Will the evil Abanazer convince Aladdin to enter The Cave Of A Thousand Dreams and fetch the lamp? Will Princess Jasmine find the boy of her dreams? And will Widow Twankey finally wear something that doesn’t look like an explosion in a paint factory? Why not find out and come to Youghal Community Centre to experience Pantomania’s Christmas production of Aladdin.

The show will run from December 9th for 4 nights with show time @ 7.30pm, tickets are available from our very own box office beside Toymaster and is open Monday – Saturday from 10am – 5pm. Adult €15, Child €10 and family ticket €40.

Pantomania is a new pantomime company in Youghal. It was founded in the summer of 2010 by Graham Mc Dermott and Fiona Coughlan. Our aim is to provide entertainment to the people of Youghal and the surrounding areas during the Christmas season. Pantominia hope to stage a panto annually at Christmas in Youghal. This is an invaluable opportunity for the youth of Youghal and the surrounding districts to display their talents on stage, and for the local community to enjoy top class entertainment by locals for the locals.

This year, 2010, we will hold our inaugural production of Aladdin. We are confident that the long hours of rehearsals by the cast and crew will ensure that the show will be an outstanding success.

We would like to thank all those involved in the set design and construction, the back stage crew, front of house, all the cast members and anyone who helped in any way to stage this production. Pantominia are grateful to all our sponsors and advertisers whose support is vital and very much appreciated.

Click on image to enlarge – Photo: John Hennessy

Youghal Credit Union Ltd. held its AGM in the Walter Raleigh hotel on Tuesday November 23rd. The well attended meeting heard of the successful Youghal Credit Union had in the previous year. Pic: www.youghalonline.com

The Chairperson, John Colbert, reported to members that the credit union had 14,000 account holders who held a total of €70 million in savings and borrowings of €41 million. Youghal Credit Union Ltd. is “safe, strong and secure” he commented.

Overall the level of savings and loans was comparable to last year. The total income received by the Credit Union marginally increased from last year’s figure. The total of loans granted did, however, drop from €15.9 million in 2009 to €13.9 million in 2010. The decrease represented a more cautious attitude by members to borrowing in the current economic climate. The Chairperson noted that the borrowings hopefully added to the growth of the local economy. He also mentioned the involvement of the Credit Union in being a major partner in funding the local enterprise centre.

The Chairperson reported that credit control was becoming a major issue with the current levels of unemployment and the general downturn in the economy. As a prudent measure the Credit Union has increased the provision for bad and doubtful debts by €1.3 million in line with the Regulator’s recommendation. He urged members who face difficulties to contact the Credit Union immediately. In light of the large provision for bad and doubtful debts the remainder of the year’s surplus was used to increase other reserves. A dividend of 075% was proposed along with an interest rebate of 10% on interest paid last year.

The Treasurer, Karl Flavin, read through the accounts and was pleased to announce that Youghal Credit Union Ltd. recorded a surplus of €1.29 million for the past year. Other highlights reported by the Treasurer included loan interest income of €3.4 million and investment income received amounting to €1.75 million which represented a 7% increase on 2009.Bad debts written off increased to €679,000.  The Treasurer reiterated that these written off loans are vigorously pursued.

Following on from the treasurer’s report all the various committees reported on their activities during the past year. The guest speaker was Declan Gibbons from CRY who outlined their programme for the coming year. Declan thanked Youghal Credit Union Ltd. for their continued financial support for CRY over the years.  A draw was held for members in attendance and the prizes comprised of a number of Youghal Chamber shopping vouchers for local shops.

‘Weenie’! The Mall Arts Centre, 8pm – Youghal Dec 6th – 9th inclusive

A brilliant, new comedy will have its premiere at The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal, from Monday Dec 6th to Thurs Dec 9th (incl).  It is presented by the multi-talented ‘Harmony’ group and is their Christmas Show for this year.  It promises to be a fantastic night’s fun for all the family. It would be a good idea to book at Cree’s Card Shop (024 93899) by you can also pay at the door.  As usual, with ‘Harmony’ the emphasis will be on top quality entertainment at budget prices – Adults €12 Children €10.

