Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:46
Subject: Press Release from Youghal Chamber

Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Commerce

Many members and neighbours have asked for a brief outline of the recent Bord Pleanala decision to refuse permission for the treatment of Hazardous Waste in the ERAS ECO facility in Foxhole, Youghal.

In Feb 2011, Youghal Chamber objected to ERAS ECO’s proposal to Cork County Council. In June 2011 the Chamber brought their objection to An Bord Pleanala. Youghal Chamber and Four of its Directors were the only objectors to the planning application.

Youghal Chamber has only ever objected to Two Planning Applications. Both objections were against this facility at Foxhole. Firstly against the development of Sludge Drying and secondly against the intensification of this Sludge Drying and the treatment of materials classified as Hazardous.

Youghal Chamber and its members are very thankful to the outstanding professional service given by Conn Keogh & Son and John L. Keane & Son, who prepared the objection and corresponded with the Board.

There was three major parts to the planning application.

• Treatment of Hazardous Waste.
• Increasing the amount of Sludge Drying permitted at the Facility by 10,000 tonnes p.a. through the construction of an anaerobic digest
• The acceptance of Municipal Solid Waste.

The Board ruled against the treatment of Hazardous Waste. The decision was primarily based on our objection in relation to the limited size of the site and the lack of a sewage treatment plant in the town. We are very mindful, that in time, both these objections could be overcome. With this in mind we have recently lodged a submission to the Cork County Development Plan Review, outlining our proposals towards a suitable change in the Industrial Development Policy in the Town. In particular the development of “Dirty Industry”.

The Bord permitted the increase in the amount of Sludge Drying permitted and the acceptance of Municipal Solid Waste. They felt that both these proposals will be subject to licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Over the years we have raised our concerns over the foul odours in this area of the town with the EPA. We are awaiting the outcome of these ongoing investigations for well over two years. The EPA have confirmed that they would be grateful for anyone to contact them at their Inniscarra office 021-4875540 to discuss any odour problems noticed, which would allow them to investigate the issue further.

Bridget Power chairpersons competition at Claycastle pitch and putt started on Monday 24th of September and ended on Sunday 30th of September. The weather was great through out the week, it rained in the morning on the final day, but that didn’t put people off. It cleared up in the afternoon and the sun came out.

You couldn’t have asked for a better end to the competition.There was 190 cards played through out the week which was a great turn out. Bridget has been chairperson for almost a year now. She has worked very hard during the year, and she loves being part of claycastle pitch and putt club, and we hope that Bridget will be part of the club for years to come.

It has been a successful year for claycastle pitch and putt club. There is a lot of work that goes into the up keeping of the club. The club has great support from the committee and it’s members and volunteers

Results of the chairpersons competition,
winner with an overall net – Don sheehan
winner of overall gross – Gary o’sullivan

Gents
+2–5- James howes
-6–14- Brendan mcCaughney

ladies
scr-10- Joy bryan
-11–18- Rita ryall
hole in one prize – Maureen broderick

well done to all the prize winnners.

A SERIES of newly erected 7 metre ‘maritime themed’ banners on the main Cork to Youghal approach road have been widely welcomed by both locals and visitors to the seaside town. The banners are the latest in a series of marketing initiatives to be rolled out as Youghal continues its re-branding process.

Project managed by The Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group, the banners seek to create impact, and inject colour and vibrancy on the long approach road to the town. Speaking about the project, Town Clerk, Liam Ryan pointed towards the impact the banners set out to achieve. “Youghal Town Council is delighted to finally see the roll-out of these maritime themed banners on the main approach road from Cork into Youghal. Our aim is that Youghal should be recognized as a heritage town of national significance, which also fully exploits and maximizes its unique natural assets. Projects such as this only further enhance our town, and improve the public’s perception of the town.

The Town Clerk continued by commending the partnership approach which led to the roll out of the poles and banners. “This project would not have been possible without the funding, assistance and co-operation of a number of bodies including, Youghal Town Council, Youghal Tidy Towns Committee, South & East Cork Area Development (SECAD), and Cork County Council. In the current climate, this type of approach will only reap rewards for Youghal as the town continues to attract more domestic and overseas visitors” said Mr. Ryan.

