YoughalOnline.com

2 days ago

Youghal Maritime News: €60,000 secured for Upgrading of Youghal Harbour. (19th May 2020)

Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice & Equality, David Stanton, has learned that funding totalling €96,000 will be allocated between Ballycotton Pier, Knockadoon Pier and Youghal Harbour under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Local Authority Harbour Programme.

The Local Authority Programme forms part of the 2020 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, through which the Department co-funds up to 75% of the total cost of these approved projects, with Cork County Council providing the balance. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works as well as supporting the enhancement of harbour facilities and marine leisure developments.

Three projects in East Cork will be awarded funding under the programme:

Location – Project Description – Funding Allocation

Ballycotton Pier – Provide additional berthage at the deepest section of the pier, fit new navigation light at harbour entrance and install new fenders at head of main pier – €22,500.

Knockadoon Pier and Slip – New concrete deck on upper section of slipway and section of vertical toe-rails on both sides of slipway. Install new section of handrail on raised concrete section at beach and breakwater and replace two ladders at head of breakwater. Provide new surface water drain with gulley adjacent to gabions and associated safety signage – €13,500.

Youghal Harbour (Nealson Quay, Market Dock and Green Dock) – Installation of new handrails, toe-rails, replace ladders, mooring rings, mooring bollards and storm weather gate. Upgrade of existing steps, remedial works to pier wall and re-deck slipway – €60,000.

Total allocation – €96,000 … See MoreSee Less

YoughalOnline.com

2 days ago

Known to the local people as ‘The Waterford Factory’ – – officially Youghal Carpets – – This is a light-hearted version from a Deise viewpoint. I hope you enjoy – Mike Hackett

Photo 1 – The Inter-Firm Youghal Carpets Hurling team (see names attached)
Photo 2 – Tom Cashman makes a presentation at the local fishing contest weigh-in.
Photo 3 – Design Dept. – – Roy Wynn standing at back left and Con Scuffins standing on the right

– The Waterford Factory – – known as Youghal Carpets.
So many people from the ‘County’ (Waterford) worked at Youghal Carpets that the local townies referred to it as the Waterford Factory.

We go firstly back to 1947 when Willie O’Dwyer built Seafield Fabrics on the Cork side of town near Summerfield. That firm went on to employ hundreds of locals – – who had not gone on the ‘Innisfallen’ to rebuild the English cities after the war. Then in 1953, Willie started Blackwater Cottons and it also took on board a lot of the unemployed who were not at the lucrative salmon fishing. Move on then to 1954 – – when John C Murray foresaw that carpets were going to be in every house – – sooner or later. He was right!

John was already owner and manager of Youghal Cabinets in Store Street and had a good sense of business and of how to progress. For instance – – when Pye radio manufacturers had a severe fire in their factory in England – – John went across to meet the directors and offered to make cabinets for them pending the rebuilding of their plant. An agreement was reached whereby Youghal Cabinets went on to make cabinets for radios and radiograms for Pye for many years. Later that Youghal firm moved to new premises at Mill Road and became Murray Kitchens – – supplying all Ireland.

But back to 1954 when a small carpet manufacturing plant was set up by John Murray at the bottom of O’Neill-Crowley Street (Browne St.) near the anchor bar. At first it was a simple operation with just six employees – – but not for long – – as more and more employees were taken on. The plant expanded into neighbouring buildings and corn-stores to accommodate extra looms. Now the machinery was getting a lot bigger and required even more floor-space. The narrow looms making stair carpet were now outnumbered by the broad looms to make room-wide carpets.

John Murray, while being astute and shrewd himself, realised that he needed the best available staff. So he recruited experienced professional people to head-up the important sections of the firm. Eddie Coree was the main Accountant, Tom Cashman was in charge of Human Resources, Ned Donovan was the Time-and-Motion (now called Work-Study) head, assisted by John Coleman who hailed from Dungarvan, and Jack Walsh was the Paymaster. Incidentally Tom Cashman and John were married to two sisters (McCarthy) and Tom had left a top job as a Police Officer in Hong Kong to come back to Ireland and join the firm.

