THE AILBRIN SOCIETY is presenting a talk ” IRISH WALLED TOWNS & YOUGHAL’S CONTRIBUTION” by the archaeologist, Catherine Desmond on Wednesday, January 18th at 8.30 pm at the Red Store, North Main Street, Youghal. Admission: Members free; non-members 5E. New members always welcome.

YOUGHAL’S TOWN WALLS are over 700 years old, having witnessed centuries of history and generations of locals come and go. They are the second longest walls in Ireland after those of Derry.

Click on the video below to watch: Youghal town walls – A Laser Scan Survey of a Medieval Town Wall in Youghal, Co. Cork.

For 35 years, from 1946 until his death in 1981, Youghal’s most colourful character was the writer Claud Cockburn. Born in China in 1904 of Scottish parents, at the age of four he –together with his Chinese nanny – was sent back to Scotland to be reared by his grandparents. At boarding-school in England he became a great friend of the future novelist Graham Greene, with whom he shared a love of mischief-making and adventure stories. At Oxford they both joined the Communist Party as a joke, but whereas Greene’s future lay as a convert to the Catholic Church Cockburn became more and more attracted to Marxism.

In 1929 he joined the staff of The Times, which became the setting for some of his best stories, such as a competition to see who could write the most boring headline. (Cockburn won with the entry: “Small earthquake in Chile. Not many dead.”) While working as the Times correspondent in New York he was given the excellent advice:

I think it well to remember that when writing for the newspapers we are writing for an elderly lady in Hastings who has two cats of whom she is passionately fond. Unless our stuff can successfully compete for her interest with those cats, it is no good.

Returning to England, he gave up work for The Times and founded the Communist news-sheet The Week. It was run off on a gestetner machine and he wrote it all himself, making up half the stories. (He wouldn’t even have needed to hack anyone’s phones!) So brilliant was his work that The Week proved a great success.

In the 1930s he reported on the Spanish Civil War for The Daily Worker, but in 1939 the government suppressed both the Worker and The Week, and by the time the ban had lifted he had become disillusioned with communism.

In 1940 he married the dynamic Youghal lady Patricia Arbuthnot, and in 1946 they came to live permanently in Youghal. Here he continued to write till the end of his days. His widow then moved to Ardmore, where she became one of an indomitable and perpetually feuding set of formidable old ladies.

A lifelong atheist and a master of irony, Claud Cockburn would have appreciated his full-blown Requiem Mass concelebrated by five priests.

He died thirty years ago – on this day.

Thursday Dec 15th – Claud Cockburn died, 1981

Researched by Julian Walton

Click on the image below to hear the audio version on WLR fm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ST. RAPHAEL’S DRAMA GROUP will present their award winning play ‘An Angel Fell from the Sky’ in St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal, on Thursday Dec 8th 2011 at 7.15pm. Show duration – 15mins.
Dress warm and enjoy a glass of warm punch. You’ll be moved to tears and leave in great Christmas spirits. The drama group put in a cracking performance! Admission – Free.

As St. Raphael’s said to be the angel of ‘happy meetings’ the play ‘An Angel Fell from the Sky’ tells the story of an angel who one day falls from the sky. The angel goes on a journey of happy meetings that lead to his own journey home.

Overall winners of the Irish Performing Arts Festival 2011

St. Raphael’s Drama Group won the 2011 Irish Performing Arts Festival Drama section. Their play entitled ‘ An Angel Fell from the Sky’  was a ‘clear winner’ said judge Catherine Mahon Buckley who admitted she had been moved to tears by the incredible performances, visual beauty and simplicity of the piece.The competition which took place over two days in the Firkin Crane Theatre, Cork involved seventeen groups from around the country.The play involved both live performance and shadow puppets brilliantly provided by St. Raphael’s Windy Lane Puppet Group.
The multi talented group’s short film When They Least Expect It was screened in the Mall Arts Centre Youghal and Camden Palace Cork.

 

St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal

St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal, is proving to be a popular location for such events as seen recently with the successful screening of the silent movie Phantom of the Opera – pictured below.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Arts, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, Sandra McLellan, has said the film and animation industry has the potential to create an extra 5,000 jobs and to be worth more than €1bn to the Irish economy in the next five years if appropriately managed.

Speaking in the Dáil today on the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011 Deputy McLellan said:

“This industry has the potential to be a really good story for Ireland. Full time employment can double from 5,400 to over 10,000 in the next five years if we maximise efficiencies and the potential of the industry. This would see it worth more than €1bn to the economy here. We want to continue to see the Bravehearts and Saving Private Ryans being made here, and also the international TV productions such as the Tudors and Game of Thrones. So too, we want to see indigenous Irish productions like My Left Foot, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, and so on.

“Going forward it will be very important that we take a very thorough approach to how we manage this sector, how we measure relative success and relative failure. How we ensure accountability. How we review and how we improve. This point is not just applicable to those groups, organisations and companies receiving funding but to the sector as a whole, the state agencies and the IFB itself. While it won’t necessarily always be the main driver, we should not be afraid to measure return on investment.”

“Last year we saw the fantastic potential of Irish animation with the Secret of Kells and Granny O’Grimm receiving international acclaim at the Academy Awards. What was particularly special at that time was the coverage of Ballyfermot College where some of the animators had honed their skills. This was a great day for those nominated but also for the industry here and for Ireland as a whole. I’m certain it provided inspiration for thousands of students at home. It presented a picture of endless possibilities. The possibility of a viable and sustainable career in this industry, and even more, the possibility of a successful and prosperous one.”

