Joyce Hosford, a native of Blackrock is the newly appointed Event Manager for The Mall Arts Centre and St. Mary’s Collegiate Church of Youghal. Report: Shane Supple | Photo: Michael Hussey

Joyce who holds a degree in Marketing and Management from Dublin Institute of Technology worked in recruitment in Dublin for a year before returning to college to do a Postgraduate diploma in Event Management and PR.  She gained experience in New York as an Event Assistant before securing a role Senior Event Manager for Xtreme.ie in Carton House Hotel, Kildare. She worked there for 3 years before returning to Cork.

She states that she is delighted to be back in Cork and really excited about her new role of Event Manager for the Mall Arts Centre and St. Marys Collegiate Church.

“It’s a very challenging position and I am really hoping to open new horizons and develop these venues for the vast potential they have. I am really looking forward to bringing new exciting and interesting events to Youghal.”  Over the last few weeks I have been out introducing myself to the people of Youghal and everyone is so welcoming, helpful and generous, it gives me a great feeling for the place.

Youghal is an ideal place for me to work as I love tag rugby, adventure activities and the great outdoors in general.  Joyce also holds the distinction of being one of the very few if not the only female off road driving instructor in Ireland. I have always loved Youghal and I have great memories from my childhood of family days in Youghal. I really want to work with the community and listen to any suggestions that people may have.

If you wish to contact Joyce about upcoming events or future events you can contact  The Mall Arts Centre/St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, 7-10 Emmet Place, Youghal, Co. Cork, Tel: 083 360 6507 / 024 81814. Joyce will be a guest on Shane Supple’s radio show next week on Community Radio Youghal CRY 104fm so you can tune in then to hear the interview.

Click here to visit The Mall Arts Centre website

On Saturday 27th August 2011, the Port of Cork will once again open its doors to the public from 11am until 4pm as part of Cork Heritage Day. The spectacular rooms of Custom House will be open to the public offering visitors the opportunity to view the impressive boardroom and committee room as well as the fine collection of maritime artwork owned by the Port of Cork Company.

This year the ‘Port In Pictures’, a photograph exhibition of the port over the years; will also be on display in the main reception area of Custom House.

Organised by Cork City Council, Cork Heritage Open Day celebrates Ireland’s architecture and heritage by enabling free access to properties & events of interest to the public that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Details of this year’s events and participating buildings appear on the website www.corkheritageopenday.ie

Susan and Johnny Morgan were delighted to see ‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’ live at the Mall Art Centre, last Sunday night – 14th August 2011. Susan won two free tickets to see one of her favourite artist performing live in Youghal thanks to the Shane Supple Show on CRY 104fm. Susan answered correctly the lead female singer’s name with the group is Michelle Lally.

‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’ are currently in the middle of a 32 county tour of Ireland.  In a move which Frankie Gavin states is largely motivated by the bands wish to “lift the hearts of the Irish people during this extraordinary economic climate in Ireland”.

Click here to visit the Mall Arts Centre website

Claycastle Leisure Company – The Management Company behind Youghal’s Leisure Centre Facility today (16th August 2011) signed another four year, eleven month Management contract with Aura Sport & Leisure Management Ltd. (part of the Aura Holohan Group) for its state of the art facility.

In August 2003 Youghal Town Council set up Claycastle Leisure Company to oversee the development of a swimming pool and leisure complex for the town. The aim of the project was to provide a first class facility that would serve the local community and provide a quality tourism product for visitors. Today, the leisure centre boasts three pools and a fun slide, plus state of the art leisure and gym facilities. Funding for the project was initially sourced from Youghal Town Council, Cork County Council and the Department of Arts Sports and Tourism.

In welcoming the agreement, Chairperson of Claycastle Leisure Company, Director, Mary Linehan-Foley paid tribute to Aura Sport & Leisure Management: “We are thrilled to have signed another agreement with Aura Sport & Leisure Management for our wonderful facility in Youghal.  We have established a wonderful working relationship with Aura and the centre has become major asset to the town.  Instead of people exiting the town for such facilities, it is now attracting inward visitors” said Mary. This contract entails the hiring of swimming pool and leisure centre staff, general day to day management, marketing and maintenance of the facility.

In 2010 the facility took top honours as the ‘Best Recreational Facility’ at the Zurich LAMA Awards (Local Authority Members Association Awards) which recognises the very best of Ireland’s talent in local projects of Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure.  A key factor in securing the award was the installation of a ‘Biomass Fuelled Heating System’ into the Leisure Centre. This heating system uses wood chip which will is locally sourced and is environmentally friendly.

Aura Sport & Leisure Management Ltd. was formed in 1999 in response to requests from Local Authority clients who asked them to expand their consultancy role into direct facility management under a license agreement. The directors of the company have extensive experience in the leisure industry from facility planning to operating successful viable public leisure centres.

Aura currently operates eight leisure centres around Ireland, with their support office based in Dublin. The company operates the leisure centres on a regional basis North (Letterkenny), West (Carrick-on-Shannon and Tullamore), South (Youghal) and East (Dundalk, Drogheda, Navan and Trim).

