Youghal

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES EXTEND WARM WELCOME TO LE BELLOT PASSENGERS AT YOUGHAL’S MARKET SQUARE

During the vibrant festivities marking the arrival of Le Bellot’s inaugural cruise to Youghal on August 20th, 2025, the Jehovah’s Witnesses (Youghal branch) set up their outreach stand at Barry’s Lane, Market Square in the very heart of the town. Passengers from the cruise ship were greeted not only by local music, heritage, and gifts, but also by the friendly faces of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were there to warmly welcome visitors and share their message. With free literature, engaging conversation, and an open, inclusive approach, their presence added another layer of community spirit to the day.

This welcoming presence reflects Youghal’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, celebrating the rich tapestry of different faiths and communities that contribute to the town’s vibrant social life.

Photo: The Jehovah’s Witnesses stand at Market Square in Youghal, warmly welcoming and greeting the Le Bellot cruise ship passengers during the inaugural visit to Youghal on August 20th, 2025. ... See MoreSee Less

FILM REVIEW BY MICHAEL TWOMEY | ALIEN: EARTH
Director: Noah Hawley
Disney+

One of the many thoughts that crossed my mind in the old Pavilion cinema on Patrick’s St. Cork on a bleak afternoon in 1979 was: “What if they ever got to earth?” Myself and a friend had been intrigued by the poster in the Pavilion hallway that read, “In space no one can hear you scream.” Those were the days before the information age, even before film magazines. Almost every encounter with culture was accidental or instinctual. Alien didn’t feel like Sci-Fi—it didn’t feel like anything you had ever seen; disgruntled workers in overalls arguing over pay while hurtling through deep space, a woman as hero—the lone survivor on a ship ravaged by a monster yet to be bettered in cinema—and a synthetic with milk for blood.

There have been many versions of the Alien story in the 45 years since: Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus, and the latest, Alien: Earth. Much like the bloated franchise of Star Wars, these legacy films have nerds scrambling to the internet for chronological timelines so they are not embarrassed at the Sci-Fi conventions. Safe to say that the better storylines and films have come under the tutelage of Ridley Scott, either as Director or Executive Producer. He is the latter on Alien: Earth.

Noah Hawley of Fargo fame takes the reins on the first TV adaptation of the Alien narrative, and he has taken an almost religious devoutness to the application of his craft. One feels Scott standing over Hawley’s shoulder, obsessing on every detail. Episode 1 opens with the crew coming out of hypersleep on the Maginot. The ship is carrying Alien specimens; its laboratory is packed with the familiar hard-knuckled white scorpion creature that attaches to its victim’s face. There are other centipede-like creatures that look deceptively innocent.

The set design is lovingly faithful to the original (all angular, folded tubes like the ship had its intestines on show). Cramped spaces are divided by manic sliding doors, strip lighting that was thought de rigueur for the best 70s nightclubs, and green digital lettering last seen on the Atari tennis game Pong. Costumes, soundscapes, dialogue—are all lifted from the original film, even down to one of the engineers lighting up a cigarette after crawling out of hypersleep, which may have been fitting in 1979, but for 2025 audiences looks like a severe health and safety breach. Perhaps by 2120, when the story is set—two years prior to Ripley et al.—smoking is actually good for you in deep space. Here is a world that we have all begun to dread.

In the year 2120, Earth is dominated by two technology companies—Weyland-Yutani and Prodigy—trying to win the immortality arms race. There are humans, synths (artificial beings), cyborgs (enhanced humans), and hybrids (synthetic bodies with human consciousnesses implanted). No one quite knows how to trust the other.

The focus of the story is Wendy (Sydney Chandler). Wendy is a child dying of cancer (yes, imagine—2120 and still no cure). She and other children suffering a similar fate are brought to Neverland (again, yes—a different name was surely considered). Neverland is run by scientists whose dream is to offer the dying eternal life as hybrids. The genius who heads this project is Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin). Get it? A cavalier child with the world at his mercy—a foppish irritant who comes across like the love child of Elon Musk and Willy Wonka. He giggles while tempting destruction and frowns at warnings against it. The sort of “oh you’re no fun” quip that he might have uttered had he been Oppenheimer, smiling gleefully over the drawings of the first nuclear bomb.

