Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Development Spring members meeting at The Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal.  The meeting took place on Thursday evening 5th May 2011 at The Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal. New President of the Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Development is Mary O’Donnell and Vice-President is Sal Tivy

 

What is a Chamber?

A Chamber is an organisation made up of local business representatives who join together to promote the economic and social development of their community in order to make it a better place in which to live, work and do business.

Youghal Chamber

At Youghal Chamber, we are all about creating a better environment for business to succeed in Youghal.  Our membership spans most of the businesses in the area. Our members offer every kind of product and service.

Youghal has a growing business community attracted by our population growth, increasing tourist visitor numbers, availability of skilled workers and great travel and telecommunications links with Ireland and the rest of the world.  Not forgetting the fact that this is a great place to work and live, with stunning views and fresh air to stir the soul and raise your spirits.

Please contact us, to discuss with a Chamber Director, how we can help your business flourish in Youghal.

 

 

Chamber Board of Directors

Diarmuid Keogh Conn Keogh & Cons Auctioneers Secretary

Mary Birmingham AIB Treasurer

Michael Farrell Summerfield Bar Director

Martin Finn Smart Tactics Director

Mary Bernard Le Gourmet Director

Mr Seamus Curran The Quays Bar & Nightclub Director

Tracy Kenneally Aura Leisure Centre Director

Eddie Irwin Irwin’s Electronics Director

John Flavin Flavins Sports & Shoes Director

Sal Tivy Director

Cllr Barbara Murray Director

Michael McGrath Genesis Director

Mary O Donnell Clear View Auctioneers Director

John Griffin Aquatrek Director

Patrick Morrissey Director

Networking Opportunities
Youghal Chamber offers support and assistance to help local businesses grow and provide the best service possible to their members. It operates the chamber quality accreditation process. It also negotiates commercial agreements and develops national public relations and marketing campaigns on behalf of the member’s network

Supporting SMEs
Youghal Chamber develops and packages services that can be delivered to SMEs these include information and training programmes to support growth and competitiveness
Lobbying We represent the views of our members at local, county, regional and national level.
Lobbying is one of the key services offered by Youghal chamber to its members.

As part of Chambers Ireland one the largest business representative organisation across 60 locations in Ireland, Youghal chamber is well positioned to lobby locally, regionally and nationally on the key issues that effect business.

The chamber engages in professional research, policy and communications activities at each of these levels to deliver a better trading environment for its business members.

As required the chamber can lobby local, regional and national government as well as other large public and private sector bodies.
This is done with an objective approach and is plat formed on evidence based research.

Training
The Chamber Business School is a dynamic training organisation with a passionate commitment to increasing business productivity, profitability and competitiveness by developing the critical skills required to cope with the ever increasing demands of work.
Managed directly by Chambers Ireland and grant aided by FÁS, the Chamber Business School expects to train over 3,000 employees in 2006 making it one of the largest private training providers in Ireland.
In response to industry demands, the Chamber Business School has dramatically increased access to training for local businesses by providing relevant tailor made training, locally and at competitive rates.
RELEVANT TRAINING
Focusing on the critical skills required to impact positively on business performance the Chamber Business School has developed almost 30 programmes under the following headings:
• Business Performance Management
• Capacity Building
• General Management
• Health and Safety
• Human Resource Management
• International Trade .

Chamber HR
If your business needs advice on HR and/or Health and Safety, the chamber can assist you with our ChamberHR service
Chamber HR is a tailor-made solution to suit individual client’s needs in the increasingly difficult business area of human resources management (HRM).

In partnership with Peninsula Business Services, Chamber HR’s primary objective is the prevention of problems in the HRM area, including breaking down and explaining the often difficult-to-understand world of employment legislation and business protection.

Translation Services If you need to translate from one language to another, Chamber Translation Services can turn around a competitive quote within 24 hours

 

Click here to visit http://www.youghalchamber.ie/index.aspx?id=0

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL  MEETING APRIL 2011 – By Christy Parker

In reference to the town clerk’s report, Cllr Liam Burke asked how much of the rates shortfall was thought recoverable. Mr. Ryan said it depended on whether companies were in liquidation, examinership or whether individuals had absconded. “We’d hope to recover as much as possible but we are in uncharted waters,” he advised.  Cllr Sammy Revins asked if ‘strike-offs’ referred to idle factories or businesses that were gone bust. “A mixture of both,” the town clerk replied.