17th August, 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn, T.D., has sent his congratulations to the country’s 57, 532 Leaving Certificate students who are receiving their examination results today.

“All of you should be rightly proud of your achievements.  Today is the culmination of many years of hard work and I hope that your dedication is reflected in the results that you receive today,” said Minister Quinn.

The overall number of students sitting the examinations this year is slightly down on last year.  Two thirds of those who took the exams sat the Established Leaving Cert Programme, with 28.5% opting for the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the remaining 5.5% taking the Leaving Cert Applied Programme.

Of the 57,532 students who sat the exams, 3,616 were external candidates and 2,947 students were repeat candidates.

The Minister also congratulated parents, teachers and the State Exams Commission on the publication of the results today.  He urged students and their families to carefully consider the options now open to them.

“There are a host of opportunities for our young people at university, Institutes of Technology, colleges, post leaving certificate courses and further education and training.  No one needs reminding that the economic conditions are difficult, so it is more important than ever that our school leavers equip themselves with the skills needed for the 21st century,” said Minister Quinn.

The Minister noted that the results in Maths and Science are broadly in line with previous years.  Project Maths is now in its second year as an examination subject for the 24 participating schools.

“The slightly higher number of students taking higher level Project Maths compared to traditional Maths is to be welcomed,” said Minister Quinn. “But I do acknowledge that we have some work to do in order to increase the numbers of our students taking higher level Maths in general.  I am hopeful that the continued roll-out of Project Maths and also the 25 bonus points which will be introduced for next year’s Leaving Cert students will improve these figures.”

The Minister welcomed a significant increase of 3.7% in the number of students taking Biology this year. He also welcomed the increased numbers of students who achieved honours in higher level Irish this year at 84%.

Minister Quinn added, “There are some young people today who will be disappointed with their results. I would appeal to these students and their families to seriously consider repeating their exams.  You are not a failure if you decide to give it a go again and it certainly is not a wasted year.  If this one year gives you the opportunity to attack the exams afresh and achieve the third level course you have your heart set on, then it is certainly worth it.”

Vicki Magee and Alan Pike get wed in Youghal’s first civil marriage ceremony.
By Christy Parker

A COUPLE WHO FLED NORTHERN IRELAND to escape the Troubles 30 years ago have become the first people to marry in a civil ceremony in Youghal. Vicki Magee and Alan Pike exchanged vows before their two children Jacob (12) and Joyce (2), along with 70 family, friends and neighbours in the Mall Arts Centre at Town Hall on Friday, August 5th, 2011.

Guests from as far afield as Glasgow, Belfast and Shannon attended a ceremony  performed by solemniser Rena Noonan from the Cork Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The chief witnesses were Vicki’s brother Tim and Alan’s best friend Gavin Meehan. Present also was comedian and family friend Pat Shortt.

Childcare worker Vicki, 38 and bricklayer Alan 40, first met in Shannon, to where both their families had located from Belfast in the 1980’s. They dated for three years and then split up “because we were too bloody stubborn,” recalls Vicki. “However, having “checked out the grass in other fields, we reunited and have been together for 12 years since,” she explains. The pair followed Tim’s footprints to Youghal in 2006 and live 50 metres from the town hall. “We adore it here and have the best neighbours imaginable,” smiles Vicki.   .

The couple were attracted by the scenic splendour of the adjacent Blackwater for their civil union. Last Friday the sun glimmered on the river as the wedding party gathered by the centre’s glass-enclosed rear reception area at 3 pm. The bride wore a plum off the shoulder chiffon gown, with gold-plated platforms and blond hair tied up with pink rose pins. The groom was adorned in a lightweight, Italian-style grey suit, mauve tie and black shoes

As gulls cried on the breeze, boats bobbed lazily on the calm waters and children’s voices rent the air from a small, adjacent beach, the couple walked the red carpet into the building. Twenty minute later, to cheers and applause, they kissed and embraced as Ms Noonan pronounced them husband and wife.

The marriage was celebrated with a marquee reception in the garden of Tim Magee’s riverside residence some 200 metres away, with local Italian restaurant Capri Bay providing the catering. The bride’s mother will care for the couple’s children in Bangor while the honeymoon will be spent “gradually travelling up there to collect them!” said Vicki.

Click on image to enlarge

The sun was shining on Youghal for the second annual “Tag to Youghal” Rugby Festival which took place from the 12th -14th August and was organised by Youghal RFC in partnership with Youghal Chamber of Tourism & Development and the Youghal Vintners Association

The festival kicked off on Friday night with a free open-air concert in Market Square by the Kieran Kramer Band followed by the lively “Pubfest” and live music trail which took place in Youghal bars over the whole weekend.

The tag rugby blitz got underway in Youghal Rugby Club On Saturday.  This very successful event which was even bigger than last years drew tag rugby teams and spectators from all over the country with 13 of the 23 tag teams from outside of town.  There was plenty of entertainment and fun as the tag rugby teams battled against each other to win first place in the competition.  The first prize of €500 went to Cork team D’Beers, runner up prize of €300 went to local team the Yawl Blacks and Joint place third prize of €100 each went to Wm Neville Drapery’s team and the McRaiders from McDaids Bar in Midleton.

