The East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre annual Award Ceremony took place in the Walter Raleigh Hotel on Wednesday night, November 10th.  Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, Lord Mayor of Youghal and Joan Russell, Education Officer with Co. Cork VEC presented the certificates to 120 students who attended.

The East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre is a multi-purpose Adult Education centre run by Co. Cork VEC. There are over 300 students attending the centre on a weekly basis attending a full range of adult education courses from levels 1 to 5 on the National Qualifications Framework. Students from three programmes received awards on the night.
It was the first time that students graduated from the two year VTOS, Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme graduated. This is the only full-time adult education course available in Youghal. Ten of the 14 graduates received a full FETAC Level 4 award. For many of these students this was their first formal qualification and they were very proud of their achievement.  Most of the graduates have progressed on to further education. Tribute was paid to the excellent work of the tutors on this course. This course was established with the aid of the Equality for All programme.

Youghal Adult Learning Group had 24 students receiving awards on the night. Six of these students received full FETAC Level 3 awards and it was the first time any students in Youghal have achieved this. This Return to Education course was funded by FÁS and the support of the Community Employment Supervisors was acknowledged on the night. Students covered a range of subjects including Communications, Maths, IT, Art & Design and Living in a Diverse Society.
The largest group of students receiving awards were under the Back to Education Initiative. Computer students received awards for FETAC Level 3 and 4 and ECDL. One of those received an award was 80 years of age and he is now looking forward to his next course. Students also received records of achievement for Horticulture, Childcare, Healthcare Support and Business Studies. Full FETAC Level 5 certificates were awarded to six of the Childcare students and 10 of the Art, Craft & Design students. Many of the Art students have progressed on to further education or employment.
Certificates were awarded for the first time in Security Guarding and Beauty Therapy. The Security Guard Training course included Safe Pass, Occupational 1st Aid, Fire Safety and Manual Handling as well as 2 FETAC 4 Basic Guarding Skills and Door Security Procedures modules.

The Beauty Therapy Specialist students graduated with a diploma from ITEC. This course has proved very popular and the setting up of this course was supported by the Equality for All programme.
Nuala Glanton, Adult Education Officer, with Co. Cork VEC offered her congratulations to all students receiving awards, including those who could not attend on the night. Joan Russell acknowledged the extra effort that adult education students have to make to find time to attend classes and to study while often juggling a work and busy family life also. Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, who knew a lot of those receiving awards, paid tribute to Co. Cork VEC for the contribution they are making to Youghal.

Special tribute was paid to Barra O’Briain, CEO of Co Cork VEC, who is due to retire shortly for the contribution he has made to education in Co. Cork during his career. In 2006 Mr O’Briain had the vision to retain the former Coláiste Eoin building and open it as a Further Education centre.
For information on any of the courses above please contact the centre on 024-92804.

Click on image to see the Graduation Awards

Congratulations to Youghal man, Patrick O’ Shea, the 3 star private in the Irish Defence Force, who won a Silver Medal at the World Military Boxing Championships at Camp Lejune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA. The championships were held between the 10th and 16th Oct. 2010.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com email:news@youghalonline.com

Patrick, from Raheen Park, Youghal, was delighted with the reception he received by the Mayor of Youghal, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley and Deputy Mayor Cllr. Eoin Coyne at the Town Hall last Friday. Patrick was accompanied by his parents Stephen and Tina, boxing coach Kieran Joyce and friends.

The Sunnyside heavyweight, a former Irish U/21 champion, stopped Lemerc Herath of Sri Lanka in the first round in the 91Kg semi-final.

But the Irish army private had to settle for silver after he was beaten 6-3 by Brazilian sailor Rafael DiLima at Camp Lejeune.

O’Shea was training with the Irish Elite squad under IABA head coach Billy Walsh and Zuar Antia ahead of the World Championships and sparred with 10-time Irish champ and Olympic silver-medalist Ken Egan before departing for the USA.

According to former Olympian and Irish senior champ Kieran Joyce of the Sunnyside club, O’Shea can be very proud of his achievement.

“Training with the Irish Elite squad was exactly what Pa needed ahead of the Championships, said Joyce. “He did very well to reach his final and a silver medal win is a fantastic achievement.”

On Tuesday (August 3rd 2010) last the Mayor of Youghal, Cllr. Mary Linehan-Foley and members of the twinning association welcomed a group of teenagers and their supervisors from Larmor-Plage in Brittany. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Youghal has been twinned for almost 25 years and this visit will serve to strengthen the strong links that have been forged between the two towns.

The French teenagers, who were accompanied by their supervisors Marion and Thierry, are camping in Youghal and are enjoying their experience of holidaying in East Cork.

They are part of a group named Multivacs which organises activities for teenagers living in Larmor-Plage.

Youghal Town Council has elected Fianna Fail councillor Mary Linehan Foley as its mayor for the coming year. The councillor was elected unopposed having been proposed by party colleague Cllr Sammy Revins and seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Eoin Coyne at July’s AGM.
By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Cllr Coyne was then proposed as deputy mayor by Cllr Revins and seconded by Cllr Linehan Foley. Again no alternatives came forward amongst. Seven councillors attended the meeting, they being Cllrs Linehan Foley, McLellan (outgoing mayor), Murray, Hennessy, Burke, Coyne and Revins.

