Fine Gael Town and County Councillor Barbara Murray talks about the recent report on Youghal Landfill on Christy Parker’s ‘Youghal at 5 show’. Click on the play button below to listen to the interview. Audio courtesy of CRY Youghal Local Radio.

YOUGHAL LANDFILL is set to remain open for several more years according to figures released by Cork County Council. A report to the January sitting of the county council’s Southern Committee, cite the Foxhole site as now processing an average of 500 tonnes of waste per week.

This is a massive decease from the weekly average of 4,000 tonnes in 2007. With a remaining capacity for 70,000 tons, the site would not close for almost six years at the current rate of intake. This completely contradicts forecasts circulated by the county council in recent years that full capacity and closure were imminent.

The report was requested by County Manager Martin Riordan after Cllr Barbara Murray raised the issue at January’s County Council meeting. The councillor says a further report on Volatile Orgaic Carbon (VOC) –dealing with leaking gas emmisions- is now also imminent from a study completed before Christmas.

CHANGES
In the wider context, the Southern Committee was informed that the reduced intake had incited a number of changes to the Youghal landfill since November 2010. These included non-delivery of waste on Saturdays, the working face reduced to eight metres by 20 metres, from the 25m by 25m allowed under license, plus an increased workforce.

The report proceeds that Cork County Council continuously monitors the landfill and deals with issues as they arise. It says the authority had carried out several projects, in agreement with the EPA, to improve the gas management system on the site. These were: Repair of a liner that had been damaged at well heads due to settlement; additional flaring capacity provided to increase the capacity from 2300cu m/hr to 3100 cu m/hr.;16 vertical gas wells in cell 9 -the last cell on the site- drilled to improve the gas extraction from the cell; additional litter netting provided.

ESCAPED GASES
Elaborating, the report says the 16 wells were drilled in November/December 2010 “and by its nature disturbed older waste and allowed the escape of some gases.” It seems unlikely that this explanation will soothe the ire of townspeople subjected to the obnoxious odours thus disturbed, while the fact that the county council did not inform them of this work at all may be viewed both as poor public relations and a considerable, if unsurprising, insult.

In any case, the town is informed that “each well was completed as quickly as possible to limit the period where gas could escape” and that additional spraying to control the odours was carried out during the work. The wells came into operation on December 17th “and the benefits of this works should now be evident,” the report decides.

CHARGES AT YOUGHAL LANDFILL / CIVIC AMENITY
Thereafter, a private firm was engaged to conduct the Volatile Organic Carbon (VOC) survey. Should this report identify any areas requiring further works, the situation will be “dealt with immediately,” the report assures. Meanwhile, “the gas management plant is continually monitored,” with staff alerted via text if a problem arises the better that they can “deal with these via their computers remotely or by going to site if required.” Interestingly, the coming week, says the report, should see Cork County Council invite tenders from private quarters interested in utilising the gas “for the generation of electricity or other use.”

Against the background of this information, it needs reminding that when the landfill eventually does close, Cork County Council will bear a statutory obligation to manage it thereafter, until all gases are flared off. This is expected to take up to 25 years. The report quotes the council as saying it will provide the required funding.

CHARGES AT YOUGHAL LANDFILL / CIVIC AMENITY
The same report updates landfill charges and notes that prior to July 2010 larger quantities of black bag waste, such as trailers, pickups, etc. were accepted at Youghal for landfilling and charged the appropriate rate by weight, of €165/tonne. In July the law required that all waste be “treated” (segregated) prior to landfilling, with the effect that black bag waste would only be accepted at the civic amenity site rate of €0.60/kilogram, as the report puts it, without conversion.

Outlining the changes in this area, the Southern Committee were informed as follows: The rates for black bag waste at Civic Amenity Sites in 2010 were the €3 entry fee plus:- Standard Black Bag €7; large Black Bag €14; 240l Wheelie Bin €21; €0.60 per kilogram. Following the 2011 budget the entry fee remains unchanged and the black bag charges revised as Standard Black Bag €4; Large Black Bag €8; 240l Wheelie Bin €12; €0.50 per kilogram.

CARLETON VILLAGE MANAGEMENT are celebrating after the holiday complex was awarded 4 shining stars from Failte Ireland.

