A public meeting took place in the Water Raleigh Hotel in Youghal last night (Wed 27th July), to discuss the removal of the H.S.E emergency ambulance service in the town. Major concerns were raised at the meeting over implications of the removal of the H.S.E ambulance service

It’s proposed to replace the ambulance service with a rapid response car. Campaigners say that if theres a medical emergency in Youghal or surrounding areas, a sick or injured person could be waiting for at least 20 minutes , because an ambulance would have to come from Cork , Midleton or Dungarvan. It would make it impossible to arrive at an A&E Department within the so-called Golden Hour, reducing a persons chance of survival

GP’s oppose move to replace ambulance with rapid response car . G.P.’s in Youghal and surrounding areas are unhappy with the decision by the H.S.E to replace the ambulance service in the town with a rapid response car from September. A number of protests are planned in opposition to , what’s being described as an imminent Ambulance Crisis in East Cork. More than 800 people, including concerned residents, T.D’s, Councillors, and local doctors met at the Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal last night. The rapid response car will not be able to move patients , and instead will have to wait for an ambulance from elsewhere. However , Doctor Declan Callaghan says , the proposed change would mean , patients from across East Cork might not make it to the nearest acute hospital such as C.U.H .

 

Youghal town walls – A Laser Scan Survey of a Medieval Town Wall in Youghal, Co. Cork.

YOUGHAL’S TOWN WALLS are over 700 years old, having witnessed centuries of history and generations of locals come and go. They are the second longest walls in Ireland after those of Derry.

Click on the video below.

This summer, the Argentinean/Dutch tango ensemble, Tango Extremo, will tour Ireland from 18 to 21 August 2011 for the very first time. During their visit, the group will present their latest theatre programme entitled ‘Viva la Vida!’. This Argentine tango show will entice you to a sultry and sleepless Buenos Aires.

 Where and when?

August 18 The Mall Arts Centre  Youghal  www.themallartscentre.com

August 19 The White Horse  Ballincollig  www.whitehorse.ie

August 20 International Tango Festival  Dublin  www.tangofever.net

August 21 National Concert Hall   Dublin  www.nch.ie

Tango Extremo

Since its founding in 2003, Tango Extremo has undergone remarkable development. Besides being a familiar scene on most concert stages in The Netherlands, the group has travelled far and wide, bringing the seductive rhythms and alluring melodies to crowds all over the world.

Among the countries they have performed recently are Belgium, Botswana, China, Croatia, France, Greenland, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, UK, and Uruguay.

In August 2009, Tango Extremo was invited to perform as a special guest at the prestigious Buenos Aires Tango Festival in Argentina.

For more information about the ensemble, please refer to the following websites:

www.tangoextremo.com
www.myspace.com/quintetotangoextremo

 

This summer, the Argentinean/Dutch tango ensemble, Tango Extremo, will tour Ireland from 18 to 21 August 2011 for the very first time. During their visit, the group will present their latest theatre programme entitled ‘Viva la Vida!’ This Argentine tango show will entice you to a sultry and sleepless Buenos Aires.

The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal.

Thursday August 18th at 7.30 pm

Tickets available at:

Themallartscentre@gmail.com Tel: 083 – 360 6507

The Port of Cork has today announced that local Cork Company, Safehaven Marine have been awarded the contract to build the Port of Cork’s new pilot vessel. Due to be delivered in 2012, Safehaven Marine beat off strong competition from several other companies to win the contract.

Commenting on the contract Captain Paul O’Regan, Deputy Harbour Master, said: “As part of our planned renewal of equipment and vessels, the port recently advertised a contract to build a new Pilot vessel on e-tenders. We are pleased to announce that “Safehaven Marine”, a Cork based boat builder has been successful.”

He continued: “Safehaven Marine pilot boats are highly regarded in the industry and have a reputation as very sound sea keeping vessels; this is in part, as a result of extensive design trials undertaken in large swells and rough seas around the entrance to Cork harbour, during winter storms.”

