Living in East or North Cork? Vote Malachy Harty No.1 in the upcoming general election.
In other parts of Ireland – Vote Green.

The Green Party’s General Election Candidate for Cork East, Malachy Harty, officially launched his campaign with Party Chairman, Senator Dan Boyle, on Friday evening last.

Harty spoke of his dream for a real change in Irish politics, “I have a vision for Ireland. It is a place where community and family are valued, where business & self interest no longer pull the strings of power, where quality of life and happiness are the desired benchmarks of national achievement.”

“In this vision, the environment is cherished and industry benefits from excellent transport and communications. With smart investments, an efficient public sector and fair taxes, we will harness our strengths and renewable resources to achieve the highest standards of health and education, attain energy security and build a country we can be proud to hand to our children.”

Harty hopes that voters across the country will see the forward thinking reform that the Greens have enacted and begun while in Government, such as the the planning and development bill, the climate change response bill and a ban on corporate donations. Admitting that it will be a tough campaign, he said he is relishing the challenge of the weeks ahead.

Jamesbrook, Midleton, Co Cork
087 1213764
www.MalachyHarty.com

RNLI lifeboats launch over a thousand times to bring 1,094 people to safety in Ireland during 2010

Last year RNLI lifeboats rescued 1,094 people in Ireland, launching 1,002 times. Figures released today (Tuesday 25 January 2011) by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) show an increase of 8 per cent in the number of people brought to safety by Irish lifeboat crews compared to 2009 figures.

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station in Ireland last year was Enniskillen, where the crews on Lough Erne launched 64 times and rescued 82 people last year. The next busiest station was Crosshaven in Cork where volunteer lifeboat crew launched 54 times and brought 67 people to safety. RNLI Dun Laoghaire’s lifeboats launched 50 times and the Aran Islands all-weather lifeboat launched 49 times bringing between them 107 people to safety. Kilmore Quay lifeboat station in Wexford, which last year received a new Tamar class lifeboat worth €3 million, rescued 85 people during 43 callouts.

In a breakdown of the causes of services for the RNLI last year 130 callouts were to persons in the sea, 329 launches were to power pleasure craft and 109 were to fishing vessels.

RNLI Divisional Inspector for Ireland Martyn Smith said: ‘It’s been another busy year for Ireland’s 55 RNLI lifeboats with lifeboat launches topping one thousand for the first time last year.  Every one of the rescues carried out by the RNLI in 2010 was only made possible due to the incredible generosity of the public, even in these difficult times.

‘We are absolutely determined to make the best possible use of the funds that the public entrust to us – and we regularly re-examine everything we do. This ensures that we give the best possible support to our volunteers who may face the worst the sea can throw at them. These new figures show just how much time our crews sacrifice to help those in trouble at sea – but in addition, they spend even more time training, which is a further measure of their dedication and commitment.’

The RNLI, a charity that is independent of Government and reliant on donations, is urging the public to respond to its own call for help by supporting RNLI SOS Day this year on Friday, 28 January.  To find out more log on to www.rnli.ie or call 1800 789 589

* The RNLI provides a 24/7 search and rescue service every day of the year to 100 nautical miles out from the coast of Ireland and the UK.

* Ninety-five per cent of the RNLI’s crew members are volunteers. The RNLI has 4,660 volunteer crew members, 3,000 volunteer shore helpers and station management, and 35,000 voluntary fundraisers.

* Fully audited RNLI annual lifeboat statistics will be available upon publication of the RNLI’s Annual Report and Accounts, which can be viewed online at www.rnli.ie from May 2011.

* RNLI SOS Day takes place on Friday 28 January 2011. www.rnli.ie/sos

Also visit Youghal RNLI Website Click Here

This weekend sees the premiere and first ever Irish performance of The Clearing, a huge love story set in 1652, in the middle of Cromwell’s invasion and clearances of Ireland. Written by Helen Edmundson and directed by Jack Aherne, Brideview Drama is very pleased to present this very active and exciting drama.

Starring John Baldwin and Jan O’Sullivan in the key roles of young lovers, they are very ably assisted by Caitriona Howard, Rachel O’Connell, Alison Lewis, Donal Howard, Sean Ahern, George Peet, Colm Ahern and James Lenane.

