Gardai Seeking Help With Halloween Investigations – By Christy Parker

YOUGHAL GARDAI are seeking help with their investigations into a number of anti-social incidences that occurred in the town on Halloween night and over the half-term school break. Community Garda Peter Queally says tow of the more serious incidents involved the smashing of rear windows in a taxi and a CIE bus.

On Halloween night (Monday October 31st), an egg-throwing episode developed to the point that the rear window of a tax was smashed. The incident occurred at about 10.10 pm in the Bawnmore area. “This caused a lot of distress and we are seeking witnesses or information on this incident,” says Garda Queally.

On Thursday 27th November, at approximately 7.30 pm, a stone shattered the rear window of a Bus Eireann vehicle. The missile was hurled in the vicinity of Barry’s Lane, while the window actually caved inwards on reaching the other end of town.

The garda says the local deployment of six gardai across three squad cars dealt with a continuous series of anti-social incident on Halloween night.  Several individuals had been arrested and the juvenile Liaison officer would be addressing the situation with them and their parents or guardians.

ASBO’s:

Elaborating, Garda Queally remarks that an outbreak of similar behaviour patterns last year had resulted in ASBOs being issued to good effect. “We are keen to tackle this latest trend very quickly and in similar fashion if need be,” he says. “So we would like the traders or anyone else in the town to inform of us of any incidents and to provide us were possible, with descriptions of alleged culprits.” The garda stresses that “there is no such thing as a call that wastes our time. We welcome every call no matter how trivial it may seem and we have the resources to process them.” He adds, “It’s important that we issue ASBO’s now, where necessary, as their three-month timespan would prohibit the recipients from visiting certain areas over Christmas.”

The garda is less than complimentary towards outlets that sold large volumes of eggs to young miscreants over Halloween “Did they think they were dealing with up-and-coming chefs?!” he asks caustically.

Several incidents of underage drinking were also detected over the mid-term break. “The worse offenders here are those who supply the alcohol,” observes the garda. “There are certain areas and times when this crime now arises and we will remain focused on it.”

Burglaries:

In other incidents, last Wednesday night (Nov 2nd), the Lagile area –just outside Killeagh on the Youghal side- two houses were burgled and articles were also taken from an unlocked car. Gardaí are seeking information or witnesses to the incidences which occurred between 5 and 6 pm.

Several drug arrests occurred in Youghal in the past week also. “There were four Section 3’s (own use) and one Section 15 (dealing) detected,” concludes Garda Queally.

COMMUNITY ALERT NOTICE: November’s Community Alert meeting takes place in the Red Store at 11 am. The meeting will be addressed by Muintir na Tííre development officer Diarmuid  Cronin, while a youth drug officer and a local Care and Repair representative will also speak to the gathering. Questions from the floor will be welcomed. Free refreshment will also be provided.

The Youghal Arts Network held their annual Halloween Fancy Dress fundraiser at the Marine Bar last Saturday night (October 29th 2011). The event was in aid of the local South Abbey National School. The fun began at 9pm and there was fantastic prizes for the best dressed. Donacha O’Cearuill from the Arts Network thanked everyone for supporting the fundraiser. Everyone dressed in Halloween themed costumes and danced the night away to DJ Beetlejuice. A great Time Warp Time was had by all.

More pics and video to follow shortly……

HALLOWEEN may fall on a Monday this year, but that just means the parties are going all weekend long. Halloween bashes took place all over Youghal this bank holiday weekend and there were plenty of places for you to show off your costume and have plenty of spooky fun. The staff at Solo Hairdressing at North Main Street, Youghal, joined in the Halloween fun and got into the ‘spirit’ of the occasion with these fabulous outfits on Saturday last.

The Halloween Spooktacular festival weekend kicked off on Friday night ( October 28th 2011) with a colourful parade through the historic town. The night-time parade was led by a Headless Horseman!….. followed by Halloween themed costumes revellers and astonished onlookers. How the Headless Horseman was able to steer his horse through the narrow streets is a mystery. The Headless Horseman is supposedly the ghost of a soldier who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during battle. If found please return to it’s rightful owner…..the cannonball that is!