Since building the last Cork pilot boat in 2006, Safehaven Marine has specialised in the ‘niche’ pilot boat market and continuously expanded. Currently employing 30 staff, Safehaven Marine operates out of two factories, one in Little Island and a new state of the art facility built in Youghal. They have supplied pilot boats worldwide, from Scandinavia, Europe, and the Mediterranean and as far afield as Asia and the Middle East, and in 2012 will pass a milestone by launching their 100th vessel since being established in 1996. Safehaven are now probably Europe’s leading manufacturers of GRP pilot boat.
Safehaven Marine, Managing Director Frank Kowalski commented “This was a very special award for us as this is our local Port, and having built their last new pilot vessel six years ago, we have built up a great relationship with all the crew and pilots, and are delighted to be once again, six years later building their new pilot vessel. The Port of Cork’s new pilot boat will be an example of our high level of design and engineering, and we all look forward to delivering their new pilot vessel in 2012″.

Click on the video below to see the launch of Safehaven Marine 16m Windfarm Service vessel “Island Tiger” at Youghal on 8/5/2010.

MINISTER OF STATE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & SPORT, MICHAEL RING, TD made the most of his official trip to Youghal on Tuesday 26th July with a well earned ‘paddle’ in Claycastle Beach, one of the resort towns three blue flag beaches.  The trip formed part of a visit to some of East Cork’s major tourism sites and attractions.

Hosted by Youghal Chamber of Tourism & Development and The Youghal Socio-Economic Group (YSEDG), the Minister spent almost 3 hours in the town having been introduced to its natural and built heritage by local East Cork Deputy, David Stanton along with Cork County and Town Cllr Barbara Murray.

Following the beach trip, the delegation (which included Head of Failte Ireland in the region, Fiona Buckley) took in a tour of Youghal’s historic quarter including the 13th century Town Walls, St. Mary’s Collegiate Church and College Gardens.

A formal meeting conducted in Youghal’s Enterprise Centre followed, with the delegation raising a number of pressing issues pertinent to the Minister’s portfolio.  These included funding of ‘fit-out’ costs of the iconic Clockgate building.  Town Clerk Liam Ryan explained to the Minister that the Town Council had undertaken a feasibility study, conservation plan and produced a business plan on the building.  Funding for the exterior and conservation works was anticipated to be sourced from South & East Cork Area Development.  The Town Clerk went on to explain that funding would now also be required to complete phase two of Youghal’s eco-boardwalk running from Claycastle to Redbarn, with phase one due for completion by December 2011.

The topic which drew most interest and discussion however, was the request by the group for a ‘Youghal-specific’ marketing fund to allow The Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group to roll-out a number of its key marketing initiatives.  The delegation emphasised that despite the town’s best efforts to develop and invest in its tourism product; its signage, streetscapes and exploit every positive development in the town, a negative public perception still existed about the town.  Other issues to be raised with the Minister included the provision of beach facilities, the development of the Greyhound Track and the urgent repair of the roof in St. Mary’s Collegiate Church.  The Minister committed to assist Youghal through any means available to him, citing his home town of Westport as being in a similar position to Youghal a number of years ago.

“Tourism is the number one priority for this Government and I am determined that rural tourist destinations will be promoted and developed as part of my brief” said the Minister.  The Minister went on to pay particular praise to the Town Council for its leadership and foresight in it’s investment in heritage tourism amenities.

“I don’t think I have ever met a group of people with such commitment, determination and passion about their town as I have here in Youghal; I am completely blown away by the town’s stunning beauty and it’s attractiveness to the visitor, both domestically and internationally”, said the Minister.

The visit concluded with a presentation by the Town Council Mayor, Eoin Coyne, to the Minister to officially mark his visit to Youghal.