The Clearing starts three years after the execution of King Charles I, following a long and bloody civil war. The Parliamentarian who was in the forefront of the anti-king struggle, Oliver Cromwell, is Lord-General and Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The play’s three year span parallels a reign that embraced a policy of execution, forced relocation, and English colonialisation in Ireland.

With its pro-Irish point of view, and special strength of the three female characters, The Clearing gives audiences a character-rich story that engages hearts and minds of all ages.

At Tallow Community Centre this Friday and Saturday nights, 28 and 29 January, at 8.15PM, the play is stage managed by Judy Burton, with a beautiful, emotionally satisfying set designed by Mary Colette Sheehan.

The Clearing is all about Robert and Madeleine, who have dared to step beyond the boundaries of their daily lives in Ireland. Robert is swept off his feet by a gorgeous Irish woman, and his youthful sense of adventure allows him to go with it. Madeleine is much more connected to an ideology of life – she has seen the damage done to her family and to the Irish people by the perpetuation of mistrust and hatred, and she is determined that the cycle can be broken. The play explores personal and social struggles, as the characters do their best amidst battles over land, conflicts between religions, the things people caught in the middle do to survive, and how love needs always to conquer, no matter the cost.

Noted British director Polly Teale said, when her theatre company first performed the play to full houses and critical acclaim, that “The Clearing is an extraordinary achievement. It captures both a great sweep of history and the intricacies of a marriage between an Irish woman and an English man. We are made to feel the effect of history through the lives of the characters. Edmundson explores with great subtlety the way in which racial hatred springs from fear. We see how a fear of ‘the other’  lies at the heart of the play: the desire to crush or destroy what we cannot understand (and perhaps secretly yearn for). Madeleine represents everything the English could never allow themselves to be. She is passionate, sexual and unafraid of life. Robert is hugely drawn to Madeleine because she is so different to everything he knows.”

This is a big play with huge themes and a great find for Brideview Drama. All are welcome and the play is suitable for all the family. As always, Tallow Community Centre will be fantastically well heated, with lots of great refreshments on offer. Tickets are available on the door and all are welcome.

BY common consensus the state of the Tallow road presently reflects the worse condition the surface has presented since the days of donkey transport. In several locations, large potholes and crumbling infrastructure co-exist, like living creature intent on some fiendish plan to multiply and colonise the rural byway. Driving -in the dark and rain particularly- amounts to playing a form of four-wheeled Russian roulette, in which the loser claimed by a gaping void disappears forever into its depths.

The cause lies primarily with the most recent cold weather of course, while the solution is in the lap of the local authorities.  The road meanders through two county council jurisdictions. At January’s Town Council meeting, Lismore Town Clerk Karen Hallahan said she believed the problem was of priority concern to Waterford County Council. At the Youghal equivalent the following day, the word from Cork County Council’s representative and town engineer, Paul Murray, was that road is to be resurfaced “during the coming year.” It has since emerged that Cork County Council are about to embark on emergency repairs.  Meanwhile if anyone hears a cry for help emanating from the bowels of the earth, get off one’s ass (or mule) and cast down a rope.

Meeting of People’s Convention, www.CPPC.ie, Wednesday Night, 26th Jan. 2011 at Youghal Community Centre. As citizens, we must come forward and claim our own democracy.

CPPC co-ordinator Don Sheehan who was guest on Christy Parker's talk show 'Today at 5' on Youghal local radio CRY. Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Come at 8:15 for an 8.30pm start.

This is the first in a series of meetings across the Cork East constituency.  Citizens are invited to attend and discuss the issues leading into this general election.  CPPC will outline its approach that the people must have the say in running our country and to achieve this the political parties of vested interests must be removed from the Dáil.

Citizens are asked to suggest/nominate who might be good candidates for the people in the election, the final meeting will be advertised later with the full schedule and will be the selection convention.

This meeting is facilitated by local CPPC coordinator Don Sheehan, phone 087 2408097

On a day that brought the first of the heavy snow to the Youghal area, a most wonderful Coffee Day was held in the home of Nicola Jennings, which was organised as a fundraiser for the Youghal Union of Parishes, and the Keith Phelan Fund.