Congratulations:

Mayor Mary Linehan Foley congratulated Cllr Michelle Hennessy on her co-option to Cork County Council in place of Deputy Sandra McLellan. The chamber applauded Cllr Hennessy’s new standing and reflected their satisfaction that the seat had remained in Youghal. The mayor also congratulated jockey Davy Russell on his two Cheltenham and one Aintree winner recently. A letter would be dispatched.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Burke said weeds at the Ferry Slip needed clearing and light no. 10 remains amiss at North Main Street. He said he had been informed that the word DeValera was misspelt on that street’s car park sign.

Cllr Tommy O’Connell said many sandbags that had been issued with flood warnings some time ago remained on the street and were a hazard, with one woman suffering a bad fall due to them. He said they were an eyesore on laneways as well as on the main street and “a certain element” was kicking them around the place. He advocated having the bags collected and returned to the county council yard.

Cllr Michael Beecher said that as residents were now going to be paying to use the Fair Field car park (in lieu of the three-hour parking limit for non-resident permit holders), an effort should be made to install “even one light” there. He understood it was to be upgraded in time but said that meantime “cars are being damaged there because of lack of lighting.”

Cllr Barbara Murray noted that Dolphin Square car park was also to be upgraded but asked that the directional arrows on the tarmac at the entrance and exits re-painted.

Covert camera, risky railings and beach business

Cllr Eoin Coyne drew attention to illegal dumping on the top of Windmill Hill. He felt it was occurring on Sunday mornings particularly when the litter warden was off duty. The town clerk said the mobile and covert CCTV vehicle would be operating over the next four months throughout the town, including over weekends. Cllr Beecher hoped that errant dog owners whose charges foul the streets would also be targeted. Cllr Murray said CCTV was needed in Ashe Street as residents were incurring hefty expense in having to dispose of waste that was being illegal thrown onto their properties. Cllr Coyne also asked for an update on derelict site notices issued over the past year. The town clerk said that a formal reply to all items raised would be provided within two weeks.

Cllr Hennessy said two missing flagstones on the quay behind the snooker hall needed replacing, the ladder in the mall was rusted and a hazard to children and a lifebuoy was also needed at a corner in that vicinity, where children regularly bathed. She concurred with Cllr O’Connell’s concerns over sandbags, especially at the rear of the snooker hall, where tourist coaches converged. The councillor also asked that sharped-edged iron bars, that served no purpose in the vicinity of Meghan’s Corner’” as she put it, be removed.

Cllr Sammy Revins wanted the Front Strand railings leading to the beach removed or replaced because they were dangerous. He also asked that efforts be made to install disabled toilet facilities on the Front Strand. The councillor was critical of the strand facilities generally, noting that a packed beach that weekend was unable to purchase either coffee or a sandwich. He urged that contact be made with those interested in providing takeaway services by the beach if the council was serious about properly promoting the town asset.

Mayor Mary Linehan-Foley accepted that funding was scarce but she asked whether “a lick of paint” could be administered to the Lighthouse Hill railings.

Cork County Council Items:

Town Engineer Paul Murray delivered his report arising from the previous monthly meeting thus:

Work had commenced on gullies on the Quarry Road and Golf Links Road prior to resurfacing projects. Potholes were being filled on an ongoing basis. The pipes for the extension on the Front Strand were on site and the appropriate tides were awaited to commence work. An additional bin had been cited at Claycastle and all bins would be re-instated for the June weekend, having been removed because they were being used for disposal of domestic waste.

Cllr Murray said the Mall Lane pothole was “absolutely diabolical.” The engineer said the roads contractor had only arrived in town the day previous and he expected he would attend to it by the end of the week. Cllr Murray insisted it be addressed as “a matter of priority,” given the high volume of traffic accessing the lane. She said she had been “hearing about hot tar since January” and would “really appreciate” a resolution. (The pot hole has since been filled). The councillor asked that sand be removed from the path to the beach at Claycastle. Also at Claycastle, a subsiding, square section of road outside the pump station at Claycastle needed remedying, while two tyres on the town periphery by the planted boat needed removing. She also  sought a commitment that the county council empty bins twice weekly during the summer season.

