The East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre annual Award Ceremony took place in the Walter Raleigh Hotel on Wednesday night, November 10th.  Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, Lord Mayor of Youghal and Joan Russell, Education Officer with Co. Cork VEC presented the certificates to 120 students who attended.

The East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre is a multi-purpose Adult Education centre run by Co. Cork VEC. There are over 300 students attending the centre on a weekly basis attending a full range of adult education courses from levels 1 to 5 on the National Qualifications Framework. Students from three programmes received awards on the night.
It was the first time that students graduated from the two year VTOS, Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme graduated. This is the only full-time adult education course available in Youghal. Ten of the 14 graduates received a full FETAC Level 4 award. For many of these students this was their first formal qualification and they were very proud of their achievement.  Most of the graduates have progressed on to further education. Tribute was paid to the excellent work of the tutors on this course. This course was established with the aid of the Equality for All programme.

Youghal Adult Learning Group had 24 students receiving awards on the night. Six of these students received full FETAC Level 3 awards and it was the first time any students in Youghal have achieved this. This Return to Education course was funded by FÁS and the support of the Community Employment Supervisors was acknowledged on the night. Students covered a range of subjects including Communications, Maths, IT, Art & Design and Living in a Diverse Society.
The largest group of students receiving awards were under the Back to Education Initiative. Computer students received awards for FETAC Level 3 and 4 and ECDL. One of those received an award was 80 years of age and he is now looking forward to his next course. Students also received records of achievement for Horticulture, Childcare, Healthcare Support and Business Studies. Full FETAC Level 5 certificates were awarded to six of the Childcare students and 10 of the Art, Craft & Design students. Many of the Art students have progressed on to further education or employment.
Certificates were awarded for the first time in Security Guarding and Beauty Therapy. The Security Guard Training course included Safe Pass, Occupational 1st Aid, Fire Safety and Manual Handling as well as 2 FETAC 4 Basic Guarding Skills and Door Security Procedures modules.

The Beauty Therapy Specialist students graduated with a diploma from ITEC. This course has proved very popular and the setting up of this course was supported by the Equality for All programme.
Nuala Glanton, Adult Education Officer, with Co. Cork VEC offered her congratulations to all students receiving awards, including those who could not attend on the night. Joan Russell acknowledged the extra effort that adult education students have to make to find time to attend classes and to study while often juggling a work and busy family life also. Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, who knew a lot of those receiving awards, paid tribute to Co. Cork VEC for the contribution they are making to Youghal.

Special tribute was paid to Barra O’Briain, CEO of Co Cork VEC, who is due to retire shortly for the contribution he has made to education in Co. Cork during his career. In 2006 Mr O’Briain had the vision to retain the former Coláiste Eoin building and open it as a Further Education centre.
For information on any of the courses above please contact the centre on 024-92804.

Click on image to see the Graduation Awards

Community Radio Youghal scooped two top awards at the Community Radio Achievement Awards last month. The awards scheme is organised by CRAOL, the umbrella body for Community Radio in Ireland.

CRY 104fm won a distinction award in the Commissioned Programme category for its documentary series ‘Last of The Yarns’ which chronicled the rise and fall of the textile industry in Youghal.  The programme was scripted by Seamus Murphy, directed by Tommy Collins and produced by Noel Cronin. Mervyn Scott narrated the series, which was edited by Justin Maher and made with the assistance and participation of dozens of the people of Youghal and surrounding areas.’Last of The Yarns’ was grant aided by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, under its Sound & Vision programme.

The station also won a distinction award in the Social Benefit category for ‘Persectives’, the weekly inclusiveness programme on CRY 104fm. ‘Perspectives’ was devised by Station Manager, Declan Gibbons and is produced and presented weekly (Wednesdays @ 6.30pm) by Rhona Coughlan. The programme gives a platform to individuals or groups who may consider themselves or be considered by others as members of a minority group. The programme seeks to emphasise inclusiveness, while recognising difference.

