The AGM will be held on Wednesday 8th February 2012 at 8 p.m in the Red Store, Youghal. Everyone, every group and every society is invited to come along and make a contribution if they wish.

After almost one year in existence Youghal Concerned Citizens Group are gearing up for another successful year ahead. In just 12 months the group organised 4 festivals in Youghal including a Mackerel festival, a Teddy Bears picnic, a Halloween festival and the Dickens themed Christmas which brought great colour to the town.

The upcoming Moby Dick festival will take place on 16th March and plans are very advanced for this, according to Ruth Vance-Lee group PRO. The highlight of the festival will be a live debate which will be broadcast to American schools and Universities (who still study the novel, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, as part of their school curriculum).

Other achievements of the group during its inaugural year were clean ups of the quay area and Mall beach,a meet and greet campaign which saw locals give of their time to meet tour buses and provide tourists on the street with any information required. Thanks to the kindess of local musicians and dancers, busy days when lots of buses visited Youghal saw the provision of entertainment and activity which is crucial in attracting further bus visits. The YCC Group also highlighted the issue of dog litter in Youghal and in conjunction with Youghal Town Council, an informational campaign as well as the provision of free dog litter bags around town was put in place. We continue to pursue this item.

The closure of the Diving Rocks was high on the agenda for 2011 and we lobbied hard to ensure the area would be re-opened. Having submitted a proposal that would have seen a volunteer builder carry out the works, we are delighted that Youghal Town Council have allocated money towards re-opening the area by this April.

We have also been busy in getting empty shop windows around town decorated. The windows of Merrick’s are a prime example of this type of work.

What happens next is the question that will be asked at the AGM. Members of the public are invited to bring along any ideas they might have on how Youghal can better itself for both residents and businesses alike. Ruth Vance-Lee of the Committee said, “The group was set up as an all-inclusive group with one goal i.e. bringing Youghal’s future to the people of Youghal. It is only right that Youghal’s people be given the voice to decide where the group’s future lies.” One of the considerations for the AGM is a name change. The committee feel that Youghal Concerned Citizens is too inward looking now and that the Group has outgrown the name. Jimmy Flanagan, chair of the group stated “Now we have given Youghal back to the people of Youghal it is time we gave Youghal to the outside world. We feel ‘Youghal 4 All’, better fits this
goal”.

The AGM will be held on Wednesday 8th February 2012 at 8 p.m in the Red Store, Youghal. Everyone, every group and every society is invited to come along and make a contribution if they wish.

When Adrian and John Healy started Abbeyseafood in June 2011, they thought they would find themselves splashing around for the first few months, but thanks to a warm welcome from the people of Youghal, they didn’t feel like a fish out of water, instead the brothers have used Youghal as a cornerstone for their seafood selling business.

As 2012 approaches, the brothers have taken a moment to reflect on what 2011 has brought to them.  Aidie commented ‘We started the year on the wrong side of the unemployment line, and it looked like things were not going to get any better.  Then we decided to get a loan and start up our own business, and using our experience to help us.  Both myself and John fished for a good number of years and so we had the knowledge base already there also, I love eating fish and am always ready to try a new recipe.  We chose Youghal as it was close to home and we had a lot of family here but being honest, we couldn’t have hoped for a better reception.’

The business has achieved a new level of growth and has expanded to different towns, but finds that the welcome from the people of Youghal on a Saturday is by far the best around.  Abbeyseafood pride themselves on selling fresh fish at competitive prices, and with Dolan’s fruit and vegetable stall beside them, they are the ideal combination.  But it doesn’t stop there; the offering from Abbey Seafood goes far beyond the usual of simply selling seafood.  The brothers are on hand with recipe tips and if that still isn’t enough then they will give you a recipe to take home with you.

John said ‘we came to Dolphin Square with an idea in mind, and that idea has grown steadily throughout the year and it is thanks to the people of Youghal, who have not only been customers, but have also been supporters of our business.  We were delighted by the coverage that we received from Youghal Online and from C.R.Y. FM, we certainly couldn’t have done it without that type of support.’

So as the new year dawns and Abbey Seafood look forward to spending another year with the people of Youghal, there are changes afoot, in the form of their new and improved website www.abbeyseafood.ie.  Full of recipe ideas and some funny images to put a smile on your face; why not give it a look.

Best of luck for 2012!

