Cumann na Daoine Community Resource Centre welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment, Community and Local Government to their building at 4 Catherine Street Youghal Co Cork on Friday July 8th and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) were also welcomed as new tenants to this fine Community Resource Centre

It was with great enthusiasm that all involved in Cumann na Daoine welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment Community and Local Government on Friday last (July 8th) to Youghal and also to this fine 4 storey Community Resource Centre, formally known as The League of The Cross Hall.

Cumann na Daoine has 16yrs of history and were an extremely successful Community Development Project in their own right.  Now with the CDP programme gone into the Local Partnerships Cumann na Daoine will now be known as a Community Resource Centre and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) will now roll out the new Local Community Development Programme.

Biddy Phelan the longest standing member of Cumann na Daoine welcomed the Minister Phil Hogan,  Mayor of Youghal Eoin Coyne,  Deputy Sandra McLellan, Deputy David Stanton, Local Representatives and everyone else present to this wonderful evening and explained how she had seen many changes over the years and had seen Cumann na Daoine go “from strength to strength”

Dolores Corcoran Chairperson gave an excellent presentation on the background and history of Cumann na Daoine and how it all came to be. Dolores took the audience on a journey from March1995 to the present day.  From their humble beginnings in a small space in the community centre to the bigger premises at No 10 North Main street to their Community Resource Centre now in Catherine Street.

It was quite evident that Cumann na Daoine’s voluntary management committee over the years have put in tremendous hard work, dedication and commitment to get a Community Development Project for Youghal and to help develop groups and encourage services into Youghal for those in the community who needed them most.  Dolores acknowledged both SECAD and Youghal Credit Union “were the only financial supports to the group” in those early stages of development.

There have been many highlights for Cumann na Daoine and 2006 saw the group successful in obtaining the 1.16million from the dormant accounts which saw them buy the building they are in now formally known as The League of the Cross Hall.

Numerous individuals, groups and organisations use the building for all kinds of services, courses, training, and meetings.  Over the years many social groups have been set up and continue to meet, develop and plan activities.  Too too many to mention but are all very very important to Cumann na Daoine.  They look forward to continue to work with all groups and SECAD who are now new tenants within the building.

Cumann na Daoine look forward now to the future the organisation is being restructured and they have strengthened their management committee and all related sub groups.   They look forward to focusing on re-generating Youghal socially and economically by working with local people to develop local responses on issues with them.  Also to be recognised as a key community partner in Youghal by all agencies and Government Departments.

After 16yrs Cumann na Daoine will no doubt continue to go from strength to strength and continue to work with key agencies such as the HSE, RAPID, SECAD, FAS, VEC, Department of Social Protection, Age Action Ireland and Community Radio Youghal etc

All involved are to be commended on a truly wonderful event and they wish to thank everyone over the last 16yrs who were involved in any way and supported them as there would be far too many to mention.  THANK YOU ALL!!

Click on image to enlarge and see the Minister Phil Hogan’s visit to the Cumann na Daoine resource centre. Pictures by YOL

 

YOUGHAL ADULT EDUCATION NETWORK invites you to join us for a celebration of learning in Cumann Na Daoine, Catherine St on Tuesday the 12th of April.  Try your hand at new skills in a range of workshops  – from felt making to low impact exercising, compost demonstrations to computers, there’s bound to be something to catch your interest.  You might even enjoy a free mini facial from local ITEC Beauty Specialist Diploma students.  Dig up the past with the Youghal Heritage’s mock archeological dig- Warning: You may find Bones!!!

Find out more about a range of courses from information stands, learn about supports available to learners and meet with members of Cumann na Daoine’s groups and others involved in learning provision in Youghal.

Free refreshments and homemade cakes by the students of Youthreach Youghal

There will be representatives from County Cork VEC, BTEI East Cork, Youthreach Youghal, Cumann na Daoine, Rapid Youghal, Youghal Community Gardens, Youghal Family Support Group, East Cork Traveller Advocacy Group, South and East Cork Area Development, Dept of Family and Social Affairs, FAS, St. Johns Central College, Tipperary Institute, CIT, Volunteer Service Oversees amongst others on hand all day to discuss how you can get involved in your own personal life long learning.

So please do come and join us between 10:00 and 1:00.

Friday December 17 2010 sees the launch of Youghal’s new community bus. Run by Youghal Community Transport Group (part of Cumann na Daoine), the bus will provide transport for older people and people with disabilities living in Youghal.  From January the bus will run two days a week – Thursdays and Fridays.  It will also be available for use by other community and voluntary groups in the town on other days.

