Below is a summary of website visitors and traffic to YoughalOnline.com over period Jan 1st 2010 to Dec 31st 2010.

96,218 People Visited
287,081 Pages Views
58% are New Visitors

(All Absolute Unique – Hits were actually 159,641)

Busiest traffic day was 948 visits on Saturday November 13th 2010.
Our average daily traffic is 546 visitors,  up 70.18% on the previous 2008/2009 period

Top 10 Visiting Countries:

1. Ireland
2. United Kingdom
3. U.S.A
4. Netherlands
5. Canada
6. Australia
7. Germany
8. India
9. Belgium
10. France

Top 5 Web Browsers accessing YoughalOnline.com

1. Microsoft Internet Explorer 54%
2. Mozilla Firefox 26%
3. Google Chrome 9%
4. Apple Safari 8%
5. Opera 0.92%

Top 5 Mobile Devices accessing YoughalOnline.com

1. iPhone 2,239 visits (829% increase on the previous 2008/2009 period(241 visits))
2. iPod 550 visits
3. iPad 311 visits
4. Android 297 visits
5. Symbian OS 208 visits

Top 5 Search Engine traffic to YoughalOnline.com

1. Google
2. Yahoo
3. Bing
4. Search
5. Ask

Top 5 Referring Websites to YoughalOnline.com

1. Facebook.com
2. Google.com
3. Google.ie
4. images.google.com
5. youghalradio.com

YoughalOnline.com YouTube Channel Video Views:

Our 30 videos have generated 194,917 video views since February 28th, 2008

Summary:

Past Year 2010: 96,218 People Visited
Previous Year 2009: 51,538 People Visited
Percent Increase: 86.66% Visitors

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Sinn Féin councillor Sandra McLellan has said the government’s universal social charge remains unfair, despite the changes announced by the Finance Minister yesterday, and called for it to be repealed.

Cllr McLellan said: “The universal social charge is basically a flat tax: everyone with an income above €16,000 pays it at the same rate of 7%. As such it breaches the fundamental principal of progressive taxation – that those who have more, pay more.”

“The Minister for Finance announced that Medical Card Holders will now be taxed at the lower level of 4%. While this is welcome, it does not go far enough. Hundreds of thousands of low paid earners will still be paying 7% of their income.”

“These are the people who have opened their pay packets over the past few weeks to find a large chunk has disappeared from their wages. The Minister’s announcement has done nothing for them. The inevitable result will be that families and households cut back further on discretionary spending, damaging local businesses and costing the country jobs.”

“Meanwhile the Minister has comprehensively failed to go after those who could and should pay more – the tax exiles and the wealthy. Sinn Féin has proposed a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over €1 million (excluding the family home) and a 48% tax rate on individual incomes over €100,000. There is no evidence that either proposal was even considered by the government. Even the limited measures announced in the budget – ending the remaining property tax reliefs – are being kicked to touch, with their implementation postponed pending “review” by a government-appointed committee.”

“This Finance Bill is the sting of a dying wasp. Even in their last days in government, Fianna Fail are targeting the low-paid and welfare recipients, while letting their cronies from the tent at the Galway Races off the hook. Sinn Féin wants the repeal of the Universal Social Charge. Any party wanting to form a government after the next election should introduce a new budget as its first priority.”

Statement on behalf of the Labour Party – Youghal Branch – 25th January 2011

The Youghal Branch of the Labour party would like to comment on the account of January’s Youghal Town Council meeting as reported by the Youghal News and www.Youghalonline.com

Regarding the absence of a Labour Councillor from recent meetings, we can confirm that the matter will be satisfactorily resolved in the very near future. We were puzzled and somewhat amused by the language used by some members in the discussion on the absence of a Labour Councillor. Our self-esteemed Mayor used the word “undemocratic” while the general view of the meeting was that the lengthy delay in installing a replacement for Donie Daly was “disrespectful” – such fine – sounding words!

Let us refresh our memories!

