather was NOT in the brochure, but is very welcome to stay!
The cycle from Waterford has been the toughest day so far. We encountered some leg burning climbs, but the views from the top almost made it worth it!
Tomorrow afternoon we will be greeted by the Lord Mayor of Cork at the steps of City Hall at 2:30, so if anyone would like to come out to say hello we’d love to see you there.

We will be posting photos really soon, promise… So keep an eye on our facebook and flickr pages for pictures of our sending off on Saturday (with photos from Michael Delaney and Cormac Phelan), as well as photos of the lads (accompanied by Jimmy Murphy and the unfunny Mark Gilvarry) on the road.

Click HERE to visit the cyclists Blogspot

On Tues 5th October, all dedicated followers of fashion headed for the Walter Raleigh Hotel where the Fashion Event of the year took place, the Touch of Class Autumn Fashion Show.
Photo: www.YoughalOnline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Touch of Class is a Ladies Fashion Boutique located in the historic sea walled port of Youghal in Co Cork. The boutique was established in 1995 and is run by mother and daughter team Tess and Teresa O’Brien. The boutique specialises in providing the personal touch and Tess and Teresa are always on hand to assist you. Please visit the Touch of Class website by clicking HERE.

Touch of Class host 2 Fashion Shows a year giving the proceeds to local charities. The proceeds of the night went to Meals on Wheels, Youghal.
Over 400 ladies attended the ever popular event and the atmosphere was electric.

The Youghal and District Community Alert group held it’s AGM in the Walter Raleigh hotel on October 6th. A new committee was elected with outgoing Chairman, Jack Dempsey, retiring from office, as it were. He was succeeded by outgoing Treasurer Michael Beecher. Pa Forrest was voted new Treasurer, while Kay Curtain and Sergeant John Sharkey were re-elected as Secretary and PRO respectively.

Mr Dempsey thanked the top table and beyond for their help and contributions during his tenure. He referred to the installation of 43 personal monitored alarms as a major achievement during the past year and said it gave him great satisfaction to hear recipients say they felt safer and less alone since the alarms were fitted.

Garda Report

Sergeant Sharkey’s monthly report announced that, having completed payment for the initial 43 alarms, 14 further applications had now been received. In the coming week or so these would be forwarded to the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs for funding, which hopefully would be forthcoming. Meanwhile there remained scope for a few more applications to be included.

The sergeant spoke briefly on Drug Awareness Week and said An Post would soon be delivering information leaflets on the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign to every household. He said gardai continued to participate in an unrelated local drugs project, in conjunction with drug workers, doctors, counsellors and former addicts. In terms of policing, there had been 34 street searches since the previous meeting, resulting in six people found in possession of cannabis.

The recent Midleton and District Garda meeting on anti-social behaviour in Midleton he noted, had been well attended. Discussion ranged across anti-social behaviour and other garda-related matters and Youghal “was well represented by town councillors and the Chamber of Commerce.”

Proceeding, Sergeant Sharkey said the inaugural Cork County joint policing committee meeting would take place on November 8th on Floor 16, County Hall, Cork. Top Garda officers, including the three chief superintendents from the city and county, will attend, as will Chief Inspector of the Garda Siochana Inspectorate Kathleen O’Toole.  It would be a public meeting but questions must be submitting in writing (e-mail etc., acceptable) by 5 pm on October 15th.

The garda said he had spoken to 170 junior cert students in advance of their exam results celebrations and gladly reported that the night progressed without notable incident. On the other hand, ASBOs had been issued to three male teenagers relating to their summer activities in and around business premises on the main street and they were now banned from entering shops on the main street unless they had “legitimate business” within. Sergeant Sharkey reflected that the Community Safety Open Day (Sept 20th- 26th)had gone well, inclusive of the garda’s station open day, a Garda talk to transition year students on road safety, meetings with care and repair and youth interests and calls to the elderly.

Liquor Licensing And Underage Drinking

The sergeant observed that pubs and off licences were being well run, with low detections for underage drinking. Underage drinking on-street seemed recently to have subsided somewhat but the gardai were “not taking anything for granted,” he stated.