 

Dickens’s Discount Days – Find fantastic bargains in Youghal this Thursday 22nd December 2011.

Dickens’s Discount Days – Find fantastic bargains in Youghal next Thursday 8th and every Thursday ‘till Christmas. Enjoy Dickens’s storytelling for children at North Main Street. 11:30-12:30 on the 8th.

Santa – “A time for giving..” This year, Santa is taking presents from children to help those in need. Children are asked to bring their unused toys and letters to Santa at 70 North Main Street (Formerly Poppy’s). Don’t forget your camera! Sat10th + 17th 3-4.30 Mickey and Minnie Mouse will also pay a visit.

Carol Singing – The joyful sounds of over 10 choirs and carol singers will fill the streets of Youghal

Enjoy tasters of mulled wine and traditional Christmas food 8th December, 11am at Post office and 3-4:30pm at Rivergate Mall on Saturdays from 10th December,

Alvin & the Chipmunks – Join Alvin and the Chipmunks for some fantastic fun at the Red Store. on Sunday 11th

Art galleries will host wine receptions and music will fill the air every Thursday till Christmas.

BIM, the Irish fisheries board, is helping a company develop a new range of long life crab products.

Yawl Bay Seafoods Ltd, a family run seafood company based in Youghal, Co. Cork, has just launched its new range of crab products. Due to the innovative vacuum packaging developed with assistance from BIM, the distinctively delicate, sweet taste of Yawl Bay Seafood’s cooked crab is claimed to be as good after a fortnight as it is on the day it’s landed, making it a fantastically useful range for professional chefs and home cooks alike.

Yawl Bay Seafood’s new quality cooked crab products – 100g vacuum packed packages of crab toes and crabmeat – have been created by David Browne, the second generation of this family business, who has been working on the range for the past three years. David started trialling the new products 18 months ago, under the guidance of Dr Susan Steele and John Fagan at the Cork based Seafood Development Company.(SDC)

The SDC offers the facility to research, develop and pilot new products before companies commit to full commercialisation and capital investment costs. Dr. Susan Steele, BIM’s Seafood Innovation Coordinator explains how BIM assisted in the product development

She said: “We thoroughly enjoyed working with David on this unique product. This product appears simple but it took over nine months of constant trial and error to get it right so the development path was far from simple. The quality of the crab used in this product is second to none. Luxury products are not usually associated with a long shelf-life but this product has broken the mould. I have no doubt that David and his team will be inundated with orders from top restaurants and retailers as a result’

David Browne of Yawl Bay Seafood said: “For 25 years we have focused on producing premium quality seafood products, with our own smoked salmon being the backbone of our business. Six years ago we opened our factory outlet which serves only the freshest fish landed at local ports and now we have this exciting new range of cooked crab. We have had terrific support from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Enterprise Ireland, and with the added help from the South Cork Enterprise Board we have updated our premises to enable us to bring this product to market, creating one full-time and six part-time jobs.”

Dickensian Christmas and concerns over traffic warden, Mall lane and tourist office discussed.
By Christy Parker

Due to renovation works within, the latest meeting of the Youghal Concerned Citizens group was held in the chilly courtyard, patio, fridge, call it what you will, of the Red Store on Thursday November 3rd. In the absence of Jim Flanagan, Kay Curtin chaired the meeting, with Secretary Adrian Hyde and Treasurer/PRO Ruth Vance also in attendance.

Money:

The treasurer reported €1,272 in the credit union, with outstanding bills of €307, while approximately €1,084 had been raised on Halloween night. Expenditure for the Halloween festival was approximately €1,000.

Thanks:

It was agreed that the festival had been a success and well supported by the townspeople. The secretary welcomed the co-operation with various other local organisations throughout the festival. “Co-operation like that is central to what we have tried to promote from the first day,” he said, “and hopefully it will continue through more projects in the aim to make Youghal a better and more prosperous place in which to live.” Mr. Hyde then recited a lengthy list of names, all of whom were accredited with actively supporting and participating in various and meaningful ways the Halloween Festival and which I am not going to repeat here as I want to get to bed before next Friday at least!

Dickens Theme Christmas:

Barely has the lid closed on the Halloween coffin than the group is addressing the challenge of Christmas. It is hoped to promote a festive season to reflect somewhat a Charles Dickens-type story -what one might call an old-fashioned Christmas, even if the snow may not turn up- starting from December 8th, the traditional commencement date for the season.