The project consists of eight 7 metre cast iron double-sided poles with banners attached. The banners consist of heavy polyester material. Cork based graphic designers ‘Generate Studio’ were commissioned to develop designs taking the themes for which Youghal has become synonymous with as it’s starting point. Youghal’s unique heritage including it’s 13th century town walls, famous characters including Sir Walter Raleigh, it’s fresh seafood, and the miles of beach were the basis for the designs. Added to these themes were banners signifying two of Youghal’s most successful attractions, Perks Entertainment Centre and Aura Youghal Leisure Centre.

The maritime themed banners come at a time when Youghal was once again rewarded for it’s efforts in the mid-year results in the Irish Business Against Litter Award being rated among the top 18 towns in the country as being “cleaner than European norms’ in the detailed report on the town.

Similar signage and banners have previously been erected by Youghal Town Council on the main by-pass approach road to Youghal and adjacent to Youghal Town Council Offices in the town centre.

Brendan Mc Caugheys captains prize was held at Claycastle Pitch and Putt Club on the 27th of August and finished on Sunday the 2nd of september. The weather was mixed during the week but improved for the weekend play. There was 186 cards entered which was a fantastic turnout. Well done to James Howes who won the captains prize, james also won the club strokeplay recently theres no stoping hem, claycastle pitch and putt would also like to thank the ladys who made tea sandwiches and cakes ye done a great job.

Results were as follows

O/A Nett-James Howes 95pts (overall winner)
O/A Gross-Gary O Sullivan 88pts
Ladies
H/cap -6–11-Joy Bryan
H/cap-11–18-Carol Mullally
H/cap -12–18-Rita Ryall

Gents
+3–5-Stephen Sheehan
-6–14-Tommy Hannon

Hole in One prize-Billy Kenefick
Well done to all prize winners.

Upcoming competitions

Noel O Driscoll Memorial Competition

Dates and times
Monday 10th September at 2.30pm
Wednesday 12th September at 2.30pm
Friday 14th September at 2.30pm
Saturday 15th September at 2.30pm
Sunday 16th September two sessions 10.30am and 2.30pm

All are welcome, looking forward to seeing you there.

Bridget Power Chairpersons Competition

Dates and times
Monday 24th September at 2.30pm
Wednesday 26th September at 2.30pm
Friday 28th September at 2.30pm
Saturday 29th September at 2.30pm
Sunday 30th September two sessions 10.30am and 2.30pm

All are welcome, looking forward to seeing you there.

YOUGHAL FILM FESTIVAL will run from 7th to 9th September 2012. Entries to the festival are now being accepted.  The general submission deadline is Friday 13th July 2012.  The late deadline is  Friday 27th July 2012.

There will be a special ‘Young Film Makers’ showcase during the festival.  Entry to this category is for film makers of 22 years and younger and entrants are eligible for young film makers’ prize, but not the general festival prizes.  The deadline for this category is Friday July 27th.

Click here to visit the Youghal Film Festival website for full details

The Festival Office is based in Youghal town Centre, in the Tourist Office.

Youghal Film Festival,

Youghal Tourist Office,

Market Square,

Youghal,

Co. Cork,

Ireland

Tel: +353 24 92447

E: info@youghalfilmfestival.com

Programme

As well as the film screenings, we will be holding a number of workshops and master classes.

Young Film Makers’ Showcase—This element of the festival will allow younger film makers to enter their own category and will give a greater chance of qualifying and having their films shown.

We will hold a free workshop during this section, to allow budding Scorsese’s and Spielberg’s to interact with some local successful directors and producers.

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Actors’ and Film makers’ Master Classes with Terry McMahon

Writer and director of  Charlie Casanova, Terry McMahon, has been awarded the RKO Pictures Hartley-Merrill International Screenwriting Prize in Cannes and Los Angeles, the Tiernan McBride Screenwriting Award, and selected for the Tribeca Film Festival All Access Program. Commissioned to write the screenplays Soul Cages for Daryl Hannah, Swordland and Cancer Cowboy for Paddy Breathnach, Savage for Valerie Red Horse, Slice for Richie Smith, Fear for Robert Pejo, and, co-written with Mark O’Rowe, Sisk for Brian O’Malley, along with the original spec screenplays, Simple Simon, The Dancehall Bitch, Oliver Twisted, and The War Room. Central roles as an actor include, alongside David Carradine in Dangerous Curves, Don Wilson in Moving Target, Jonathan Pryce and Paul Bettany in The Suicide Club and most recently played the pederast in Paul Fraser’s My Brothers. First Class Honors Masters Degree in Screenwriting from IADT, guest lecturer on Acting and Writing at DIT and IADT, The John Huston Film School, and Trinity College, Dublin.

