AGM Sees Concerned Citizens To Commit To ‘Youghal 4 All’ In 2012.
By Christy Parker | Photo: Will McGoldrick

An inaugural Moby Dick literary, a commitment to repeat and expand last year’s festival events, the training and deployment of tourism ambassadors, the re-election of last year’s officers and committee (with a few additions) and a name change were the highlights of a well-attended meeting of the group now formerly known as Youghal Concerned Citizens. That title will heretofore be replaced by All 4 Youghal (Y4A), as the group dispels negative connotations, especially with regard to marketing. “We will still be concerned though” consoled chairman, Jim Flanagan, unconsciously speaking for the town in general –if not the entire country.

The meeting at the Red Store commenced with an address by Mr Flanagan in his capacity as an outgoing official. He spoke volumes but basically it came down to congratulating all involved with the past year’s events, perhaps particularly the festivals, i.e. The Teddy Bears Picnic, Fish Pie competition, Mackerel Festival, Halloween shenanigans and the Dickens Christmas theme.

Twelve months ago, with no budget, the starting point had been a pot of vague ideas aired in a room full of uncertainty. All had since blossomed into tangible reality. Driven by determination and selflessness, supported by non-cynics across all sectors, oblivious to be-grudgers and reinforced by superb co-operation within and with others, Youghal had been enhanced.

Shone well

Mr. Flanagan was therefore justified in saying, with appropriate modesty that the group “shone well.” He reiterated the oft-spoken mantra that the group “is willing to work with any other group, organisation, society or club at any time.”

The speaker paid tribute to the business community for their support and participation and also reflected on the success of the ‘Santa in reverse’ initiative that saw many children’s unused toys collected for those less fortunate last Christmas. Success notwithstanding however he hoped for increased involvement still from individuals, clubs and, particularly, that unpredictable entity known as “the youth.”

Secretary’s report

Secretary Adrian Hyde similarly recounted the past achievements before elaborating that, in 2011 the group “largely operated via a system of committees, each formed to progress a particular event. The committees are important,” he proceeded, “because they provide their own system of checks and balances along with spreading the workload. This is vital in terms of ensuring structure and sustainability for the years ahead.”  He envisaged that “mapping out the goals in relation to each project for the coming years will be important in sourcing funding, sustaining the projects themselves and ensuring that everybody knows what the end goal of each project is.”

The secretary again stressed not just the willingness to work with all other bodies but the desire and importance for the town’s prospects, in so doing. He then averred to “the open manner in which the YCC  had gone about its business,” with regular public meetings, “giving people and organisations the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas for improving the town and to contribute to the broad strategy of the YCC.”

Treasurer’s report

The report, circulated, showed income for 2011 was €3,328.74, raised from donations at meetings (€379.25), donations at Picnic (€490.65), Credit Union donation for Halloween (€1,000) and Mackerel donations (€1,078.84).Outlay for 2011 was €2,932.13 comprised of Refuse (€11), Insurance (€265), Teddy Pears’ Picnic (€30.25), Fish Pie expenses (€312.72), Mackerel expenses (€175.14), Halloween expenses (€1,517.51), SECAD Membership (50 cents) and Dickens expenses (€569.49). This left a surplus of €397.61 for the year.

By contrast, the projected income, all going well, for 2012 shows considerably higher expectations. It reads thus: Public Donations €6,700; Arts Council (Moby Dick and Mackerel) €8,700; Youghal Town Council €1,000 and Cork County Council €5,000. This brings a total of €21,400.

The projected expenditure reads as follows: Festivals & Events: Moby Dick Literary Festival €6,500; Teddy Bears Picnic €700; Mackerel Festival €3,000; Halloween Festival €5,000 and Dickens Christmas €2,000.

Projected Marketing Budget for 2012: Special Interest Handbook €1,500; Promotional DVD €1,000; Train Community Ambassadors €1,200 and Meet & Greet Campaign €500.  The combined total again is €21,400.

Election of officers

The officers were returned uncontested, with the addition of Jaqui Yates assuming the role of treasurer, which Ruth Vane had previously combined with PRO duties. The 2011 committee was also returned with the additional membership of Tara O’Connell, Will McGoldrick, Anthony Lawton and Phyllis Foley. They will join Norman McDonald, Kay Curtin, Frank Murphy, Kevin Linehan, Lynn Dann and Micheál De Buitléir in organising events through 2012. Norman McDonald was also elected vice-chair.