Issued by: The Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group

Contact: Aileen Murray, E: tourism@youghal.ie

 

Ambulance cuts ‘will cost lives’
By BILL BROWNE bbrowne@corkman.ie         Thursday July 21 2011

THE proposed removal of the full-time ambulance service in Youghal will put even more stain on the already stretched service in Fermoy.

That was the view of Fermoy town councillor Olive Corcoran, who said that she believed that local patients “will die” if the Youghal service is axed.

At the July meeting of the town council, Cllr Corcoran (FF) said she received a call from a member of the Youghal Ambulance Support Group seeking her support for the campaign to retain their service.

“She pointed out that were their service to go, they would be reliant on the Midleton ambulance for cover. However, since the Midleton ambulance is now predominantly used in Cork city, the Fermoy ambulance would be used to cover the Youghal area,” said Cllr Corcoran.

She said that she had spoken to health workers and GPs in Fermoy who told her that as things stand the ambulance cover for the Fermoy area is already inadequate.

“If it had to serve the Youghal area as well my fear is that it would have a serious affect on emergency response times. The area of coverage would be too large and it is my belief that local patients will die as a result,” said Cllr Corcoran.

“There is a public meeting taking place in Youghal next Wednesday to protest at the axing of their service. I believe that this council should be represented at that meeting as it is clearly in our best interests that the service be retained there,” she added.

Her party colleague, Cllr Colette Dolan Moore, pointed out that the issue of emergency response times for the local ambulance service is one that has arisen regularly in the past.

“They are already snowed under. As this stands we could do with a second ambulance in Fermoy, never mind making the existing one serve a wider area,” she said.

“It is clear that the axing of the Youghal service would leave us in dire straits,” she added.

Labour’s Tadgh O’Donovan said the situation in Youghal was only one element of plans cuts to the ambulance service across the entire county.

“Already we have seen dramatic cuts to services in places such as Millstreet and Kanturk. I believe that we, and other town councils, should write to the HSE urging them to reinstate the entire county ambulance service,” said Cllr O’Donovan.

“The bottom line here is that whether it be in Fermoy or Youghal, people will die because of these cuts,” he added.

- BILL BROWNE bbrowne@corkman.ie
Source: www.corkman.ie

The Tour of Ireland (Irish: Turas na hÉireann, known from 1985 to 1992 as the Nissan Classic) is a bicycle stage race held in August. The first race debuted in 1953 and ran until 1957. It was revived in 1965 and ran until 1985. In 1985 the 5 day Nissan International Classic took over as the Tour of Ireland. This lasted for 8 years until 1992. The race returned in 2007 as the Tour of Ireland and is part of the UCI Europe Tour. The organisers confirmed on 1 June 2010 that the 2010 race would not take place due to a financial shortfall, but that they hope it will return in 2011.[1]

History
The Tour of Ireland was a cycling stage race that was run in Ireland between 1953 and 1984. It was organised originally by the Cumann Rothaíochta na hÉireann (CRE) which was later renamed the Federation of Irish Cyclists. In 1953 the Irish Government initiated An Tóstal, a cultural festival, and asked all Irish sporting bodies to participate. As part of this the CRE ran a four day Tour of Ireland. With sponsorship from An Tostal, Aspro and Hercules cycles, the event was known as the Tostal Tour and was a big success throughout most of the country, although it was said to have “had a hard time in the NCA heartlands of Kerry”[2] There is limited information about the race available on the internet and no book has been written about the event. The inaugural edition was a 4 day race won by Brian Haskell from John Perks and A Walker. Seamus Elliot who later won a stage and wear the maillot jaune in the 1963 Tour de France finished tenth overall. Briton Brian Robinson who also won a stage in the Tour de France finished fifth in this first edition.[3] According to Alf Buttler, an amateur cyclist during and after the second world war the leader’s jersey was purple[4] and the race continued but as a seven day race the following year, 1954, beginning on Thursday April 29. The 1954 race was covered by J B Wadley and photographer Bill Lovelace for The Bicycle magazine and a full report appeared in the 5th May issue. Bernard Pusey (England A team) won from Seamus Elliott (Ireland A team) and Tony Hoar (England B team). According to Bray Wheelers, an Irish cycling club from Bray, Wicklow, the event continued until 1957 when it stopped but was revived in 1965.[5] During the seventies the race was known as the Raleigh Dunlop Tour of Ireland.[6] The event continued to 1984. Winners during this period include Doug Dailey (1971, 1973), Liam Horner (1972), a double Olympian, Tony Lally (1974), a 1980 Olympian, Pat McQuaid (1975, 1976), current UCI President, Angel Arroyo (1977), runner up in 1983 Tour de France, John Shortt (1978) and Ron Hayman (1979) who was followed home by Phil Anderson, Stephen Roche and Robert Miller in 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