Click on image to start slideshow of the last of the textile industry in Youghal. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Cork Labour County Councillor and forthcoming East Cork general election candidate John Mulvihill has labelled the party’s handling of a co-option dispute in Youghal “a disgrace.” The councillor’s comment arise from Labour’s ongoing failure to fill a town council seat vacated last August, including the annulment of a co-opted successor.

Veteran Labour member Tomas O’Conaill was co-opted by the local branch to replace former councillor Donie Daly and attended October’s town council meeting. However the party’s executive subsequently nullified the co-option, claiming it contravened both its own rules and the requirements of the Local Government Act 2001.

In a letter to Youghal Town Clerk Liam Ryan, Labour’s National Executive secretary, Ita McAuliffe castigated the official for accepting Mr. O’Connell’s co-option without his furnishing a Certificate of Political Affiliation from the party. Mr. Ryan has declined to comment on “a matter of internal party politics.”

Mr. O’Conaill agrees he did not have a certificate but argues that neither did Mr. Daly, nor was he asked to go before a selection panel. “I have a membership card and a letter from the executive confirming my membership, which was forwarded to Mr Ryan.”

He believes the dispute is “a smokescreen fuelled by people at senior level with a vested interest in discrediting the Youghal branch before an election.” Labour seems set to divide the Cork East constituency for the next general election, with Cllr Mulvihill and Sean Sherlock TD canvassing east and north of the constituency’s respectively.

Responding to Cllr Mulvihill’s criticism, a Labour party spokesman says “every member has to abide by the party’s rules, as updated at the 2009 Labour Party convention.”

Mr. O’Conaill further feels the dispute is undermining the credibility and image of the Labour party, while disenfranchising 380 votes polled by Cllr Daly. The party has not been represented at a council meeting since last April, when the council switched its monthly meetings from Monday nights to Tuesday mornings during a public sector work-to-rule. It later made the switch permanent, prompting Mr Daly, a financial consultant, to resign due to daytime work commitments. .

The party spokesman says the lengthy delay in co-opting a replacement has been exacerbated by the Donegal by-election but says “a selection panel process is in train,” to be chaired by Cork North Central TD Ciaran amidst expectations that the process will be completed in December.

Tickets are now on sale at Cree’s Card Shop on the North Main Street, Youghal (024 93899) for Pat Shortt’s show, Pat Shortt in The Hall on Friday, November 26th at The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal at 8pm.  Ticket price €30.

Following the phenomenal success of You Won’t Get Away With that Here, Pat Shortt returns with his hilarious new live show The Hall. Set in the community hall of a small rural town, The Hall features an array of madcap characters brought to life in Pat Shortt’s inimitable style.

When the local drama group stage a gala fundraising concert to raise money for their latest production, things don’t quite go to plan, with hilarious consequences. Gerry, the hall caretaker is shocked to find the hall full of punters hours before he was due to open and sets about taking control while recounting the glory days of The Hall and the past exploits of the drama group.

With the headlining act missing, Drama Group chairman, local shopkeeper and would-be comedian, Mossie Whelan enters the spotlight, with a bottle of wine to give him courage.

Against the odds, the drama group make it to the stage with In The Shadow Of The Well Of The Sorrows, a comedy/drama/tragedy/melodrama, which spills over into the audience in some rather surprising ways.

Just when it looks like the night will be a complete disaster, all is saved by the arrival of singing sensation, Dixie Walsh. Fresh from a tour of the entire diocese on the back of his hit single The Jumbo Breakfast Roll, the ever popular Dixie gets the crowd going with his follow up hit single, Where Did My Money Go?

Fresh from the set of his new series for RTE, ‘Mattie’, IFTA and Evening Standard award winner Pat Shortt is looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience.

For further information and reservations call 083 360 6507.