‘Weenie’! features gamblers, chancers, baters, lovers, Teddy-boys and Teenie- boppers, singers, dancers and a dead Cat!

It is a story of the innocence and hidden strength of  ‘little’ people at a head-spinning turning-point for us all – the sixties, when we first began to ask the question we’re  still asking now: ‘What’s happenin’ man’?

But most of all, it is a hilarious and heart-warming love-story.  Then, as now, all anyone ever wanted was a happy ending.  In ‘Weenie’! – in an explosive, hand-clapping, toe-tapping finale – we get it!

‘Weenie’! with original songs and parodies is written by local man, Finbar Hannon.  It is his first play.  Finbar is an accomplished stage and musical director.  He has many shows to his credit, including ‘The Communication Cord’, ‘Many Young Men of Twenty’, ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Annie’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Some Enchanted Evening’, ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’.

As an actor, he has won Best Actor Award at the All Ireland Drama Festival, played leading roles with Everyman Theatre and guested with The Abbey Touring Company.  Among his fondest memories are those of Youghal Choral Society, when they won premier awards at festivals throughout the country, including a two-in- a-row at the Cork Choral festival.

He is currently musical and stage director for ‘Harmony’, which is dedicated to the further development of singing and acting talent in the community.  ‘Harmony’ is an entirely voluntary and open group and new members are always very welcome.  It doesn’t ask for financial assistance from the already hard-pressed local community – it is self-supporting. ‘Harmony’s’ shows are always to a very high standard and thoroughly enjoyable.  Among it’s many successes are ‘Many Young Men of Twenty’, ‘Some Enchanted Evening’, ‘From Here to Broadway’, ‘A tribute to John B & Showtime’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’, along with various recitals, concerts and Christmas Shows.

extension and steps unit – all expertly constructed, free of charge, by Jimmy and Maurice Flanagan – to the Mall Arts centre, for use by other local and visiting groups, with a big kiss and a Happy Christmas!

Don’t forget: ‘Weenie’!, Mall Arts Centre, Mon – Thurs, 6th to 9th Dec. 8pm. Adults €12, Children €10. Book at Cree’s Card Shop 024 93899 or pay at the door.

Don’t miss it!

Oona Colin
Facilities Coordinator
The Mall Arts Centre/St. Mary’s Collegiate Church
Tel: 083 360 6507

A short Documentary film on the Social Changes to Youghal Town during the Boom Years.

Written & Directed by Michael Twomey |  Film & Photography by Kieran McCarthy

A short Documentary film on the Social Changes to Youghal Town during the Boom Years

Town Out Of Time is a film that takes a contemplative look at what happens to a town when all its industry disappears, its economic centre collapses and speculators change the landscape.

This is a story of how a town can effectively die when politicians make the wrong decisions and when politics has no vision.

With interviews from experts and local businesses, the film reflects on how greed and apathy led to the neglect of a town throughout the Irish ‘boom years’.

The Walter Raleigh Hotel

Sunday December 12th 2010  8:00pm  ADM: FREE

Followed by open public discussion.

Register your free tickets at: http://townoutoftime.eventbrite.com

For more info visit: www.completecontrolfilms.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/completecontrolfilms.com

A three week old grey seal is recuperating in Kerry after being rescued on a Youghal beach last week. Mary Mangan, from Knockaverry was alerted to the creature by her terrier Doc while walking between Redbarn and Pilmore. Mary contacted the Youghal Coastguard who quickly responded in the persons of officer-in-charge Michael Lee and crew members Pat McCarthy, Fiona Watson, Janette Hickey, Tony Kelly and Kieran Kavanagh.Report Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com | email: news@youghalonline.com

The coastguard crew threw a blanket over the disgruntled young lady’s head (the seal’s that is!) before bundling her into a fish box. Acquiring advice on what to do next proved problematic until the Marine Rescue Co-ordinating Service in Dublin advised them to contact the Dingle Seal Rescue Sanctuary, who promptly dispatched two young ladies of their own to retrieve the seal.