The Nissan International Classic was then organised from 1985 until 1992 which it appears took over from the Tour of Ireland. The Nissan Classic was referred to as the Tour of Ireland by the famous Irish cyclist Stephen Roche during the 1987 edition.[7

Info: wikipedia

Cumann na Daoine Community Resource Centre welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment, Community and Local Government to their building at 4 Catherine Street Youghal Co Cork on Friday July 8th and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) were also welcomed as new tenants to this fine Community Resource Centre

It was with great enthusiasm that all involved in Cumann na Daoine welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment Community and Local Government on Friday last (July 8th) to Youghal and also to this fine 4 storey Community Resource Centre, formally known as The League of The Cross Hall.

Cumann na Daoine has 16yrs of history and were an extremely successful Community Development Project in their own right.  Now with the CDP programme gone into the Local Partnerships Cumann na Daoine will now be known as a Community Resource Centre and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) will now roll out the new Local Community Development Programme.

Biddy Phelan the longest standing member of Cumann na Daoine welcomed the Minister Phil Hogan,  Mayor of Youghal Eoin Coyne,  Deputy Sandra McLellan, Deputy David Stanton, Local Representatives and everyone else present to this wonderful evening and explained how she had seen many changes over the years and had seen Cumann na Daoine go “from strength to strength”

Dolores Corcoran Chairperson gave an excellent presentation on the background and history of Cumann na Daoine and how it all came to be. Dolores took the audience on a journey from March1995 to the present day.  From their humble beginnings in a small space in the community centre to the bigger premises at No 10 North Main street to their Community Resource Centre now in Catherine Street.

It was quite evident that Cumann na Daoine’s voluntary management committee over the years have put in tremendous hard work, dedication and commitment to get a Community Development Project for Youghal and to help develop groups and encourage services into Youghal for those in the community who needed them most.  Dolores acknowledged both SECAD and Youghal Credit Union “were the only financial supports to the group” in those early stages of development.

There have been many highlights for Cumann na Daoine and 2006 saw the group successful in obtaining the 1.16million from the dormant accounts which saw them buy the building they are in now formally known as The League of the Cross Hall.

Numerous individuals, groups and organisations use the building for all kinds of services, courses, training, and meetings.  Over the years many social groups have been set up and continue to meet, develop and plan activities.  Too too many to mention but are all very very important to Cumann na Daoine.  They look forward to continue to work with all groups and SECAD who are now new tenants within the building.

Cumann na Daoine look forward now to the future the organisation is being restructured and they have strengthened their management committee and all related sub groups.   They look forward to focusing on re-generating Youghal socially and economically by working with local people to develop local responses on issues with them.  Also to be recognised as a key community partner in Youghal by all agencies and Government Departments.

After 16yrs Cumann na Daoine will no doubt continue to go from strength to strength and continue to work with key agencies such as the HSE, RAPID, SECAD, FAS, VEC, Department of Social Protection, Age Action Ireland and Community Radio Youghal etc

All involved are to be commended on a truly wonderful event and they wish to thank everyone over the last 16yrs who were involved in any way and supported them as there would be far too many to mention.  THANK YOU ALL!!