Despite the weather, a large crowd came along to the Jennings comfortable home to support the fundraiser and the results were very successful.   The day included not just coffee and delicious pastries, but also an Auction and a Monster Raffle, all of which contributed to the considerable amount of €2,310.

On Saturday last, January 15th, the ladies of the Youghal Union of Parishes were delighted to meet with Keith and the Phelan family, to present to them their cheque for €1,155 to help in their efforts for Keith’s future health.

Nicola Jennings told the East Cork Journal that she was delighted to host the event, but wanted to help a local charity as well as their own fundraising needs.   The Keith Phelan Fund was the charity chosen by Nicola and the ladies of the Committee, and on Saturday last when presenting the cheque they each wished Keith, in particular, and all the Phelan family every success in their trip to Germany, and good health to all for 2011.

Pictured at the cheque presentation to Keith Phelan and his family are Nicola Jennings, Breeda Phillips, Helen Brookes and Gillian McKechnie of the Youghal Union of Parishes.

Youghal Town Council anticipates an expenditure of €3,238,819 on services and provisions this year, against an income of €1,567,993. This mars a net expenditure (the difference between the two) of €1,670,826. Additionally, the town council is to pay Cork County Council €685,583 in respect of the County Charge –the bill issued by the county authority in respect of anticipated services rendered on the town council’s behalf, such as water management, street cleaning etc.

A breakdown of the figures reveals the following details of the town council’s financial dealing for the coming year:

Housing and Building: Income €981,400; Expenditure €429,242.

Road transport & Safety: Income €276,162; Expenditure €521,151.

Water Services: Income €4,500; Expenditure €261,216.

Development Management: Income €53,300; Expenditure €268,285.

Environmental Services: Income €37,040; Expenditure €502,168.

Recreation & Amenity: Income €13,210; Expenditure €497,739.

Agri, Educ, Health &Welfare: Income € zero; Expenditure €32,226.

Miscellaneous Service: Income €202,381; Expenditure €726, 792.

* Miscellaneous Services includes such categories as Administration of Rates (Exp €490,670), Operation Markets/Casual Trade (Exp €2,123 to Inc of €5,000), Local Reps & Civic Leadership (Exp €233,463, including €18,000 local authority members annual allowance plus €12,000 additional expenses), Agency & Recoupable Services (Exp €402.00 to Inc of €197,381).

Youghal Town Clerk Liam Ryan provided January’s Town Council meeting with Phase 2 of a three-phase stastical profile of Youghal, based on the 2006 census. The analysis dealt with Employment and Unemployment and follows last December’s figures on Population Trends. February’s final phase will address Remaining Town Issues. Mr. Ryan believes the statistics “show how Youghal sits in a national context” and will prove valuable towards formatting the town’s development funding applications.

The town clerk noted that Youghal is a traditional tourism centre, with a coinciding history of manufacturing, both of which have been in decline in recent years. He said, “The decline of manufacturing jobs has been a long term feature” of Youghal and outlined job losses across four major factory closures from 2002-2007.

A concise summary of the data reveals as follows:

Economic Status of Residents:

In 2006, there were 2,908 (54% of) people aged 15+ in work, with 348 (6.4% of) the same group unemployed or searching for their first job. The total number at work was lower than the average for other towns of similar size (5,000-10,000 pop.) by 53.8% to 58.2%. The number of 15+ males (63.4%) working in Youghal compared unfavourably with average the average in like towns (67.7%), as did females (44.3% to 49.1%). Youghal also had 15.1% of the population retired, compared to an average of 10.7% for equable towns.

Labour Force Participation Rate:

The Labour Force comprises the combined totals of those at work, unemployed and looking for their first job. The 2006 Labour Force Participation Rate for Youghal was 60.2%, almost 3% lower than for similar towns.  Gender wise, since 1996 it had increased from 66.1% to 71% for males and from 37.8% to 49.5% for females.

Employment by Industry:

In 2006 there were 629 (278m, 351f -21.6%) of  workers employed in Commerce and Trade;  476 (331m, 145f -16.4%) dependent on Manufacturing;  432 (413m, 19f -14.9%), employed in Building & Construction;  428 (109m, 319f- 14.7%) engaged in the Professional Services;  132 (94m, 38f -4.5% of workers employed in Transport & Communication; 23 (22m, 1f -0.8%) occupied  in Agriculture and –largest of all- 684 (382m, 302f -23.5%) of workers employed  in ‘Other’ areas, mostly associated with tourism and recreation.

