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