A chara,

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

THE 4TH YOUGHAL ARTS NETWORK  MIDSUMMER’S GALA BALL held in the bedroom of the Walter Raleigh Hotel on Saturday 18th of June 2011 – Pics: www.youghalonline.com

One of the highlights of Youghal’s social calendar is the popular and enjoyable Youghal Arts Network Midsummer’s Gala ball. This year the Gala Ball was held in the ballroom of the Walter Raleigh Hotel where the fabulous Swingin’ Blue Cats will took to the stage to play a selection of jive, jazz and swing dance numbers to get the crowd in the mood. Everyone had a great time and this year’s Midsummer Ball proved to be the most successful and enjoyable in the new venue.

Blue Cats, Buffet and Black Ties at Youghal Arts Network Midsummer Gala Ball
By Denise FitzGerald

The 4th Youghal Arts Network Gala Midsummer Ball was held this year in the spacious ballroom of the Walter Raleigh Hotel, which was specially decorated for the occasion.   On entering, one could be persuaded into thinking they had stepped into a Viennese Waltz.   The lighting was soft and subdued, candles twinkled, tableware sparkled, and the guests were attired in formal evening wear which stunned.  Organised as a Black Tie event, the gents looked better than any James Bond movie, but the ladies were to be lauded on their magnificent evening dresses in all colours and styles which were absolutely stunning, and which gave an atmosphere of enjoyment and a fabulous ambience.

At 9pm, a superb buffet was served and background music played while the guests wined and dined.

At 10pm the mood swung when The Swinging Blue Cats 6 piece band crashed into place with their own brand of jive, jazz and swing numbers which got the crowd up and moving onto the dance floor.

Midnight brought the attention of the twinkle toes to the Auction and Raffle which took place.   The Auction included a painting by local artist, Paul Daly, of the Vermeer “Girl with Pearl Earring”, and the reserve was far exceeded as the painting was sold for a massive €175.   Superb prizes were sponsored for the Raffle, and 0 Donacha O’ Cearuill told The East Cork Journal that they were indebted to Paul Daly, local businesses and all the sponsors for their generosity to the Youghal Arts Network.  ‘Without our sponsors’, Donacha continued, ‘we would not be able to put on such a wonderful fundraising event.  All monies raised from this event each year, Donacha confirmed, are ploughed back into the local community to fund various art projects in the town for the following year”.

Not finished yet, at 12.30am Warren Tivy made his appearance on stage and continued with music to suit everyone, keeping the guests entertained until 2.30am when, very reluctantly, they finally accepted that it was time to go home ‘after the (Gala) ball was over’.

Click on image to start slideshow

Photo Captions:
Photo: 0 Donacha O’ Cearuill pictured with his daughter Aisling O’ Carroll
Photo: 1 Noel and Kimmy Barry
Photo: 2 Deirdre McCarthy and Laura Trihy
Photo: 3 Maria Moynihan and Sarah Brosnan
Photo: 4 Actress Ruth Hayes from The Chatterbox Dance Studio Youghal
and her husband John
Photo: 5 Ladies enjoying the Youghal Arts Ball
Photo: 6 Donacha O’Cearuill and Jenny Kirwan
Photo: 7 Revellers enjoying the Youghal Midsummers Annual Ball
Photo: 8 Ian Tabone and Aisling O’Carroll
Photo: 9 Luna Flor de Luna, Louise Fitzgerald, Helen and Carol Coen
Photo: 10 Joe and Stella Finn with Caroline and John Connelly
Photo: 11 Barbara Kirwan and Marty Hynes
Photo: 12 Donacha O’Cearuill and Maurice Hennessy
Photo: 13 Caitriona O’Dwyer, Trish Hickey, Claire Regan and Sinead Griffin
Photo: 14 Mark and Caroline Nolan with Linda and Kevin O’Sullivan
Photo: 15 Nicola Browne, Marty Hynes, Sinead Griffin, Jenny and
Barbara Kirwan and Trish Hickey
Photo: 16 Rattana and Ann from Thailand enjoying the Youghal Arts
Network Midsummers Ball
Photo: 17 Maria Moynihan and her daughter Claire Regan
Photo: 18 Alice and Tommy Del La Cour with Miriam Keogh
Photo: 19 Maria Moynihan with her daughter Claire Regan and Nocola Browne
Photo: 20 Donacha O’ Cearuill
Photo: 21 Donacha O’ Cearuill and Maurice Hennessy
Photo: 22 Swingin’ Blue Cats
Photo: 23 Swingin’ Blue Cats
Photo: 24 Maria Moynihan,Alice and Tommy Del La Cour with Miriam Keogh
Photo: 25 Maria Moynihan with her daughter Claire Regan

Youghal Arts Network are a group of different arts groups and people involved in the various arts,  who came together approximately three years ago under the umbrella of the Youghal Arts Network.   Various fundraising events are organised each year, the proceeds of which are used to fund a programme of events in the town each Summer. Denise FitzGerald Reports/ Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

The Youghal Arts Network Gala Ball made its debut last year in the Mall Arts Centre, and such was the success of the evening that this year the Group organised yet another Ball for the same venue.   This was held on Saturday night last, June 13th and it was a memorable night for all who attended.   East Cork Journal went along, and in these days of recession, it did the heart good to see the style and effort which went into the night.   Long gowns came out of the tissues and were worn with panache, and the gents weren’t left wanting in their black ties.
The evening commenced at 9pm and those arriving were met with large baskets of flowers – carnations for the gents and a lovely corsage of roses for the ladies. Read more