Place of Work:

The CSO figures for 2006 show that from 2,691 respondent workers, 1,194 worked in Youghal town. There were 83 (3%) working in the rural outskirts. Cork city provided 358 (13% of) jobs for Youghal people with the rest of Cork county employing 305. Co. Waterford employed 107 (4%), Tipperary just six, longer distances and mobile workers amounted to 404 (15%) and “black or unresolved addresses” gave work to 317 (12%).

Places of Residence for Works in Youghal Town:

A total of 1,830 jobs were recorded in Youghal itself in 2006. Surprisingly, only 117 (6%) were within the Construction sector. The majority (505) were in the Commerce sector (principally retail and office based). Health and Education (475) and Transport, Storage and Manufacturing  (367) were next highest, with ‘Other’ at 308. Amongst those working in Youghal, 1,386 (76%) lived in the town, 275 (15%) lived on the outskirts and 90 (5%) worked at or from home as against commuting. Co. Cork provided 288 (16%) of work commuters, with Killeagh providing 49 and Midleton 41. Co. Waterford provided 144 (8%) workers, Co. Tipperary four (0.2%) and longer distances locations eight (0.4%).  At 1.830, the jobs density was 0.28 jobs per resident.

Unemployment:

At 348 (10.7%), Youghal had an unemployment rate higher than the 9.9% of similar towns in 2006. This comprised 10.8% of males on the Labour Force and 10.5% of females, which was a ratio roughly similar to that of similar towns.

Social Welfare ‘Live register’ 2006-2010:

The Live Register reflects monthly returns from the Social welfare Office and includes persons under 65 who are unemployed, along with a certain amount of part-time, seasonal and casual workers. A significant amount of those signing on from the surrounding hinterland are included.

In October 2006 there were 710 people on Youghal’s Live Register and in October 2010 it stood at 1,833 -an increase of 163%. This rate of increase is slightly below the national average of 179% from 2006. Males over 25 showed the highest increase in signing on the Live Register since October 2007. There was an increase in males under 25 also and both categories outflanked increasing numbers for females. The report observes that each year a pattern of increased signing on levels in early summer, followed by a dip in autumn and then sustained increases during the winter.

The report concluded with data from the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), which addresses employment and unemployment from a national perspective only.  In 2006 the QNHS unemployment rate was 4.4%, while in Youghal it stood at 10.7%. Presently the national rate is 13.2% while Youghal’s rate, with between 550 and 650 estimated as unemployed, stands at between 16.5% and 19.5%.

Negative messages

Having delivered the figures vocally, Mr. Ryan said the figures reflected where the town stands and how its development is being affected by both a lack of industrial opportunities and “a stunted retail expansion over the Celtic Tiger years.”  Elaborating on the “stunted retail expansion” reference he said this was partly due to media reports of 2,500 job losses, “which was not the case.” He said he unemployment level in 2006 was “higher than in other towns but still relatively low at 348.” The town clerk argued that potential retail investors were discouraged by “sensationalist” headlines between 2005-2008. As of now, he elaborated that, “the level of people’s engagement in retail and manufacturing is considerably less than that of similar towns and must be addressed if we want improve Youghal’s s economic situation.”

Mayor Linehan-Foley proclaimed that the town council had welcomed all proposed investments in Youghal and stressed that “the negative publicity” had originated elsewhere. Cllr Eoin Coyne retorted that “things can’t be brushed under the carpet” and added that “good news stories don’t sell newspapers.”

Shot down

The mayor further reflected that back in 2007, in a boom, negative publicity was afoot “and there was no need for it. We can’t always be blamed,” she proceeded. “People came in here with different ideas and they were shot down by Youghal people.” Cllr Coyne reiterated that factory closures were rife and had to be reported. The town clerk said he had no problem with factory closures being reported but that the job loss figures were inaccurate. One might consider that the town clerk‘s conviction arises from job losses incurred between 2002 and 2006/7.

