The CRY 104FM Fashion Show took place at the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal, last Thursday night, Nov 8th 2012. The fundraiser was in aid of the radio stations relocation fund.

Click on image below to see the CRY 104FM Fashion Show. – Photos: Claire Regan

The Re-Mix Fashion Show took place at The Red Store on Sunday 30th Sept. It was the launch of Re-Mix Fashion Styling, a new venture by artist, Marcella Reardon.

The original event was planned for the beach during the summer but was cancelled due to bad weather. Marcella re-invented the Fashion Show to take place at The Red Store courtyard after a kind invitation from the owner, Karen.

The beach atmosphere was maintained, beach stones lining the beautiful red carpet and cheerful, brightly coloured paper lanterns decorating the space. The models wore their own clothes, styled by Marcella, each expressing their own individual look. The themes for the show were, Denim Beauty, On the Beach, Beach Glamour and a Black and White finale. There was juggling, dancing and tai-chi as part of the catwalk presentation.

Music was by Chris Regan from C.R.Y.104FM and Bobby Lee kindly provided the P.A. Solo Hairdressing created the perfect styles for the event and make-up was by Karen Tobin, Margaret Anderson and Susanne Sohege. Helen and Brendan Lucey donated curtain fabric.All help was given voluntarily and €320.76 was raised for Youghal Hospital on the day.

Click on images below to see more of the The Re-Mix Fashion Show. Photography by Barry Lawlor

A UNIQUE FASHION SHOW that was to take place on Youghal’s Front Strand in August and was cancelled due to appalling weather has been re-scheduled to take place on Sunday 30th of September at The Red Store Bar and Restaurant in Youghal.

The Fashion Show is being staged to launch “Re-mix Fashion and Styling”, a new venture run by Youghal resident Marcella Reardon.

This unique event celebrates local people in all their diversity and individuality. The models will be wearing their own clothes which Marcella has styled to create a fun event harnessing local talent and goodwill.

Speaking about the event Marcella says “we were all so disappointed when we couldn’t stage the event on Youghal Beach because of the bad weather in July, but I’m delighted that Karen and the team at The Red Store have agreed to let us stage it in their wonderful courtyard”.

The Fashion Show begins at 3pm and all donations go to Youghal Community Hospital and Hospice.

For further information email: marcellareardon@gmail.com

Harmony, Youghal’s highly talented singing and dancing group will perform Weenie, a newly-written, musical comedy as their Christmas 2010 presentation.  The show will run for four nights from Dec. 6th to the 9th. As the promotional blurb tells us, the time is the 1960’s, that gloriously optimistic era during which “we first began asking the question we’re still asking – ‘What’s happenin’ man?!’” (Indeed, of late we’ve been asking it more than ever!)  The place is Cork city with, like the old railway line of the time, strong links to Youghal. Report:  Christy Parker / Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com email: news@youghalonline.com

Weenie is written by Harmony’s veteran stage and musical director Finbar Hannon and features a cast of over 30. Its eclectic set of characters present an array of “gamblers, chancers, baters, lovers, teddy-boys and teeny-boppers –and a dead cat.” There is also someone called Madge, “up from the country” and carrying more superstitions than a street load of ladders on Friday 13th.

While the title role is played by Martin Hennessy, with Ruth Hayes as his friend Rita (both 28), the actors are cast as equal status. “That’s because the story is essentially about the “the innocence and hidden strength of ‘little’ (ordinary) people at a head-spinning turning-point for us all,” says PRO Ann Brookes. “Most of all,” she adds smilingly, “it is a hilarious, heart-warming love story with an explosive, hand-clapping, toe-tapping finale!” A happy ending seems assured in this tale of pre-Nama Ireland.

Debut

The play also marks Finbar’s debut as a stage writer. Having first nurtured, 20 years ago, the shadow of an idea that he might possibly consider chancing to write something for the theatre sometime perhaps, he finally put the process to paper last May, applying the final full stop in August.

In doing so, he has not only woven a story but has embellished it magnificently with original songs alongside inspired parodies of recognisable tunes. Few writers/directors are better placed in the history of Youghal theatre to do so.

