THE YOUGHAL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP held an innovative fundraising night on Saturday night, June 11th in the local Rugby Club.  The theme of the night was a GiGi’s Reunion and the turnout and support for the event was fantastic.

Therese O’Connell, Chairwomen of the Youghal Cancer Support Group told The East Cork Journal that they are so grateful to everyone for their help, and in particular would like to thank Marie and Karlaigh Trihy for coming up with the great idea for this fundraiser.   Marie worked tirelessly over the past few months to make sure that it was a great success. To her sister, Eleanor and Tara O’Connell, for helping to get things organised and for all their hard work.

A big thank you to DJ’S Mossie Tatten and Fergal Coleman for giving their services free of charge and helping to bring the musical memories of GIGI’S back. The Date Auction was different, innovative and needed courage to enter, so thanks to all who did. They were indeed very brave! The MISS GIGI’S competition was a great success and congratulations to popular winner, Silvia Flaherty, who was crowned Miss GiCi 2011.  The worthy runner up Vickie O’Shea. To everyone who sponsored prizes for the night, we are very grateful.    A special thank you to Youghal Rugby Club for their kind permission to use their great venue which was superb.

 

To all who came along to support our fundraising drive for Youghal Cancer Support Group, we must say a huge THANK YOU.  Without your support, the night would not have been the great success it was.   We do appreciate it.

Click on image to enlarge

The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation provides direct funding to families of children with brain damage who suffer severe intellectual and physical developmental delay, and funding is always needed.

For most of us, the words Jack and Jill bring to mind the old nursery rhyme ‘Jack and Jill went up the hill’ but 19 year old Danielle Keniry of Youghal brings this to another level, as she intends going much higher than a hill to undertake a tandem Skydive in aid of the Jack and Jill Foundation. Daughter of Annmarie and Martin Keniry, Danielle is also a 6th year student in Pobalscoil na Tríonóide.

 

Asked why Danielle decided on such a dare devil fundraising event, she smiled as she told The East Cork Journal that she ‘loves the adrenalin rush, and wanted to do something that she would always remember’ for a deserving charity. Danielle chose the Jack and Jill Foundation because she worked with a family during last summer whose child suffered severe brain damage. The praise, thanks and admiration which that family showed for the wonderful help they received from the Jack and Jill Foundation impressed Danielle tremendously and she wanted to help in any way she could.

Not one to let the grass grow under her feet, Danielle sourced various activities and eventually decided on the Tandem Skydive. The nearest centre to Youghal is in Kilkenny, and she immediately made contact with them and set the entire fundraiser in motion.
Somebody once said that ‘only Skydivers know why the birds sing’. Last Saturday morning (April 30th 2011) Danielle Keniry traveled with her parents to Kilkenny where, at 9.30am, she made that leap of faith, where she surely hear the birds sing for Jack and Jill.

ANTHONY SUMMERS resides in the Youghal area. A bestselling writer, television producer, and journalist, Anthony was educated in English Literature at Oxford University. He worked for Granada TV’s ‘World in Action’ programme, and later as a journalist for the British Broadcasting Corporation. His television work included documentary specials on the culture of Vietnam, the Palestinians and the fate of Russia’s last imperial family, the Romanovs.

The Youghal branch of Albrin were delighted when their invitation to this well know author to talk at their March meeting was accepted by Anthony, and a large attendance in the Red Store was testament to his popularity as a person and his in depth, fully researched writings.

Anthony told The East Cork Journal that he loves living in the beautiful surroundings of East Cork, where several of his novels were written, and was glad to be asked to speak at the Albrin meeting where, he said, he never once looked at his notes!

Spring may just be coming to an end, but it is hoped that Summer(s) will be with us for a long, long time.