CHARLIE CASANOVA
2012 IFTA NOMINATIONS:
‘BEST SCREENPLAY’ ‘BEST DIRECTOR’ ‘BEST EDITING’ & ‘BEST FILM’

WINNER ‘BEST FIRST FEATURE’ GALWAY FILM FLEADH 2011

WINNER ‘BEST ACTOR’ EMMETT SCANLAN ECU EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, PARIS, FRANCE 2011

WINNER ‘BEST FILM’ AND ‘FESTIVAL PICK’ DMV INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, WASHINGTON, U.S.A. 2011
WINNER ‘BEST FILM’ UNDERGROUND CINEMA AWARDS, DUBLIN, IRELAND 2011

OFFICIAL SELECTION SXSW FILM FESTIVAL AUSTIN, TEXAS. 65th EDINBURGH FILM FESTIVAL. GALWAY FILM FLEADH. OFF CAMERA PLUS, KRAKOW, POLAND. REVELATION PERTH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. WHITE SANDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, NEW MEXICO, CINCINNATI FILM FESTIVAL, BRISBANE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL, ORLANDO FILM FESTIVAL PLUS OTHERS

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Actors’ Master Classes with Mary McGuire

Mary is a leading Casting Director and has worked in London and Ireland for many years.  She started working in London with Hubbard Casting (the leading UK casting company) and went on to start up Hubbard’s Dublin office.

She has worked on Feature Films, Short Films, Television Dramas, Television series, Television Commercials, Theatre and Music Videos.  Working in a voluntary capacity, Mary has been actively involved in providing casting advice and support to the Moonstone Project, the European version of the Sundance Festival founded by Robert Redford.  The project enables young actors and directors to work with well known directors, cameramen and scriptwriters and to learn the ‘tricks of the trade’ at first hand.

Mary has developed strong links with many actors and agents throughout Ireland and the UK. She has given advice on an individual basis, to countless actors who value her judgment and support.

Over the years Mary has ‘discovered’ some wonderfully talented actors including Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Colin Farrell, Stuart Townsend, Laurence Kinlan and Kerry Condon.  Mary is about to embark on a new feature film titled ‘The Winged Boy’, Director Lewis Manduki.

A small selection of the projects that Mary has been involved in is provided below.

Films
Lord of the Rings, The Commitments, The Da Vinci Code, Into the West, Far and Away, Angela’s Ashes, Omagh,  War of the Buttons, Heavenly Creatures (Director Peter Jackson), All About Adam, Patriot Games, Evita, Mad about Mambo, Waking Ned.

Television
Father Ted, Falling for a Dancer (where Colin Farrell made his debut), Bloody Sunday, Taggart, The Aristocrats

Television Commercials
Extensive experience of casting commercials including the well known ‘Dove’ commercials which entailed ’street casting’, which is much more challenging than working with professional actors.

Music Videos
Mary has cast music videos and worked with, Def Leppard, The Corrs and Tara Blaise.

Tel: +353 24 92447

E: info@youghalfilmfestival.com

Get creative and get filiming. ‘Like’ us to stay updated as details become available

Youghal Film Festival will take place from Friday Septemer 7th to Sunday September 9th 2012.

A chara,

As secretary of the Youghal Arts Network, May I take this opportunity to thank you personally for all you’re help and assistance to us during the year and wish you and the team the best of luck for 2012. I wish to publicly thank the committee and members of the Arts Network for great efforts all year in organising our very successful ventures , namely , the Father Ted Night , which is being run again in January next , The 4th Midsummer Gala Ball , which we will continue next June . The Halloween Fancy Dress night , which will run again next October and any ancillary events we participated in during the year . Have a very happy and peaceful Christmas and an eventful new year . Nollag shona dhuit agus ath bhliain faoi mhaise . Donacha O Cearuill , Runai , Youghal Arts Network.