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

Samantha Forrest is the 2010 winner of The JaneHolly Talent show. The Talent show which took place over 3 weeks saw 8 contestants take part with four finalists chosen to go through to the live final by both public vote and judges deliberation.

The Judges consisting of musicians Bobby Lee and Carol Keniry, CRY presenters Bill Daly and Stanley Notte and CRY’s  Darragh Parker were astounded by the quality and raw talent that was on offer.
The Four finalists  Leah Aherne. Stephen Murphy, Padraig Walsh and Samantha all sang live on air on Tuesday the 9th of November and although an extremely difficult decision , it was the small girl with the big voice Samantha Forrest who walked away with a cheque for €100 courtesy of Crowley’s Mace and CRY.

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.

This year ‘Harmony’ is presenting adaptable set units, along with a stage 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!

Robert Hamill ex crew member of the Youghal RNLI presents a cheque of € 2.778.96 and the medal he received for running the London Marathon 2010 as part of his fundraising actitivies which also included bag packing in Tesco’s, Youghal, and contributions from local people.

Robert is no stranger to long distance running as he has previousely taken part in the Cork, Dublin and Amsterdam Marathons and is looking forward to participating in the next Boston Marathon in the USA.  Robert is married to Valerie and has a son Ryan. His parents are Peter and  Frankie Hamill from Youghal. The monies he raised will buy three crew suits for the Youghal RNLI.

Internationally acclaimed choral ensemble Anúna performed live at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church during their visit to Youghal, bringing their unique choral voice to Co. Cork.

One of the most quintessentially Irish acts on the current musical scene, Anúna perform material spanning a thousand years of history.   Their unique performance style and ethereal, haunting music have garnered critical acclaim and  and an enormous international following over the last two decades.

Youghal’s Labour Councilor, Tommy O’Connell has claimed that Labour Party leader, Eamonn Gilmore is carrying out an investigation following a request from the General Secretary of the party to Youghal Town Clerk, Mr. Liam Ryan last week that Mr. O’Connell’s seat on the council be nullified.

The shock move follows Mr. O’Connell’s nomination and subsequent co-option onto the council seat in the aftermath of Cllr. Donie Daly’s resignation just over a month ago. Confusion reigns over last week’s bizarre event and continues to damage the public relations of the party branch in Youghal.

Further to the revelation that the General Secretary of the Labour Party asked for Mr. O’Connell to be removed, the party’s press office accused the Youghal Council of negligence in the co-opting process.

The news first broke on Tuesday morning when Mr. Ryan informed members at a special meeting to discuss budgets and traffic management that he had been in correspondence with the General Secretary of the Labour Party on Friday evening Oct. 29th. Mr. Ryan told shocked members that the Labour Party said they ‘were not happy with the selection process of Tommy O’Connell’ and that they requested the councilor’s nomination be ‘nullified’. The Town Clerk added that he was asked to reply to the Labour Party by 5pm Monday. Mr. Ryan then contacted Mr. O’Connell and advised him that it would ‘not be appropriate’ for him to come to Tuesday’s special meeting. Before any of the members could respond to the news the Town Clerk advised them that the matter was an ‘internal party issue that has nothing to do with us’.

By noon Tuesday The Labour Party Press Office claimed that the problem with Mr. O’Connell’s co-option lies with the Youghal Town Clerk. When asked why the Labour Party had contacted the council with their request, Mr. Tony Heffernan said. “The proper selection procedure wasn’t fulfilled under the law. All candidates are required to have a certificate of political affiliation. Mr. O’Connell doesn’t. I presume the Town Clerk is familiar with the law and would have checked the legal requirements. The Town Council wasn’t entitled to co-opt him.” Mr. Ryan responded that he would make ‘no comment on internal Labour Party procedures’.
On hearing the Labour Party Press Office claims on Tuesday afternoon Mr. O’Connell said the dispute over his legitimacy as a certified member of the party was a ‘smokescreen’. He also claimed that those with a ‘vested interest’ in discrediting the Youghal branch ‘will fail’. “I don’t have a certificate. However, I have a membership card and I have a letter from head office accepting my donation. That information was conveyed to the Town Clerk. This is a petty procedure in the extreme and is an internal issue. Someone at a senior level within the Labour Party has an ulterior motive. I believe it comes from potential candidates looking to destroy the Youghal branch before an election. We have contacted Eamonn Gilmore and he is investigating the matter. We won’t take this lying down,” he said.