The three-day list of events offered a wide range of activities intent on inciting family participation while preying mischievously on the intuitive fears and imaginings that ripple the neck hairs of the young and not so young alike.

Click on video below to see the Headless Horseman of Youghal

YCC Secretary and local estate agent, Adrian Hyde says the Halloween Festival “is part of our on-going efforts to establish Youghal, not just as a summer attraction, but as a vibrant, family-friend resort all year round.
Click on image to see the Headless Horseman of Youghal

The Youghal Concerned Citizens groups’ ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ festival parade passed throught the streets of the town last Saturday afternoon led by members of the Youghal Pipe Band. The family orianted festival presented a wide range of activities intent on inciting family participation while preying mischievously on the intuitive fears and imaginings that ripple the neck hairs of the young and not so young alike.
Click on video below to see the parade.

Click on image to enlarge

Team M men’s hair salon won ‘best dressed window display’ for the ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ festival.

‘We at Team M men’s hair salon very surprised to have one best dressed window for the Youghaloween spooktacular this weekend, but we thank you and enjoyed doing it for the town, it was great to most shops supporting this great idea run by the YCC and myself and the family enjoyed the whole weekend as seems 1000’s of others did, great work by everyone involved’

YOUGHAL ARTS NETWORK will hold a fancy dress Halloween fun fundraiser at the Marine Bar, Youghal, this Saturday night, October 29th. in aid of the local South Abbey National School. The fun begins at 9pm and there will be special prizes for best male and female costumes.

The Youghal Arts Network are a very active group of people who, among other things, organise fund raising events to help voluntary clubs, organisations, groups, schools etc., in the town of Youghal who are in need of financial help.

Click on the videos below to watch some of the previous Halloween Fancy-Dress parties at The Marine made by www.youghalonline.com and don’t forget to turn up the volume!
Halloween Fancy Dress Party – The Marine Bar Youghal 2010

Halloween Fancy Dress Party – The Marine Bar Youghal 2009 – Click Below

The newly-surfaced streets of Youghal’s look set to play (g)host to a Halloween of unprecedented ghoulishness and entertainment this year. The Youghal Concerned Citizens groups’ ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ hopes to resurrect the annual ghoul-fest from the grave of anti-social mindlessness into which it has fallen in recent times. The group, hopes a new spirit will prevail, as it presents a wide range of activities intent on inciting family participation while preying mischievously on the intuitive fears and imaginings that ripple the neck hairs of the young and not so young alike.

The three-day list of events begins when a headless horseman somehow navigates his way through town on Friday night October 28th. The eerie evening also includes a presentation by Kay Donnelly on the trial of Florence Newton, a Youghal woman tried for witchcraft trial in 1661. The outcome of the trial, conducted by mortal who themselves sound decidedly scary, remains a mystery but the general conclusion is that she was subsequently hanged. The devil is in the details however!

Be afraid…be very afraid.

Saturday promises more chill thrills, with a display of torture machines that would delight many a teacher of the ‘old school,’ children’s storytelling in the hallowed atmosphere of St Mary’s Collegiate Church, fortune telling and a “ghoulish fancy dress street parade” through Youghal, guaranteed to add extra shiver to the spine as it passes vacated business premises where the ghosts of better times may yet linger. A presentation on paranormal investigations at the Old Imperial Hotel may hell to make frightening sense of it all, with fortune telling in Moby Dick’s advising in whether one should remain on for another pint or not.

Sunday bloody Sunday has storytelling in Condon’s florists, a pumpkin competition at Barry’s Lane and a treasure hunt amongst various unearthly pursuits.

YCC Secretary and local estate agent, Adrian Hyde says the Halloween Festival “is part of our on-going efforts to establish Youghal, not just as a summer attraction, but as a vibrant, family-friend resort all year round.”

Mr. Hyde says the response from the business and wider community to the YCC’s efforts has been “very supportive. I think everyone realises that we all have to pull together to secure a better future for our community and that is what is happening,” he states, adding that a subcommittee is also working on a “Dickens-themed Christmas for the Youghal.” Christmas only eight weeks away?  Now that’s scary!!