Ideas on how to promote this concept are being sought, while some initiatives have already been accepted. These include window adornments and effects, as was embraced by many traders in the Halloween version. The traders themselves may also adopt some yuletide costumes as shall street volunteers.

Local music and singing groups are being contacted with a view particularly, to providing street carol singing. Storytelling (Charles Dickens) is planned for the library on three Saturdays in December. It is hoped to get children involved in a broader sense, possibly through the schools. It was stressed that nothing has been confirmed and meetings were in the offing. Mr Hyde reminded that the Christmas project would again reflect the YCC’s ethos of promoting Youghal through food, family and history/heritage marketing concepts.

Committee member Lil Dann said that an initiative alongside the St., Vincent de Paul, would see a vacant property being opened for one day, a Santa Clause installed and children invited to give him toys and presents that they didn’t want. These would then be passed on to children who would value them. This would give the children a ‘sense of giving.’

Any Other Business:

The secretary delivered a summary from a recent meeting between the group and town clerk Liam Ryan at which the council official updated them of on-going developments in the town. These included:

Wind turbine at Aura Leisure Centre: Public submissions are still being taken on this project. Some of those present expressed reservation s to the size and scale of the proposed turbine, particularly from a visual impact perspective. The argument in favour seemed to be that it would reduce running costs in powering heating and lighting at the centre.

The visit of Labour Deputy Sean Sherlock to Youghal:

Contractors appointed for remedial work on the Town Walls at top of Jail Steps at a cost of €46,500.

Contractors appointed to undertake first (Youghal Town Council) section of front strand boardwalk, costing €277,000, of which Fáilte Ireland is providing 75%.

Contractors appointed to conduct roof repairs at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church.

Contractors undertaking re-paving of Mall Lane: Considerable discontent was expressed amongst the attendance that the lane seems set to remain closed until the end of January. The perception is that this is due to a break in funding provision between November and January. There were reports of motorists/shoppers already bypassing the town centre and proceeding towards the strand rather than circumnavigate the grotto area. It did not habour well for Christmas. Amidst calls for Water Lane to be temporarily (at least) open to traffic, Cllr Tara O’Connell offered to contact the town hall the next morning with regard to raising the issue as soon as possible at council level. It was also agreed to contact Mayor Eoin Coyne on the matter. Secretary Adrian Hyde wondered whether it was possible for the council to acquire a loan on foot of the impending funding in January. Nobody knew.

The Litter/Traffic Warden:

The irritation from the Mall Lane closure was closely matched by the “havoc” allegedly being caused by the (un-named) traffic warden presently on duty. “He is plastering tickets on cars. He just won’t give people two seconds to go into a chemist’s,” pleaded one complainant. “It’s outrageous.” It was reported that the town clerk had agreed to meet some concerned traders on the issue on a date that was unknown. Again, fears were expressed as to the consequences for the local economy in the lead-up to Christmas.

Playground Check-ups: A survey had been conducted and wear-and-tear repairs would cost €3,000.

Marketing Group Report:

Treasure and PRO Ruth Vance said ‘Youghal ambassador’ training classes would commence for three weeks from Tuesday January 17th. These ‘trainees’ comprise volunteers –of which there 20 so far- who will greet tour buses and perform other tourism-related  function next season. Amongst those tutoring the personnel on what Youghal has to offer will be Dan Noonan, Kieron Groeger, Margaret Gowen and a Fáilte Ireland representative.  Shopkeepers and staff were amongst volunteers thus far interested while it was hoped that many more will also come forward.

Tour buses 2012:

The PRO said the YCC had been consulting with tour companies and traders as to what they required and could provide, respectively, for the 2012 summer. They had met with Port of Cork representatives but at the same meeting the Youghal Chamber of Commerce had proposed a package, “So we have out ours on hold for a while,” she explained, “and we may liaise with them in due course.” She proceeded that the Port’s tour proposals envisaged a 90 minute stopover in Youghal, with longer stays a possibility if music or similar cultural experiences are provided. Two areas of particular tourist demand had been identified; i) heritage and historical tours and ii) ‘niche’ interests such as craft works, angling, bird watching etc.  A handbook to this end was being produced in both cases. Meanwhile Norman McDonald and Willie O’Mahoney were working on a short promotional Youghal DVD for tour companies etc.