Finbar’s lengthy credit roll of success includes musical director of such shows as The Communication Chord, Annie, South Pacific, Dancing as Lughnasa, Oklahoma  and My Fair Lady.  As an actor, he has won Best Actor Award at the All Ireland Drama Festival and played leading roles with Cork’s Everyman and guested with the Abbey Touring Company. He can also reflect on many immensely successful and fulfilling years with the Youghal Choral Society, during which many premier awards were acquired the length and breadth of Ireland.

For its part, Harmony is a self-supporting theatre company “dedicated to the development of singing and acting talent in the community,” says Ann. “We are entirely voluntary and needless to say, new members are forever welcome,” she adds.

The formula seems infallible. Since Hannon met Harmony, hailed productions have included Many Young Men of Twenty, Some Enchanted Evening, From Here to Broadway, Guys and Dolls and A Tribute to John B & Showtime. That’s not to mention various concerts and recitals. The 2010 crew features several new faces, front of stage and back.

Christmas spirit

It merits mention also that this year’s show is presenting adaptable set units, along with a stage extension and steps unit. The non-technically minded will just have to employ their eyes to appreciate these innovations but their construction is due to the generosity of Jimmy and Maurice Flanagan. The works have been donated to the Mall Arts Centre for perpetual use by all local and visiting groups. Makes up for the dead cat.

Weenie runs at the Mall Arts Centre from MondayDecember 6th to Thursday December 9th , commencing at 8pm. Adm: Adults €12, chislers €10, available on door or in advance from Cree’s card shop (024) 93899.

Cast in order of appearance:

Finbar Hannon; Kitty Kenny; Mary Clohessy; Ruth Hayes; Jimmy Flanaghan; Con Kiely; Martin Hennessy; Liz Morey; Alice Terry; Ann Brooks; Paul Kenefick; Jimmy Morey; Pa Murphy; Monica Parsons; Jordan Hennessy; Liz Coleman Lee; Maeve Henegan; Tommy Curtin; Heather Boyle; Beverly O’Brien; Kieran Leahy; Breeda Dempsey; Tish Flanagan; Masie Kenefick; Liz Coleman; Margaret Moloney; Adam Drake; Leah Ahern; Matthew Doherty; Alan Ware; Eoghan Moloney; Elena Schaffer O’Regan; Beth O’Reilly;and Corky the Cat

CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE PREVIEW SCENE’S FROM THE SHOW – All photos Michael Hussey www.YoughalOnline.com

‘Weenie’! The Mall Arts Centre, 8pm – Youghal Dec 6th – 9th inclusive

A brilliant, new comedy will have its premiere at The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal, from Monday Dec 6th to Thurs Dec 9th (incl).  It is presented by the multi-talented ‘Harmony’ group and is their Christmas Show for this year.  It promises to be a fantastic night’s fun for all the family. It would be a good idea to book at Cree’s Card Shop (024 93899) by you can also pay at the door.  As usual, with ‘Harmony’ the emphasis will be on top quality entertainment at budget prices – Adults €12 Children €10.

‘Weenie’! features gamblers, chancers, baters, lovers, Teddy-boys and Teenie- boppers, singers, dancers and a dead Cat!

It is a story of the innocence and hidden strength of  ‘little’ people at a head-spinning turning-point for us all – the sixties, when we first began to ask the question we’re  still asking now: ‘What’s happenin’ man’?

But most of all, it is a hilarious and heart-warming love-story.  Then, as now, all anyone ever wanted was a happy ending.  In ‘Weenie’! – in an explosive, hand-clapping, toe-tapping finale – we get it!

‘Weenie’! with original songs and parodies is written by local man, Finbar Hannon.  It is his first play.  Finbar is an accomplished stage and musical director.  He has many shows to his credit, including ‘The Communication Cord’, ‘Many Young Men of Twenty’, ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Annie’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Some Enchanted Evening’, ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’.

As an actor, he has won Best Actor Award at the All Ireland Drama Festival, played leading roles with Everyman Theatre and guested with The Abbey Touring Company.  Among his fondest memories are those of Youghal Choral Society, when they won premier awards at festivals throughout the country, including a two-in- a-row at the Cork Choral festival.