Youghal Community Transport Group was formed in August 2009, with the aim of providing a community transport facility which addressed unmet needs of people with disabilities, the elderly and disadvantaged in Youghal.  The group is made up of local volunteers.  To support its initial work the group secured grant aid from SECAD to pilot a service and help establish the level of need and what type of service might work.  This grant enabled the group to start a pilot community  bus service every Friday.  The pilot started in December 2009 and proved a great success.  The service is open to people aged 60 years and over, and people with disabilities of any age.  They just join the travel club and can use the community transport service from their homes to and from the town of Youghal.  In less than one year the success of the club is obvious with over 100 members availing of this wonderful facility each Friday.

Demand for the bus was such that when the grant for the pilot phase ended the group themselves used their own resources to continue the Friday service.  However ongoing efforts were being made behind the scenes by the group for a permanent community bus for Youghal.  Now, one year after starting the pilot service, Youghal Community Transport Group is delighted to launch its own bus which will enable the service to operate two days a week from January – Thursdays and Fridays.

The bus was a kind donation from St Mary’s Senior Citizens Group in Knocknaheeny.  However the project has also secured great support from a range of other groups – including Youghal Credit Union, the HSE and FAS (who has allocated a Community Employment bus driver post to the group).

“ Youghal Credit Union Ltd. is proud to be associated with Cuman Na Daoine and the Community Bus. The role of our Credit Union is to reach out to all sectors of our local community. The provision of a community will benefit both the users and the local economy by allowing people to circulate and spend money locally. We are delighted to assist in satisfying a local need to allow affordable transport to all who require it.” – Julie Ni Chomhrai, Youghal Credit Union Promotions and Development Committee’s chairperson.

The people of Youghal have taken the bus to their hearts – they have supported the bus through town and church collections, a sponsored walk by VTOS Students at the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre to name just a few.  Other organisations and companies have provided supports – MC Autos are helping with bus repairs and Youghal GAA has kindly agreed that the bus can be parked there when not in use.

“This is more than just a bus – the service gives older people and people with disabilities the independence to go out and do what they want to do – whether it’s shopping, meeting friends, going to the doctors or drawing their pension” – Tony Phelan, Chair of Youghal Community Transport Group.

When the bus is not operating for Travel Club members on Thursdays and Fridays it is available for use by other voluntary groups in Youghal.  Our Community Bus driver may have some additional hours available to drive your group on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.  But these hours are very limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  To make maximum use of the bus, groups are encouraged to provide their own driver.  Volunteer bus drivers must have a D1 licence and be aged between 25 and 70.   Priority will be given to groups supporting the elderly, people with disabilities, groups supporting young people and other voluntary groups.

So, if you are aged 60 or over, or have a disability, why not join the travel club and use the community bus on Thursdays or Fridays (starting January).  Or if you are involved in a voluntary group and would like to find out more about using the bus then call Cumann na Daoine, tel 024 91900.

Millennium Park Playground, Youghal is set to re-open following an €85,000 redevelopment programme.  Works on the state of the art community facility will get underway immediately and will be undertaken by Down-based contractor ‘Play and Leisure Services Ltd’.  The entire project will be completed mid-July and will cater for children aged 12 years and under.

2008 saw the facility close, following its failure to sufficiently meet safety standards after an inspection by RoSPA; the agency dedicated to promoting safety and the prevention of accidents in leisure facilities in Ireland.

Earlier this year however, RAPID secured funding of €66,000 under the “playground scheme” to redevelop the play area.   Youghal Town Council made up the balance and consequently Youghal is now set for a first class recreational facility for children.
Liam Ryan, Town Clerk pointed to the fact that Millennium Park is Read more

Parents and their hyperactive, anarchic, yearning-for-action offspring will be pleased and relieved to know that the Youghal playground at Greencloyne is expected to re-open in early June. The facility has been closed for almost 18 months. Report Christy Parker

Cllr Sammy Revins, who represents Youghal Council on the national urban regeneration programme, Rapid, says funding has finally been received for remedial work on the facility. “We have acquired €120, 000 from Rapid and Read more

Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Fair City actor Tom Hopkins (aka Christy Phelan) and Brian Crowley MEP were on hand to celebrate the achievements of adult learners in Youghal at a special award ceremony held at Cumann na Daoine’s new premises in Catherine Street (formerly The League of the Cross). Over 60 certificates were awarded in subjects ranging from computers, personal development and family communications. The Celebration of Adult Learners was organised by Youghal’s Equality for All initiative which aims to promote equality through improving people’s access to education, training and employment opportunities. A special round of applause went to the 28 local women who will graduate from UCC later this year with UCC diplomas in Social Studies (the course was held in Youghal and was part funded through Equality for All).

Tom Hopkins shared his own inspiring story of returning to education after five years on the dole – despite his initial fears and insecurities he went on to graduate with honours from theatre studies in Trinity College and secure a place in RTE’s drama Fair City. His story was echoed by other adult learners, who said that Read more