When the members of the Council voted by 5 – 3 (Linehan- Foley, McLellan, Hennessy, Burke & Coyne for; Murray, Beecher & Revins against) to continue with morning Council Meetings, they did so in the full knowledge that this would preclude Councillor Daly’s attendance at meetings. As has been well documented at this stage, Donie’s job in Limerick meant he could not take time off to attend these meetings.  Some of the comments made by individual councillors explaining their decision to make it impossible for him to attend meetings were petty, spiteful and vindictive. The result of their “democratic” decision is that in future no one who is trying to hold down a 9-5 job, in these difficult times should consider standing for election toYoughal Town Council. Only those who are the masters of their own time (Self-employed, retired or home-workers) need apply. Is this the “democracy” that our exalted Mayor yearns for? What about the 383 people of Youghal that gave Donie Daly their first preference vote in the 2009 elections? Where is the respect for them?  Democracy & Respect are two fine concepts, and it hasn’t been the Labour Party that has besmirched them!

In the past few months, the closure of 3 restaurants, one pub and a number of other retail outlets has continued the downward spiral of recession that has plagued Youghal in recent years. Even the iconic Merricks , has closed its doors for the last time after an incredible 430 years. Against this background it surely behoves all of us, and in particular, those charged with representing the interests of the people of Youghal, to do our utmost to find new strategies for growth and to avoid the mistakes of the past. To this end, an opportunity was presented lately, to do just that, with the showing of Michael Twomeys & Kieran McCarthy’s excellent documentary “A Town out of Time”. This film was a searing indictment of the lack of foresight shown by the politicians and business people of Youghal during the so called ‘boom-years’, which has directly contributed to some of our problems today. The 150 people who attending the screening, while saddened by its content and riveted by its power were utterly amazed that not one single member of the Town Council had seen fit to attend, despite being invited. It seems that our Mayor’s main concern is that in future her gilded invitations should be forwarded direct to her seat of power in town hall, while similarly other councillors are calling for a ‘private’ viewing of the film.

What towering arrogance!

We in the Labour Party would love to see the film being screened again, for all those who, for one reason or another, could not attend the original showing. Councillors, of course, would be as welcome as the rest of us ‘ordinary’ people to attend.

Finally, we would like to point out that a representative of the Youghal Branch of the Labour party attended the showing of the film and our former Councillor Donie Daly featured prominently in it and made, in our view, a substantial contribution to its success.

In conclusion, we would like to reiterate that the people of Youghal will once again have a Labour Party Councillor of substance and integrity to represent their interests on Youghal Town Council.

Related Video: Michael D Higgins making his last speech in the Dail

Newly crowned Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin tonight said sorry for the party’s past mistakes – but insisted they did not get everything wrong.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister refused to say how many seats he was targeting in the general election and whether Taoiseach Brian Cowen would stand again.

Although Mr Martin admitted Fianna Fáil’s role in the country’s economic crisis, he claimed other political parties in the Dáil were just as culpable.

“I am sorry for the mistakes we made as a party and that I made as a minister, (I’m) very sorry for those mistakes that we made,” he said.

But he claimed there were “systemic failings” in the political system and pointed the finger at the Opposition for competing with Fianna Fáil on tax cuts and spending promises.

“We were all wrong,” he said.

Mr Martin also defended his party’s record in creating jobs, building new roads and improving education. “We didn’t get everything wrong in the last ten to 15 years,” he said.

The Cork TD was elected the eighth leader of Fianna Fáil after a secret ballot in Leinster House sparked by Mr Cowen’s decision to stand down at the weekend.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, Social Protection and Defence Minister Eamon O Cuiv, and Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin also put themselves forward in the contest.

On the first count, Mr Martin received 33 votes, Mr O Cuiv received 15, Mr Lenihan got 14 and Ms Hanafin was eliminated on 10 votes. After transfers in the second count, Mr O Cuiv and Mr Lenihan were on 18 votes each and Mr Martin 36 votes.

The new leader was eventually elected on the final count with 50 votes, compared to Mr O Cuiv’s 22.