Report: Denise FitzGerald – Graphic: Youghalonline

 

AILBRIN SOCIETY YOUGHAL APRIL MEETING 2011

The Ailbrin Society presents an illustrated talk by Frances McCarthy on Blackrock Castle Observatory and the various programmes undertaken there. Blackrock Castle is one of Cork’s best known landmarks. In 2007 a state of the art observatory and educational facility was opened there. A team of astronomical researchers from CIT are working on Ireland’s first robotic observatory, the Planet Search, as well as projects such as a Deep Space Live Webcam, Comet Chaser and most intriguing – Movies by Moonlight. Frances will be discussing these and other interesting facts on Wednesday 20th April at 8.30 p.m. in the Red Store, North Main Street, Youghal. Admission: members free, non-members 5E. New members always welcome.

On Saturday 12th February 2011 at 1pm, the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary will be releasing Sammy our famous seal on Youghal Beach (in front of the old rifle range) Youghal, Cork.

Sammy was reported to us back in November by the Youghal Coast Guard team. Sammy was still a white coat when she was found and appeared to have been abandoned on Youghal Beach. The coast guard team were a great help acting quickly and informing us of Sammy’s distress. They then worked hard to keep Sammy as calm as possible whilst we began our journey from Dingle to rescue her. Sammy was tube fed rehydration salts on the beach and every two hours on the long drive home. She eventually arrived at the sanctuary where we started her rehabilitation, she progressed quickly at the sanctuary and began feeding on her own very soon after she arrived. She came in with minor injuries to her fore flippers, which were treated and recovered well, however Sammy contracted Seal pox and it was necessary to quarantine her for a period of four weeks until the pox (a self limiting disease) healed.  She was then moved up to the larger pools where she bloomed and interacted well with the other pups. Despite having a slight pigmentation defect in her eye she is now in great health and is at an ideal weight for her release.

For further information contact the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary at 066 9151750, Becky 085 8343992 or Sarah at 086 2666770.

For more information on the Irish Seal Sanctuary visit www.irishsealsanctuary.ie. You can also check out the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary, on www.dinglesanctuary.com or join both of us on Facebook!

Youghal’s wildlife (as against wild life lovers)will be happy to note that Sammy the seal is doing very well. The young female pup was rescued through the efforts of Mrs Michael Mangan and the coastguard services a m onth ago, having been found marooned and apparently abandoned near Redbarn beach. She was subsequently transported to Dingle by volunteers from the Kerry town’s seal sanctuary service. By Christy Parker Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Seal attendant Sarah Martin says Sammy is progressing wonderfully, having progressed from kennel care through swim-learning personal bath, onto a larger, communal pool. “She shares the pool with another female pup and two males and is very happy,” says Sarah. By all accounts, Sammy is growing into a quiet, demure type of lady seal, reflective of her Youghal roots of course. “They each have their own personalities and Sammy is of the quiet sort,” Sarah informs. She is abetted by a daily diet of a dozen or so herrings or mackerel, which is presumably less representative of Youghal girls. “She weighs about 20 kg’s now and needs to double that before being released into the sea. It should take about another six weeks.

SEAL RESCUE INFORMATION

What to do if you find a seal on the beach…

1. DO NOT PUT THE SEAL BACK IN THE WATER!!!

Intuitively it feels like the right thing to do but there is a reason the seal is on land. If the seal is old and healthy enough, it will go back in the water on its own. If not, then putting it into the water may kill it.

If the seal you found is in Kerry or Cork, call the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary 066 9151750. If the seal is in any other county in Ireland call the Irish Seal Sanctuary main office in Courtown, Wexford 053 942 4980

2. Please Give the Following Details:

- A contact name and number

- A detailed description of where the seal is located

- As many details about the size and condition of the seal as possible

3. While we work with you to decide whether this seal needs rescuing, you must:

- Observe from a distance.

- Create a safe zone around the seal ensuring no other people or loose dogs can interfere with it.

Not every seal pup found on a beach is in distress and in need of rescue.

Seals give birth to their pups on land and grey seals will stay on land for at least 3 weeks. Mothers may also leave their pups for short periods of time.

Watch out for tagged seals!

The Irish Seal Sanctuary would like anyone who sees a seal with an orange or yellow tag in one of its hind flippers to let them know. All the tags have a letter and number on them (A4), and a contact address on the underside.