Ban the buses and parking on paths

Cllr Murray also said asked the practice of buses parking on the Lighthouse Hill be halted. It was of constant concern to the Tidy Towns committee and the vehicles gave a poor first reflection on the town entrance. “You can’t see the hanging baskets for the buses,” she elaborated. Furthermore, they compromised parking spaces when there was a busy night in the nearby hotel. Cllr Murray argued that while some liaison might be undertaken with the bus owners, it was not the council’s remit to be providing parking spaces for either the principal users Bus Eireann, or private owners. She said Millennium Court or “our famous railway station” could accommodate them. “It was only ever intended for coach parking,” she concluded.  The councillor said the Tidy Towns was willing to contribute up to €2,000 towards the installation of built-outs.

Cllr Beecher said the pavement grid at the Bank of Ireland was protruding and was a hazard, despite being raised (no pun intended) at March’s meeting. He was also concerned that a dip in the road outside Tesco’s had been mentioned at previous meetings to no avail. “It couldn’t be nearer to the council yard,” he added.

Cllr Hennessy asked for a progress report on Priority 1 disability audit works. Mr Murray said there had been 23 Priority 1 road crossings, most of which had been done. The contractor was to finalise some areas which were not straightforward and he anticipated “another few weeks” before the projects were complete.  Cllr Hennessy further complained that the tar had broken up at the entrance to Springfield Court and asked if double yellow lines could be painted on the Golf Links Road, where driers were parking on the footpath in the vicinity of two schools, necessitating pedestrians to walk on the road.

Cllr Burke noted that a railing on the front strand had rusted away dangerously. He asked that gravel on the promenade and car park be cleared, before asking yet again that the ‘concealed entrance’ sign for Summerdale be provided. The councillor then listed “the usual list of broken footpaths, aka Tallow Street, South Main Street and the junction of Strand Street/South Abbey”, requiring remedy.

Cllr Coyne asked that a widening pothole on Hayman’s Hill be rectified. He also complained that the public toilets at Claycastle had not been opened the previous weekend, despite glorious attracting large numbers to the area. The town clerk said the Claycastle toilets would open, as traditional, from the May bank holiday weekends.

Funding and resources

The town clerk then explained that all issues raised are prioritised but without central government making adequate funding and resources made available to local authorities, there would continue to be problems. “Two years ago we had 20 staff available,” he proceeded.  “Now we have 12, which is less than we had in 1984, when the town was half the size that it is today.” He realised upgrading was vital in several areas and explained that the town manager and he had “gone out on a limb” to secure €300,000 for the main street resurfacing next September. Meanwhile the non-national roads grant funding from central government had been cut by over €100,000 each year for the past three years. “People need to understand that local government services are now at tipping point,” he stressed “and services can’t be delivered under current budget levels.” Insisting that the central issue was the future of local government and whether it was going to be properly resourced, he urged the members to convey their concerns to their political parties.

Cllr Coyne replied that he was only asking for someone to “turn a padlock,” such as had been done at the Front Strand. Mr. Ryan said Youghal’s was the only town council in Cork currently operating on weekends.  The toilets needed maintenance through April, he eventually Cllr Coyne, who accepted the point.

Cllr Murray acknowledged the town clerk’s efforts to meet requirements and observed that as a tourist town, Youghal needed greater input and flexibility from Cork County Council in meeting requirements. “Yet if anyone decides to do something voluntary we have World War Three over doing someone’s job,” she complained. Mr. Ryan added that health and safety legislation was also a negative factor where voluntary participation was involved. “There has to be a change of mind as to how things are done, at a national level,” he urged.

Cllr Revins said the promenade needed clearing of gravel, a wall at the back of the GAA pitch in Copperally was in danger of collapse and asked if anything was going into a “crater” at Summerdale Lawn “besides cars!”