Tourist office:

The discussion then centred to the tourist office. It was claimed that tourists have, on many occasions, expressed disquiet at the dearth of English-fluent counter staff with local knowledge on the counter.  “It’s nothing personal against the girls there but they need a local alongside them,” said one voice. There was a story recalled of two Australians who allegedly found “no interest” in the tourist office when they sought information on tracing their roots. Fortunately a local had brought them into the library by way of assistance but their earlier experience had greatly disappointed.

It was voiced that many student or retired locals would be delighted to lend voluntary assistance alongside the foreign staff at the tourist office. After some discussion it was agreed to communicate the concerns to the Youghal Chamber with the diplomatic understanding that nobody was trying to tell that organisation what to do. “We’re all working towards improving Youghal and we have a duty to inform them of what tourists tell us,” surmised one speaker from the floor.

Ms Vance informed that the YSEDG was updating the youghal.ie website and was eager to acquire old photos of Youghal for same. “They need to be postcard (800mm by 300mm,”said the PRO.

The meeting concluded with congratulations to Cllr Tara O’Connell on her co-opting to the town council. She promised her commitment towards assisting the group in times ahead.

YOUGHAL CONCERNED CITIZENS MEETING OCTOBER 2011
By Christy Parker | Photo: Will McGoldrick | Graphic: YOL

Some confusion persisted amongst the Youghal Concerned Citizens group regarding remedial work to facilitate the re-opening of the Diving Rocks on the Lighthouse Hill. The meeting was informed by chairman Jimmy Flanagan that builder Gerry Dennehy, who had volunteered to undertake the work to Cork County Council specification –subject to the necessary materials also being provided- had secured the necessary insurance cover to undertake the task.

However Youghal Town Council’s September meeting heard that Cork County Council was in the process of securing the estimated €21,000 to conduct through tender. This appraisal was delivered at a time when Mr. Dennehy’s insurance cover had not been secured.

Some discussion ensued across several points; whether it was still relevant that the YCC volunteer had acquired insurance cover, what time projection the county council held as regards undertaking the project and even if voluntary work on such a scale remained practical and acceptable in the eyes of statutory authorities these days. One argument suggested thanking Mr Dennehy for his offer and leaving the work to the county council’s process. Another line of thought proposed contacting the town clerk for clarification and this was agreed.

Limited company

Further debate was conducted on the merits of assuming limited company status and of registering a trademark. Chairman Jimmy Flanagan said inquiries had revealed that the move would provide some protection to the group for large events such as an enhance mackerel festival, but not as much as had been hoped. The issue of using a trademark for marketing purposes also brought conflicting opinions, while caution was expressed about transforming what is effectively an all-embracing community group into a company, even if only for the sake of asset protection and marketing. Secretary Adrian Hyde said the issues of financial liability and matters like insurance cover were being confused. It was opted to invite expert opinion to the next meeting to clarify the situation in all its aspects.

No allotments

The question of allotments was briefly discussed, with confirmation that the town council had informed the group that there were no allotment spaces currently available in the town. From the floor and as point of information, it was stated that a group that had sought allotments had acquired €1,800 grant from Cork County Council. Youghal Comhaltas had provided some limited space so they could acquire experience but, having to “travel 10 miles out of town” to find a suitable patch, the group was now fading.

Treasury, BEAG and Marketing,

The group’s finances stand at €1,082, following €309 spent on insurance and €1,800 funding from Youghal Credit Union towards the upcoming Halloween festival.

A letter from the Blackwater Estuary Action Group (BEAG) opposed to the treatment of hazardous waste at Eras Eco, was read to the meeting. The letter explained that BEAG was continuing its campaign behind the scenes, with on-going contact with Bord Pleanála and with the EPA on issues relevant to licensing and the company’s Environmental Impact Statement. It noted that Eras Eco Ltd had not yet applied for its licence renewal. BEAG had also entertained a presentation of the Aqua Critox technology intended to treat the hazardous waste and had been in touch with SCFI, the manufacturing the technology are awaiting a visit to the company’s base in Ringaskiddy to further investigate the technology. Posters and petitions were on-going and it was hoped to amass 10,000 signatures opposing the plant’s plans. In due course another public meeting and possibly a street protest would ensue.

