‘Yew Wood Venues’- Youghals Premier Venues – The Mall Arts Centre & St. Mary’s Collegiate Church

‘Yew Wood Venues’ – the new name behind Youghal’s Premier Venues – The Mall Arts & St. Mary’s Collegiate Church contributed in excess of €280,000 to the local economy of Youghal in two years according to surveys undertaken in accordance with Failte Ireland’s Festivals and Cultural Events Research Template.  The venues are run by The Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group who currently lease the buildings from Youghal Town Council.
In building upon the success of the venues to date, the two venues are to be re-branded and will now fall under the title of ‘Yew Wood Venues’.  Yew Wood – the english translation of Eochaill – encapulates both unique venues of Youghal.  A new base and booking office will operate from ‘The Coach House’ of ‘Enterprise Youghal’ in Emmet Place.

The expansion plan of ‘Yew Wood Venues’ focuses on Youghal’s commercial and contemporary arts potential. Joyce Hosford, Events Manager of Yew Wood Venues commented “We are encouraging local artists to exhibit their works in the Mall Arts Centre and we are focusing on attracting and developing local and emerging talent. We are seeking to utilise the Mall Arts Centre to its full potential as well as seeking to explore contemporary arts events. In order to do so, we envisage a ‘bottom up’ approach to our developmental plan – that is, there is a hugely strong community arts base in Youghal and we aim to support and nurture such talent.  The vision is to ensure Youghal is a recognised centre of Arts excellence, built upon the strengths of the community”.

To date, the venues have delivered a range of productions across the arts spectrum, from visual to music, dance to drama.  This has made huge impact on the local economy – events which have been running in the Yew Wood Venues have contributed €280,000 over 2 years to the local economy.

Reffering to the economic spin-off to the local community, Manager of The Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group, Aileen Murray said: “The future plans of Yew Wood Venues also focuses on developing the local economy and boosting local businesses through ‘spin off’ revenue generated from events taking place. These venues share a common goal with many businesses and organisations within the Youghal community – to help increase the number of people visiting and investing in Youghal.  Failte Ireland identified that the average visitor attending an event in Youghal will spend on average between €30 and €55”, said Aileen.

The continued development of attendances at the venues will be crucial to the venues ongoing success. In order to achieve this, there will be several initiatives undertaken through marketing, education and outreach functions. For example, the well supported Sacred Roots events, which took place in St Marys Collegiate Church will recommence shortly. These events helped to promote the arts to the youths of Youghal as well as generating much support and recognition from the community and a far. Other such developmental programmes will encourage local artists to take residence in the Mall Arts Centre and exhibit their art on a monthly basis. Yew Wood Venues will also continue to support St. Raphaels and their future projects.

In aiming to develop new captive audiences within the community, Yew Wood Venues will commence a monthly film club hugely significant considering Youghal’s strong history of interest in film. This will be a low cost means of art and cultural activity and a means for those who wish to develop their interest in cinematic art.

David McSavage, the comedian of the infamous RTE production ‘Savage Eye’, will take to the stage of the Mall Arts Centre on Saturday 25th February at 8pm. Tickets are now available. 2012 will also see hilarity from the legendary Brendan Grace, a Shakesperean play, a Moby Dick production, the family favourite Lambert Puppet Theatre and the welcomed return of the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne to name a few.  Plans are also underway to host a number of large-scale contemporary cultural and arts events which at time of press are still under negotiation.

“It is imperative in such a close community with numerous venues, we target to our specific audience and market the event accordingly” states Joyce Hosford. “We are hugely enthusiastic about the year ahead. It is great to have a permanent base, an office where people can come and meet me, discuss future plans, propose ideas, highlight queries or book tickets” she added.

In the current climate, it is imperative that local resources are utlised to their maximum potential. Yew Wood Venues is starting 2012 with much enthuasism and positivity for the year ahead. With this rebranding, also brings a very strong and forward thinking developmental plan for the Mall Arts Centre and St Marys Collegiate Church to accompany this new title.

Yew Wood Venues office is in the Coach House of the Entreprise Centre, Emmet Place – just next to St. Marys Collegiate Church. The office will be open 5 days a week and contact number is 083-3606507 or 024-81823. Official office hours will be added shortly to the website www.themallartscentre.com

THE FRIENDS OF ST. RAPHAEL’S OPEN DAY took place yesterday (Sun. 10th July 2011). The popular event was packed with people, all in great mood, buying, chatting, eating, dancing on the grass and generally having a great time. The colourful plants were almost all sold, the book stall was doing great business, the burger vans were surrounded, the candy floss was swaying in the warm breeze and the mugs of coffee were being downed at a very fast rate. The book stall, spin the wheel and the face painting proved to be particularly busy. Report/Photo: YOL

The Friends of St Raphael’s Fundraising Committee comprises John Roche, Chairman, Frances O’Neill Ahern, Secretary/Treasurer and a very active committee who commenced making their arrangements and organisation back in February, working very hard  to make sure that everything is just right for the day.   The weather was beautiful, the live music was played brilliantly, Youghal Pipe Band did a wonderful set,neighbours met for chats and the residents of the hospital had a fantastic time.