Mr Cowen immediately pledged his full support to his successor, who had originally failed in a heave against the Taoiseach last week.

“I believe Micheál has proven in his various ministerial roles over the years that he has the essential leadership qualities of focused determination, stamina, collegiality and integrity, which will enable him to become a great leader of the Fianna Fail party,” said Mr Cowen.

Mr Martin vowed to rebuild Fianna Fáil and lead from the centre ground while making new opportunities for the young and women within its ranks. The party is languishing at the bottom of opinion polls with a record low of 14%.

He said he would shortly name his deputy leader, his new front bench and a director of elections.

While he refused to compare himself to the outgoing Taoiseach, Mr Martin insisted he would engage and be open with the electorate.

Describing his background as from a republican nationalist family, he highlighted past party figures Sean Lemass, Paddy Hillery and Donogh O’Malley as his inspiration.

Mr Martin said his successful challenge has committed him to political life for the next ten years and that he aimed to be Taoiseach.

Although he dismissed the politics of “soundbite and personality”, the new Fianna Fáil leader called for a series of debates with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore ahead of the election.

Team Youghal recently presented a cheque for €5,400 to Brendan and Juliette Casey, representing The Emer Casey Foundation. The Team raised this money through their participation in The Race Around Ireland in September, 2010. Team Youghal consists of an eight man team of amateur cyclists backed up by a dedicated volunteer crew.

The Race Around Ireland is far and away the toughest cycling endurance test in Europe and is second only, to the race across America (RAAM) which Team Youghal are participating in this year also for the Emer Casey Foundation. RAAM is considered to be the toughest endurance race on the planet. Team Youghal completed the Race Around Ireland in eighty eight hours and eighteen minutes knocking over an hour off their previous time in 2009 of 90 hours and 6 minutes. Team Youghal covered a distance of 2,160.5 km or 1,350 miles with an average speed of 24.5 km/h. Team Youghal take on the ultimate challenge in June of this year when they line up for the 30th edition of the Race Across America in Oceanside, California on June 18th. The race distance is 3,005 miles and crosses the American continent, finishing in Anapolis, Maryland on the Atlantic Coast.

Ger Flanagan, Team Leader, said;” We are really looking forward to this enormous challenge as it will be a unique experience for both cyclists and crew and will be nothing like our previous challenge with the Race Around Ireland. Once again we are very proud to be supporting The Emer Casey Foundation as they do essential work in the area of ovarian and uterine cancer. This support not only is shown with the presentation of a cheque but also in the increased awareness of the Emer Casey Foundation that occurs purely because of our participation in these Ultra Marathon Cycling events.”

The Emer Casey Foundation is dedicated to providing funding to the ‘Disovary Consortium’ to secure the best independent research to detect the early signs of Uterine/Ovarian cancer. Following the death of local Youghal girl, Emer Casey, in June 2006, the Casey family promised they would do all they could to help this research in the hope of securing a future of early detection.

Juliette Casey, Mother of the late Emer, said: “We are extremely thankful to Team Youghal for the huge effort, commitment and dedication that they have shown The Emer Casey Foundation over the last few years and the much needed funds, and awareness that they have raised. We know and appreciate that each member of the Team have made some big sacrifices in their involvement in The Race Around Ireland over the last two years and now also with the up and coming Race Across America. On behalf of the Casey Family, and the Foundation, I wish them every success in their endeavour.”

If you wish to support Team Youghal’s participation in the Race Across America just log on to their website, www.teamyoughal.com, where all contact information can be found. Team Youghal feels that RAAM could be an excellent opportunity for some company to promote their business, and raise their profile in America, while also supporting a very worthy cause.

Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton has said that Fine Gaels small business policy could provide a real boost to our economic recovery. The new plan called “Putting Small Business First” was launched last week.

“The five point plan is to kick-start a small business revolution through supporting existing small businesses and enabling new business start-ups. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Irish economy but have fallen foul of the recession with hundreds of companies being forced to close. Despite this we still have 86,000 small businesses, employing more than 700,000 people and generating more than €90 billion turnover every year. SMEs are responsible for over 50% of all VAT collections,” noted Deputy Stanton.