Marketing was next on the agenda. It was accepted that the summer’s ‘meet and greet’ initiative aimed at tour bus companies had been a great success. More tour busses had visited Youghal as a result and many others had stayed longer, with passengers making their way onto the town’s streets. It had been a late-nurtured idea and plans for next summer were now in progress to progress it further and hopefully to establish Youghal firmly as a stopping point for the tour companies. The YCC marketing section intended to compile video and brochure presentation for tour buses, while also providing training programmes for those who will greet the arrivals, of which there are currently about 20 volunteers.

Other marketing suggestions included targeting the Youghal diaspora (preceding a similar initiative mooted by the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin a day later!). It was agreed to seek a meeting with the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group ( YSDDG) to contemplate a co-ordinated approach.

Halloween festival

Preparations for the upcoming inaugural ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ are at an advanced stage, the meeting heard, with flyers and posters going to print the following day. The secretary said the feedback from the public and business community was thus far very positive. “Any clubs or individuals participating in fancy dress –child or adult would be most welcome and add to the occasion and to participate in the 3 pm parade on Saturday October 29th.

The packed schedule, covering three days, would include a headless horseman riding down the main street, presentation on the Witch of Youghal, a witch trail, treasure hunts, pumpkin competitions, storytelling, fortune tellers and even a display of torture machines in Barry’s Lane. Many other attractions and novel activities would be included in what was described as “a unique and big selling point” for the town.

Treasurer Ruth Lee asked that volunteers for the YCC collection day on Friday October 28th. Anyone who can donate eve an hour of their time can contact the secretary on 024-91355. The next meeting of the YCC will take place on Thursday November 3rd in the Red Store at 7.30 pm.

YOUGHAL FISHERMAN KEVIN MURPHY got a monster surprise when he found a giant lobster amongst his catch while ray fishing two miles north of Capel Island. “He weighed 11 lbs and was over 30 inches long,” says Kevin. The average lobster measures about a foot and weighs approximately 2 lbs.

Ageing a lobster is a delicate and indefinite science but experts gauge that the creatures’ size increases by about 15% each time they moult. A young lobster (5-7 years) moults about 25 times a year and adult once or twice per annum. Older lobsters moult only every 3-4 years. By this criterion, Kevin estimates his catch is “probably about 80 years old” –or about 33 years older than the fisherman himself!

It was the third time in 15 months that the father of three has netted an unusual lobster aboard his boat Sea Lion. In June 2010 he landed a massive 20 year-old, white female weighing 10 lb. Last March he brought ashore a 10½ lb crustacean again stretching almost 30 inches. All belong to the European lobster class –scientifically called homarus gammarus.

As previously, Kevin intended to return his rare recruit to the sea after finalising photographic proof. However, Aherne’s seafood restaurant asked to display the creature –whom they christened Jimmy- for a day to in their foyer. It was then decided to offer Jimmy a new lifestyle free from the risk of fishing nets. Dingle aquarium declined to offer permanent accommodation but Lahinch Seaworld was “absolutely delighted” to be offer lodgings to the lobster and Jimmy was transported to his new accommodation last Saturday.

The Guinness Book of Records says the largest lobster ever caught was found in Nova Scotia in 1934, measuring 3.51 feet and weighed 44.4 lbs. With the help of Clare hospitality, who is to say young Jimmy won’t yet get this pincers on the title?

Tidy Towns Presentation Dominates Proceedings At Youghal Concerned Citizens September Meeting – By Christy Parker

A small attendance was apparent at Youghal Concerned Citizens meeting in the Red Store on September 1st. Much of the group’s work is quietly undertaken in private mode but nonetheless Chairman Jim Flanagan expressed a wish to see more people attend the public forums, in the interests of bringing forward and promoting ideas for consideration.

Matters soon turned to the treasurer’s report which in short reported a sum of €280 collected during the mackerel mini-food fest, plus €70 already standing to give a total €250. However, there’s an outstanding bill of €204 to be met….

Mr Flanagan welcomed President of the Tidy Towns Ned Brennan and congratulated him and his committee on Youghal’s sixth place in Ireland in the recent IBAL Tidy Town’s contest.  Mr. Brennan delivered a power-point presentation on the committee’s work, past, present and future to the room. The address, followed by some exchanges of views and information, would provide the mainstay of the evening.

Former town clerk Mr. Brennan said Tidy Town competitions are judged under eight categories, of which Youghal’s main challenge at present concerns roads, the back street and associated areas.