Cllr Sandra McLellan supported the figure of 2,500 job losses, “even if other jobs had been created” and cited 630 Artysan job losses as one contributor. Were she to add up the number of jobs lost through factory closures the figures would add up, she insisted. Cllr Michael Beecher saw merit in both arguments, concurred with the mayor that Youghal Town Council had vigorously encouraged investment, while agreeing with Cllr McLellan’s and the media’s purported figures.

Real world

The discussion briefly deviated towards stressing the obvious -that the town council had never other than encouraged investment and was still favouring it! Then Cllr Barbra Murray introduced a wider reality. She said Ireland was perhaps nowadays too expensive an economy to attract manufacturing. Besides, she believed, several of Youghal’s vacant factories are both unsuitable (out-dated designs and asbestos, etc.) having been built in an era of different regulations. She proceeded that, with students emigrating and an ageing population, Youghal was presently neither a manufacturing town nor “a night club/casino” type setting given the population trends.

Cllr Murray said Youghal needed “to think outside the box,” and observed that “IDA policy is now strongly inclined towards pharma, bio-pharma, IT and Financial Services. Unfortunately for us,” she proceeded,  “the IDA policy remains towards clustering. It’s also a negative that we don’t have gas but we do have high speed broadband and that’s may offer opportunities for telecommunications.”

The councillor suggested that the employment creation section of the Youghal Strategic Development Group be furnished with the statistics document, given that the Ida, Enterprise Ireland were represented on the group. Cllr Michael Beecher greed but added that he did not concur with the idea of factories not returning to Youghal.

The town clerk said that education and re-training towards modern skills was vital.” He described retail and manufacturing jobs as being at the lower end of the market, while one had to “leave Youghal get higher up the wage grade.”  The statistics previously presented were, consequently, imperative towards plotting towards a better future.  Cllr Sammy Revins urged that the statistical data should also be forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce in the interest of unity and a combined approach to solving the town’s economic difficulties.

January’s meeting covered a two month period from the previous gathering, given that December’s meeting was cancelled due to weather conditions. PRO Garda Sergeant John Sharkey was unavailable to attend and Community Garda Peter Queally deputised in providing a review of the intervening crime statistics and commentary thereon.

Garda Queally began with reference to 11 thefts, including four from commercial businesses. Eight of them had been solved and were awaiting court proceedings. There had been 16 drug detections, with three people arrested for possession of drugs for sale and one arrest for cultivation. He said detection figures for intent to supply had become quite high since last September’s launch of the Dial to Stop Drugs scheme. “We’ve had a remarkable increase in such detections since the scheme was launched and it seems too much of a coincidence that they are not related,” he observed.

The Dial to Stop Drugs scheme revolves around the Freefone telephone number 1800 220 220, through which the public can supply information anonymously and without traceability to a drugs unit sited in the UK. The information is re-routed to the gardai and ultimately investigated.  The scheme relates to drug dealing as against drug consumption. Garda Queally noted however that there had been 12 arrests for possession since November’s meeting.

Drug successes

There had been 71 drug searches, proceeded the garda. He understood that innocent parties who were searched were not always pleased about it, but argued that this was an unavoidable aspect of the detection process, with the results justifying the means. The type of drugs detected were predominantly cannabis, with one incidence of cocaine for sale and supply. Garda Queally also advised that once a detection occurs, it can take up to a year for the wheels of justice to reach a court appearance.  In most instances, jail sentences are served on sale and supply convictions.

Garda Queally said his colleagues were addressing the drugs issue at every level, including delivering talks and information to secondary schools and parents. Parents had very much appreciated an address to a parents’ council meeting during which they were enabled to view drugs at first hand, he explained, concluding that, “a lot of schools make the mistake of omitting parents from drug education programs,” he concluded.

There were five burglaries since the previous meeting, three of which were from main street businesses. An individual had been arrested in relation to four burglaries and a file was being prepared for the DPP. A burglary at Ballymacoda Church remained unsolved.

Four incidences of criminal damage had occurred since November, most of which involved wanton damage property of a seemingly mindless and opportunistic nature.  There were three drink driving detections. Five public order arrests represented a low and pleasing statistic, especially for the time of year for the time of year and only one of those occurred over Christmas. There had been three assaults, including a young man attacked and robbed at an ATM, for which an arrest had been made.