Kavalier gives Wendy and the other children a new life in the bodies of older-looking synths—a sort of futuristic Freaky Friday in space. The memories and emotions of the children are transposed into bodies that have super strength and speed. Wendy harbors desires to meet her long-lost brother, Hermit (Alex Lawther). Hermit, a medic who looks far too young to carry such expertise (perhaps he used AI to pass all his exams), is brought to action while responding to a crash in the city centre. It’s the Maginot. Predictably, the aliens have broken free.

By the time the ship crashes to Earth, everyone on board but Morrow (Babou Ceesay), a cyborg security officer, is dead. Wendy, watching the news unfold in Neverland, sees the crash as an opportunity to carry out a search-and-rescue mission and to finally meet her brother, Hermit. The problem is the Xenomorphs are loose and hungry.

Disney has released Episodes 1 and 2 together, with another six episodes to follow, and while it looks like the story will revolve around Wendy and Hermit, the greatest attraction to Alien: Earth remains the unyielding power and savagery of the Xenomorph, who has been given the sort of sheen usually reserved for the unpacking of a new phone at Christmas. When the Xenomorph is on screen, ripping up hapless bystanders, Alien: Earth is a mesmerizing watch. The lesser creatures bring their own degree of creepy-crawly disgust.

The series is ambitious in scope—the sets are extraordinary—and the storylines are complex, but it’s the horror that grounds it. Almost as terrifying in this futuristic tale, with its prompts taken from the AI questions no one can answer today, is the premise that superhuman children in synthetic bodies will save the world. One suspects (and fingers are crossed) that Boy Kavalier will face down the creature and finally realise that perfection sometimes manifests as horror.

There has to be a moral—it’s on Disney+ after all. The Alien franchise, particularly when Ridley Scott is involved, has obsessed with the serious questions: Who are we? Where are we from? What will we become? Alien: Earth hints at imagined answers. Perhaps one truth of the future might be: “On earth no one can hear you laugh.” At least not when we are in such a rush to give up thousands of years of evolutionary agency to the idea of artificial perfection. Alien: Earth, like the original, seems to be saying—respect nature because it’s no fun being the prey. ... See MoreSee Less

WEATHER ALTERS PLANS BUT YOUGHAL’S WARM WELCOME STILL AWAITS LE BELLOT PASSENGERS

28/08/2025 - Despite the disappointing change in schedule due to weather, Youghal’s welcoming spirit is undiminished. The highly anticipated arrival of the French cruise ship Le Bellot in Youghal harbour this morning was diverted, with the ship continuing its journey to Cobh instead. However, all is not lost—passengers will still experience the charm of Youghal as local tour guides greet them in Cobh and bring them by bus to Youghal this afternoon for their planned heritage tours and local hospitality.

The impressive response to last week’s inaugural visit by Le Bellot, coupled with glowing feedback from tourists, crew, the ship’s captain, and the townspeople, signals a true revival of Youghal’s tourism and economy. East Cork communities united to showcase heritage sites like the Clock Tower, St Mary’s Collegiate Church, the new Lace Museum, and the picturesque Greenway. Traditional music, busking competitions, and enthusiastic local businesses created a carnival atmosphere along the quay, turning each cruise stop into a celebration of culture and community.

Not only does Youghal benefit from the ship’s positive reputation, but the workaround of passenger transfers from Cobh hints at exciting new possibilities. If this approach proves successful, it could develop into a regular practice—allowing Youghal to welcome even more visitors who dock at Cobh to enjoy the town’s unique experiences and gems. With 25 cruise visits now planned for Cork harbours this year and more on the horizon for 2026, the future looks very bright for Youghal.

The accompanying picture, captured by local Youghal man, Daniel O’Reilly, shows Le Bellot at anchor off Youghal harbour during its historic visit on August 20th—a moment filled with hope and anticipation. Residents, businesses, and organisers are eager to continue building on this momentum, ensuring Youghal’s status as a must-see destination for cruise passengers and helping usher in a new era for tourism and regeneration in the town.

Today’s detour, far from being a setback, proves Youghal’s adaptability and broadens its appeal, reinforcing its role in the region’s expanding cruise tourism sector. The town looks forward with optimism to becoming a regular stop for future cruise visits, where every guest can experience the warmth, heritage, and hospitality that define this vibrant seaside resort town.
By Michael Hussey | Photo: Daniel O'Reilly ... See MoreSee Less