Youghal And District Community Alert November Meeting In The Nook. – By Christy Parker

THE YOUGHAL AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY ALERT (YDCA) GROUP held its November meeting in the Nook bar on Thursday morning the 17th by way of augmenting its public profile. The officers present were Des Heffernan, chairman and Michael Beecher, PRO.

Amidst the comfort of a winter fire and complimentary tea, coffee and scones, the gathering was addressed by three speakers, while copious amounts of advisory and information literature on crime, alcohol and drug abuse and personal security was also distributed.

An Garda

PRO Sergeant John Sharkey eschewed the regular crime report to deliver a general summary of garda work in the locality and to take questions from the floor. The sergeant outlined that he is one of four sergeants plus 20 other gardaí and one civilian officer at the station. The service operates om a maximum base of one sergeant and five gardaí per shift across three shifts every 24 hours. He stressed that when the station closes at 10 pm, there remains a full complement of gardaí patrolling the general locality and under instruction from Midleton headquarter. “People should never hesitate to call us,” he added. “Calls are never a nuisance and are always valued.  It’s far better to be safe than sorry. Likewise, if you are unhappy with the Garda service in any way, please report it to a sergeant or any senior officer, as you would with any service provider. ”

Crime

Crime-wise, Sergeant Sharkey said Youghal was generally quiet at present, probably due in some measure to various Garda and community initiatives that focus on the principal of each individual being central to protecting their own property. This in turn created a culture of protectionism across the community that deterred would-be criminals.

Nonetheless, he said, there were issues of concern, particularly underage drinking and anti-social behaviour, as epitomised on Halloween night for example. Equally, unacceptably disruptive behaviour in the town in recent weeks had seen Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued to several young people. This effectively banned them from the main street and other areas for three month, with further action towards building a case towards court proceedings, following failure to comply.

The sergeant also referred to the important role played by Community Garda Peter Queally, underlining the crucial link between the town’s individuals, groups and organisations and Garda effectiveness.  In a similar vein, he promoted the monthly Community Alert meetings as an important mechanism by which the public and An Garda can interact with the public and build confidence and trust. Again he urged the community to ring the gardaí if harbouring any concerns or suspicions about anyone or anything.

Such an approach was particularly relevant to the rising level of rural crime, especially housebreaking and burglaries. Such perpetrators would drive or walk an area and he encouraged people to note unusual behaviour, note details such as car makes, colours and number plates and, especially, exercise caution when presented with yarns or offers that would incur entrance a stranger’s entrance to one’s home or the production of one’s money. It was important also to realise that many con artists will pose as health officials, civil servants, construction workers, gardaí, nurses, etc. The theft of car keys from homes was a current trend, the garda also reminded, urging they be kept in a secure location.

Sergeant Sharkey further warned about urban scams, often with gangs confusing shopkeepers with elaborate tactics in seeking change, or ‘buying’ expensive items with bogus credit numbers, etc.

Likewise the internet, he elaborated, was now a minefield of deception. Various incidents were relayed from the floor, including strangers interceding Facebook accounts in pretence of being stranded family member and seeking transference of money abroad for assistance. Bogus e-mails or phone calls seeking bank account details or pin numbers were also prevalent.  Youghal Garda station is on (024) 92200.

Care and Repair

An interesting and informative question-and-answer session followed between the attendance and the sergeant before spokesman for the Care and Repair movement Pat Carey took the microphone. Mr Carey explained that Care and Repair currently consisted of about nine volunteers who, working in pairs, conduct light repair work of behalf of the elderly (over 65’s). The service is co-ordinated through Cumann na Daoine, he said and all volunteers are Garda vetted, he assured.

Mr Carey advised that the group’s insurance does not cover heavy duty work such as general plumbing or electrical projects. A year in existence, the service averages one job per week now. The average time spent on a job is three hours daily but return visits are accommodated. Usually a job is undertaken within two days of being requested.  Care and Repair is a free, non- profit making  service, he proceeded, other than the provision of materials, though voluntary contributions (which some clients prefer to pay) are accepted on behalf of Cumann na Daoine. Gardening, painting, decorating, household repairs and alarm installation feature highly on the retinue “but no job is too small,” said the speaker. I response to an inquiry, he said the group operates within a three mile radius of the town.  Cumann na Daoine is on (024) 91900.