The sergeant spoke briefly on the newly-introduced law on the test purchasing of alcohol in pubs, whereby teenagers, supervised by An Garda, are sent into licensed premises to attempt to buy alcohol. Sergeant Sharkey stressed that the initiative is not intended to ‘catch out’ unsuspecting retailers as such, with prerequisite requirements such as location, previous complaints and/or convictions, etc., needed before a premises is chosen. He stressed that the teenager’s welfare is paramount and that his/her parents’ or guardian’s written permission was required prior to training and operational duties. The discreet presence of a garda in an operation would exempt the teenager from giving court evidence, he proceeded. Strict criteria also applied in regard to who was recruited, while more rural communities would probably require recruitment from outside the locality, observed the PRO. All considered however, the sergeant wondered whether many parents would feel at ease in allowing their children to participate in the scheme. “Only time will tell how it works in practice I suppose,” he concluded. (See elsewhere in this edition for further information on this project).

Crime Figures

Reported crimes since the previous meeting included one minor assault on the Jail Steps between two teenagers “known to each other.” A DPP file is being prepared. There were three burglaries, including one in Ballymacoda on Sept 7th, where “a substantial amount of cash” was taken and two burglaries nearer the town on September 29th.  Burglaries had also occurred in Midleton on the 29th and three “well known criminals” from Cork city were subsequently arrested. Forensic evidence was taken and a file has been forwarded to the DPP.

The month included three drink driving arrests, five for public order offences. There were eleven criminal damage offences -four of which were detected and pertained to two pairs of local young people randomly damaging cars on separate weekend nights. They were now under the Juvenile Diversion programme. Three thefts were recorded of which one, in a local supermarket, was detected.

The figures, in more detail, run thus:

Burglaries (3): Ballymacoda, Gortroe and Park Mountain

Minor Assaults (1): Jail Steps;

Drug Searches (34): Including North Main Street, Cork Hill, Kenny’s Lane, Burgess Cross and the Church of the Holy Family). The six detections for cannabis possession occurred at Bridgetown in Castlemartyr, the Church of the Holy Family, Chickley’s Road and Burgess Cross.

Public Order Offences (5): Two at Cork Hill and one each at the former Murray Kitchens site (trespassing), Taylor’s Lane and Friar Street.

Criminal Damage (11): Friar Street, South Main Street, Dominic Collins Place, Hilltop Caravan Park, Golf Links Road and Pobalscoil na Trionoide.

Thefts (3): Suprvalu and two unspecified locations.

Drink Driving (3): Lighthouse Hill, Seafield, Ballyvergan.

Sergeant Sharkey also informed the meeting that three young people had been referred to the HSE under the Children’s Act, resulting in an Emergency Care Orders being acquired. Over-consumption of alcohol was apparently involved.

Hoaxers

The need for vigilance against hoax callers was stressed as the sergeant reported that a gang claiming to be Sky sales representatives had been active in the east Cork area. The limited description available (as one tries not to be cynical and suggest they could be authentic!) suggests a “scruffy” group, with no ID and driving a silver Mitsubishi jeep with writing on the sides. Additionally a scam recently being perpetrated involves an individual who prefers a €100 note to purchase a minor item, then confusing shop assistants with a complicated series of monetary exchanges before “walking out with couple of hundred euros without you even knowing it.”

From the floor: alarms

Asked as to Halloween security arrangements, the sergeant said a plan was being submitted to a higher authority devised and he hoped the weekend would proceed as benignly as 2009. It’s a sign of the troubled times –and systematic neglect by political forces- that funding for the next trance of socially monitored alarms remains uncertain.  The hope was expressed that Youghal’s ‘clean slate’ regarding the original 43 installations would benefit the next application.

Replying to a question as to what requirements are need to qualify for a monitored alarm, the PRO said an applicant need not necessarily live alone and the only stipulation was that a household must have someone at least 65 years old in residence.

It was observed that there was scant application for modern smoke alarms as had been urged at previous meetings but Sergeant Sharkey said he had forwarded some applications to County Hall recently and a response was awaited. Cork County Council supplies these alarms free to the non-council tenants who are vulnerable through age or disability. The alarms carry 10-year batteries and the householder the householder is responsible for the installation. (It is worth noting that hearing difficulties and use of sleeping tablets can seriously affect the ability to respond to an alarm, in which cases smoke detectors linked to the personally monitored alarm system, or to vibrating devices under a pillow are available at the homeowner’s own cost). Smoke alarm application forms are available from Youghal Garda station and from County Hall. The sergeant further agreed to find out what is available in terms of other personal safety devices, on foot of an inquiry.

Finally, Sergeant Sharkey urged that anyone with suggestions or concerns relating to the gardai should communicate them to the station or via the Community Alert group.