Achievements and obstacles

Achievements in recent times had included greater co-ordination between the Tidy Town committee and other agencies such as the town council, residents’ associations, etc. Greater litter control, enhancement of residential areas and the Lighthouse Hill, a spring planting programme, more hanging baskets (over 200 in total) and increased wildlife signboards featured amongst many other improvements that had  culminated in Youghal’s first ever national bronze award in 2010.

Obstacles to further progress were plentiful to however and included plastic signage, derelict sites, vandalism and graffiti. He said a general lack of maintenance was problematic but if everyone just dedicated half an hour a week to their own area, “the place would look immaculate.”  He added that the “slow process” in which statutory bodies acted and reacted was a further impediment. Stray dogs and associated fouling were a major problem too, especially on estates. The back street from Greens Quay to Strand Street, car parks included, were “very badly kept,” he advised.

Mr. Brennan also pointed out that littering and other anti-social activity by young people in Green Park was problematic. He advocated that reality be grasped and the park recognised as a functional amenity area. He felt that if this meant part-segregation and a designated play or sports area for teenagers, then so be it, adding that, while mobile CCTV would help, impressing on young people to take self-responsibility for unacceptable behaviour was the key to alleviating litter and vandalism problems. “They are just young people enjoying life, not total gurriers, but they need some boundaries imposed,” he reasoned.

Fines, resurfacing, gardens,

In terms of litter fine enforcement, the Tidy Town spokesman favoured a tiered approach over the present €120 blanket fine strategy. “It alienates people from the litter byelaws. I think a graded system would get better public support,” he advocated. Mr Brennan also felt that the gardai were “not really prepared to take on” litter enforcement, dog fouling included.

The speaker said he didn’t understand “why the main street, which is in relatively good condition was about to be resurfaced, while the back street, in a worse state, was not.  He assumed it was because the impending main drainage scheme would mean digging it up gain but argued that there is a main drainage point beneath the main street also. Oh dear. Norman McDonald said plans to resurface the back street were mooted as far back as the Tour de France visit in 1998!

Off the man road, he said the Tidy Towns had ended an annual gardening competition because the entrants were small and repetitive but that a similar scheme based on inter-estate competition may be launched next spring.

Buses on the ‘Champs Élysées’

The issue of parked buses and trucks on the Lighthouse Hill was raised after Mr. Brennan showed a slide of the hill without the buses, whereby the colourful hanging baskets were spectacularly visible.  He said the area was within the town council’s jurisdiction and it could have the vehicles removed without any recourse to further bye-laws or such. He added that the Tidy Towns committee had offered the council €2,000 “towards some sort of project to alleviate parking on the hill, except for tourist buses. “It is Youghal’s ‘Champs d’Elysees’ and we’ve led a six year campaign to clear it (of parked trucks and buses) but we haven’t been able to make progress,” he concluded.

Meanwhile across the road, the Tidy Towns committee had received dispensation from the town council to clean and paint the bandstand and fountain in Green Park in advance of the Franc wedding the following weekend, which would be televised nationally in January.

Future and funding

Regarding the future, the chairman said his committee could only achieve its targets through following a strategic plan. A TUAS worker was about to manage that aspect in relation to the Tidy Towns committee’s new four year strategy.  Funding was of course fundamental to success. The group had earned reward money through its various high mark achievements over the years but there was never enough to develop as one would wish. He was grateful for the town council’s annual €5,000 year grant but the recessionary times meant it had not increased over several years. Also, the embargo on public service recruitment and the council’s limited resources were impediments to progress. “We spend about €20,000 every year and we need some sort of ring fenced funding arrangement with the council,” he observed. Nonetheless they had plans to replant Market Square trees and install further basket holders at the Strand Church.

Responding to an inquiry from Norman McDonald, Mr. Brennan said Youghal Town Council hoped to take over maintenance of the Rhincrew roundabout from Waterford County Council (he didn’t specify who would pay for it) in tandem with a town council plan to pave, illuminate and generally refurbish the general Foxhole area.

That prolonged section of the meeting concluded with agreement that the YCC and the TT would liaise and co-operate where possible on future projects. “There is nobody precious here and nobody taking anyone’s jobs,” agreed Mr. Brennan.  “We all have the same objective and there is enough work involved to keep everyone busy for 100 years!”

