On Sunday last 21st August 2011, visitors once again flocked in their thousands to the stunning surroundings of St. Mary’s College Gardens in Youghal for the 5th Annual Youghal Medieval Festival. Events were planned to coincide with The Irish Walled Towns Network celebrations of National Heritage Week.

Official figures on the day saw in excess of 6,000 people visit the free annual event over the course of the day. The Heritage Council of Ireland undertook a series of surveys at the event, with initial results showing that there was a huge surge in people attending from outside the region.  “This year in particular we seem to have attracted visitors making their way from far and wide”, commented Clodagh Mahon who conducted the surveys.  “I interviewed visitors who had made their way from Carlow, Kilkenny and beyond, but also met with families from overseas, the UK in particular, who had actually planned their stay around the event, which in turn delivers a great spin-off for the town.”

Celebrations kicked off at 12.00 pm where the ‘Medieval Quarter’ played host to an abundance of performers, guests and festival goers all of whom came out in their droves. The renowned ‘Freelance Knights of Redemption’ from Cavan undertook a full fighting and weaponry display while elsewhere in the Medieval encampment visitors were huddled around the roasting ‘lamb on the spit’ to observe the wonderful styles of medieval cookery.  This year’s highlight proved to be the ‘have a go’ archery, which in keeping with the spirit of the day, was free.

It was a case of ‘back to basics’ for kids this year with a focus on arts and crafts and traditional games taking centre stage.   Speaking on behalf of the organising committee Catherine Desmond said: “Parents were delighted with the concept of ‘back to basics’ fun. Children were able to get involved and create their own medieval hats and colour their medieval shields which they could then wear and bring home as a souvenir. Each year the committee tries to incorporate a good balance of fun, education and heritage into the festival and I think it’s fair to say that we achieved just that.” said Catherine.

A range of quality food and craft stalls only added to the electric atmosphere of the gardens in ‘Maid Marion’s Food & Craft Fair’.  Traders recreated the colourful atmosphere of a noisy Medieval Marketplace and visitors were given the chance to purchase unique gifts and top quality food produce.

Local favourites The Youghal Pipe Band took centre stage at 2.00 pm with Community Radio Youghal broadcasting live throughout the day.

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley of Youghal Heritage Committee, the organisers of the event, thanked everyone for their support on the day: “The event was a tremendous success again this year, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank our many hard working volunteers who worked tirelessly before, during and after the event. Festivals like these rely heavily on volunteers and it’s great to see such community spirit.  The Councillor paid particular tribute to members of the Youghal Concerned Citizens who also gave of their time on the day.

Youghal Medieval Festival was organised by The Youghal Municipal Heritage Committee and was funded by the Heritage Council of Ireland and Youghal Town Council.  Marketing efforts were supported by South & East Cork Area Development.

Click on image to enlarge – Pics: John Hennessy

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL is currently considering a Conservation Plan conducted with regard to the refurbishment & development of the Clock Gate. The Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group (YSEDG) commissioned Youghal-born consultant Margaret Gowen to conduct the plan, assisted by, amongst others, local architect Dan Noonan.

The work follows last year’s feasibility study, which proposed that it be adapted for multi-purpose uses. That study, conducted by consultants KPMG for the Heritage Council (of Ireland), in conjunction with the Irish Walled Towns Network, outlined four options for each of the tower’s floors: Floor 1: Interpretive heritage centre; F 2: display of local crafts and wares; F 3: Recreation of original tower use as a jail; F 4: Virtual observation desk.

The latest plan analysed the internal and external condition of the building and considered what action needed to be taken prior to proceeding with the recommendation of the feasibility study. This included ‘a preliminary analysis of former works, including the impact of fixtures and fittings installed internally and externally, mostly during the 1970’s.’

Amongst the report’s findings and recommendations are the following:

FOUNDATIONS:

External walls are generally plumb and there appears to be no problems with building’s foundations.

EXTERNAL WALLS:

The elevations facing Cork and Waterford (N & S) are constructed of random old red sandstone in a lime mortar. The East & West (E & W) sides are compiled of random rubble with Cork limestone quoins and string courses.

Cement mortar, which was used to point the exterior sandstone, has become loose in various sections and is damaging the external stonework. Corroding metal fixings are causing further stonework damage. Water ingress (dampness) on the E and W elevations was almost certainly addressed by cement renders at some stage but caused further problems additional research is needed.