He is currently musical and stage director for ‘Harmony’, which is dedicated to the further development of singing and acting talent in the community.  ‘Harmony’ is an entirely voluntary and open group and new members are always very welcome.  It doesn’t ask for financial assistance from the already hard-pressed local community – it is self-supporting. ‘Harmony’s’ shows are always to a very high standard and thoroughly enjoyable.  Among it’s many successes are ‘Many Young Men of Twenty’, ‘Some Enchanted Evening’, ‘From Here to Broadway’, ‘A tribute to John B & Showtime’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’, along with various recitals, concerts and Christmas Shows.

extension and steps unit – all expertly constructed, free of charge, by Jimmy and Maurice Flanagan – to the Mall Arts centre, for use by other local and visiting groups, with a big kiss and a Happy Christmas!

Don’t forget: ‘Weenie’!, Mall Arts Centre, Mon – Thurs, 6th to 9th Dec. 8pm. Adults €12, Children €10. Book at Cree’s Card Shop 024 93899 or pay at the door.

Don’t miss it!

Oona Colin
Facilities Coordinator
The Mall Arts Centre/St. Mary’s Collegiate Church
Tel: 083 360 6507

Michael Del Punta is the latest singing sensation to come out of Youghal. The talented 19 year old crooner wows the diners with his singing in the popular Capri Bay Italian restaurant in Youghal, where he works as a part time waiter. The diners have discovered that Michael is not only good at serving tables, he displays his fine talents singing his favourite songs by artists such as Sinatra, Crosby, Tony Bennett, etc., much to their delight and surprise.Report/Photo: Michael Hussey & Tony Irwin for YoughalOnline.com

The UCC student found he could not afford to bring his girlfriend to fancy restaurants so he decided to work as a part-time waiter in town. After meeting the proprietor of Capri Bay, Gerald Esposito, he immediately got the job and has been working there part-time for the past seven months. While working, Michael would often break out in song in the kitchen, when Gerald and his father Rocco asked him, with such a magnificent voice, to go out and sing to the customers. This has proved to be so popular that he has been affably called ‘the singing waiter’ by the customers and now Michael sings regularly to the packed restaurant. Now, customers come from far and wide to hear Michael serenade them at the tables as ‘the singing waiter’.

A recent Youtube videoclip of Michael singing in the restaurant, made by YoughalOnline.com, is rapidly climbing in the rankings of the entertainment section and is just one of many to be uploaded by YoughalOnline.com in the near future. Michael was also interviewed by Shane Supple on Youghal’s local radio station, C.R.Y.

His debut self-titled EP, recorded at Claycastle Studios in Youghal, has exceeded all expectations, so much so that he had to order a second pressing, such is the demand for the singing waiter. Michael says his goal one day is to sing at Madison Square Gardens in New York City, sell twenty five million albums and appear on the Late Late Show!

Michael and his family, who have been living in Youghal for the past seven years, originate from Verona, Italy. Since he was a young boy, when his older siblings were listening to the likes of Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Madonna or Kylie, Michael’s first contact with music was through his mother’s record collection consisting of works by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. He has continued this love of that ‘big band’ genre ever since. He has trained his voice with the help of well-known music conductor, Mary Peadar-Daly where she taught him to study his breathing technique so much so that Michael and his mature voice have been likened to Michael Bublé, although his favourite artist of all time and greatest influence is undoubtedly Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.

After moving to Youghal from Italy and studying at the old Youghal CBS school (he was the last person to do the Italian Junior Certificate exam in that school), he completed his fifth and sixth year studies in Pobalscoil na Tríonóide and now currently studies Arts at UCC, Cork City.

Michael has proved to be so popular, he is asked to sing regularly by friends at parties and weddings and is growing in confidence all the time. Speaking exclusively to YoughalOnline.com, he said “I am amazed by the reaction of the Youtube video and would like to thank YoughalOnline.com and everyone involved for their support” and confidently added “the way I see it, you should be able to do whatever it takes to make it to the top.”

So on your next trip to Capri Bay Italian restaurant to hear the singing waiter, when ordering your “big-a pizza pie”, you’ll get “Amoré” than you bargained for!

For the latest updates on Michael Del Punta go to his fanpage on Facebook or click here to view his Youtube videos.

From Here To Broadway

Performed by “Harmony” Music & Dance Group, at Community Centre, Youghal running from May 21st – 25th Read more