On Saturday, the controversy continued to evolve with a special sitting of the Youghal branch at the Walter Raleigh Hotel. Labour election candidates for Cork East, John Mulvihill and Sean Sherlock were in attendance to ratify Mr. O’Connell’s nomination. How Labour Party headquarters receive the move is unknown but have stated that they want the seat filled ‘as quickly as possible’ though no timeframe was given nor has any name yet been identified for selection. The move by the Labour Party marks a new phase in what has been a tumultuous number of months for the Youghal branch.

The Urban Druids new video “I Can’t Breath” feat John Burke is about World domination by the elite superpowers, a New World Order that has led to a dead democracy where it is impossible for people to express themselves and ‘Can’t Breath’ in this new globalized society. The video was directed and filmed by local Youghal man Tony Irwin from Stoneybucket media and produced by Warren Tivy from Claycastle Recording Studios.

This is the first successful venture by both media companies incorporating the audio, artistic, technical and video talents that are available here in East Cork. The film was recorded over several days and involved many hours of shooting to get the finished footage that the innovative band wanted. The Urban Druids are an Irish/American hip hop/rock band with a Celtic twist.

Click on the bands latest video below and please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the post.

Born in Ireland raised in L.A front man MC dodges street poetry about good times/bad times and the world we live in completes the the druids sound and gives them there true roots. the urban druids have performed to great reception over the last few years in the UK and Ireland with The bands latest cd (CEOL, SPELLS, HERBS AND BEATS) out this year ,The Urban Drudis music tells of tales of global down turn, Irish life, capitalism, religion, irish bank robbers, girls, drink and love. if you get a chance The Urban Druids are worth checking out. www.reverbnation.com/THEURBANDRUIDS#!

The band consisting of MC Dodge (George O Shea – vocals & decks), PAUL CREMIN (electric guitar), Ian Walsh(drums) and Warren Tivy playing keyboards/bass guitar/backing vocals.Plus guest appearances by SaraLou,Helen Murray and John Burke. this music is released by Rifle Range Records

Tá an Druids Uirbeach Gaeilge / hip hop Meiriceánach / banna rac-bhanna le casadh Cheilteach. Rugadh in Éirinn a ardú i LA MC fhilíocht os comhair an fear dodges sráide faoi aimsir an dea / droch-uair, agus ar an domhan ina mairimid i críochnaíonn na draoithe Tugann an fhuaim agus fréamhacha acu fíor ann. na draoithe uirbeach a fheidhmítear chun a ghlacadh mór thar an cúpla bliain anuas sa Ríocht Aontaithe agus Éire leis na grúpaí an CD is déanaí (Ceol, geasa, luibheanna agus BEATS) amach i mbliana Drudis Insíonn an Uirbeach ceol, na scéalta domhanda dul síos, saol na hÉireann, capitalism, creideamh,, robbers bainc na héireann, cailíní, deoch agus grá. má fhaigheann tú an deis ag an Druí Uirbeach Is fiú a sheiceáil amach. www.reverbnation.com/ # / THEURBANDRUIDS

CLAYCASTLE RECORDING STUDIO
Seafield business centre
Youghal
Co Cork
Ireland
0035324 90885

Tony Irwin

Stoneybucket Media Visit on Facebook click here

tony@stoneybuckets.com
stoneybuckets@gmail.com
www.stoneybuckets.com
Skype: tonyirwin17
+353 (0) 87-9225612 (IRL)

Stoneybucket Media
Sound – Video – Graphic – Design