Adorable

Meanwhile the pup was brought to the South Abbey Coastguard station. Cloaked in nature’s protective white fur, she quickly sparked the kind of adoring welcome for which any government minister would gladly eat a crate of raw fish nowadays. Locals dropped by and children from nearby BunScoil Mhuire filed adoringly past the fish box as if some X-Factor starlet was in residence. Occasionally an unworthy adult would touch the sleek fur, instantly bringing snappy defiance as the grumpy guest tried to remove their fingers.

The star from the sea passed some hours of quiet repose in the locked station before being re-roused to the capable, cheerful presence of Sarah Martin and Kate Hall from the Dingle sanctuary. Amidst her first experience of electric bulbs, she was flopped ingloriously onto a blanket before receiving some rehydrating medicine. She was christened Sammy by a visiting young boy and found to weigh a healthy 25 kgs (60lbs) before being carted off in a comfortable crate to Kerry.

Kerry care

Sammy’s arrival will please another seal in the sanctuary who, prior to Sammy’s encounter with Mary Mangan’s dog, was the only Corkonian amongst a sanctuary of seven Kerry pups, most of them washed up, so to speak, from the Blaskets. As the world knows, two Cork girls simultaneously gathered usually amounts to a takeover.

The rescued pup is now quartered in a personal kennel equipped with such mod cons as blankets and heat lamps.. “She’s on a fish soup diet for a few weeks until ready for raw fish,” says Sarah. “She’ll be put in a bath to learn to swim and later into a big pool. Once she weighs about 45 kg, in a month or so, we’ll release her back in Youghal.”

According to Sarah and Kate, seals of Sammy’s age cannot yet swim and she may have been abandoned or simply washed ashore in a storm. Seal mothers stop feeding their offspring at about three weeks, shortly before they shed their white fur. By then they have ample body fat to survive a few weeks, before learning to swim and fend for themselves. On a public beach this process could be curtailed by predators.  Sammy was lucky the Doc, (himself once an abandoned pup) got there first.

Her many fans await. See www.dinglesanctuary.com.

Youghal’s Father Donal Hussey Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Ordination into the Priesthood

Fr. Donal Hussey was born to Tommey and Breda Hussey, on December 23, 1957, at the Cottage Hospital, Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. He was the third of seven children.
Fr. Donal was educated in the Presentation Convent Primary School in Youghal,,  and he continued his middle and high school years with the Irish Christian Brothers. After graduation Father Donal worked for a year as a bartender, as he discerned a vocation to the priesthood.
He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Patrick’s College, Roscommon. .  In 1985, Fr. Dan graduated with a Master’s Degree in Theology from St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Father Donal was sponsored in the seminary by Bishop Jerome J. Hastrich, Bishop of Gallup, New Mexico.  He was ordained into the priesthood on October 13, 1985, in his home parish, St. Mary’s Church, Youghal.
His first assignment as a priest was as an associate pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup, NM. He was next assigned to assist Fr. Pat Universal at St. Mary’s Parish, Pinetop, AZ.   He also served at St. Mary’s Parish in Farmington, NM and St. Joseph’s in Aztec, NM.

