Marine leisure strategy for South Cork coastline
By Leo McMahon

A MARINE Leisure Infrastructure Strategy (2010-2020) for around 500 kilometres of South Cork coastline stretching from Timoleague to Youghal was officially launched by Cllr Kevin Murphy at County Hall recently.

It complements a similar strategy for West Cork covering 700km from the Kerry border to Courtmacsherry which was completed in 2008 and is aimed at ensuring development of coastal inlets, bays, beaches and harbours in a coherent and sustainable manner by making the best use of existing and planned infrastructure and to create a quality brand for coastal tourism and leisure in Ireland’s largest county.

‘This publication contains an Action Plan with inputs from over 100 stakeholder organisations and a steering group with representatives from the county council, Kinsale, Cork and Youghal Town Councils, the Ports of Kinsale, Cork and Youghal, Failte Ireland, the Coast and Marine Resources Centre attached to UCC, South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD), West Cork Development Partnership and Inland Fisheries Ireland’, said Cllr Murphy, who is also a member of Kinsale Harbour Commissioners.

The motive behind both West and South Cork strategies, he pointed out, was to ‘use resources, reassess their value and tap into the potential of marine infrastructure to develop sustainable products, services and jobs and also encourage investment along the coast’.

County manager Martin Riordan said the Cork coastline was a unique asset and because its nature and uses had changed over the years, it was necessary to revisit it, build on the product and ensure its potential was maximised.

Complimenting the compilers of the 158 page report, he said Cork had for the first time, a detailed inventory of infrastructure and service providers. ‘We now need to maintain momentum behind this work because this strategy will engage and encourage many agencies to promote development and initiatives.

‘Tourism is one of the key sectors with potential for growth. We have the infrastructure we need to see how we can brand, package and market the unique product and services we have but it is important that we all understand and appreciate what we have along our coastline if we are to showcase it to visitors. Let’s build on the great potential identified in this strategy’, Mr Riordan added.

The strategy comprises an overview highlighting the importance of marine tourism and recreation etc, methodology, an action plan and proposals for its implementation. There are also several appendices including an audit of all coastal facilities in Kinsale Harbour, Crosshaven, Ringaskiddy, Monkstown and Passage West, Cork city, Cobh and other parts of Cork Harbour; from Timoleague to Harbour View and Coolmain, Garrettstown and Old Head, Oysterhaven, Nohoval, Roberts Cove to Myrtleville and along the coast of East Cork via Inch, Ballycotton and Knockadoon to Youghal. There are also sections on the riparian infrastructure of Inniscarra.

Fifty-two short and long-term actions are detailed in the strategy. A key proposal is to create a coastal brand or quality mark for the entire Cork coastline with a central information website.

Short-term priorities include the upgrading of parking and the slipway in Sandycove near Kinsale, develop a commercial tourism pick up/drop off point for angling and commercial tourism at Adams Quay, Kinsale; develop a boat park and slipway near Archdeacon Duggan Bridge, Kinsale; further develop water sports at Garrettstown and Oysterhaven, identify locations for public moorings in Cork Harbour and Oysterhaven, identify four key water access points in Cork Harbour, develop a pontoon or marina and public moorings in Youghal, install uniform water trail and bird watching signage, further develop Spike Island and Fort Camden for heritage tourism, develop a new access with trailer parking at Fountainstown, support the use of Dooneen Pier near the Old Head for angling and tour boats and improve water quality.

Encouraging non traditional users of the sea to engage in marine activities and promote the development of curricula for school children using existing adventure centre facilities are other proposals of which there are many in the strategy highlighting the many opportunities for the county.

Among those who attended the launch were Denis Healy, Port of Cork; Kinsale Harbour Master, Captain Phil Devitt, county councillors and various stakeholders.

Copies of the Marine Leisure Infrastructure Strategy are available from administrative officer Rose Carroll, Cork County Council, Corporate Affairs, Floor 14, County Hall, Cork, who had a major input into the project. It can also be viewed on the website www.corkcoco.ie

Source: www.southernstar.ie

BY LEO McMAHON Saturday July 16th, 2011

11th January 2011

Tuesday, January 11th, the Commissioners of Irish Lights confirmed that their last nine remaining fog signals – including those at Roches Point and Ballycotton – will immediately cease operations.

While the Commission states that it consulted widely about its decision, Youghal Fishermen’s Co-Op member, Sean Murphy stated, “It is a bad idea to discontinue the fog horn service which is an immensely valuable aid to the fisherman and small boat users. The fog horn signal from the Ballycotton Lighthouse is a navigation aid back to the safety of Youghal Harbour when fog at sea. Anything that helps at sea is vital. Not all vessels have GPS, especially smaller boats. It’s a ludicrous idea. Why are they doing this?”

The Commission has been closing fog signals on a ‘case by case basis’ over the past 20 years and state that they are no longer ‘an aid to navigation.’

Text below from the The Commissioners of Irish Lights Website
Termination of Fog Signals
The Commissioners of Irish Lights announce that their last 9 remaining fog signals will no longer operate after today.

Although we have been closing fog signals on a case by case basis for over 20 years, the 2010 Aids to Navigation (AtoN)  Review re-confirmed that fog signals can no longer be considered as AtoN.

The recommendations in the Review were accepted by the Boards of the GLAs and the Marine Users Consultative Committee.

Irish Lights provide an integrated service of Aids to Navigation in British and Irish waters with our sister Services -Trinity House and Northern Lighthouse Board. Our mandate is to provide Aids to Navigation commensurate with the amount and nature of marine traffic and the degree of risk.

Then 3 GLAs carry out a joint AtoN Review every 5 years. The 2010/2015 Review commenced in May 2009 and was completed and published in May 2010. Each AtoN is examined with regard to the amount of traffic and the degree of risk and whether the AtoN remains relevant.