Derelict library site

Mayor Linehan-Foley asked that a full report be sought on the state and standing of the North Main Street site (formerly Collins’s bakery) purchased by Cork County Council for a library some years ago. She said it was overgrown with weeds and people were dumping rubbish and it was becoming rat-infested.  “Any other owner would be ordered to tidy it,” she observed. The mayor also questioned the logic in the county council renting a “top dollar” location in the town while a property lay idle and neglected on the same street. “Surely the money saved on rent would pay off a bank loan to restore the purchased property,” she wondered. Mr .Murray agreed to seek information from the county council’s library section. Cllr Burke then said it needed establishing where Youghal now stood in terms of priority on the funding list for libraries, having been told several years ago it was at the top. “The Library Council of Ireland is not funding anything at present,” informed Cllr Murray, “and Cork County Council is renting libraries all over the place from its revenue budget.”  She added that there were “huge archaeological issues” regarding their Youghal property and suggested it might be better were it sold and a more suitable property acquired.

2011 Purchase Scheme for Long-standing Tenants:

The town clerk said the new Purchase Scheme for Long-standing Tenants: The town clerk said the new scheme (which carries a purchase price of minus a tenancy deduction of up to 45% i.e. 3% per annum for up to 15 years) was specifically designed for calendar year 2011 and any purchases made during the year must be completed by December 31st 2012. It was the adopted by the council.

Motion that the road at Cnoc Aobhinn, length 209 linear metres, be declared a public road due consideration having been given to the financial implications of same:

The motion was adopted.

Heritage Applications 2011:

Mr Ryan said he had made three applications pertaining to: i) Irish Walled Towns Day, for which €8,000 had been received from an application for €15,000; ii) Town Walls projects, for which €153,000 was sought, with provision for a scaled down project subject to funding availability. He was happy that the council had received €60,000, which was 10% of the entire national budget; iii) an application for €73,000 towards St. Mary’s Church was currently being considered. In response to Cllr Murray, the town clerk said the council’s contribution to grants was just an additional 10%, for which allowance was made in the annual budget. “People need to know that progress is slow because these applications are basically our only means of raising funds,” reflected Cllr Murray.

Youghal’s Labour Councilor, Tommy O’Connell has claimed that Labour Party leader, Eamonn Gilmore is carrying out an investigation following a request from the General Secretary of the party to Youghal Town Clerk, Mr. Liam Ryan last week that Mr. O’Connell’s seat on the council be nullified.

The shock move follows Mr. O’Connell’s nomination and subsequent co-option onto the council seat in the aftermath of Cllr. Donie Daly’s resignation just over a month ago. Confusion reigns over last week’s bizarre event and continues to damage the public relations of the party branch in Youghal.

Further to the revelation that the General Secretary of the Labour Party asked for Mr. O’Connell to be removed, the party’s press office accused the Youghal Council of negligence in the co-opting process.

The news first broke on Tuesday morning when Mr. Ryan informed members at a special meeting to discuss budgets and traffic management that he had been in correspondence with the General Secretary of the Labour Party on Friday evening Oct. 29th. Mr. Ryan told shocked members that the Labour Party said they ‘were not happy with the selection process of Tommy O’Connell’ and that they requested the councilor’s nomination be ‘nullified’. The Town Clerk added that he was asked to reply to the Labour Party by 5pm Monday. Mr. Ryan then contacted Mr. O’Connell and advised him that it would ‘not be appropriate’ for him to come to Tuesday’s special meeting. Before any of the members could respond to the news the Town Clerk advised them that the matter was an ‘internal party issue that has nothing to do with us’.