Further analysis evolves as follows:

Thefts (11): The Mall, Millennium Industrial Park, Sports and Leisure, Amber filling station, Muckley’s Jewellers, Cara Ambulance (Foxhole), Knockaverry residence, Walsh’s Pharmacy and Fairfield (Dominic Collin’s Place).

Drug detections (16): Across Dun na Mara, Windmill Hill, Carlton Wharf , Strand Street,  Market Square and Carlton Village.

Burglaries (5): St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Rendezvous Café, Genesis, Game Zone and Ballymacoda Church.

Criminal Damage (14): Across Ardrath, Bayview Grove, McCarthy’s bar, Church Street,  Ashe Street, Sacred Heart Convent, Coleman’s Garage, Lackaroe, Michael  T. Murphy’s (Sth Main Street) and Cork Hill.

Drink Driving (3): detected at Market Square, Quarry Road and Rincrew.

Public Order offences (5): Mall Lane, The Mall, North Main Street (2) and Nealon’s Quay

Assaults (3): North Main Street, Tallow Street and Friars Mews.

Beware bogus callers

The garda warned against bogus callers, which was a growing problem nationally. He said bogus water meter callers were particularly evident at present. The chairman Mr. Beecher advised that genuine callers, such as plumber, electricians, etc., should carry ID, especially when visiting areas where they would be unknown. Garda Queally recalled that a Vodofone operator had made himself known to the gardai that day, by way of informing them of his presence in advance of any calls they might receive from householders.  A lady from the floor immediately recalled that she had actually sent him packing that week in the now mistaken belief that he was a con man!

Socially monitored alarms

Garda Queally said an application for government funding for a second tranche of socially monitored alarms was now imminent. There were now 40 further applicants, following the initial provision of a similar number of alarms last year.  It needs noting that the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs have previously stated they will only provide funding for 15 or so alarms at one application (The original 40 were funded as the applications preceded legislation limiting the numbers.) The alarms are free via the community group except for an annual monitoring fee of approximately €60. Application forms remain available at the garda station and it was also stressed that individuals may apply for the alarms privately, in the sense that they can effectively buy them without recourse to grant aid. The cost is approximately €300, including installation.

Deceased, absent and coffee morning

The meeting also heard some discussion on the delicate issue of reclaiming alarms from deceased recipients. No specific procedure presently persists for such occasion. Assurances were also issued that renewed efforts are made to contact applicants regarding installation in the event of they being absent from home. It was also agreed to accept an offer from an alarm provision company to sponsor a coffee morning, at which a representative would deliver information on the system.  Further details of this will are expected at February’s meeting.

The next meeting occurs at the Walter Raleigh Hotel on Tuesday Feb 1st at 7.34 pm.

Youghal Town Council’s January’s meeting was preceded by the proposal and subsequent adoption of the 2011 Budget. (See elsewhere in this issue for Manager’s Budget Report.)

Congratulations:

In the sole congratulatory gesture, Cllr Michelle Hennessy paid tribute to Cllr Sandra McLellan on being nominated to stand for Sinn Fein in the Cork East constituency at the upcoming general election.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Town Clerk Liam Ryan preceded submissions by informing the chamber that a contractor was on site that very morning in regard to conducting repairs and resurfacing on several roads; smaller projects would be conducted immediately, while costings were awaited for larger ones. Cllr McLellan noted that council staff were “out and about making notes,” regarding road repairs immediately following the Christmas holidays and said people were grateful.

Cllr Liam Burke thanked the town clerk for getting the road repairs under way “so expeditiously.” The councillor then asked whither the road marking and the proposed ‘Yield’ sing at the Kilcoran Road/Sweetfield Road junction. Town engineer Paul Murray said road signage would be done when the road liner returned to town and that a yield sign would also soon be erected. The councillor observed that Iarnrod Eireann had not started work on the perilously standing signal box at Youghal railway station, before adding that a seat on Windmill Hill needed attention too.

Cllr Barbara Murray said she had witnessed a council worker labouring earnestly and under duress as he strived to create a pathway at Claycastle, using a shovel to clear stones. She asked whether Cork County Council could lend a JCB to assist in these efforts. The town engineer took note.