The Failte Ireland inspection carried out by TAMS (Tourist Accommodation Management Services) took over 3 hours to complete and the inspector was delighted with the ever improving standards visible throughout the complex. Not only complimenting the high house keeping standards but she was also delighted by the improvement to the facilities on offer at the complex. Manager of Carleton Village David Keane is thrilled with the results ‘It is a great achievement on behalf of both the management and staff at Carleton Village and we are delighted that our hard work has paid off again this year’.

The Family Friendly Holiday Complex now in its 9th year of operation has gone from strength to strength in proving itself to be the number one choice for families visiting the East Cork area. The bumper season in 2010 is set to continue this year with repeat customers already booking their summer 2011 break.  David says ‘When customers come back again and again it just shows us that we’re doing something right, our guests are our number one priority and that’s the way it should be’

The last number of years has seen vast improvements to the services and onsite activities that Carleton Village offer their guests. An outdoor heated pool, revamped playground, tennis courts and walled garden were joined last year by the resoundingly successful Family Fun BBQ night and free entertainment from renowned magician and children’s entertainers Tony Baloney, Victor  the balloonist and face painting with Noelle

The Carleton Village Family Fun holiday season is set to start in early July and run through to the end of August. Roll on the sunshine!

Further info contact: Katrina Griffin

Carleton Village

www.carletonresorts.com

Tel: 00353 24 90044

Fax: 00353 24 90045

“Last Friday (Jan 28th 2011) almost 500 guests attended the Irish Travel Industry Awards ceremony at the Round Room in Dublin’s Mansion House.

Craig Doyle, Master of Ceremonies for the evening revealed the winners of the inaugural awards to both travel agents and  travel industry suppliers at this inaugural Awards Ceremony.

Welcoming guests, Irish Travel Agents Association President said the Awards marked the resilience and optimism of an industry that had seen coped with extraordinary shocks during 2010

The winner of the 1st Irish Travel Agent of the Year Award was Lee Travel in Cork.  The judges explained they had based their decision on the all round excellence of this long established firm and also its determination to expand during a period of adversity – opening 3 new offices in 2010.

Speaking at the Awards, Declan  O’Connell, Managing Director of Lee Travel declared himself very honoured and paid tribute to the dedication of his staff.  He also invited guests to have a thought for those who had had to leave the industry in recent times.

Winners of other Travel Agent Awards were
Young Travel Professional of the Year: Breda Riordan (Ace Travel)
Most Innovative Agency: FCm Travel Solutions
Best Corporate Travel Agency: Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Winners of Supplier awards on the night included Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Aer Lingus and Amadeus – each of whom one two separate awards.

Charitable dimension.   The Society of St Vincent de Paul was named as the beneficiary of a raffle on the evening and almost €7,000 was raised from guests on the night,  The  raffle with excellent prizes was rounded off appropriately when Jim Sharkey – an ITAA past President -won 2 long haul BA World Traveller Plus tickets.   Separately, the organisers presented the ITAA Benevolent Fund with a cheque for €5,000 out of the proceeds of the table sales for the evening.”

Lee Travel T/A MacDonald Travel

13 North Main st

Youghal

Co. Cork

Ireland

P: +353 24 92014

F: +353 24 93062

W: www.leetravel.ie

New Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.30 / Youghal Office

The Cork office is open on Saturday 10.00 – 4.00 & Sunday 1.00 – 5.00

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION

* All enquiries are valid on day of quotation only, subject to availability and terms & conditions E &OE.

* Please ensure all passports are valid.

* All passport holders including infants and children must carry machine-readable passports when travelling to the US and beyond.

* It is the clients responsibility to check if a VISA is required for their chosen destination.

* Please ensure names on tickets and passports are exactly the same.

*** SEP 2011 Be part of our Exclusive Mediterranean cruise with ” ROYAL CARIBBEAN”

Would you like to travel as part of a group or as an individual with the security of a group! Then WE would like to make your trip a reality.

*Departing 09th Sept 2011 for 8 nights.*

Prices fully inclusive. From €1015 p.person.

MERRICK’S DEPARTMENT STORE ON NORTH MAIN STREET, YOUGHAL, was one of the finest stores in Munster in the 19th and 20th centuries.  In those times, Merrick’s traded on all three floors and to this day a plaque on the façade proudly states its establishment in 1580.  If this can be authenticated, it would make it the oldest established family business in Ireland.

