ART AND CULTURE VENUES opened their doors in Youghal last Friday night (Sept. 24th 2010) for Culture Night 2010. Drama, behind-the-scenes tours, and music performances were all part of the fare on offer. The night is one of the highlights of Youghal’s cultural calendar and gave people the opportunity to explore venues and facilities at night and for free!
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The majority of events started after 6 o`clock. This was the first year that Youghal took part in the national event which originally began in Dublin’s Temple Bar as a small event and now reaches out all over the island.

Local radio station CRY hosted an open mike night with Tim Smyth, John Kennedy, Tony Sheehan and Jim Coleman broadcasting live from the Mall Arts Centre. Youghal Heritage Centre at the Tourist Office was open 7pm to 10pm.

Pat Lynch at Fox’s Lane Folk Museum talked about the collection and told stories relating to items in the museum which gave a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the unique exhibition of domestic bygones – a fascinating display of some 600 gadgets and appliances used in the home from the 1850s to the1950s

Padrone Restaurant hosted several local writers reading from their works. Sheila Mannix, a runner-up in this year’s Francis MacManus Short Story Competition read a selection of prose and poetry while Jerry Twomey read from his recent poems. Local journalist Christy Parker read a selection of poems from his book ‘Don’t Step on the Poems’ and Tom FitzGerald read excerpts from his historical guide ‘An A to Z of Youghal’. Sheila Loughnan also read a selection of prose. Alan Prim from Prim’s second-hand book shop was MC for the cultural evening.

Claycastle Recording Studios was open late and gave an opportunity for budding musicians to find out how a recording studio works.
Eamonn O’Brien from Gallery 126 was delighted with the large turnout and featured Galway musician Tom Connolly on Mandolin to entertain the crowds who visit his gallery. The gallery was showing some new paintings by Barbara Dempsey and a unique watercolour of Youghal harbour, painted in 1903 by Joseph Poole Addey

St. Mary’s Collegiate Church held performances by Ian Sexton who gave an organ recital at by J.S.Bach, Passacaglia & Fugue while local Harpist Úna Whyte gave a solo performance.

Tom McCarthy from Tynte’s Castle was proudly showing the recently built salmon yawl by Jim Horgan and his team, together with a pictorial history of the project.

Meanwhile Luigi from the Rendezvous Gallic Café hosted local musician Bobby Lee and friends who entertained the audience with a selection of their own songs.

With a fantastic atmosphere and buzz around the town in it’s first year participating in this national cultural event, it can only be bigger and better with more and more venues taking part. Youghalonline covered all of the events on the night and looking forward to next year’s Youghal Culture 2011!

Click on image to start the slideshow of the venues who took part in this year’s Youghal Culture Night. Photos: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

A record number of diverse art and cultural venues have signed up to take part in Youghal Culture Night 2010, which takes place this year on Friday, 24th September.

Youghal Culture Night is one of the major highlights of the town’s cultural calendar and gives locals and visitors alike an opportunity to explore cultural venues and other fascinating private facilities by night, and all for free.A veritable cultural feast of displays and activities will be showcased ‘after dark’ in a record mix of venues.

Among the free events planned for Youghal is a literary evening at the Padrone restaurant on North Main Street. This will feature several local writers reading from their work. Among the writers taking part are Tom FitzGerald reading excerpts from his history guides “An A to Z of Youghal” and “An A to Z of Cork”; Sheila Mannix, a runner-up in this year’s Francis MacManus Short Story Competition, reading a selection of prose and poetry; and Jerry Twomey reading from his recent poetry. The event starts at 8pm, admission is free and all are welcome.

Fox’s Lane Folk Museum will be open from 7pm to 10pm. Pat Lynch will talk about the collection and tell stories relating to items in the museum at 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm. Entrance to the museum will be free on the night, providing a wonderful opportunity to enjoy this unique exhibition of domestic bygones.

Gallery 126 will be open from 7pm to 10pm. Pop in and enjoy listening to music by Tom Connolly on mandolin.

The Youghal Heritage Centre at the Tourist Office will be open from 7pm to 10pm. Admission will be free on the night.

Claycastle Recording Studios wil be open from 7pm to 9pm, an opportunity for budding musicians to find out how a recording studio works.

St. Mary’s Collegiate Church will be open from 7pm to 9pm.

Tynte’s Castle will be open from 7pm to 9pm.

Jack O’Patsy Pottery will be open from 7pm to 10pm for a demonstration of pottery techniques.

Community Radio Youghal will broadcast from the Mall Arts Centre during the evening and will host an “open mike” night and will welcome contributions.

Come out and enjoy Youghal Culture Night Friday September 24 2010

One of east Cork and Ireland’s most beloved craft industries has been given a new lease of life with the sale of Stephen Pearce’s pottery and emporium centre. Youghal’s Jack O’Patsy Pottery (under the special purpose title of Hassium Ltd.), has acquired the 5,000sq ft manufacturing base, while the 12,000ft emporium has been bought by top Irish craft retailers, the Kilkenny Group. Report: Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email news@youghalonline.com

Established in 1953, Stephen Pearce’s Pottery entered examinership in October 2008 and entered receivership under KPMG four months later. Jack O’Patsy owner Pat Collins reveals that a combination of high quality facilities and the region’s established tradition of pottery making” had spurred his interest in the manufacturing centre. He says he hopes to commence trading within two weeks and to “create 11 jobs within two months, rising to 25 over two to three years.”