Bring in the sandbags

Cllr Hennessy said many sandbags that had been supplied prior to recent flood warning, now lay “like litter” around the town. The town clerk said the council had sent out a notice to the Chamber of Commerce and to businesses to keep the bags in storage for future storm warnings. Most had done so but a minority had not complied. The Mayor asked that the media remind property owners of this requirement, while Cllr Sammy Revins advised that the bags were biodegradable and could disintegrate! The town engineer advised that they could, alternatively, be returned to the council yard.

Cork County Council Items:

The town engineer delivered the following report, arising from December’s meeting:

Broken roads at Bawnmore and other areas were presently being repaired. The county council’s Estates Department had been advised on ponding at Ballyvergan, apparently arising from poor re-instatement of the road post-duct laying by a developer. He said the matter had since been “referred to the liquidator.” He said there were no plans presently to upgrade the road surface at Summerdale Lawn but it would be remain under review, whilst dependent on funding.  Public lighting at the new estate behind the old Seafield factory had been referred to the Estates Department. Footpath repairs at Grattan Street and New Catherine Street would commence in the coming days. The outfall pipe at the Front Strand was being checked and cleared almost daily. It was intended to put a short extension on it very soon, to alleviate the need for clearing, while negotiations with senior executives in Cork County Council were being undertaken with a view to a further, longer extension.

Pipes and paths

Cllr Burke was pleased that drainage in the area would be improved in line with the outfall pipe remedies. He was less pleased that the concealed entrance sign at Summerdale Lawn had still not been restored, despite persistent pleading month after month. Similarly, the councillor repeated his quests that “the usual broken footpaths at Tallow Street, South Main Street, junction of South Abbey and Strand Street,” be treated. He noted that repairs were being undertaken at elsewhere and asked why his three years of drawing attention to “the worst footpaths in town” had not brought a single patch.” Cllr McLellan suggested a priority list of broken paths be drawn up and this was agreed.

Cllr Revins asked that “a patch” be administered to a pothole at Summerdale Lawn and Mr. Murray agreed to do so. Mayor Mary Linehan-Foley described as “brutal” a pothole approximate to Clancy’s. Cllr Michael Beecher weighed in with similar sentiments on the Quarry Road. The town clerk said all damaged roads were currently under consideration for repair and he would update the situation in due course.

Cllr Eoin Coyne sought information whether there was a fund available for residents who intended to undertake grass cutting in their estates. Town manager Patricia Power said as she understood it, Estate officers based in County Hall had funding provisions and so would be the appropriate point of contact.

Cllr Murray asked that a ‘Stop’ sign be replaced on a pole adjacent to the former Clancy’s night club. She said three of four gullies near Aura needed clearing as they were causing flooding. She then drew attention to a pothole outside Tadhg Sullivan’s, Summerfield, before criticising the removal of an NRA sign indicating Youghal/Waterford from the bypass exit. She recalled turning off the road in darkness recently and no sign of the sign, so to speak, until further down towards the New Line. “It’s daft and the sign should be returned to its original location,” she declared.

Cllr Beecher said a restored manhole at Raheen Road again needed remedy. He then condemned the present state of the Tallow Road as “savage” and “the worse road in Ireland,” and said it was a serious deterrent to shoppers visiting Youghal from Tallow. He claimed the Cork side was far inferior to the Waterford section. The town engineer said a proposal was in train to resurface the road but he would refer the concerns to district supervisor meantime.

Manager’s Report:

Cllr Burke sought clarification on €14,800 funding for a consultant’s report on sea wall repairs and was told it referred to an area within 10 metres of a previously repaired section at the Front Strand .

Mayor’s Business (and Tidy Towns commendation):

Mayor Linehan-Foley congratulated all involved in helping Youghal to acquire a sixth successive year as an official litter-free town in the IBAL adjudication. [Youghal finished in 32nd place nationally. The adjudicators noted there were no bad sites and with seven out of the ten surveyed achieving top litter grade, i.e. “not just clear of litter but very well presented.” Cork Hill received a special mention, as a much improved area, while “the two residential areas of Summerdale Lawn and Knockaverry were spotless.”]