The NW parapet wall is leaning significantly back in towards the cupola (the small, dome-like structure on top of the building), narrowing the gap and preventing access between the two. It is not thought to be ongoing, but copper cladding may be concealing movement. Significant structural works carried out in the early 20th century saw steel bar supports installed in the roof and also to support the decayed timber legs of the cupola.  Possibly the leaning parapet was addressed then or even at a later time during further works. Also, there is a slight dip in the middle of the main arch, but this seems also not to be ongoing.

Recommendation:

The potential movement of the Western side parapet wall should be investigated and any necessary repairs conducted. The interior dry lining should be removed to allow assessment of the nature of water ingress at the external walls, which would also reveal any decayed lintels or bonding timbers therein. Removing floors and ceilings would also identify any decayed joist ends that may have been corroded by contact with damp walls. Also, research the nature of past external works on the E & W elevations. Remove all fixings that are damaging stonework. Remove vegetation and clean out joints. Replace cement pointing with lime mortar and pinnings. Assess stability of all stonework and repair and restore where necessary. Address moisture penetration issues and replace existing ineffective rainwater goods with more robust cast iron equivalents. Ensure rainwater is removed from base of the building by gullies.

It is also recommended that the galvanised steel hand railing bordering the approach on the jail steps be replaced. It is noted that it “a stair handrail” and is both damaging the steps and a safety risk.

INTERIOR:

There is much evidence of water ingress and corrosion of steel angles within. The interior of the internal walls are dry lined with plasterboard and consequently it was not possible to access or assess the walls’ interiors, or lintels, bonding timbers, etc. Floors are finished with modern timber and the ceilings with modern cedar. The upper floors are accessed by a spiral, 20th century stairway that diminished space. It is was found, unusually, that the floor to ceiling height was constant for all floors and further exposure works is needed to ascertain whether new floors were installed coincidentally with the staircase.

Recommendations:

The dry lining should be removed to assess the lintels, joist ends, etc. If plasterwork is required internally, then lime plaster onto the stonework is recommended.

WINDOWS:

The existing windows seem to be copies of the original windows. The lower two floors have four rows of panes over two while the upper floors have three rows over two. Some cills and bottoms rails are decayed but remain suitable for repair. Again, dry lining prevents assessment of the internal perimeters and indications as to the original window installation.

Recommendations:

Remove the dry lining proximate to the window openings. Remove existing window sashes for repair and repainting. Review condition of lintels and replace if necessary. Review condition of window jams, arches, reveals and cills and repair where needed.

EXISTING BUILDING FABRIC AT ROOF LEVEL:

A 20th century pitched roof access hut over a 20th century roof access stairs is in very poor condition and needs repair or replacement. As it is above the parapet line it may best be replaced with a lower structure.

The roof, finished with trowelled asphalt, is in good condition. Copper sheet that over-clads the parapet walls seems in good condition too but it was not possible to assess it for leaks. Holes in the cladding however, formally light holders, are probably permitting water into the stonework. Copper flashings to the cupola are in good condition generally.

The timber to the cupola is finished with brown paint and needs re-finishing. The roof to the cupola is clad with copper and this has been over-clad with a modern roofing sheet, which can be considered temporary.

The structure of the roof of the cupola is in remarkably good condition considering the degree of decay that previously occurred down lower. The surface of the timbers has been weathered by wind and rain but this is superficial. Much dust and dirt has gathered on the timbers and around the base of the rafters and should be removed a sit holds moisture. The roof is a two king-post truss with a section cut out of each bottom chord where they cross. The bottom chords were fixed by nailed wrought iron straps that have fully corroded and need replacing.  Low-key timber elements added to the roof structure are pretty useless.

Recommendations:

Repair or replace existing roof access. Strip cupola roof finishes and reinstate copper sheet finish. Inspect the weathervane and repair as necessary. Clean loose debris from interior of roof structure. Assess whether the soft timber on the surface of the roof timbers should be removed to minimise risk of decay. Design and install new metal structural straps to replace corroded straps. Repair parapet copper-work and copper flashings to the base of the cupola. Repair asphalt where needed. Sand down the external timberwork to the existing cupola and redecorate to a suitable colour. Replace existing insect mesh with finer version.