Drugs

The third speaker was Eddie McBride, new Youghal-based community drugs worker with the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force, replacing Eric Trihy. Mr McBride, from Waterford, said his background was in youth community development and family support pertinent to drugs issues. He was now charged, through Foróige, with co-ordinating drug abuse amongst the 14 to 24 age groups. The methodology centred firstly on “Education and Prevention,” he explained and secondly –for those already victims of the drug culture- “harm reduction.”

The official explained how his work entailed much liaising with Community Garda Queally on an advisory, as against a criminal, basis. Mr McBride brought interesting analysis to his address, not least informing that the “number one drug of choice and the one that caused the most upheaval in people’s lives is alcohol.” Given the setting it was an ironic equation. In terms of common usage, alcohol, he outlined, precedes cannabis and then opiates. Heroin exists in every town and village but it isn’t of prime concern, he stressed.

Mr. McBride said that in 2010 “63 individuals and 77 parents or concerned persons” in Youghal had sought help from the service he was now managing. He welcomed the statistic as evidence of increasing numbers realising their difficulties and actively seeking a solution towards better lives.

Interestingly, the speaker also dismissed a direct link between crime and drug use as considerably exaggerated. Amongst his other assertions is all drug issues are individual-based, with society comprised of communities, comprised of families, comprised of individual. He further advised that introduction to drugs are usually through ‘friends, peers or family, with alcohol generally involved. These and other matters relevant to his posting will be considered in an interview with Mr McBride in an upcoming issue of Youghal News. Eddie can be contacted on (024) 90793 / 086 3842183 for confidential advice and support.

The fourth and final speaker of the morning was Dermot Cronin, Community Alert Development Officer – Southern Garda Region. The next edition of Youghjal News will contain a report on Mr. Cronin’s address.

Loneliness And Isolation Features Highly At Youghal Community Alert AGM.
By Christy Parker

CONCERN over lonely and isolated elderly people and was a prominent issued raised at October’s Youghal and District Community Alert meeting. The occasion was also the group’s AGM and was conducted in Cumann na Daoine following the unavailability of the Walter Raleigh hotel.

Outgoing chairman Michael Beecher commenced proceedings by asking Pa Forrest to deliver the treasurer’s report, which showed a current balance of €1,043.45 from an opening sum of €905.08. A Red Store coffee morning with guest speakers had brought a debit of €120 while the annual church gate collection month collected €1,042.35.

Crime report

Community Garda Peter Queally delivered the monthly crime report, while deviating from previous practice in largely not identifying specific times and areas. There had been just one theft from a shop over the previous month and two general thefts and gardai had conducted 10 street drug searches of which there were three arrests for possession. Six public order incidents were detected, three burglaries -one of which was aggravated burglary- had occurred, alongside three criminal damage offences and one drink driving arrest.

The aggravated burglary had occurred in the Quality Hotel at approximately 5.30 am on September 12th. The night porter had disturbed an intruder, who launched a brief attack. Nothing had been stolen and an investigation is on-going.

Garda Queally said October and November are prime months for burglaries and advised that property owners take all common sense precautions, such as securing doors and windows, keeping valuable possessions concealed and also being mindful of elderly neighbours, etc.  He described how recently a local woman, 87 and accustomed all her life to keeping her door open, was visited by two men. They demanded money and when told she had none, asked for her bank details. “She was sharp enough to change the last two digits,” revealed the garda, “but it illustrates the danger. A neighbour had seen the walk in but had presumed they were relatives or something.”

Underage drinking

The garda said Sergeant John Sharkey had addressed the Junior Cert and transition year students, but nonetheless there had been three incidents of underage drinking detected following the exam results. The miscreants had been brought to their homes and details referred to the Juvenile Liaison Officer for further pursuance. “It was a busy enough night and the real perpetrators were those that acquired the alcohol for them,” he proceeded, adding gratefully that the night had produced “no public order incidences.”