Thank you

The meeting drew to a close with acknowledgement to the Walter Raleigh hotel for the ongoing and comfortable accommodation for meetings before expressing further gratitude to outgoing chairman Jack Dempsey. On behalf of the gardai, Sergeant Sharkey congratulated him for his “excellent” and “inspirational” stewardship and compared the former hurler and avid golf player’s to Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomery, albeit not necessarily in his dexterity with a 9 iron. “You were the man in charge when people were assisted through the installation of those socially monitored alarms project. You went round personally to those people and I hope you will see it as something of your legacy.” A Walter Raleigh meal-for-two voucher was presented to former chairman Jack Dempsey in recognition of his efforts. “The food is excellent. I often eat here,” advised his successor Michael Beecher. The next meeting is on Tuesday November 2nd.

All Sorts Furniture shop officially opens at Friar St. Youghal -  Proprietors Lin and Tommy Coakley Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Congratulations to Lin and Tommy Coakley on their new venture ‘All Sorts Furniture’ shop situated at Friar Street, Youghal. The couple have returned to Youghal after living for the past 25 years in Bristol, England.

Happy 70th Birthday Celebrations to Mary Hogan from Blackwater Heights, Youghal
Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Mary Hogan who celebrated the big day with her husband John, family and friends, at The Green Barn Restaurant on Sunday last the 10th October 2010. Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Youghal Theatre Company
Presents
The Playboy of the Western World
By
J.M. Synge

Venue: Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal, Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th November 2010. Tickets  – €20  OAP’s & Students – €15. Bookings and information  – 024 92011

The play is set in M.J. Flaherty’s public house in Co. Mayo during the early 1900’s. It tells the story of Christy Mahon, a young man running away from his farm in Munster, claiming and boasting to have killed his father. He wins the hearts of the local women and especially captures the romantic attention of the bar-maid Pegeen Mike, the daughter of Flaherty.  His prowess at the local race/sports meeting confirms him to be a real hero with real expectations of marriage to Pegeen Mike.  When old Mahon appears alive and well, they turn upon their hero despite Christy’s offer to ‘slay his da’ a second time. Escaping from the villager’s clutches, he tames his father, and the two leave the public house disdainful of the gullible Mayo peasants.

The “Playboy Riots”

The “Playboy Riots”  occurred in January 1907 during and following the opening performance of the play.

The fact that the play was based on a story of apparent patricide also attracted a hostile public reaction.  Egged on by nationalist’s, including Sinn Fein leader Arthur Griffith, who believed that the theatre was not sufficiently political and described the play as “a vile and inhuman story told in the foulest of language we have ever listened to from public platform”, and with the pretext of a perceived slight on the virtue of Irish womanhood in the line “adrift of females standing in their shifts”, a significant portion of the crowd rioted , causing the remainder of the play to be acted out in dumb show. Nevertheless, press opinion soon turned against the rioters and the protests petered out.

Venue

Walter Raleigh Hotel,

Youghal

Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th November 2010

Tickets  – €20  OAP’s & Students – €15

Bookings and information  – 024 92011

The Cast

Christy Mahon –  Brian Hogan

Old Mahon –  Will O Brien

Michael James –  Ted O Brien

Pegeen Mike –  Ruth Hayes

Widow Quinn –  Denise O Brien

Shawn Keogh –  Martin Hennessy

Philly Cullen – Donie Fitzgerald

Jimmy Farrell –  Michael Beecher

Sara Tansey –  Fiona Coughlan

Susan Brady –  Niamh Mc Carthy

Honor Blake –  Eimear Coleman

Sean O Neill –  Director

Lora Murphy –  Set Design

Warren Tivy –  Sound

Tony Irwin –  Lighting

Marj Mc Donald –  costumes

Michael Lee –  Stage manager

Jane Crowley –  Harpist

Patrick Mc Carthy  – Piper

Much has been written about Youghal’s ancient past, we have all heard of the story of St. Declan who was refused landing in Youghal so he went and founded the monastery at Ardmore a short distance away in modern terms but in ancient terms it was probably a two day hike. Little or nothing is known of these early settlers of Youghal were they Iberian the earliest stone age inhabitants or Celts.

Then nearly 400 years later, Ireland was besieged by the Vikings who had large settlements in Waterford and Cork. It seems a logical supposition that the strategic position of Youghal at the mouth of the river Blackwater (a navigational river) was a prime stopover for this seafaring people.

Then we come to the Norman arrival in Ireland and the building of St. Mary’s Collegiate Church and onward to the English occupation of Ireland in the 12 century. This of course leads to the Earls of Munster and Lismore and into the Elizabethan and Georgian period and the founding of the town as we now know it.

Even up to our modern past which includes the industrial heritage such as our boat building heritage, the brickworks and our textile history.