After more than twenty years rehabilitating Irish seals and releasing them back into the wild the Seal Sanctuary would like to find out what becomes of these animals once released.

The tagging programme will allow many questions to be answered.

- Do these rescued seals live as long as their wild relatives?

- Are these hand-reared pups more likely to become “problem” seals?

- Are they the ones more likely to interact with people in our local harbours?

- Do they stay in the area where they are released? Or do they travel long distances.

This year the Irish Seal Sanctuary rescued a Grey Seal pup which had been tagged in Wales.

Tags are usually often only reported when the dead animal is found, but the tags the Seal Sanctuary is now using can be read from a distance. So if you do see a seal anywhere with a tag in a hind flipper please try to note:

1.The tag number,

2.Colour of the tag,

3.Which flipper the tag was in.

Common seals are tagged with a (yellow) tag, and grey seals with an (orange) tag. Any information about the condition of the seal would be a great help: was it looking and acting normally? Did it look sick? If dead, did it have any obvious injuries?

If you can get a digital photo of the seal it would be greatly appreciated.

Please forward any information to nicola_dutymanager@irishsealsanctuary.ie  or jwoodlock@eircom.net.

1. DO NOT PUT THE SEAL BACK IN THE WATER!!!

Intuitively it feels like the right thing to do but there is a reason the seal is on land. If the seal is old and healthy enough, it will go back in the water on its own. If not, then putting it into the water may kill it.

If the seal you found is in Kerry or Cork, call the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary 066 9151750. If the seal is in any other county in Ireland call the Irish Seal Sanctuary main office in Courtown, Wexford 053 942 4980

2. Please Give the Following Details:

- A contact name and number

- A detailed description of where the seal is located

- As many details about the size and condition of the seal as possible

3. While we work with you to decide whether this seal needs rescuing, you must:

- Observe from a distance.

- Create a safe zone around the seal ensuring no other people or loose dogs can interfere with it.

Not every seal pup found on a beach is in distress and in need of rescue.

Seals give birth to their pups on land and grey seals will stay on land for at least 3 weeks. Mothers may also leave their pups for short periods of time.

SEAL RESCUE INFORMATION

What to do if you find a seal on the beach…

09/11/10

Sponsors of the Irish Seal Sanctuary

Other Important messageS from the Irish Seal Sanctuary

Dingle Wildlife & Seal Sanctuary, Emlagh, Dingle, Co Kerry
Tel.: +35366 9151750 Email: info@dinglesanctuary.com or join us on Facebook!

A three week old grey seal is recuperating in Kerry after being rescued on a Youghal beach last week. Mary Mangan, from Knockaverry was alerted to the creature by her terrier Doc while walking between Redbarn and Pilmore. Mary contacted the Youghal Coastguard who quickly responded in the persons of officer-in-charge Michael Lee and crew members Pat McCarthy, Fiona Watson, Janette Hickey, Tony Kelly and Kieran Kavanagh.Report Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com | email: news@youghalonline.com

The coastguard crew threw a blanket over the disgruntled young lady’s head (the seal’s that is!) before bundling her into a fish box. Acquiring advice on what to do next proved problematic until the Marine Rescue Co-ordinating Service in Dublin advised them to contact the Dingle Seal Rescue Sanctuary, who promptly dispatched two young ladies of their own to retrieve the seal.

Adorable

Meanwhile the pup was brought to the South Abbey Coastguard station. Cloaked in nature’s protective white fur, she quickly sparked the kind of adoring welcome for which any government minister would gladly eat a crate of raw fish nowadays. Locals dropped by and children from nearby BunScoil Mhuire filed adoringly past the fish box as if some X-Factor starlet was in residence. Occasionally an unworthy adult would touch the sleek fur, instantly bringing snappy defiance as the grumpy guest tried to remove their fingers.

The star from the sea passed some hours of quiet repose in the locked station before being re-roused to the capable, cheerful presence of Sarah Martin and Kate Hall from the Dingle sanctuary. Amidst her first experience of electric bulbs, she was flopped ingloriously onto a blanket before receiving some rehydrating medicine. She was christened Sammy by a visiting young boy and found to weigh a healthy 25 kgs (60lbs) before being carted off in a comfortable crate to Kerry.