The mayor asked for an update on an invitation to Michael Twomey, co-producer of A Town Out of Time -the film that documented Youghal’s decline during and since the misleading boom years- to screen the film privately for the council’s perusal. She remarked that some councillors –herself included- were “out of town” during the original screening at the Walter Raleigh hotel last December. The town clerk said he was awaiting a reply from the producer.

Nervous

Many of the 150 or so who attended the original screening criticised the non-attendance of even one council representative. All had been invited. Sensitive perhaps such sentiments and apparently oblivious to the issued invitations, the mayor suggested that “personal invites” to the mayor or any other councillor to attend such events be forwarded to the town hall. “Sometimes there’s mixed vibe out there,” she explained, elaborating that she gets “a bit nervous” about attending events when not invited in her capacity as mayor or councillor, in case the perception was taken that her presence suggested touting for votes. She wondered if her fellow councillors felt likewise but no reciprocal sentiments were expressed.

Cllr Revins sought news of the first of the proposed bi-annual ‘awards night’ set to replace civic receptions for locals deemed to deserve recognition for outstanding achievement. Mayor Linehan-Foley said she and Deputy Mayor Eoin Coyne were working on it and it would occur very shortly.

The mayor asked if there was any update from the Labour party on the continued failure to appoint a replacement for Cllr Donie Daly who resigned last April. She regretted as “undemocratic” the absence of a ninth councillor at the Budget meeting particularly. (Labour member Tommy O’Connell had been co-opted from the local branch prior to attending September’s meeting but the party apparatus had subsequently revoked his position on the grounds of ‘proper procedure’ not having been followed.) The town clerk said it was an internal Labour Party matter, he believed the process of ratifying a successor was underway but he had no official documentation from the party to date. [It has since emerged that the selection committee is set to have sat on Monday January 17th to consider and officially appoint a council member, with Mr. O’Connell believed to have been the only candidate.]

Meanwhile Cllr Michael Beecher helpfully informed that his party -Fine Gael- had “an eligible candidate” who would gladly serve local democracy by assuming the seat “if needed.” He was more or less –well more actually- discouraged from seriously pursuing this agenda! He concurred with the general view that the lengthy failure of the Labour Party to install a councillor was “disrespectful” to the council.

Any Other Business –Landfill Odours:

Cllr Beecher said the smell from Cork County Council’s landfill and recycling centre (known colloquially as ‘the dump’) had been “absolutely atrocious” throughout the Christmas period, as indeed it remains, over most weekends in particular. He was despairing of progress towards a remedy after over three years of raising the issue in the council chamber and persistent, ongoing complaints to the EPA, who were noting his every concern.

Mayor Linehan-Foley questioned whether it could be ascertained beyond doubt that the odour was arising from the landfill or was there a possibility of an alternative source, meaning the adjacent sludge treatment plant.

Cllr Murray went some way towards removing the uncertainty before proceeding to provide unexpected insight into the nature and future evolvement of the cursed stink. Firstly, she had recently visited the sludge plant and while she found the site rottenly odorous in places, she said the stench was of a different nature to that airborne and experienced in the town for so long. Additionally, the sludge plant’s smell is contained within and is difficult to detect beyond the immediate periphery.

In regard to the landfill, she reported that only Cell 9 remained open. It was lined and new gas cells had been installed. She had asked at the previous day’s County Council meeting that the burning off flare be monitored to ensure it was constantly lit, amidst the possibility that this was not always the case.

Legacy

Cllr Murray then referred to the older, ‘legacy’ part of the site, which pre-dates cell lining and gas-burning technology. The councillor said it was quite possible that untreated gases from this area were responsible for the odours. However, said Cllr Beecher, this would not explain why the smell now seemed to predominate at weekends.

Cllr Murray said she was also awaiting information from the county council as to whether the more modern section of the site was being covered on a daily basis and what kind of covering was being used. Furthermore, she added, with the facility expected to close in about a year –subject to the input level of waste- the county council had a mandatory obligation to manage it thereafter for 20 to 25 years. She had asked the County Manager, Martin Riordan whether funding was being set aside for this purpose. He, in turn had requested a full report on the site to be prepared in advance of the issue being raised again at the Southern Committee meeting of Cork County Council on Monday January 17th. She would relate the outcome of that meeting to the town council in due course.