By noon Tuesday The Labour Party Press Office claimed that the problem with Mr. O’Connell’s co-option lies with the Youghal Town Clerk. When asked why the Labour Party had contacted the council with their request, Mr. Tony Heffernan said. “The proper selection procedure wasn’t fulfilled under the law. All candidates are required to have a certificate of political affiliation. Mr. O’Connell doesn’t. I presume the Town Clerk is familiar with the law and would have checked the legal requirements. The Town Council wasn’t entitled to co-opt him.” Mr. Ryan responded that he would make ‘no comment on internal Labour Party procedures’.
On hearing the Labour Party Press Office claims on Tuesday afternoon Mr. O’Connell said the dispute over his legitimacy as a certified member of the party was a ‘smokescreen’. He also claimed that those with a ‘vested interest’ in discrediting the Youghal branch ‘will fail’. “I don’t have a certificate. However, I have a membership card and I have a letter from head office accepting my donation. That information was conveyed to the Town Clerk. This is a petty procedure in the extreme and is an internal issue. Someone at a senior level within the Labour Party has an ulterior motive. I believe it comes from potential candidates looking to destroy the Youghal branch before an election. We have contacted Eamonn Gilmore and he is investigating the matter. We won’t take this lying down,” he said.

On Saturday, the controversy continued to evolve with a special sitting of the Youghal branch at the Walter Raleigh Hotel. Labour election candidates for Cork East, John Mulvihill and Sean Sherlock were in attendance to ratify Mr. O’Connell’s nomination. How Labour Party headquarters receive the move is unknown but have stated that they want the seat filled ‘as quickly as possible’ though no timeframe was given nor has any name yet been identified for selection. The move by the Labour Party marks a new phase in what has been a tumultuous number of months for the Youghal branch.

Youghal Labour Party will hold a special meeting to formally ratify Tommy O’Connell as the replacement for former town councillor, Donie Daly, who resigned from the Council in September. The move comes after it emerged that Mr O’Connell had not received a formal Letter of Affiliation from Labour Party Headquarters. Pic: www.youghalonline.com

It has been decided that a selection convention to fill the vacancy created by Cllr Daly’s resignation is to be held within the next seven days. The convention will be chaired by Cork North Central Labour deputy, Ciaran Lynch and will be attended by the two Labour candidates for Cork East, Sean Sherlock TD and Cllr John Mulvihill and members of the Consituency Council have also been invited.

If, as expected, Mr O’Connell emerges from this selection convention as the replacement for former Cllr Daly, he is likely to formally take his seat on Youghal Town Council at its December meeting.

‘Capella’, the senior chamber choir from The Wallace High School, Lisburn, Co. Antrim gave an outstanding performance at St Mary’s Collegiate Church on Wednesday (June 30th 2010). The repertoire included works by Vivaldi, Stanford, Weelkes, Britten and McGlynn. The choir has 30 members, and includes students from ages 14 to 18.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Capella has performed far and wide, from concert tours of Belgium, Paris (Notre Dame, La Madelaine) to the Czech Republic.  There were in Boston and New York last June, where they sang at Old North Church, Boston, MA, St Mary the Virgin, Times’ Square, NY, St John Devine Metropolitan Cathedral, NY and also Central station.

The choristers meet 5 mornings a week before school, one day after school and a couple of evenings per half term in order to deal with the extensive repertoire.

Capella is directed by Mr David Falconer, Head of Music and is accompanied by Mr Theo Saunders, Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.

All proceeds from the night went towards the church.

Chamber Choir “Capella” tonight Wednesday June 30th at St Mary’s Collegiate Church at 8pm

Tonight in our beautiful 13th century church of St Mary’s Collegiate we are delighted to welcome Capella, the senior chamber choir from The Wallace High School from Lisburn, Co. Antrim.  The choir has 30 members, and includes students from ages 14 to 18.

Capella has performed far and wide, from concert tours of Belgium, Paris (Notre Dame, La Madelaine) to the Czech Republic.  There were in Boston and New York last June, where they sang at Old North Church, Boston, MA, St Mary the Virgin, Times’ Square, NY, St John Devine Metropolitan Cathedral, NY and also Central station.

The choristers meet 5 mornings a week before school, one day after school and a couple of evenings per half term in order to deal with the extensive repertoire.

Tonight, Wednesday, June 30th the repertoire will include works by Vivaldi, Stanford, Weelkes, Britten and McGlynn.

Capella is directed by Mr David Falconer, Head of Music and is accompanied by Mr Theo Saunders, Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.

Tickets on the door at only €5 with all proceeds going to the church.

Don’t miss it !

–
Oona Colin
Facilities Coordinator
The Mall Arts Centre/St. Mary’s Collegiate Church
Tel: 083 360 6507