Re-assuming his place at the top table, returned Chairmen Jim Flanagan then extended his thanks for 2011 to various external entities including, Ger Flanagan/Youghal News, CRY/Pat Reilly, Denise FitzGerald/East Cork Journal, Neil Prenderville/96fm, Me/Examiner publications, Dungarvan Observer, etc., Town Clerk Liam Ryan &  Youghal Town Council, Karen Farrell & Mark Golden/Red Store and Imperial Hotel, Cliff Winser, the Rotary Cub and JD’s pub.

Name Change

It was adopted that the Youghal Concermed Citizens would as of now be known as Youghal 4 All. The significance of the ‘Four’ being that it represents four intrinsic marketing values as in ‘Festivals, Family-friendly, Fishing and Food.’

Moby Dick Festival

The chairman introduced the festival’s arrival with the good news that sponsorship had been acquired for a raffle to take place over its three-day stretch from March 16th-18th. The sponsors are Michael T. Murphy, insurance brokers, who will fund the raffle tickets, Lee Travel (McDonalds), with a €100 travel voucher, likewise a €100 voucher courtesy of SuperValu, along with €200 from All for Youghal itself.

Ruth Vance then detailed the events that will comprise the first Moby Dick Literary Festival in Youghal, some 58 years after the opening scenes of the renowned film were so historically shot in the town over the summer of 1954. Its arrival, at last, is “long overdue,” as Mr Flanagan accurately reflected.

Dr. Laurie Robertson-Lorant, chairwoman of the New Bedford Historical Society Education Committee and author of Melville -A Biography is travelling to Youghal for the weekend. Other invitees include explorer Tim Severin and author John Stack.

Having been so long in surfacing, the programme compiled by Youghal 4 All and Ruth Vance in particular- will create a highly impressive wave of activity and entertainment. Events commence at 4 pm on Friday March 16th with a puppet show by St. Raphael’s Puppet Theatre in the Methodist Hall. This will be followed by a ‘webinar’ in a festival marquee (venue and indeed nature of venue yet to be confirmed) in which a panel discussion on Herman Melville’s famous novel will be broadcast live to American Universities and high schools. Photographic records from the filming, taken by Pat Burke and now edited by Ed Guiry, will follow. At 6.30 Michael Hussey will show a digital version of an old silent Moby Dick film, starring John Barrymore and which preceded John Huston’s classic. There will be a flare display followed by reminiscences from extras or observers of the film recount their experience.

Saturday morning brings children’s readings in the library, Perkies art activities on a boat and a reading from Moby Dick by Tim Severin, Cork poet Thomas McCarthy, Tommy Slattery and Seán O’Neill, prior to the St. Patricks’ Day parade.  A quayside display of seafaring skill by locals including Barry Clohessy, John Innes, local scouts and lifeboat members will ensue after the parade, followed by sea shanties.

Sunday sees a marine antiques fair in St. Mary’s Church followed by a maritime history talk in the marquee. Former councillor Olly Casey will compare Youghal and its new twin New Bedford Pobail Scoil. Pobail Scoil na Trionóide students will perform more readings and events wil close with a Moby Dick themed video presentation by actor Conor Lovett.  See www.mobydick.ie for further information.

The weekend will also feature short story competitions for children and adults based on the themes Youghal or a weird experience (not that the two never merge!) , children’s storytelling a maritime history talk by local historian Frank Mills, plus angling competitions. Other inputs will include such recollections by locals as to why Moby Dick was so important to recessionary Youghal nine years after the Second World War.

Keep them coming…

As the meeting edged towards conclusion, the chairman appealed for anyone with any ideas for events or initiatives, regardless of how big or small and irrelevant to whether they want to promote them actively themselves, to pass them onto Youghal Four All for consideration. “If it’s only a child picking a piece of paper off the ground and putting it in a bin, then it is helping Youghal. It is as basic as that,” he encouraged.

The meeting proceeded with recognition from Norman McDonald for the “fantastic performance” by the young secretary Adrian Hyde through 2011, which was met by warm and sincere applause. Mr. McDonald then drew attention to the upcoming weekly training programme for ‘meet and greet’ ambassadors, which begins on Wednesday February 15th. There are currently 22 volunteers enlisted for the project which will prepare them for duties meeting tour buses and also greeting and advising pedestrian visitors to the town. They will, it was noted wear easily identifiable garb. The first (of three) night’s training, at the Old Imperial Hotel (subsequent meetings will be held in the Red Store) will include a lecture by Youghal engineer David Kelly. Mr, McDonald extended a general invitation to the wider community including the business community and anyone likely to interact with visitors. He added that further voluntary ambassadors were also welcome.