Cllr Linehan Foley has been a member of Youghal Town council since 1999. She has previously served as mayor in 2002/3 and 2005/6. The daughter of legendary councillor, the late Paddy Linehan and his wife, Maureen, the new mayor expressed regret that her parents were absent to see her assume the chair once again. She is married with five children. Cllr Coyne was first elected to the council in 2009.

Outgoing Sinn Fein mayor Sandra McLellan was unanimously praised for a tenure that she had “thoroughly enjoyed.” She said that despite difficult budgetary times, the council had managed to secure funding for and reflected on highlights that included the town walls, quay walls, phase 2 of enterprise centre, continuation of heritage regeneration. The green light for long awaited waste water treatment plant and the multicoloured painting enhancement scheme served as further highlights.

Monday meetings still on hold

Earlier, the council opted to retain the Tuesday morning council meeting arrangement into July at least, Cllr Michelle Hennessy proposal that the Tuesday sittings continue in pending a review next month, was accepted.

The meetings were shifted to Tuesday mornings in lieu of the public sector pay dispute, which has recently been settled. However, Cllr Hennessy said that “as a mother of four” Tuesday’s timeframe suited her better for the summer duration and she sought support for the retention. Some councillors have, to their surprise, found Tuesday mornings more amenable but others find the opposite applies. One councillor, Labour’s Donie Daly, has been unable to attend any council meeting since April due to work commitments. All things considered, it appears that July will host the final breakfast sitting.

The Jack O’ Patsy Pottery is currently hosting the FETAC level 5 class of 2008 -2010 end of course art exhibition. The launch night was well attended with a large crowd of art lovers, friends, and invited guests all there to see the launch of the exhibition.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com | Email: news@youghalonline.com

Shane Supple one of the students and acting MC on the night, opened proceedings by thanking everyone for attending, he welcomed the newly elected Mayor of Youghal, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, Deputy Mayor Eoin Coyne, John O Connor and Patricia Walters from Cork County VEC,  the students and course coordinator for Youghal Patricia Burns.

He then invited local artist Marcella Riordan to officially launch the exhibition. Marcella spoke about the course and the work the students had done. She congratulated Patricia Burns and the tutors for keeping this course going and the importance of the course to the town and people. She went on to say how she was struck with the different contrast of all the pieces on display, the textures colours and mediums showing the different aspects of Youghal and the surrounding areas. She advised the students to keep bouncing around new ideas, enter headlong into new experiences wished all the students the best of good fortune in everything they would do. She then officially opened the exhibition. A bouquet of flowers from Absolute Flowers was presented to Marcella by another student Amanda Hogan in thanks for launching the exhibition.

In Closing Shane mentioned how some of the students have already applied to third level courses in colleges in our area, others have found a new way to spend their leisure time. He spoke of the fantastic work and help the teaching staff provided throughout the two years and gave a special mention and thanks to the course coordinator Patricia Burns who was presented with a token of thanks on behalf of the students from Mary Walsh. He then listed the former students, now artists who had works hanging on the walls, Gretta Kellerher, Mary Walsh, Shivaun Phillips, Amanda Hogan, Liz Stack, Ber Motherway, Gwyllim Dewick, Martina Cassidy, Deirdre Ni She, Breda Power, Julia Gracey Cox, Paul Barenskie, Shane Supple and Marina O Loughlin.

A special thanks and recognition goes to the following people and business for their support on helping launch and hold the exhibition. Jack O’ Patsy for the use of their fantastic premises, Brookes Super Valu for helping out with refreshments, Youghal Pharmacy,  Cashmans Bookmakers and Old Imperial Hotel for supplying prizes for the raffle held on the night, in which all monies raised went to  Sister Bridie and all the fantastic work she is doing in Pakistan.

This was a special night for the students and is the culmination of two years work, this was a long journey that started on Tuesday the 30th September 2008 and finished with the launch of the exhibition.

Click on image to see the artists and some of their work – All photos copyright to www.youghalonline.com please contact news@youghalonline.com if  required for further publication and acknowledgement.

By Youghal Town Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Bertie Ahern and Youghal Town Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley

As a Fianna Fail councillor for the last nine years I feel today is the end of an era. Bertie has made his last public appearance as leader of our country. He will be fondly remembered for all the great work he has done for our country especially the peace process. He was one of the greatest leaders of our time. But like everything else in life we have to look forward, and change is good. I am looking forward to Read more

By Christy Parker | Photos by Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Youghal Cllr Mary – Linehan Foley wants Bus Eireann to abode by an agreement to relocate the Waterford-Cork bus stop from the Fair Field to the back street, near the AIB entrance. In ludicrous fashion, the agreement has seen the site now road marked as a bus stop -amidst advanced plans for a shelter- but not operating as one! Meanwhile the traffic chaos that the new stop was intended to alleviate continues unabated at the Fair Field stop.

The councillor was informed at the March Town Council meeting that Bus Eireann had changed its mind after apparently one complaint that the new location was ‘lonely and desolate.’ Cllr Linehan Foley said she Read more