After five years he was released from the Diocese of New Mexico to begin service as a Military Chaplain with the United States Navy.  Following basic Chaplain training at NETC, Newport, RI, Father Donal was assigned to a naval station in San Diego, CA, alternating between shore and fleet duty. Upon leaving NETC he was presented with the Pluralism Award of the State of Rhode Island for his ecumenical work.
At the end of his first tour of duty, Father Donal was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph’s and Madre de Dios Parishes, Winslow, AZ, and Catholic Chaplain to the Arizona State Prison, Winslow, AZ. He continued to serve as a reserve Chaplain, supporting the Marine Corps reserve unit at Seal Beach, CA.
In support of Operation Desert Storm, Father Donal was mobilized to the Chaplain Corps, United States Army, and his assignments included Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Knox, Kentucky. His last assignment was as Senior Catholic Chaplain, Fort Hood, Texas.
Father Donal received numerous military awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
At the end of his tour at Fort Hood, Father Donal was accepted by Bishop Calvo for service in the Diocese of Reno. He  was briefly assigned to assist at St. Gall Parish in Gardnerville and also as pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Elko, on July 1, 2008.

Fr. Donal recently celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood, with a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by dinner and entertainment, at St. Joseph’s Parish, Elko, Nevada, where he has been parish priest for the past two years, following his retirement as an Army chaplain. Fr. Donal’s brother, Tommey, travelled to Nevada especially for the occasion, and following the event the two brothers were able to spend some time visiting San Francisco and northern California, including Alcatraz Island. At the Mass of Thanksgiving, Fr. Donal was joined by his bishop, Most Rev. Randolph Calvo, bishop of Reno, and priest friends from the diocese and around the country. The homilist was Fr. Pat Universal of Boston, who was at Fr. Donal’s ordination in Youghal twenty-five years ago, at St. Mary’s Parish Church, with his mother Catherine (R.I.P). Tommey read the lesson from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, just as he did at the Mass of Ordination a quarter of a  century ago. The Mass was dedicated to the memory of Tommy and Breda Hussey.

St. Joseph’s Church was packed to capacity with parishioners and visiting friends, including Fr. Oliver Curran (Carlow), Fr. Mike Reardon (Limerick), Fr. Vince Fallon (Offaly) and Fr. Noel Campbell (Dublin). Following the Mass, which was celebrated in English and Spanish, all were treated to dinner in Mater Dei hall, followed by entertainment that included a trio of Canadian bagpipers (engineers at one of the local goldmines); a hilarious skit about growing up in Youghal and pondering a vocation put on by the parish youth; a video presentation on Fr. Donal’s life growing up and as a civilian and military priest; a colourful set of dances performed by the Mexican Children’s’ Folklorico group. The night rounded off with a dance. Many parishioners got to taste Guinness for the first time, compliments of a keg donated by Blach Distributors (parish members)!

Fr. Donal is wished every happiness in his future by all his family and friends in Youghal and the East Cork area.

Photo courtesy www.dioceseofreno.org and www.youghalonline.com/Archive

Youghal Super Valu staff presented a cheque of €3.354 to the Laura Lynn Foundation from monies raised at the fun fundraiser head/wax shave by the male staff. The men happily volunteered to support this worthy cause, which took place at Berties Bar, Youghal, last Oct. 2010. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Family and friends came along on the night to support the Youghal Super Valu staff who organised and volunteered for this great cause. Emma and Micheala Bailey from ‘Team Bailey’ Hair Salon did the head shave and Norma Stone and Vicki O’Sullivan, from ‘Tone and Tan’ did the wax service, to the delight of all who attended (except for those who participated in the excruciating painful event of course). Well done to all involved.

- If you would like to feature your upcoming event or fundraiser in the “Gigs and Events Calendar” on YoughalOnline.com email details to news@youghalonline.com

Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

It’s noticeable that the current recession is so disheartening that many people deem the decade of prosperity that produced it as ‘guilty by association’ and yearn more for the ‘normal’ stagnation of the 1980’s. Nostalgia is selective and many recall that prior to the roar of the Selfish Tiger, sweeter voices rent the air. Some of those voices entered the Voice of Youghal.