Finally, given the outgoing government’s recent 70% reduction in grant funding to heritage projects across the country, it can be assumed that the necessary remedial and restoration work indicated above will involve longer rather than short term projects.

Click on image to enlarge – plans are from previous renovations to the Clock Gate

Youghal’s status as a walled town of significant merit on the national and international stage has been enhanced with a €200,000 grant to the town council from the Irish Walled Towns Network. The sum, which represents 30% of the network’s entire 2010 national budget, will fund the removal of vegetation and the re-pointing of a wall section nearest Aher’s Terrace, according to town councillor and heritage committee lynchpin Liam Burke

Youghal Town Council has also received €15,000 for a Conservation Plan for Myrtle Grove, €4,900 for an Architectural Appraisal of the town’s historic quarter and €2,700 for the Graveyard Trail at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church. The information is contained in the latest Heritage Municipal Policy Committee report as delivered by Cllr Burke to the July Town Council meeting.

The report impresses with several other items of information. For example heritage footpaths will soon run from St. Mary’s College to DeValera Street, mirroring the same design and materials as already deployed in Emmet Place. The work will cost €100,000.

Next month’s Medieval Day will return to the College gardens on Sunday 22nd. Organised through voluntarily efforts from Cllrs Linehan Foley, Murray, Coyne and community members, its onus on family entertainment will include historical enactments, fencing, food and craft fairs, stalls, music and hopefully sunshine.

A business plan for the Clock Gate is underway, as a prerequisite to acquiring funding for the future development of a multi-purpose, heritage facility. Meanwhile the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group is seeking funding for a conservation plan for the monument.

Two new signs have been added to St. Mary’s Collegiate Church’s Graveyard Trail. These are based on i) historic headstones and ii) fauna. The new grant (see above) will secure additional signage, while the town council will provide wooden walkways and mulched (protective covering, usually of organic matter such as leaves, straw, or peat, says the dictionary) pathways to assist public access.

Waterford Institute of Technology’s architectural department is to conduct projects in Youghal, in a new partnership intended to be of mutual benefit.

Irish Historic Towns Atlas:

Finally, Youghal is to be included in the Irish Historic Towns Atlas. The atlas is part of a wider European project and 23 Irish towns have now signed up. The Youghal entry is being voluntarily “authored” as the report puts it, by Professor Tadhg O’Keefe of UCC and local engineer and rotary club member David Kelly, while the Royal Irish Academy meets most of the research and production costs.

However a local contribution of €30,00 is required. Mr Kelly has already raised much of this. A  donation of €15,000 from the Christian Brothers’ sale of Youghal properties, €3,000 from the Youghal Heritage Society, plus private donations brought in €34,000. As Youghal Town Council typically allots €25,000 towards heritage works in its annual budget, July’s council meeting agreed to earmark €6,000 of that towards the atlas project.

The project will see a large-scale map of Youghal digitalised for colour printing as the main reference. Youghal’s history, constructed from original sources and illustrated with further maps, will also feature, while a topographical, 22-part, information section will include copies of historic maps and pictorial images of the town. The streets section already has about 200 entries for street names, with dates and sources included. The earliest reference dates to1342. Original manuscript of Youghal’s local authorities since 1610 will also be included in original manuscript form.

The completed atlases are distributed to academic institutions and libraries across Europe and form  ‘a primary source of information and a base form which to launch further research.’

Youghal Municipal Heritage Committee are a proactive, enthusiastic, voluntary group who have the interests of the town of Youghal at heart.    They work tirelessly to organise events which will not only entertain the people of Youghal, but will also attract people from the East Cork/West Waterford areas to the town, along with as many tourists as possible.   The group are innovative, with lots of exciting ideas about events and festivals, and rather than sit back and talk about them, they get up and do it. Denise FitzGerald Reports  Photo: Bobby White and Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Greenpark, Youghal was the venue for Medieval Day on Sunday, August 30th last, having been postponed from the previous week due to bad weather.   Every possible effort was made by the Heritage Committee to make this a spectacular day, and everything was organised down to a fine art – stall holders were contacted, jousting tournaments arranged, costumes organised, catering planned – in fact, nothing was left to chance except, of course, the weather!   And there was certainly nothing whatsoever the Heritage Group could do about this.
Events were planned to coincide with The Irish Walled Towns Network celebrations of National Heritage Week. Celebrations kicked off at 12.00pm in the ‘Medieval Quarter’ with the reknowned ‘Freelance Knights of Redemption’ undertaking a full weaponry and fighting display.