“We believe that our plan for small businesses can create thousands of new jobs and kick-start our economic recovery. Fine Gael’s Five Point Plan will tackle the serious problems facing the sector, including undercapitalisation, weak financial structures and difficulties securing finance, lack of Government support, and excessive red tape.

We will introduce the following changes:
• Redirect tax reliefs into the SME sector;
• Examine the Constitutional case for removing upward only rent reviews;
• A partial loan guarantee for viable small businesses;
• Cut red tape by 25%;
• A Jobs Tax Cut to reduce staff costs for employers;
• Set up powerful ‘one stop shops’ for SMEs across the country;
• A single Business Inspectorate;
• Make it easier for SMEs to tender for public contracts.

“Putting Small Business First provides a comprehensive policy framework for the small business sector, for the first time. It will protect existing jobs, and create new ones across all sectors, at minimal cost to the State. The plan will greatly benefit Ireland’s six growth industries: biotechnology; medicine & health care; creative industries; tourism; green energy; agri-food. It will also provide much needed support to SMEs in the construction industry. It’s time for a new era of rapid and sustainable economic development, with SMEs at its heart.”

Ireland is on course to become the world’s most globalised country, meaning we will be the most open to global trade, capital movements, technology, idea and labour exchange.

At the moment, we rank second in the poll by Ernst and Young, coming behind Hong Kong.

Managing director of Ernst and Young in Ireland Mike McKerr says Ireland is on course to become the most globalised country next year:

“If Ireland can retain a ranking of two in the world, it’s a great accolade to what we’ve achieved,” he said.

“(However, ) we project that Ireland will become the most globalised nation next year and retain that position for the next three years.”

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today welcomed completion of the final stages of the Student Support Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Bill is likely to be one of the last pieces of legislation passed by the current Dáil and Seanad and it is expected that the Bill will be signed into law by the President in the coming days.

The Tánaiste said: “this is the most comprehensive piece of legislation on student grants in more than 40 years and I am confident that it will facilitate huge improvements in the way that students apply for and receive their grants.

“The Bill will enable the introduction of a single new student grant scheme to replace the four existing schemes, and this should be in place for the coming academic year, 2011/12.

“This will be followed by the designation of a single grant awarding authority in 2012 to take over from the 66 local authorities and VECs through which the schemes are currently administered, enabling all grant applications to be processed and paid centrally in the future,” said the Tánaiste.

She acknowledged the service that has been provided to students and parents by the existing grant awarding bodies.  However, as demand for student grants continues to grow in the current economic climate, the quality of the service that is needed for the organisation and operation of the service must improve dramatically to make it accessible, transparent and most importantly, timely in its response to providing funding to those who otherwise might not be able to avail of further or higher education.

The Tánaiste concluded: “the legislation provides us with the opportunity to overhaul fundamentally the student grants system by enhancing its capacity and responsiveness to the demands being made on it, not only due to the changed economic environment but also in the face of dramatically increasing student numbers and the need for it to play its role satisfactorily, both in promoting participation in higher and further education and in providing quality third level education.”

DESPITE the inclement weather conditions and the fast descending frost which ultimately put paid to any racing at Youghal track last Friday, a great night was enjoyed by the large number of track supporters who enjoyed the Annual Awards night, organised by the Youghal Track Supporters Club.

The delicious and wonderfully presented hot and cold food was supplied by Richenda and her staff from Quays Bar in Youghal while the wine was sponsored by Kevin Barry, Killeagh.

A special presentation was also made to Jimmy Coleman who retired after 46 years running the bar at Youghal Greyhound Stadium.
Jimmy will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues and is wished all the best for the future from everyone in Youghal Greyhound Stadium

Seven awards in all were presented with the beautiful Waterford Crystal trophies sponsored by John O’Brien, Midleton.