The Merrick family were merchants who appeared in the Council Historical Records around the 1600s, and in the last four hundred years or so, saw many an enterprise trading under its roofs.  Back in the 17th century, linen suits were made which were then oiled in the attic in readiness for the fishermen, whose lives depended on them during the salmon fishing season.

Merrick’s also housed a boot factory where footwear was mass produced, providing work in an age when cobblers worked in the laneways of Youghal.   At that time Youghal was a very important port and the Merrick family, who were not only wealth merchants, also owned much property throughout the town.  Their family home was Aston Court, presently the Loreto Convent.

In 1926 the business was bought by Richard Good, whose family continued to run and expand the store very successfully for almost sixty five years, until 1990.   Over the past twenty or so years, various businesses traded in this magnificent, historical building, bringing a wide range of products together under the one roof.   Dannelle of Youghal, proprietor Lil Danne, commenced business in Merrick’s approximately sixteen years ago, offering a superb range of ladies fashions, accessories, perfumes, household linens and gifts.   Now the sole trader in Merrick’s, the Department Store was entirely unsuitable for a single trading business, and it was with great regret that Lil Danne found it necessary for arrangements to be made to relocate Danelle to a smaller, more viable premises.
On Saturday, January 22nd 2011, the remaining employees in Merrick’s prepared to leave the store for the last time with a certain amount of sadness and regret. Valerie Slattery has been employed in Merrick’s since Gordon Good was proprietor and stayed on with Lil, making a total of twenty two years service. Majella Nolan has fourteen continuous years of service, and Lil herself has been there since 1995.  The employees, even though their jobs are secure with Danelle of Youghal, still felt a sense of melancholy and sorrow and, indeed, the people of the town of Youghal were despondent at what was viewed as yet ‘another’ closure.
However, things are not quite as bad as they may seem, as plans are already afoot for Majestic Merricks, the oldest established family business in Ireland, and this can only be good news for the town and the townspeople.

Lil Danne and her staff wish to thank sincerely all their valued customers for their loyal support of the past years at Merrick’s and said that it was a pleasure to serve the people of Youghal and surrounds.  They all look forward to continued support at Danelle, 72 North Main Street, Youghal, where personal service will be their top priority.   In the new, intimate premises, customers are invited to browse at their leisure.  Lil also confirmed that all vouchers and credit notes issued in Merricks  may be redeemed at Danelle’s new premises.

As a gesture from a great premises which has served the town of Youghal for almost 500 years Danelle opened their doors on  Wednesday 26th 2011 from 10.30am to 12noon where customers took away whatever they wanted from the remaining stock, for no charge, just a donation to the local branch of St Vincent de Paul

Merrick’s Store has served the people of Youghal well over the past several hundred years.  It has given employment to people in good times and hard, has survived world wars, the famine, floods, storms, emigration and several recessions.   But it still stands in the centre of our town, a magnificent building that has seen it all and still survives, a building which is a landmark in Youghal, and which still has as much to give today as it had on the day it was built.   There can be no doubt that the next adventure for Merrick’s is only starting because, as and inserted the key in Merrick’s Department Store, it was in the sure knowledge that when one door closes, another one opens.

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

Click on the audio below to hear Lil Danne talk about her life on CRY’S Eddie Hannon Show. Recorded January 2011 – Audio courtesy of Youghal Local Radio CRY

- From original story by Christy Parker – April 2007 -

Workmen renovating one of Youghal’s most historic retail buildings invoked the long distant when they uncovered graffiti signatures behind partitions. Some of the names date back almost 100 years and were discovered in a room over Read & Write newsagents and gift shop on North Main Street. The shop once formed part of Merrick’s department store, which closed in the early 1990’s, though individual units now trade there.
Report: Christy Parker     Photo: Michael Hussey     Email: news@youghalonline.com

Two sets of inscriptions were uncovered in close proximity, though their dates divide them by 50 years. Of the older, smaller set, the earliest recognisable scribble reads “L Connolly 4/5/08”. Others include, E.M. Duggan 18/1/10, M Harris 23/6/10 and Maureen McCarthy 21/3/11. Matt Nolan, Kilmeaden holds an unspecified date, while Tilly Delahunt twice added her address, Mills Park, Roscrea, Tipp, in single and double script, on March 27th 1911.

Others elaborated. On 21/3/16 –exactly 90 years to the day it was discovered- Jean Cambell wrote: “Leaving here on Good Friday. Had the best six months of my life here.” On 23rd June 1917, M Harris quotes English writer W.E. Harris: “If your lips would keep from slips, of five things have a care: to whom you speak, of whom you speak, and how and when and where.”