Kerry care

Sammy’s arrival will please another seal in the sanctuary who, prior to Sammy’s encounter with Mary Mangan’s dog, was the only Corkonian amongst a sanctuary of seven Kerry pups, most of them washed up, so to speak, from the Blaskets. As the world knows, two Cork girls simultaneously gathered usually amounts to a takeover.

The rescued pup is now quartered in a personal kennel equipped with such mod cons as blankets and heat lamps.. “She’s on a fish soup diet for a few weeks until ready for raw fish,” says Sarah. “She’ll be put in a bath to learn to swim and later into a big pool. Once she weighs about 45 kg, in a month or so, we’ll release her back in Youghal.”

According to Sarah and Kate, seals of Sammy’s age cannot yet swim and she may have been abandoned or simply washed ashore in a storm. Seal mothers stop feeding their offspring at about three weeks, shortly before they shed their white fur. By then they have ample body fat to survive a few weeks, before learning to swim and fend for themselves. On a public beach this process could be curtailed by predators.  Sammy was lucky the Doc, (himself once an abandoned pup) got there first.

Her many fans await. See www.dinglesanctuary.com.

One of east Cork and Ireland’s most beloved craft industries has been given a new lease of life with the sale of Stephen Pearce’s pottery and emporium centre. Youghal’s Jack O’Patsy Pottery (under the special purpose title of Hassium Ltd.), has acquired the 5,000sq ft manufacturing base, while the 12,000ft emporium has been bought by top Irish craft retailers, the Kilkenny Group. Report: Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email news@youghalonline.com

Established in 1953, Stephen Pearce’s Pottery entered examinership in October 2008 and entered receivership under KPMG four months later. Jack O’Patsy owner Pat Collins reveals that a combination of high quality facilities and the region’s established tradition of pottery making” had spurred his interest in the manufacturing centre. He says he hopes to commence trading within two weeks and to “create 11 jobs within two months, rising to 25 over two to three years.”

Further job creation can be expected on the Kilkenny side of the fence. The retail group says its plans for the two-storey emporium will be announced in the coming weeks, “once existing staff and tenants have been notified of intent.” It is hoped however, that the company will bring their full craft range, including ceramics, fashion, jewellery, etc., to market. Synonymous with promoting Irish design and quality Irish craftsmanship, the Kilkenny Group is 100% Irish-owned and trades across seven retail outlets and one restaurant in Ireland. It caters for the domestic and tourist trade under the retailing under the retail brands, ‘Kilkenny’ and ‘Christy’s’. Despite the economic downturn, the group expanded further over the past year, adding fashion to its stores in Cork city and Cashel.

When Jack met Stephen

Meanwhile, the development enhances the remarkable resurgence of Jack O’Patsy, which Pat Collins re-opened last September, following a six-year closure. The Youghal base currently employs five workers, three of them in manufacture, but under a gradual expansion scheme, he hopes to double that in the coming year.

As the new year gathers pace, the Youghal operation has forged a dual purpose with its Shanagarry neighbour. Pat believes ‘gradual development’ is the key to sustainable growth and is confident of doing so at both plants. While “the majority of sales would service the home demand, we will be keeping a very close eye on the foreign markets too, especially the American seaboard, through mail order and catalogues particularly,” the 47 year-old proprietor elaborates.

Methods and ranges, old and new

Reclaiming and consolidation old markets while searching for new footholds, defines a resolute and imaginative approach being undertaken by the former electrician-turned-pot maker. The way forward may lie in reverse: “I think the trend towards mechanisation in recent years has been retrograde,” he suggests. “It sacrifices some of the unique and individual characteristics that made the wares popular in the first place. So we would plan to concentrate more on the basics of hand thrown wares, employing potters rather than machines.”

In terms of what the human hand can be expected to create, “the traditional Jack O’Patsy and Badger Hill (the Wexford brand that Jack O’Patsy purchased in 1997) will remain crucial to our initial production,” he explains. Unlike the traditional Stephen Pearce terracotta range, these are stoneware products that be fired at 1,260 degrees and of a tough quality suitable for modern kitchen appliances. “Add in Celtic designs and you further enhance their marketable attraction,” says Pat.