This multicultural town of ours is so full of archaeological history much of which has never been researched, or if it has, is buried deep in an archive in some forgotten cellar in a government building.

Therefore it is our intention under the auspices of Cumann Na Daoine’s Men’s Social Group to set up a Amateur Archaeology group which will meet in the Den at Cumann Na Daoine, Catherine Street, Youghal on Thursday 14th October 2010 at 11am and invite everyone (men and women) to attend who is interested in Youghal’s. Archaeological  past.

For further information please feel free to contact  Stacy at Cumann Na Daoine on 024- 91900 or Martin on 0857787865

Youghal is set to become Ireland’s first fully mapped town under a new addressing system based on digital technology. Representatives of a new company, Loc8 Code Ltd., presented their case to Youghal Town Council prior to September’s meeting. The company outlined plans that would see every property, landmark and address in the town locatable to within 6 metres by tourists, service providers and anyone else employing popular SatNav and mobile methodology.

The company would also create ‘cluster’ identification, whereby codes with a common thread, such as heritage, entertainment, educational or sports facilities could be instantly identified and easily located. Relevant information on every facility or location would be progressively added, creating a living database and information service accessible through SatNav systems and websites.

SMARTER

A Loc8 Code is an eight-digit, alphanumerical all-Ireland address code –“a smarter form of postcode” as it is described –built to suit web mapping and mobile navigation tools. Loc8 Code Ltd has worked for two years with SatNav providers Garmin to develop the Loc8 Code system, using ordinance survey mapping as a base provider. The system can also support non-properties, such as car boot sales, taxi ranks, beaches, etc. Loc8 Code chief executive Gary Delaney claims the benefits will transcend all community requirements, from recreation to postal deliveries to emergency service responses.

Mr Delaney is also managing director of global positioning system, GPS Ireland and brings 20+ years as a navigational specialist in the Irish navy to the project. He was joined in his presentation by Youghal man and Loc8 Code director Hugh Carson, whose influence has seen Youghal earmarked for its revolutionary role through a service that is being marketed and established across the island’s 32 counties. Also present was Youghal native Ruairi Roddy, chief technology officer of Crosbie Holdings.

Composing his argument the CEO made unfavourable comparisons between the proposed postcode system and other information providers. He decried cumbersome co-ordinates and Youghal websites that don’t really do directions, while Google Earth, he claimed mischievously, suggests Youghal beach is in the Green Park! Using a hypothetical search for the Walter Raleigh hotel as a working example, he thus advanced his case for the Loc8 Code being the most efficient tool of discovery (though he neglected to consider the socially-enhancing option of winding the car window down and asking someone for directions!)

FAST AND EFFICIENT

Cutting through the spiel and speculation, Loc8 Code has potential for diversity but essentially offers speed and efficiency while complementing modern technology. Furthermore, it boasts such high-accuracy detail that a business apartment for example, can be pinpointed within a larger complex, through its individual code. It is not difficult to see service providers, including An Post, signing up and while Loc8 Codes are not intended as replacements for conventional addressing, it is very perceivable that it will eventually come compliment them in common usage.

Anyone can acquire a Loc8 Code free of charge and the company recommends individuals generate the code themselves via the Loc8 Code website (www.loc8code.com). Charges will persist, Mr. Delaney explained, when commercial users wish to generate multiple codes or want to add additional services to assist users to get additional functionality from their codes. Loc8 Code Ltd also invites software developers and e-commerce sites to contact it “to agree a suitable licence fo the inclusion and support of Loc8 Codes in their products.”

LOCALLY LOC8..…

In terms of Youghal, Mr. Delaney said the intention is to “make more Youghal more visible” to location based tools, starting with key locations like heritage buildings, hotels, restaurants, schools, playgrounds, medical centres, etc. These would subsequently be ‘clustered,’ so that a few Loc8 Codes would provide a browser with information on various options within one topic.

Mr. Carson said he wants “to map absolutely everything in Youghal” from fire hydrants upwards and outwards across every possible service. It is intended to do just that in a project spanning three years. To this purpose, Loc8 Codes Ltd wished the council to assist in establishing a steering committee to oversee the initiative and one which would be headed up by engineering consultant David Kelly and be further assisted on the technical side by Mr Roddy. Two computers and a handful of staff, possibly FAS workers, were considered requisite for the purpose, with the company supplying free training. Unanimously and warmly welcoming the entire proposal, the council deemed that the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group was best placed to carry it forward to the next stage. Further negotiations are expected.