This review is available on the CIL website at www.cil.ie/publications

CIL published a Notice to Mariners, No 10 of 2010 on 24th September 2010 advising that the remaining fog signals would be closed down on or about the 11th January 2011.

Text below from LORNA SIGGINS, Marine Correspondent with the Irish Times

THE COMMISSIONERS of Irish Lights says it consulted widely about its decision to discontinue the last fog signals around the coastline.

Nine lighthouses directly run by the lighthouse authority will stop using their fog signals tomorrow, while several other lighthouses run by local authorities or harbour boards, including Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, will also fall silent.

A number of other fog signals were discontinued over the previous 20 years.

The last nine directly run are at Fastnet, Old Head of Kinsale, Roches Point and Ballycotton on the Cork coastline; Hook Head and Tuskar Rock, Co Wexford; the Kish tower off Dublin Bay; Dundalk, Co Louth; and St John’s Point in Co Down.

Capt Kieran O’Higgins of the commissioners said the decision was notified to mariners last September, and was taken due to rapid advances in marine navigation technology, and the fact fog signals are “not an aid to navigation”.

However, a former master of the Jeanie Johnston , Capt Michael Coleman said he did not believe the decision had been adequately publicised. Many small boat users without electronic equipment could rely on a such signal for their safe passage in thick fog, and even bigger boats with satellite equipment could be affected if they had a power failure in a hazardous situation, he said.

Irish Fishermen’s Organisation chairman Ebbie Sheehan said it was probably true that fog signals were no longer required by most fishing vessels equipped with an “array of electronic aids”.

“On the other hand if you have a problem with your equipment and you are coming in to Castletownbere in thick fog from the west and hear the foghorn on the Bull Rock to the southeast, you know you are north of it and safe,” he said.

“So the horn does have its uses, and small boat owners might miss it.”

Most mariners now rely on satellite navigation, through the global positioning system (GPS).

However, the Commissioners of Irish Lights also warn shipowners, fishing vessels and marine leisure users to ensure that no single aid to navigation is relied on.

Click on and play (at Fog Horn volume) Alas Smith and Jones: The Predictable Lighthouse-keeper

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.

Our Maritime Weekend actually kicks off on Saturday (Aug 28) as Aquatrek host the Munster Final of the ‘ISA Yachtsman Euromarine Rib Challenge’ on the quays in Youghal. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

If you’re part of an ISA club or training centre you should get a team together and enter. There are 2 classes – Junior and Senior. More details can be found by clicking here, or by phoning our very own John Innes on 086 859 3482.

And it’s not all about power this weekend (well, mostly it is!). We’re having a Commodore’s Cup Sailing Regatta also on Saturday afternoon. Sailors from Youghal and Inniscarra will compete on the water, and try not to get mowed down by wayward competitors in the Rib Challenge.

Youghal Harbour comes alive this Sunday when the only round of the ISA National Powerboat Championships to be held in Cork this year rolls into town and down the slipway. This will be the penultimate round of this year’s series and with points tight at the top of each class, competitive racing is guaranteed. The organisers of this round – Youghal Bay Boat Club – have been working hard to design courses that will ensure tight exciting racing with the whole event happening right in front of Youghal quays. Padraig Brooks -  Commodore of Youghal Bay Boat Club tells us “This is the first time our new club has held powerboat racing here in Youghal. We hosted a round of the Championships across in Ardmore back in July which proved to be an enormous success with huge crowds and fantastic racing and now we look forward to welcoming the racing fleets and spectators to the waters of Youghal for what’s expected to be a memorable round of the championship. The layout of the quays allows for great viewing and we hope people will come down and enjoy the racing”.

Four classes are expected to race this Sunday – 29th August: The F2 & F4 classes look light waterborne jet fighters and can attain speeds approaching 200 kilometres an hour, the T850 fleet are an exciting monohull class, while the P750 class (better known as Thundercats) will make a welcome return to these waters following a highly successful international race back in 2008. Expect lots of noise, tons of excitement and a great spectacle for a wonderful family afternoon.

This is another exciting event for the recently formed Youghal Bay Boat Club. At the start of the Summer large crowds turned out to enjoy their Open Day which was followed closely by ‘WindQuest’ – an inter-club sailing competition – and then a competitive sea-angling competition in July. Given the natural amenities in the area it’s perhaps little surprise that a club in this East Cork town should have proved so active.

Racing on Sunday begins at 12.30 and continues throughout the afternoon with several races in each class. Music and commentary on the day will be provided by Community Radio Youghal and the centre of the action will be Nealon’s Quay (next to ‘The Quays’ bar).

We’re delighted to be able to confirm some more details about the Maritime Weekend that’s taking place in Youghal this Saturday and Sunday (August 28th & 29th). Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The first ‘biggie’ is an aerobatics display that will be flown by Gerry Humphreys in his Vans RV7 at 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon. This is the first time such a display has been flown in the skies over East Cork so we’re expecting it to be truly memorable. Youghal is a great location for such a display so people are advised to get along quayside to watch the excitement. Further details on this are available here on our website:
http://www.youghalbay.com/component/content/article/35-latest-news/57-aerobatic-display.html

Further details on the National Powerboat Championships – which we’re hosting on the Sunday are also available on the site, specifically on this page:
http://www.youghalbay.com/component/content/article/35-latest-news/59-maritime-weekend.html

We’re a young club (less than a year old) and there’s only so much we can do with our reach. This weekend is a continuation of the events we’ve already delivered this year and a taster of what we hope to bring in the future, so we humbly ask that you assist our endeavors by helping to spread the word.

Aidan Foley
PRO – Youghal Bay Boat Club
Tel: 086 0401 368