The East Cork Journal went along to Greenpark on Sunday, and the first sight of the area was amazing.   The entire Greenpark was dotted with the various tents, stalls, locals and visitors alike dressed in medieval attire, a whole lamp roasting on a spit, music, bouncy castle, wonderful food cooking over camp fires, balloons, ribbons and colour – and the infernal rain dripping down on all.

However, those who did come along to Greenpark (albeit with their umbrellas and rain gear) had the most wonderful time.   Nothing was left out of an event which was top drawer for imagination, skills, entertainment and fun.   The visitors walked around to the various stalls, watched the medieval enactment in the centre of the park, ate candyfloss and burgers, and tried out the ‘wet sponge’ (the extra wetness did not seem to matter). The ‘Kids Kingdom’ this year played host to ‘Mumbo Jumbo’s’ Circus Workshop. The area was a flurry of excitement and activity as kids of all ages  learned how to stilt-walk or ride a unicycle! A key feature of this year’s event was ‘Maid Marion’s Food & Craft Fair, – with traders recreating a colourful atmosphere of a noisy medieval marketplace.

All in all, a most unusual and enjoyable event which was a credit to the Youghal Municipal Heritage Committee. More photos of the event in this weeks East Cork Journal ( Wed 2nd Sept. 2009) at your local newsagent.
Click on image to see the Medieval Fun Day Event

Youghal has been honoured with becoming the first historic town from Ireland the UK(excluding England) to join the prestigious Historic Towns Forum – an association formed in England in 1987 to support professionals in the historic built environment. Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Sam Howes, Chairperson of the Historic Towns Forum expressed his delight at the expansion of the Forum: “Much of what the Forum does is of considerable interest to our colleagues in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  We see delegates from these countries at our Conferences and they regularly request copies of our publications. So we thought they may be interested in joining us and making the Forum a truly UK/Republic of Ireland organisation.  Membership is now open to local authorities, organisations and individuals in these countries”.
Mr. Howes emphasised that the widening of the Forum’s membership would enable them to call on support and experience from further afield.  “We are starting in July with a Conference in the Republic of Ireland and will build on this new arrangement in the Read more

A section of Youghal’s ancient town walls, which caved in last spring has crumbled further. The fresh damage is “‘far more substantial than the original collapse”, says Town Clerk Liam Ryan, a member and and former chairman of the Irish Walled Towns Network. BY Christy Parker/ Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

The damaged portion measures approximately 20ft by 6 on a 400 metre long section at Raheen Park, overlooking the northern end of the town. Mr Ryan attributes the damage to very heavy rain on foot of two weeks of cold, dry weather. “That brought a lot of contraction and expansion,” he explains.

The walls date from the early 13th century and are essentially a series of walls within each other, having been simply widened as a fortress through the centuries. They form a crucial part of Youghal’s heritage and tourism profile and in recent years have been restored and made more accessible under the town’s Heritage Plan.

The fresh breach in the structure renders the immediate sides more vulnerable. A €1/2m funding application to the Heritage Council at the Department of Environment still awaits Ministerial approval. “There were some technical difficulties but I think they are almost resolved now,” says Mr. Ryan. He doesn’t expect the new damage to Read more

Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Youghal is gearing up to host the country’s largest Medieval Fun Event on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August 2008 in the stunning surrounds of St. Mary’s Historic Gardens, as part of The Irish Walled Towns Network celebrations of National Heritage Week.

Youghal’s Municipal Heritage Committee – the organisers behind the event, are looking to build on the unprecedented success of the inaugural event in 2007 which attracted in excess of 6,000 visitors to the historic town. As a result, celebrations will kick off on Saturday evening 23rd August with a free live open air concert by ‘Natural Gas’ in the surrounds of St. Mary’s Gardens, Youghal.

Even more excitement and fun for all the family are promised at this year’s major free event which is this year being covered by RTE’s ‘Nationwide’ television show. A carefully planned collection of sights, sounds and Read more