Click on image to enlarge and see the Minister Phil Hogan’s visit to the Cumann na Daoine resource centre. Pictures by YOL

 

AWARD WINNING ARTIST MARTHA CASHMAN’S EXHIBITION entitled “Spoons and ladles….” is currently on show at the ‘ ON THE PIG’S BACK’  – St. Patrick’s Woolen Mills, Douglas, Cork. The exhibition was opened on Thur July 14th by Ireland’s Food Hero, Jack McCarthy from McCarthy’s butcher in Kanturk

Martha Cashman
Ceramic and Porcelain Sculpture

Marthas most recent work is in glazed paper porcelain. Very fine kitchen utensils (non functional), some pieces interspersed with woven wire, carved birch and ash wood to accentuate and enhance the delicate white porcelain.  The pieces are either box framed using limed ash or hung simply from rusted nails.  Pieces from this body of work have been bought by the UCC Art Archive Collection, CIT Art Collection and the Crawford Student Collection.

Martha’s work pays homage to the teachers of her past.  “The farm helpers and local women who visited and helped my mother in the house. Their understanding of the daily running of a small farm holding impacted on me greatly and led me to appreciate and respect the land we took from daily.”

The ceramic pieces on the right have been exhibited in a travelling show titled Womanagh, inspired by irish rural teachings and a disappearing traditional style of living.

Letter from the Mayor of Youghal, Eoin Coyne, to the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly concerning the scrapping of the Youghal Ambulance service.

Subject: Save Youghal Ambulance
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:06:22

Minister,

I write to you today as the Mayor of Youghal on behalf of the people of the town to express my serious concern and downright anger of the Health Service Executive’s decision to replace Youghal’s 24 hour full ambulance emergency cover with a solo paramedic response car to serve the Youghal and its hinterland from September next.

The town of Youghal has a population of circa eight thousand people within its urban boundaries; it also serves an extensively large hinterland of an estimated forty thousand people in its surrounding villages and town lands. It is seen as the closest hub for post primary education, employment and tertiary services  for all of the surrounding villages in the West Waterford and East Cork region, such as;  Ardmore, Killeagh, Castlemartyr, Ballycotton, Knockanore, Clashmore and Ballymacoda.

The removal of Youghal Ambulance service in the town of Youghal will have serious implications on those who will unexpectedly require emergency assistance. As you are aware yourself, the first “golden hour” in which casualties are taken from the scene of an accident to the A+E department greatly increases that individuals’ chances of survival. If the HSE proposal goes ahead as planned, and the town of Youghal are then only left with a paramedic response car, the following scenario will become an all too regular occurrence;

An emergency 999 call will go out for an ambulance to attend to the scene of an accident or to someone who is in serious ill health and MUST travel by ambulance (paramedic response cars are not permitted to transport individuals who require an ambulance)  to the A+E department some sixty kilometres in Cork City. It will then take at least a half an hour, if not considerably longer, for an ambulance to travel from a neighbouring town to attend to the individual(s). During the time that the ambulance is en route, the paramedic response car is at the scene, almost powerless, telling the said individual that everything is going to be ok and the ambulance is on its way. All the while, the chances of survival become significantly reduced due to the fact that the injured party will not have reached the A+E department within the vital “Golden Hour”.

In many, many cases this WILL result in loss of life.

It is apparent that this is a measure brought in by the HSE in order to cut costs. It is my opinion that cuts cannot be made to frontline services that are absolutely vital in ensuring the wellbeing of our citizens.

Minister, I am all too aware that our country is in extreme financial difficulty, as I see it each day within local government at Youghal Town Council level. However, I strongly believe that cutting costs that will cost lives is totally unacceptable.

I assure you that my plea to you has no political agenda; it is a plea to you, on behalf of the people of Youghal, to intervene and call on the HSE to reverse their decision to scrap the Youghal Ambulance service.

Please, Save Youghal Ambulance.

Yours,

Cllr. Eoin Coyne

Mayor of Youghal