Last Sunday night, at Youghal GAA’s Club Aras, such voices again resounded in a special event commemorating the times when the Voice of Youghal joyfully filled the town’s hearts and pubs. The night revolved round the launch of Memories of the Voice of Youghal, a CD collection compiled by Youghal musician Mark Ansbro who, as a teenager, played backing to some of the featured performers.

Vintage entertainment

The Voice of Youghal was established in 1981 by Community Radio Youghal (CRY), which had began broadcasting as a pirate station two years previously. It ran consecutively until 1983 and every second year thereafter until 1997. A vintage home brew in bar entertainment, it spilt into hostelries as far east as Dungarvan and west towards Midleton. The night’s recordings were aired twice weekly on CRY.

Making comparison in concept between the Voice of Youghal and X-Factor is unavoidable. “They are identical in the nature of the debates they engineer,” agrees Mark. However the Youghal version was original and focused entirely on the singers, with adjudicators that were neither pretentious nor self-promoting. Youghal’s pioneering project didn’t have a pot of gold budget either but was ably and reliably sponsored throughout by Youghal auctioneer Con Keogh. Amongst other donations, he provided “proper trophies, about 4’ high, to the winners,” remembers Mark.

Each season started in February, culminated in a September finale and averaged 84 singers per year @ six per host pub. The songs were inevitably popular pop tunes or classic ballads, sang by solo performers. It became so popular that patrons started drinking at 8 pm! On Monday nights!! An estimated 700 people attended –or tried to attend- one early final in the Ocean Lounge. Some, marooned nearer the car park than the counter, were obliged to ferry refreshment from a nearby bar.

Nooche

The Voice of Youghal developed from Pa and Nooche on Tour, an outside broadcast initiative that saw Pa Cooney and William ‘Nooche’ Kenefick invade bars to provide a radio platform for local talent. Nooche, a man blessed with the gift of seeing fun without losing sight of sincerity, became the Voice of the Voice of Youghal. It made local legends of them both. Nooche attributes the shows’ success, originally at least, to the novelty and the wide expression of community radio. “People were a bit hesitant the first season but after that they were queuing up,” he recalls. “Everyone loved to hear their family, friends or themselves on radio.”

Charity

The competitive edge added to the allure but it is widely understood that the contests were far more about competing than conquering. “Without doubt, everyone was a winner,” Nooche stresses, “because it brought out the best in everyone. There was never bitterness or begrudgery.” The benevolence was extensive, as the competition focused strongly on raising funds for local charities and –through Youghal nun Sr. Rosa Cashman, foreign missions.

It all ended in 1997 through ‘repetitive strain’ and the inexorable march of time and change. It left in its wake a trail of tales forged by a compendium of characters. Nooche rubs his jaw and smiles; “One night there was a power cut in the Half Way bar and they brought a tractor to a back door to light up the stage, but the rest of the bar was in pitch darkness. Brendan Morrison said he never ‘sold’ so many pint bottles but got no money for them!” On another occasion the three adjudicators were advised not to award one contestant a place in the next round, no matter how well he sang, as he was barred from every other pub in the region and would be unable to meet his commitments. It is known too that one performer had to be subtly but physically supported while singing, having celebrated too much in advance.

CD launch

Many of the participants have gone from this world now –along with several of the pubs they enlivened- but there were at least a dozen of them in Club Aras on Sunday night. From a list drawn from Nooche’s memory bank, Mark had invited a dozen singers to his home, where they each recorded “one of the songs that made them famous.’ He added two vintage tracks from the competition’s first winner, Kathleen Twomey and from the last winner, the late Sean O’Neill. Tracks paying tribute to Nooche, Con Keogh and a humorous, bonus number titled fictitiously, ‘The Night Me Father won the Voice of Youghal’ complete a 17-track set. “It’s basically an attempt to capture a little of the magic of the time,” explains Mark, adding that “each singer also comments briefly on what made it so special for them personally.”