New committee

Before new officers were elected, outgoing chairman Michael Beecher thanked all who had participated in the group’s work during his tenure. He paid tribute also to those who assisted with installing 21 socially monitored alarms lately, noting that willing hands remained available to accompany the chief installer, ‘Joe from Wexford,’ in installing the outstanding 10 alarms form the current tranche of 31. Garda Queally proposed that food money for the installers should be provided from the group’s finances on such occasions and this was agreed. Mr. Beecher further thanked outgoing committee secretary Kaye Curtain and likewise treasurer Pa Forrest, regular attendees, members of the media and the Walter Raleigh for its excellent co-operation in providing meeting space.

The new committee was then elected, with Desmond Davis proposed as chairman from the floor and elected unopposed. Des, as he is known, is a Wicklow man resident in Youghal for over three years and is also chairman of the Care and Repair project. Michael Beecher swapped chairs to assume the role of secretary, again unopposed, while Moss Heaphy takes over as treasurer from Pa Forrest.

Attendances

The first issue to confront the new committee came from the floor when ideas were sought by which to attract greater numbers to the monthly meetings. That attendances in recent months have been quite small, is probably due to several factors; primarily the relatively low level of crime in the area, people reluctant to travel at night to a meeting, especially in bad weather and  -according to the group generally- detailed  coverage from the local media addressing people’s curiosity.

Following some discussion, it was decided that November’s meeting will be a morning session at the Red Store, with complimentary tea/coffee and scones. It is hoped that the convenience of time and venue will entice elderly members of the community to attend but also family members and anyone with questions or concerns regarding any aspect of community or personal security.

Alone, lonely and vulnerable

There was considerable discussion on the plight of what initiatives the group could make to address the issue of elderly people alone and vulnerable. That there is a widespread, sad and silent problem out there was evident from the testimony of those who had helped to install the monitored alarms and those involved with the Care and Repair project. Several spoke of the intense loneliness being experienced by many people in Youghal in the latter years of their lives.

They described how elderly people, often ignored by their own family, welcomed tradespeople into their homes as much if not more, for the social interaction as for the work at hand. “We chatted over tea for a couple of hours in her kitchen. There was no fire lighting and no television on. She said that every day was just so lonely. It was heart breaking,” testified one speaker.

From the floor a woman said she had volunteered to join the Care and Repair programme as a companion/assistant for the elderly during worker visit. There was a waiting list however and she wondered how she could become involved. It was explained that currently two tradespersons attended a job but consideration was now being given towards replacing one of those with a companion. The Care and Repair project was currently mostly in need of drivers however so this would be a valuable asset to bring to any involvement.

Re-visits

Garda Queally wondered if a re-visit system could be initiated, by way of providing further reassurance and company for those who were known to be alone and requiring more social contact. The idea was accepted but underlying issues were further aired, including providing identity details to reassure householders, recognition that many elderly people would feel uneasy with visits from people they do not already know.

The new chairman advised that commitment could evolve towards a task that the group might find beyond their capabilities. It was decided also that other sectors of the community might care to become involved in regular visits, with possibly some transition students at Pobalscoil na Tríonóide being encouraged to participate. All told, it was felt that increased liaison between Care and Repair and the Community Alert groups could be beneficial.

Community alert means alert community

A pivotal point was made by Mossy Lynch, co-founder of the Community Alert movement in Ireland and former chairman of the Youghal branch. He said ‘community alert’ meant more than a group or committee being alert, “but,” he asked, “is the community alert to the needs of the people within it –their neighbours.”

Mr Beecher, who had assisted in the installation of the monitored alarms, remarked on how delighted the recipients were, often regarding the reassuring devise as akin to having company in the house. He further reflected that the satisfaction was mutual, his point echoed by others, who agreed that chatting to the more senior members of the community was usually both educational and entertaining. The issue will be revisited at November’s meeting, which will be held in the Red Store at 11 am. Guest speakers may attend and if so details will be announced in due course.

Note: Application forms  for personally monitored and fire alarms are available on-going through committee members, Community Garda Peter Queally and at Youghal garda station (024-92200).

People across the region are reminded that the week September 20th to 27th is national Garda Supporting Safety Week. Youghal Garda Ronan Swann says road safety will be one area on which the local force will be focusing their energies for the duration. “There will be extra checkpoints and we will be concentrating on all aspects of driving and safety, including, speed, alcohol, drugs, using seat belts and mobile phones, tax, insurance, etc.,” he explains.