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

Award Winners:

Joint Dog of the Year:

Reagrove Smasher owned by Diarmuid Lynch

January Breeze owned by Michael Cashman

Public Trainer of the Year:

Kieran Lynch

Private Trainer of the Year:

Johnny Mc Grath

Owner of the Year

Helen Wadsworth

Joint Track Supporters of the Year

Ned Flynn, Youghal

John Kenny, Ballyduff

The former site of Avery Dennison in Youghal is the location for the newly formed and urgently needed Service based company, Cara Ambulance Service Limited.  The services provided by this unique company include much needed, fully equipped no emergency ambulance and medic taxi, staffed with professional paramedics and EMT’s trained to the highest national standards, in accordance with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council Standards.

Conor McEvaddy from Galway, Cara Company Director, is a qualified Helicopter pilot who has worked for many years in Galway.  His friend and partner, James O’Neill, is a qualified trainer wit the HSE, with whom he has worked for almost twenty years.
Having completed the necessary courses Conor and James, both recognising the urgency of such a service, got together and formed their Company, Cara Ambulance Service.  Conor told the East Cork Journal that they studied many sites and areas for their Company and decided to locate in Youghal, which seemed to have the largest gap, but with accessibility to the hospitals and nursing homes in the areas of Cork, Waterford, Limerick etc,
Youghal native, Nessa Cashell, daughter of Gertie and Michael Cashell, The Mall, Youghal worked for eight years in Cork as a Quality Manager, and over those years undertook several courses in the area of Services Improvements.  She is currently a qualified Quality Analyst with experience in all forms of service improvement and organisation, which makes her ideally suitable for her administrative position with the Company.  Nessa told the East Cork Journal that her aim would be to provide a service for patients which is not only professional to the highest standards but one which would also provide a person with a warm personality, with whom the patent will feel confident and comforted during their transportation to hospital or nursing.

Maureen O’Brien from Castlelyons, is a qualified EMT.  For most of her life Maureen has been involved with first aid and medical training. She is a qualified instructor and trainer with the Irish Heart Foundation, with whom she has been a member for the past thirteen or so years.  She qualified with the Ambulance Training Scheme in Dublin, is a voluntary member with the Order of Malta, and qualified with the PHECC (Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council).  Add to these qualities a very caring and sympathetic nature and Maureen is the sort of person one would be glad to have with them on a trip to either hospital or nursing home.

Emmet Quann lives in Lismore with his wife, Melanie and two children, Amelie and Hugo.  As an EMT, Emmet decided on a change in career some years ago, undertook all the necessary courses, and is now highly qualified in his work with Cara.   He told the East Cork Journal that he had always been interested and involved in palliative care, and completed the necessary courses to achieve his qualifications, and thus his ambitions.

Conor, Nessa, Maureen and Emmet are the basis of Cara with several other qualified EMTs also on hand when necessary.  All vehicles are fully wheelchair accessible and have appropriate restraint systems.  Each vehicle carries all vital medical equipment, which includes appropriate  medicines, AED and oxygen.  Cara Ambulance Service is tailored to meet the needs of the HSE, Healthcare Facilities, insurance companies, Hospitals, Private individuals, Nursing Homes.   This new Medic Taxi service is proving to be quite popular – they are driven by qualified medic staff and are also fully wheelchair accessible with appropriate restraint systems, carrying all vital medical equipment, which includes appropriate medicines, AED and Oxygen.

The service may also be used for people travelling to the hospital for dialysis,  if a person has a hospital appointment, or is in need to be transferred to a nursing or private home, the patient can travel with the medic or can have a family member of carer to assist the patient.  Cara Ambulance also provides full medical cover for sporting events, fixtures, concerts and any large crowd event.
The fleet consists of response cars, motor bikes, ambulances and a mobile medical unit with fully trained paramedics and EMTs to cover any event required.
With such a comprehensive professional service available 24/7, one could say with confidence that Cara (friend) is, indeed, your Cara in need.
For more information on Car Ambulance and Medic Taxi Service contact 024 85744 or 1890 600999 or simply go to their website www.caraambulanceservice.ie

Report: Denise FitzGerald – Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com