While updating and re-invigorating the popular, basic products, he also hopes to develop a high-firing terracotta clay, equally suitable for repetitive rigours of the microwave/dishwasher/oven, with obvious potential to outshine rivals in the terracotta market. Additionally, Shanagarry’s large production facilities “suggests we can develop reduction gas fired pottery with the potential for stunning effects in vibrant colours and copper reds,” adds the businessman.

His belief in the ‘individuality’ of his products is further emphasised in his commitment to innovative designs. “We’ve been working on developing high quality, hand painted pottery, reflecting Irish historical and mythological themes, as well as local and national landscapes and seascapes,” he enthuses. “For example, we are doing a range of Irish lighthouses painted by local artists, another range of historical and local scenes and scenes of Irish interest generally. This type of thing is not common in the market and I think such value added products have great potential at home and amongst the Irish diaspora abroad.”

Not satisfied with merely making pottery, Pat Collins intends teaching other people to do so as well. “We have definite plans to start run pottery courses in the coming months,” he insists. “I’ve been encouraged by the from floating the idea to our clients in Youghal, “he adds. “In fact I’ve been very encouraged by the enthusiasm for our products generally since re-opening in Youghal and I want to thank everyone for that support. I think there is great goodwill at present for local produce, perhaps moreso in hard times. And what can be more indigenous than the native soil?!” Only native ideas, one supposes…

C.R.Y. is a busy, successful and necessary source of entertainment and information for the people of Youghal and East Cork.   From its formation, the Radio Station has gone from strength to strength, and whilst most of the work is done by volunteers, the time has more than arrived when a Station Manager is necessary to improve and extend the scope and efficiency of C.R.Y. Denise FitzGerald Reports/Photo Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Declan Gibbons, a Kilkenny man, saw the advertisement for C.R.Y. on CRAOL website, which is a network for community radio stations.   He was immediately interested and promptly applied for the position.   After interviews, meetings and more interviews, Declan was offered the position which he was delighted to accept.

The East Cork Journal spoke with Declan and asked him how he felt about the relocation from Kilkenny to Youghal.   Declan replied that he and his wife, Christina, know Youghal quite well and have some friends in the area.   This, however, was not the only reason for his interest – in fact, Declan is a total radio buff – with a passion for anything which is broadcast.   Even though he is, as he terms it, a small farmer In Kilkenny (if such a thing as a small farmer exists!), his life revolves around radio and all it represents.   He was involved from 1994 for many years as a volunteer with Radio Kilkenny and enjoyed it immensely.   His forte was sports and current affairs broadcasting, but all aspects of radio interested Declan.   From 1997 to 2000 Declan was the main sports presenter with Radio Kilkenny.    From 2000 to 2004 he was involved with CKR – Carlow Kildare Radio.   He was also head of sport at KCLR 96fm.   Around that time, Declan was approached with a view to setting up a temporary Radio Kilkenny station as only a temporary licence was available at that time.  He was responsible for all aspects of setting up the Station, and such was the success of the temporary station that seventy volunteers came on board, all keen to make a go of it.   Declan told the East Cork Journal that application has now been made for a full licence, and Radio Kilkenny is hoping to go on the airwaves as soon as this is granted, a fact of which Declan is particularly proud.

When asked of his plans with regard to C.R.Y., Declan was very enthusiastic and excited about the challenges ahead of him.  His first step, he said, is to meet with as many people and organisations as possible in the Youghal and surrounding areas to find out what they want from C.R.Y.   He sees the Station as an essential part of people’s lives, and he is determined to achieve this.   All the ingredients are there, and Declan is determined to make a positive and permanent impact on the listening pleasures of all who tune in.   With such enthusiasm and determination, we have no doubt that he will succeed.

Listen to CRY on 104fm or visit their website on www.youghalradio.com- also click on link at the top of this page for direct feed to CRY radio broadcast.