Sunday night’s event, compered by Jimmy Flanagan, saw live re-enactments and a crowd of over 200 who relived the precious memories that helped bind a community and sustain its spirit in difficult times. The occasion also paid tribute to Nooche for his services to The Voice of Youghal, to CRY and to Youghal itself. Presentations were made to him and his wife Agnes on behalf of CRY, while Voice of Youghal singers present also made a presentation to their former host. Con Keogh was also presented with a token of appreciation from CRY. If the dire future is half as good as the past, we’ll be ok…

Mark thanks CRY, Warren Tivy/Claycastle Studios, Tony Irwin/Stoneybuckets Media, Jimmy Flanagan, Michael Sheehan and photographer Tommy Bulman.

Memories of the Voice of Youghal cost €10. In the spirit of its heritage, proceeds, after production costs, go to Youghal Hospice.

Click on image to enlarge – Pics: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Youghal Exhibition ‘The Untidy Intimacy Of Places’

A study of Youghal by 3rd Year students at Cork Centre for Architectural Education.
The Mall House (Youghal Town Hall)
19th November – 10th December 2010
Displaying students’ architectural drawings and models which examine Youghal as it exists today and how it may develop in the future

In September of this year current 3rd year Architecture students in Cork Centre for Architectural Education (a joint UCC/CIT course) were challenged as part of their technology module to take the previous years study of Youghal and turn it into an exhibition. Displayed within an installation of stacked plywood boxes are a series of drawings, models and works which examine Youghal as it exists today and how may develop in the future.

The exhibition begins with a to scale model of Youghal town which the students created to aid in their study and proceeds to a digital stand displaying social and architectural analysis work undertaken. Three further stands contain work which highlight and propose the interventions and architecture the students would envision after their years study of Youghal. Selected works are of envisioned designs for community centres, cinemas and library’s on selected sites in Youghal Town.

The exhibition is located in the glazed extension of the town hall and will run until the 10th of December and is free and open to the public during normal opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm

Click on image to enlarge - Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

The Walter Raleigh Hotel was the venue for the 2nd Annual Community Radio Youghal Country Music Awards Music Awards 2010. The spectacular and glitzy awards ceremony took place on Monday 15th November last. Report: Shane Supple / Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com.

Community Radio Youghal held there 2nd Annual Country Music awards on Monday 15th November last in the Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal. There was a fantastic crowd on the night with people traveling from all over to see there favourite stars of Country Music on stage. The Award winners were kept a closely guarded secret, with only the organisers and the acts themselves privileged to the information. The rest of us had to wait till the night to see who would win what award.

Proceedings got underway with new up and coming singer John McNicholl who started the night off. John’s band was to accompany all the winners on the night and a fantastic job they did too. They stayed on stage throughout the evening backing all the different winners. Each winner had a chance to sing three songs and this kept the whole night moving along with little time between acts. Tommy Collins of Community Radio Youghal was MC on the night and he kept things moving along at a nice professional pace. Various radio presenters and members of CRY were on hand to present the awards to the winners.

The awards were based on number of plays requested on Community Radio Youghal for the preceding month and voting and counting was carried out over the weeks during the months of September & October. Many different Country music shows on CRY were used to log the voting and the response from the general listening public was fantastic with each show logging a large number of phone calls. Well done to all involved for a hard nights work and to all at CRY for providing us with a great service in our local area.  Awards went to the following singers and acts.

Click on image to enlarge

Most Requested Singer: Johnny Mullin

Irish Female Artist: Louise Morrissey

International Male Singer Award: John McNicholl

Solo Hall of Fame Award: Peter Burke

Up & Coming star Award: Conor O Sullivan

Most Popular Album Award: Dermot Lyons

Most Popular Group Award: The Michael Collins Band

Most Popular Solo Artist Award: Patrick O Sullivan

Most requested Artist on Radio Award: Dave Rae

Best Songwriter Award: Linda Welby

Comedy Act Award: Bachelors in Trouble

The Hall of Fame Award: Paddy O Brien