The 3rd annual family heritage festival, Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition 2011, took place in the City Hall, Cork, last Friday, September 30th 2011. Local author and historian Mike Hackett with a group of friends and volunteers, including Cliff and Margaret Winsor, were well represented for the first time at the exhibition with the Youghal stand. The different stands at the exhibition, showcased books and history pieces not just of  Cork city but from the villages and towns of County Cork as well. Mike said,” The Youghal stand was one of fifty and I was surprised at the small places like Kilmurray and Aubane that were represented. Just goes to show, all you want is about three interested people to achieve a lot”.

The Cork city hall buzzed with excitement as it played host to historical societies and groups from all over the City and County who came together in a unique exhibition that celebrated Cork’s rich, colourful Heritage, Tradition and Culture.This fascinating educational family exhibition showcased the exciting work carried out by these enthusiastic voluntary heritage groups in their communities.

At the day-long exhibition, the atmosphere was electric as a cross section of the finest historians and ‘caretakers’ of Cork’s rich past sang its praises, passionately speaking of its region’s history and memories as only they know how in an entertaining series of interactive talks and friendly chit chat.

The exhibition struck a chord with the continuous stream of people who flocked to the City Hall eager to learn more about their rich local history and was of particular interest to schools and budding young historians.

We all live in areas where the past is all around. This history makes us who we are. Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition is about bringing historical groups together so that they meet each other, chat and share ideas in order that historical societies can plan for the future. The aim is also to present their rich histories to the Cork public.

Due to the tremendous positive success of Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition, it has become an annual event wholeheartedly supported by Cork City Council and admission is free.

Artist Eileen McGoldrick latest exhibition in Castlemartyr Resort & Spa. The Exhibition entitled “A Painted Life”, is an exhibition showcasing four decades of her paintings, from her first self portraits and life paintings, through to more recent abstracts.

The evening was well attended. Castlemartyr Resort & Spa provided wine and canapes for the attending Art Lovers. Andrew Phelan, General Manager, and his PA, Eilish O’Shea officially opened the exhibition, and provided the speeches. Artists Stephen Pearce and Diane Magee were also in attendance.
The Exhibition runs until the 28th October, and is open to all.

EILEEN McGOLDRICK: Eileen has been Painting and Drawing ever since she can remember. Her earliest memory is drawing on the coal hole door aged about three in Derby Street, in Belfast.
Eileen left Belfast and went to Birmingham Art college where she gained a BA Hons in Fine Art Painting, She then moved to Oxford where she continued to paint and work as a community artist and Tutor.
Eileen now lives and works in Youghal, Co Cork. The work on view here is all recent, and has been inspired by her return to Ireland. Eileen feels being an Artist has made every day an adventure, whereby she strives to explore the subject that she wants to represent, in what ever media she feels is appropriate. Eileen will work for months on an idea, or a feeling, by exploring it, following instinct, and relying on years of experience to create unique images that always excite, whether they are mixed media portraits, or an inner journey.

website: www.mcgoldrickart.com

Click on image to see the opening of the exhibition ‘A Painted Life’ by artist Eileen McGoldrick

ART AND CULTURE VENUES open their doors in Youghal on Friday night, Sept. 23th 2011. Drama, behind-the-scenes tours, and music performances are all part of the fare on offer. The night is one of the highlights of Youghal’s cultural calendar and will give people the opportunity to explore venues and facilities at night and for free!

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.

Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition 2011

3rd Annual

Family Heritage Festival

Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition 2011

City Hall, Cork City, Irleand.

Friday, September 30th 2011.

by

Richard T. Cooke

Chairperson

www.celebratingcorkpast.com

On Tuesday, October 22nd 2009, Cork City Hall buzzed with excitement as it played host to over forty historical societies and groups from all over the City and County who came together for the first time ever in a unique exhibition that celebrated Cork’s rich, colourful Heritage, Tradition and Culture.

This fascinating educational family exhibition showcased the exciting work carried out by these enthusiastic voluntary heritage groups in their communities.

At the day-long exhibition, the atmosphere was electric as a cross section of the finest historians and ‘caretakers’ of Cork’s rich past sang its praises, passionately speaking of its region’s history and memories as only they know how in an entertaining series of interactive talks and friendly chit chat.

“Celebration and Participation” was the theme of this enlightening exhibition which struck a chord with the continuous stream of people who flocked to the City Hall eager to learn more about their rich local history and was of particular interest to schools and budding young historians.

We all live in areas where the past is all around. This history makes us who we are. Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition is about bringing historical groups together so that they meet each other, chat and share ideas in order that historical societies can plan for the future. The aim is also to present their rich histories to the Cork public.

Due to the tremendous positive success of the inaugural Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition, it has become an annual event wholeheartedly supported by Cork City Council and admission is free.

A Heritage Festival that’s on the pulse of the past with a view to the future, the warm friendly welcome you’ll enjoy at the Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition is sure to put a smile on your face, making it a must see for all the family and for all those who want to learn more about Cork’s rich, colourful Heritage, Tradition and Culture in an fun, homely atmosphere.

You’ll be glad you visited Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition.

The
Family Heritage Festival
will be Launch by
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr,Terry Shannon and County Mayor, Cllr,Tim Lombard

Any parish/community interested in establishing a Historical Society can contact:

Richard T. Cooke, Chairperson, Celebrating Cork Past Exhibition at richardtcooke@yahoo.com

Mary O’Leary, Secretary, maryhollyoleary@gmail.com

Catryn Power, Consultant, catrynpower@hotmail.com.

http://www.youtube.com/user/musiclea#p/u/28/mG4PK8XElWk

http://www.youtube.com/user/musiclea#p/u/1/Xt84ya2z7MY