From the 1500’s, Merrick’s owned much of the town’s retailers. By the early 1900’s the remaining store on North Main Street, founded in 1541, sold drapery, furniture and shoes. Many of the workers were young Munster Protestants who lived within, in segregated accommodation for men and women. The Merrick’s went bankrupt in 1925 and Richard & George Good, Dungarvan store owners bought the shop.

Richard Good died in 1939 and George ran Merrick’s until his nephew, Gordon, took over in 1954. “We employed about 25 but it was like running a fairly wild hotel!”, recalls Gordon. Realising the store’s community allegiance, Gordon gradually abolished accommodation in favour of local recruitment, while expanding the shop into wider retailing over two floors. In his time the area in which the graffiti was found was a stock room and “was probably so beforehand too.”

The later graffiti rampages across a corner door and its adjoining walls. For Gordon, the names are a stroll through a memory department as he surveys names he never expected to see in the one place again. D Godswill, D Wallace, B Ward, the Bolsters M and E, George Kingston, L Ross….all workers in the first decade of Gordon’s reign. Others included Kay Cunningham (7/6/63), Georgina Hodgins and Midleton’s G Smith. “My God, so many familiar names”, he muses as nostalgia reels in the years.

That Merrick’s thrived in a more relaxed commercial environment than that of the Celtic Tiger jungle is easily surmised. S Adams, scratched on the old door, was undoubtedly Sammy Adams. He would eventually open his own shoe & repair shop but he was also a keen hunter and fisherman. Gordon recalls a letter from a female resident’s mother. “She was worried that a male staff member caught fish to cook over the shop and invite girls, including her daughter, to partake”, he laughs. “I imagine it was Sammy but I doubt he had ulterior motives!”

Let Lesley Schnell had other fish to fry too: “Last day on 10th June 1961”, he once wrote. On 7/8/62 he added: “Still here”. He eventually opened a shoe shop next door.

Read & Write, standing where the fashion department traded, is now set to carry the light of its commercial candle into a new upstairs gift gallery. The past will retain a presence.  “We’ve decided not to plaster over the graffiti”, says a workman. “We’ll just erect another partition around it. The names will stay forever.”

Click on the audio below to hear retired local businessman and former owner of Merricks Department Store Gordon Good talks about his life with Eddie Hannon. Recorded January 2011. Audio courtesy of CRY Youghal Local Radio

Posted onWednesday, February 2nd, 2011

David Stanton, Fine Gael TD for Cork East is pressing for a East Cork Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) office. Deputy Stanton believes that a MABS service for the area is essential as an increasing number of people are finding themselves unable to meet their daily living costs.

“More and more families and individuals are finding themselves under serious financial pressure. Since its establishment, the Money Advice & Budgeting Service has been very successful across the country. MABS provides valuable advice and information which can, in some cases, mean the difference between holding on to the family home or even putting food on the table”.

Deputy Stanton noted that MABS has four offices across in the north and west of Cork located in Charleville, Dunmanway, Mallow and Cork city. However, despite the huge population increase in all the towns of East Cork recently, there is no MABS office in the area.

“My office is inundated with requests for assistance with financial problems over the past couple of years. Many families, who previously could count on two incomes to meet household costs, are now totally reliant on social welfare. Many people are being forced to go to moneylenders to borrow money to meet normal household costs. These people are then hit with massive interest rates when repaying the loan.

“Recently the numbers contacting my office for help has increased dramatically. There are now 51 MABS offices across the country and last year they dealt with a staggering 25,274 enquiries. This was up over 2,000 from the last year with almost half of the people contacting the service in the 26-40 age group.

“Surely this level of usage is a clear indication of the level of demand for the MABS. From my personal experience, I believe there is great need for a MABS office in East Cork. I have written to the head of MABS and the Department of Social Protection requesting they examine the possibility of opening an office here. I will continue to press the matter.

CORK EAST SINN FEIN ELECTION CANDIDATE CLLR. SANDRA MCLELLAN, is calling on all candidates in the constituency to give a commitment of support to the people of Cobh and other Harbour communities, for a Baseline Health Study of the Cork Harbour region, and a total clean up of the toxic dump on Haulbowline.