An event such as this needs help from many people and huge thanks to the people of the town and surrounding areas who not only come along on the day to support, but also those who donate items, books, gifts etc.,  Also, for the wonderful home cooked pastries, cakes, scones, biscuits brought along which were very quickly snapped up.

Many of the staff gave up their Sunday to help out on the day and the Committee are very grateful to them.  Of course, one cannot forget the marvellous coverage supplied by CRY, and Barty Murphy who organised all the live stage entertainment for the day.

The Open Day was a huge success with so much activity going on thanks to the huge crowds who came along to support our own St Raphael’s.

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Sunday last (29th Nov. 2009), a new pond was opened at St. Raphael’s Centre, Youghal in memory of the late Richie O’Sullivan, who had been in residence there for 40 years.
Report: Becky Grice    Photo: Michael Hussey    Email: news@youghalonline.com

When Richie passed away in January of this year, his family decided to donate money to the centre to help renovate the old pond, where Richie had spent so many happy hours.

Richie’s brother, Con O’Sullivan told the East Cork Journal, ‘There was always a pond at St. Raphael’s Centre, that Richie truly loved but, over the years, it fell into disrepair, which was a shame. The staff of St. Raphael’s had always been so kind to Richie, that it felt right to give something back and to also honour his memory. He was as much a part of the place as any other resident, and, because of this, there’ll always be a little part of him there.’

The official opening took place on Sunday last, with Fr. McGuane and Director of Nursing, Maura O’Leary present, as well as Richie’s brothers and sisters Con, John, Helen and Theresa, and their families.

Richie’s three other brothers, Donal, Michael and Kevin, were unable to attend but sent their love and thoughts on that special day.

The pond has fish and water-lilies in it and the O’Sullivans hope that the residents will find as much happiness at its side as Richie did.

The Friends of St. Raphael’s also made a donation to the cost of the pond, as did the HSE.
Staff nurse, Eleanor O’Riordan Martin and Maura O’Leary both thanked Richie’s family for their kind donation and stated that the new pond has ‘pride of place’ in the grounds of St. Raphael’s Centre.

Con O’Sullivan also paid tribute to the centre’s gardener Michael Roche, David Keane, who came up with the design of the new pond and the staff and residents of St. Brendan’s Ward, where Richie spent his last years.

The pond is a place for calm reflection for all the residents and, as Con hoped, Richie O’Sullivan will be a part of it forever. Report by Becky Grice, East Cork Journal
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The Donal Ring Ceili Band was founded in October 1958. Donal played previously with the Celtic Band from Mallow and the famous Blarney Ceili Band. He was successful in winning the Hohner accordion All-Ireland championships three times and he was the first Irish Ceili Band to reach the Irish top twenty with the song “Beautiful City”.

The vocalist was Paul O’Leary from Cork. Donal will be celebrating 50 years in the business with his own Band in October of this year. A presentation has been organized by John Cunningham and friends at the Walter Raleigh Hotel,Youghal on Friday 3rd October, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. with the Donal Ring Ceili band taking to the stage followed by the fabulous Owen Condon and guests – playing until 12:30 a.m. Donal was a personal friend to the late, great from Scotland. Donal stayed at the Shand house on the ten occasions while touring Scotland. He has also played many times for charity including visits to the Mercy Hospital Cork on Christmas Day for 25 years. The Donal Ring Ceili band has toured extensively in England, Scotland, Wales, Holland and America down through the years. This man has to be congratulated for his promotion of Irish music and song over the last 60 years and is still going strong.
Make sure to come early on Friday 3rd October, 2008 to the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal for a night of top class music and memories. Thanks to ” YoughalOnline.com”-”Community Radio Youghal” and the “Youghal News” for help with Read more

Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

St. Raphael’s Centre, Youghal was the starting point for over four hundred machines of every type and size as motorcyclists from all over Munster set off, for the sixth year running, in the annual charity motorcycle rally that took them through Dungarvan, Lismore, Fermoy, Cork and on to Kinsale. The occasion was part of a major fundraising effort for the sick children of five Cork hospitals. Refreshments were provided for the riders who had committed to the route of 135 miles.

They are helping to fund a brief holiday for the children in Euro Disney, Paris, next May. Each motorcyclist contributes at least €25 for the privilege of riding with about 400 other bikers on the trip, organised, as before, by Read more

Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Youghal Pipe Band who performed at The St. Raphael’s Open Day

Large crowds turned out for the annual fun day event held at the St. Raphael’s Centre. The fundraiser is organised by The Friends Of St. Raphael’s Committee. St. Raphael’s is a centre for people with intellectual disabilities located in Youghal Co.Cork a coastal town in the South of Ireland. St. Raphael’s Centre provides both a residential and day-care service catering for 158 clients, 36 of which Read more

By Michael Hussey

Youghal’s Windy Lane Puppeteers are looking forward to performing in Liverpool European Capital Of culture 2008. The Troupe will visit The Beatles Museum and the Central Library to perform their latest production ‘Those were the days’ inspired by The Beatles music. Windy Lane Puppeteers are based in The Bawnard day care unit of St.Raphael’s Centre, Youghal.

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