Accidents

According to the garda, “statistics show that half of all fatal accidents occur between 4 pm on Friday and 6 am on Monday.” Tiredness is considered a contributory factor in many cases, with people working harder and longer to make ends meet in the present economic climate. Garda Swann says “fatigue is almost as lethal as intoxication,” and advises weary drivers to slow down and also to avail of lay-byes for a fast nap in the course of their journeys.  Getting there late is better than not getting there at all is the message.

Burglaries

The garda also advises that October and November are the prime months for burglaries. He observes that employing “two or more security features greatly reduce the chances of being burgled.” He suggests that homeowners consider dogs, alarms, sensory lights and securing windows and doors as viable options, whether rural or urban dwellers. Garda Swann further advises to conceal jewellery, cash, cameras, laptops and any valuable belongings from the prying eyes of would-be intruders.  “Gold prices are very high at the moment,” he says, “and there are easy outlets to accept gold items. Pawn shops also sometimes accept goods on face value.”

School care

The garda reiterates his plea that motorists exercise “extreme care” in the vicinity of Gaelscoil Choráin and Bunscoil Mhuire during drop off and collection times. As regards parking, he suggested the town hall or the vicinity of the Devonshire Hotel for the former premises, while also asking drivers not to block the entrance to the garda station when visiting Bunscoil Choráin. “A few minutes can make a huge difference if we get an emergency call,” he explains.

Community Alert

Garda Swam informs installation of socially monitored alarms will commence shortly in the town, while application forms for further alarms are available from the garda station or through members of the Community Alert group. The next Community Alert meeting –the AGM in fact- will be held in Cumann na Daoine at 7.45 pm on Wednesday October 5th and, as always, the public are invited to attend.

This year’s Community Alert AGM will be held in the Cumann na Daoine premises, Catherine Street, Youghal, on Wednesday October 5th at 7.45 pm. All are welcome.

GARDAI CONCERNED OVER SCHOOL RUN CONGESTION  – By Christy Parker  

YOUGHAL GARDAI want parents and other drivers to park carefully when dropping off and collecting children at Gaelscoil Choráin and to be extra mindful of the requirements of residents and other drivers in the area. Community Garda Peter Queally says there have been “a number of complaints” arising from congestion on the street since the school re-opened, especially in the mornings. We can see both sides of the problem and we realise the difficulties,” says the garda. “We will be talking to the school and maybe the school could liaise with parents. It’s a geographical thing and it’s further complicated with other parents accessing Bunscoil through Strand Street”

Crimes

Meanwhile entry into derelict buildings is deemed trespassing, breaking and entry and/or burglary and perpetrators will be pursued as such, according to the garda.  Garda Queally was speaking after a man was arrested on suspicion of just such an infringement. “Sometimes these incidents also lead to criminal damage,” he proceeds, “People need to be aware that we follow up reports of such incidences and indeed we put a lot of time into investigating them.”

Garda Queally expresses concern at the number of derelict sites in the Youghal area. “As well as being eyesores, they present an ongoing problem for us,” he says.” We would be concerned that a they could be prone to someone setting light to wooden structures, which could cause immense damage to neighbouring properties as well. We’d ask owners to secure their premises.”

Garda Queally also referred to the increasingly common occurrence of ‘drive-off’ theft from petrol stations. “It’s not the cleverest of crimes,” he advised. “Almost every garage in the county has CCTV now and we practically always have a successful investigation as a result.”

Elsewhere on the crime front, the garda warns householders to be on the alert for bogus callers. Last week two foreign nationals were arrested having called to houses on false pretences of collecting for charity.  “They showed ID but not permits for collecting money,” says the garda. One of the me was subsequently repatriated to Poland on foot of a EU arrest warrant while the other was sent to Monaghan where he was being sought by gardai.

Alarms

The Waterford native referred also to community matters and had good news for those awaiting socially monitored alarms. “After several months delay, the latest applications have been sanctioned and we have received funding to buy and install about 30 alarms.” He said. “We expect the installers from Wexford to start work in a couple of weeks. It’s been a long wait because the rules changed and our hands were tied.”

Garda Queally said forms for the next round of applications were now available from the garda. That process would take several months also be he added that for people urgently requiring the appliances, the option remained to purchase them privately, at a cost of about €250. The gardai would provide information on how this could be done.