Councillor McLellan said some of the candidates and political parties who are expected to be in Government soon, had in the recent past spent a lot of effort criticising former Green Minister John Gormley for failing to deal with the Haulbowline Dump, and his governments refusal to grant a Base Line Health Study of the Harbour. This followed reports that people suffer with higher than national average cancer rates in the harbour town of Cobh.

Sandra McLellan is now calling on all the other candidates to support her party’s call for whoever makes up the next government to immediately commit to an independent baseline health study of Cork Harbour and a complete clean up of Haulbowline.

Local Cllr thanks County Cllr and Election Candidate Cllr Sandra McLellan

Local Cllr thanks County Cllr and election Candidate Cllr Sandra McLellan for her very prompt response in providing representation about the poor condition of the approach roads to Midleton.

Cllr Pat Buckley , Midleton Town Council contacted Sandra on the 17-1-2011, with regards to the sub-standard condition of some of the approach roads in and out of Midleton.

Cllr McLellan said that she was appalled with the condition of the approach roads and said that she will be raising this issue at the Midleton Area Roads Committee meeting in County Hall on the same day.

On the 21st of January 2011 Cork County Council started repair works to the afore-mentioned roads and huge improvements have been seen since. I would like to thank Cllr Sandra McLellan and also thank our Area Engineer Mr Michael Savage for his extremely quick response to this issue. The photo’s were taken before repair works were carried out  I can assure you that these roads are much safer for motorist’s now .

CORK EAST FINE GAEL TD, DAVID STANTON has again been in contact with the HSE South regarding Youghal Health Centre. The Health Centre, currently located in Youghal town, is due to be relocated to another, more suitable, premises on the outskirts of the town.

“The building where Youghal Health Centre is located at the moment is not very accessible for people. Despite being in the town centre, to reach the centre visitors must climb a flight of stairs. This can be very awkward for people with small children and also some older people whose mobility might be restricted.

“For some time now, it has been planned to relocate the centre in a more convenient location. However, progress in relation to the move has been slow. The new location will bring improvements for both the hardworking staff, and its service users”, commented Deputy Stanton.

“I believe that it has also been proposed that the local South Doc facilities in Youghal could also be relocated to this new Health Centre premises. Cllr Barbara Murray has been steadily lobbying the HSE for this move to take place. I know she has received many complaints from patients seeking a facility with better conditions.

“I have been in contact with the HSE South for some time regarding the relocation of the health centre in the past and have now contacted them again seeking an update on plans for Youghal Health Centre. I am anxious that, if possible, the relocation go ahead without delay.

“Youghal Health Centre provides vital services and supports for the people of Youghal. A better equipped premises is crucial to the continued provision of these services and supports.

The Irish RNLI lifeboat community gather to celebrate the retirement of long serving lifeboat mechanic – Michael Lane Walsh

On Saturday night, 29 January, a retirement party was held for Michael Lane Walsh in the Schooner Bar, Ballycotton.  Michael was a member of the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat for 37 years, joining when his father, Mikey Lane Walsh, was Coxswain.  In 1977 Michael became second mechanic of the RNLI all weather lifeboat and in 1978 he took up the full time position of station mechanic.  This is a role he carried out with exceptional diligence until his retirement on Tuesday last, 25 January 2011.

Michael has become well known throughout the RNLI community over the years and the 29 January was marked on several calendars for quite some time as the date they would be travelling to Ballycotton to help celebrate the retirement of an exceptional, modest man.

Lifeboat personnel travelled from RNLI lifeboat stations in Ballyglass Co. Mayo, Achill Island, Courtmacsherry, Rosslare, Helvic and Youghal joining with Ballycotton lifeboat members, family and friends to help celebrate a man’s commitment to a job he treated more as a vocation than a job.  The Training Divisional Inspector, Owen Medland and Divisional Base Manager, Derek Potter from the RNLI head quarters in Dublin attended and spoke of their long association with Michael Lane Walsh.  Several presentations were made with the good wishes from everyone present, along with those from lifeboat crewmembers who were unable to leave their stations.  Derek Potter told those present that normally they would be presenting a long service vellum to the retiree but in Michael’s case he is not finished yet.  For the time being he will not be hanging up his life jacket but will keep it in readiness for the next time someone calls for help from the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat.

Photographs of various presentations to Michael Lane Walsh on his retirement, courtesy Ballycotton Lifeboat Station.