There was also plenty of Pitch-side entertainment throughout the day with open air music by ‘Diva Sensation’ Bouncy castles and loads of fun games and competitions for Children.

A number of events also took place throughout the town on Saturday which included a crab-catching competition, and a food & craft fair.   On Saturday evening a huge crowd gathered for the free open air concert to see ‘Gaga4Pink’ Lady Gaga/Pink Tribute band which took place in Market Square.

Local publican and representative from the Vintners Federation Michael Farrell said that “The event was a fantastic success and there was a big increase for business in town as a result of the “Tag to Youghal” festival, and with the growing popularity of tag rugby competitions throughout the country the number of visitors and teams to Youghal were way up on lasts years event”.

The weekend of activities continued on Sunday where more large crowds gathered to support the vintage show in aid of cystic fibrosis which took place at Farrell’s Summerfield Bar, and the very successful weekend finished off with even more live music in the ‘pubfest’ throughout the town.

 

THE GERMAN ROSE for the 52nd Rose of Tralee Festival, 25 year old Saoirse Fitzgerald, originally from Clashmore, Co. Waterford, was special guest at the CRY 104fm Youghal local radio studios last Saturday. Speaking to Teresa Joyce on the ‘Joyce Country Show’ she said she was looking forward to the big event in Tralee this weekend. The CRY staff presented Saoirse with a specially commissioned glass plaque on the occasion of her visit and a bouquet of flowers to wish her well at the Rose of Tralee Festival 2011.

Saoirse works as a marketing executive for Enterprise Ireland in Dusseldorf, helping develop and support Irish companies exporting overseas. The 25-year-old is responsible for media and internet companies targeting German speaking markets, after obtaining a degree in Commerce & German from University College Cork, including a year at Vienna University, and a MBS in Marketing from the Michael Smurfit School of Business in Dublin. She is a member of Clashmore/Kinsalebeg GAA club in Waterford, rowed for the university team whilst at UCC and was also a member of the Civil Defence. In Germany she is a member of a group of business people who have just launched the Irish business network aiming to connect the Irish business community there. Saoirse is training for her first half marathon, enjoys zumba dancing, cycling as her main mode of transport and the spa culture in Germany. She was born in Cork, and both her parents are from Waterford.

In Frankfurt’s Supreme Lindner hotel, Saoirse Fitzgerald a huge fan of Ireland’s national sport – Hurling – got the jury’s votes over the 2 other nominees Sarah Joklitschke from Hattingen and Antoniette Barry from Basel. All 3 entrants have strong Irish roots, and Saoirse enjoyed success in her second attempt having also been a contestant in Germany last year – but unsuccessful on that occasion. The Rose of Tralee Festival takes place 19th to 23rd August in the Kerry Capital town.

 

 

 

 

Youghal Credit Union Summer Car Draw 2011 – Winner Joanne Lyons

YOUGHAL CREDIT UNION Summer car draw took place last Saturday (13th Aug. 2011) at 11.00 a.m.  The lucky winner of the new Kia Ria supplied from Pat Ryan, Kia Motors, Youghal is Joanne Lyons from Ballinvarrig lower.
2nd Prize Winner is Ann Darcy from Stradbally, Co. Waterford who is the lucky winner of the Royal Caribbean cruise courtesy of MacDonald Travel Agency, North main Street, Youghal. Entry to the draw costs just €6.00.

YOUGHAL CREDIT UNION LTD is a financial co-operative owned and controlled by our members, for the benefit of our members and the community.Consistent with the principles, philosophy and values of the credit union movement, Youghal Credit Union provides safe, superior, financial services in a friendly and professional manner with respect for the worth and dignity of all our members.We aim to meet the needs of our member-owners, enhancing their lives and financial well-being while maintaining the strength of the credit union. We thrive in an environment of trust, respect, integrity and honesty.

€500 Winners
David Morrissey from Ladysbridge
Denis McCarthy from Fanisk Bridge

 

 

Congratulations to Liam Coveney on his retirement from the Youghal R.N.L.I. Liam’s dedication to saving lives at sea goes back to 1983 and he has been with the R.N.L.I. ever since.

 Youghal’s Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest stations in Ireland as it dates back to 1839. The first lifeboat was funded by Youghal’s townspeople at a cost of £76 to build and put into service. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (R.N.L.I) took over the running of Youghal’s Lifeboat in 1857.

Today, the station operates one of the fastest and most modern lifeboats in the RNLI’s fleet, The Atlantic 75 Class lifeboat. This boat is a rigid inflatable, 7.5 metres in length, carries a crew of  three and can reach a top speed of 32 knots. This lifeboat is named the Patricia Jennings and this new boat has only been on station at Youghal since September 2002.

The lifeboat volunteers who crew the boat and manage the station are proud of their station and record.

Click here to visit the Youghal Lifeboat Station website