GARDAÍ  SEEK INFORMATION ON BURNT OUT VAN AND ADVISE ON HALLOWEEN AND NEW DRINK DRIVING LIMITS. – By Christy Parker

Youghal gardai are seeking information on an incident in which a van was stolen and subsequently destroyed in the town on 15th October during the early hours of morning. The grey Peugot 206, registration number 06 C 8843 was stolen from the Kennilworth area overnight. It was later discovered burned out in the Magner’s Hill area.  Contact Youghal garda station on (024) 92200.

Garda Ronan Swan also reports that two daytime burglaries occurred in the district in recent times. Some small items were stolen from a vehicle in Ballymacoda on 18th Oct at about 4 pm. Meanwhile a house was burgled during the day in the Knockane area of Castlemartyr in which a credit union book was taken.

However the garda warns that October and November are prime times for burglaries and asks householders to ensure that their premises are secured and security alarms activated when leaving their home.

Halloween

With the shadow of Halloween again about to fall, Garda Swann warns that possession of fireworks without a licence in Ireland is a criminal offence. More urgently he advises that “a lot of people are out to make a quick buck and so knock up improvised fireworks with gun powder and other lethal materials in them. Short fuses can suddenly detonate them and I’ve seen hands blown to smithereens,” he recalls.

The garda also reminds that fireworks can cause immense distress to animals and ask for consideration to be given in that area too. Bonfires represent further potential dangers and the garda says throwing items such as aerosol cans onto burning piles is likely to cause explosions which can be lethal. “Bonfires can blaze out of control anyway and damage property and endanger lives,” he adds.  Finally on the Halloween theme, he urges parents to ensure that their children wear some form of visible clothing if out trick-or-treating, due to the ability of motorists and other road users being seriously compromised by the combination of dark evenings and dark clothing.

New drink/driving limits

Garda Swann says new drink/driving limits will be introduced in Ireland from next weekend. Under the legislation, driers will be divided into two categories; a) regular drivers and b) specified drivers, which will include learners, those with full licence for less than two years and those driving taxi, lorries, buses, etc.

The new limits are set out on the following website: www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_offences/drink_driving_offences_in_ireland.html. They read as follows:

Blood: An offence of driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while there is present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that, within 3 hours after so driving or attempting to drive, the concentration of alcohol in your blood exceeds a concentration of:
- 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for experience drivers
- 20 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for other drivers

Urine: An offence of driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while there is present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that, within 3 hours after so driving or attempting to drive, the concentration of alcohol in your urine exceeds a concentration of:
- 67 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine for experienced drivers
- 27 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine for other drivers

Breath:

An offence of driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while there is present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that, within 3 hours after so driving or attempting to drive, the concentration of alcohol in your breath exceeds a concentration of:
- 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath for an experience driver
- 9 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath for other drivers.

The garda surmises that “the days of having a pint after work before driving home are now well gone and the new limits really allow for no leeway at all. He adds that increased mandatory check points will operate throughout the bank holiday.

Youghal Arts Network held their annual Halloween Fancy Dress fundraiser at the Marine Bar, Youghal, last Saturday night (October 30th 2010). The fun event was in aid of the local South Abbey National School. The fun began at 9pm and there was fantastic prizes for the best dressed. Donacha O’Cearuill from the Arts Network thanked everyone for supporting this fundraiser in particular Youghal Pharmacy, the sponsors of the prizes and www.youghalonline.com for covering the event. A great Time Warp Time was had by all.
Report/Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com email: news@youghalonline.com
Click on the video below to watch the event and don’t forget to turn up the volume!

The Youghal Arts Network are a very active group of people who, among other things, organise fund raising events to help voluntary clubs, organisations, groups, schools etc., in the town of Youghal who are in need of financial help.

South Abbey National School is a very old building which is school to as many children as it can possibly hold.   It is a proud school with a long history in the town. Originally a Church, the School was set up in the premises in 1886. Thus, there are massive expenses involved in keeping this beautiful building maintained and suitable for the children of the school.