Volunteers for brochures and buses

The meeting proceeded with an appeal for up voluntary contributions towards a written brochure for Youghal. Secretary Adrian Hyde said they were seeking accounts (500 to 1,000 words) from locals depicting their personal interest or activities in the town. Mr. Hyde said the group also needed up to 25 volunteers to devote an hour or so a week towards assisting Norman McDonald’s task of coach arrivals and offering them information literature etc.

Updating on the ‘49 steps’ long-standing renovation project, Jim Flanagan said two issues remained to be addressed. Mr Jerry Dennehy was eager to undertake the work but appropriate insurance clearance was yet to be acquired and also, the YCC were also awaiting specific instructions from Cork County Council.

Festivals and the floor

The chairman added that work was proceeding on the upcoming ‘Halloween Spooktcular’ and information leaflets would be distributed to traders on the projects. Similarly, plans for a Charles Dickens themed Christmas were evolving well, while considerations for 2012 festivals were very much underway also. He then reiterated the YCC ethos that it welcomed input from any organisation or individual in the town and equally was willing to aid and abet other group’s initiatives or events. The feedback from the community thus far in the YCC’s short life, he felt, was positive and supportive.

As the meeting concluded, Mr. Flanagan updated on a few issues: regarding vegetable allotments and said there is actually no further spaces available at present. From the floor, a b &b owner reported a major downturn in Irish visitors but a considerable increase in foreign arrivals for 2011. A second individual said holidaymakers at a prominent caravan site held a celebration day at their site but had complained that they “never know what is happening in the town.” It was agreed that efforts would be made to target that market with information literature in 2012.

It was also observed that Cork visitors on particular were very unhappy that most Bus Eireann vehicles no longer stopped at the Walter Raleigh (unless by way of parking in front of the nearby flower baskets at day’s end, one presumes!). “It’s a major complaint,” said the speaker. “We’ll contact CIE,” said Mr. Flanagan. It was suggested that the public be reminded that dog litter bags are available from many shops in the town. It was agreed that a door or window sign on the supplying premises would be beneficial but that it was a matter for individual shops.

The next Youghal Concerned Citizens Meeting is on Thursday October 6th at 7.3-pm in the Red Store North Main Street.

Youghal Gold Label Seafood Pie: This week the chefs of the town are meeting to ensure they are all using the same recipe and techniques to guarantee consistency. Recently food critiques visited the town to check out the pie for themselves and were very happy with their sampling. If anyone wants to try cooking the pie at home Youghal Bay Seafood in Foxhole are selling the various fish required in a package to make your life easier.

Bus Tours: Meeting and greeting the buses has proved very successful this summer. Increases have been seen on a number of fronts: The numbers of busses stopping has increased, the numbers of visitors coming up town has increased due to the information being provided in the meet and greet sessions and the time spent by buses in Youghal has extended. It is hoped to expand on this next season. Plans in place at present include changing the stop point for tour buses to Raheen Road so visitors can walk down through the town walls and St. Mary’s, along the Main Street and be picked up at Market Quay. At present packages are being prepared which will include food, entertainment and guided tours. A DVD is being produced to distribute to tour companies selling what is on offer. Anyone interested in making a submission is welcome to contact the group ASAP.

Festivals: The next festival planned is “Yaughaloween Spooktacular”. This will take place from Oct 28th to 31st this year.  A great family program is planned over the weekend including treasure hunt, headless horsemen, Halloween games, fancy dress parades, storytelling and pumpkin carving – check out local press for full program nearer the event. Shop keepers and bar/restaurant staff are asked to consider wearing fancy dress for the weekend

Upcoming events also include “Charles Dickens Christmas in Youghal”, and an event for Patrick’s weekend (to be announced). If you can get the message to friends and relatives outside Youghal we could have some good craic ahead.

Brochures: It is the intention of the group to produce a full colour activities booklet to show what a great destination Youghal is as a holiday base. Areas covered will be history, walking and cycling, angling, wildlife, day trips from Youghal, family activities etc. Contributions to any of these or other areas of interest are welcomed.

Citizens Award: It is planned to offer a ‘Citizen of the Year’ award this year. Nominations boxes will be placed in various shops so everyone in the town can vote.

Welcome: These events take lots of effort. Luckily we have a great team involved in YCC. However, more help is always needed; be it to meet and greet the buses, help organise an event, write on the areas of interest above or just marshal during a festival. The next public meeting will be held on Thursday October 6th in the Red Store so please come along.