Further job creation can be expected on the Kilkenny side of the fence. The retail group says its plans for the two-storey emporium will be announced in the coming weeks, “once existing staff and tenants have been notified of intent.” It is hoped however, that the company will bring their full craft range, including ceramics, fashion, jewellery, etc., to market. Synonymous with promoting Irish design and quality Irish craftsmanship, the Kilkenny Group is 100% Irish-owned and trades across seven retail outlets and one restaurant in Ireland. It caters for the domestic and tourist trade under the retailing under the retail brands, ‘Kilkenny’ and ‘Christy’s’. Despite the economic downturn, the group expanded further over the past year, adding fashion to its stores in Cork city and Cashel.

When Jack met Stephen

Meanwhile, the development enhances the remarkable resurgence of Jack O’Patsy, which Pat Collins re-opened last September, following a six-year closure. The Youghal base currently employs five workers, three of them in manufacture, but under a gradual expansion scheme, he hopes to double that in the coming year.

As the new year gathers pace, the Youghal operation has forged a dual purpose with its Shanagarry neighbour. Pat believes ‘gradual development’ is the key to sustainable growth and is confident of doing so at both plants. While “the majority of sales would service the home demand, we will be keeping a very close eye on the foreign markets too, especially the American seaboard, through mail order and catalogues particularly,” the 47 year-old proprietor elaborates.

Methods and ranges, old and new

Reclaiming and consolidation old markets while searching for new footholds, defines a resolute and imaginative approach being undertaken by the former electrician-turned-pot maker. The way forward may lie in reverse: “I think the trend towards mechanisation in recent years has been retrograde,” he suggests. “It sacrifices some of the unique and individual characteristics that made the wares popular in the first place. So we would plan to concentrate more on the basics of hand thrown wares, employing potters rather than machines.”

In terms of what the human hand can be expected to create, “the traditional Jack O’Patsy and Badger Hill (the Wexford brand that Jack O’Patsy purchased in 1997) will remain crucial to our initial production,” he explains. Unlike the traditional Stephen Pearce terracotta range, these are stoneware products that be fired at 1,260 degrees and of a tough quality suitable for modern kitchen appliances. “Add in Celtic designs and you further enhance their marketable attraction,” says Pat.

While updating and re-invigorating the popular, basic products, he also hopes to develop a high-firing terracotta clay, equally suitable for repetitive rigours of the microwave/dishwasher/oven, with obvious potential to outshine rivals in the terracotta market. Additionally, Shanagarry’s large production facilities “suggests we can develop reduction gas fired pottery with the potential for stunning effects in vibrant colours and copper reds,” adds the businessman.

His belief in the ‘individuality’ of his products is further emphasised in his commitment to innovative designs. “We’ve been working on developing high quality, hand painted pottery, reflecting Irish historical and mythological themes, as well as local and national landscapes and seascapes,” he enthuses. “For example, we are doing a range of Irish lighthouses painted by local artists, another range of historical and local scenes and scenes of Irish interest generally. This type of thing is not common in the market and I think such value added products have great potential at home and amongst the Irish diaspora abroad.”

Not satisfied with merely making pottery, Pat Collins intends teaching other people to do so as well. “We have definite plans to start run pottery courses in the coming months,” he insists. “I’ve been encouraged by the from floating the idea to our clients in Youghal, “he adds. “In fact I’ve been very encouraged by the enthusiasm for our products generally since re-opening in Youghal and I want to thank everyone for that support. I think there is great goodwill at present for local produce, perhaps moreso in hard times. And what can be more indigenous than the native soil?!” Only native ideas, one supposes…

The Art exhibition by three local artists at Jack O’Patsy Pottery, Friar St, Youghal, was opened last Monday night (Nov. 23rd 2009) by Ms. Bernie Heffernan, deputy principal of Pobailscoil na Tríonoíde and former art teacher to Andrea Cashell (ceramic artist), Martha Cashman (sculptor) and Diane Magee (painter).
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

All three would agree that Ms. Heffernan was a huge influence on them as young teenagers, which ultimately lead to their careers as artists. Ms. Heffernan gave a very concise account of each of the artists work including insight into their techniques.

She also encouraged the crowds to come back another time to appreciate the quietness of both the art works and the space.  But as busy as this event was it still didn’t deter discerning art buyers from making their purchases! It was a really enjoyable night, punctuated with the arrival of delicious food, compliments of Gerald Esposito proprietor of Capri Bay, a local and much celebrated Italian restaurant.

Some of the guests in attendance were Mayor of Youghal Sandra McLellan and Deputy Mayor Michelle Hennessey and local artist Cormac Meegan with his wife Peg and of course Jack O’Patsy owner Patrick Collins.

The exhibition will run until December 18th 2009.  Opening hours 10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday and 12noon – 6pm on Sunday. Jack O’ Patsy Pottery, Friar st, Youghal, Co.Cork.

Click on image to enlarge