An advertisement on T.V. for Youghal Carpets that time described it as “The carpet with the soft deep pile”. This description was carried on to Tom Cashman (who always had a smile on his face) and he was called “The man with the soft deep smile”. Tom was very popular and later when he stood for election to the Local Urban Council – – he was easily elected.

Again more workers were sought from far and near. From Tallow, Lismore, Cappoquin, Aglish, Villierstown, Clashmore, Grange, Ardmore – – and even from Dungarvan – – people came to work in the ‘Carpets’. Considering the times that prevailed – – the pay was excellent. One ‘tale’ told of a farm labourer complaining to a pal about the long hours that he worked on the land – – and sometimes it could be seven days a week. The pal reminded him that the ‘Carpets’ were looking for workers and he should apply there. He did – – and was taken on to start the next Monday. He duly attended at 7 am and worked away until it came to 3 pm when he was told by the supervisor that he could now go home. “But I have just a small bit to finish” said he. “Go home” said the boss “Or we’ll have a strike on our hands”.

He couldn’t believe his luck! He had twice as much pay and only a half day’s work to do. That was the era when the farmers started to get a tractor each to replace the labourer.
The late great John Kennedy of ‘Gossip Shop’ fame had come from Dungarvan to run a shop in Youghal for Colm Moloney – – before starting his own at North Main Street. He was selling many things like radios and record players plus Honda 50s. He sold the Honda 50s as fast as they could be supplied to him. Anybody buying a Honda from John knew that he had the backing of Davy Hayes who was an expert on motor-bikes and they were guaranteed good service. Davy was a lovely man – – originally from the Tallow Road – – he was most helpful. He fixed punctures in my Honda many times and would not take any payment.

Every weekday during the mid 1960s, a fleet of motor-bikes, later cars, would cross the ‘new’ bridge from the ‘County’ on their way to work. But now that the workers were earning big wage packets – – they made life easier for themselves and began to stay in town. They became ‘lodgers’ – – landladies like Bridie Begley (North Main St.), Mary Malone (Church St.) Mary Goggin (Emmet Place) and Nell Kelleher (DeValera St.) come to mind. Friendships were then made with the locals and work comrades in the off-duty time. A lot of romantic partnerships were formed and the cinemas and dance halls were doing well. I remember Marie Donovan and her sister Pat from near Knockanore working for Don McDonald in his Travel Agency at that time and foreign holidays were just taking off. They were the busiest people in town. Cork Airport had opened a few years earlier and the ‘Carpets’ employees were jetting off to Spain and Portugal to spend their wealth. The list of employees was now approaching the eight-hundred mark – – in addition to a second plant at Killacloyne near Carrigtwohill – – and a few in England.

Meanwhile in Cork City – – a builder; Eoin O’Callaghan – – saw an opening in Youghal for the building of houses to accommodate those newcomers to town. Those romantic encounters were resulting in marriages and even the flats were all taken. Eoin built estates with twenty to thirty houses in each and Sweetfield Estate and Kilcoran Park were two such places. Looking around now in 2020 – – a good lot of the original occupiers are still happily in possession of those homes. West-Waterford folk were well represented in those schemes.

John Murray had the same honourable and reliable secretary all his life. Mary Russell (whose roots were near the five-cross roads junction at Rath, Piltown) was always respectful to her boss and after forty years she still referred to him always as “Mr. Murray”.

Mary told the following true story to me shortly before she died suddenly. One day her boss asked her to accompany him to Dublin on a special mission. It was in the 1970s during a prolonged bank strike and he needed cash to pay the workforce. The firm was going so well that they had bank accounts in England as well as in Ireland. The special and secret mission was to attend at a British bank in Dublin to get sterling cash for payday. Away to Dublin the two went in his car and they collected fifty thousand pounds in sterling cash – – hidden in two suitcases. It was placed in the booth of the car and they drove off home. Then on arrival – – John stopped outside Mary’s house to let her go in home – – but he also got out himself and removed the two suitcases from the car. He brought them into Mary’s house and asked her where her bed was. On being told, he then put the fifty thousand sterling under her bed. Her mouth was wide open as he went on to explain that if the secret had leaked out – – then he could be raided during the night – – but nobody would think that it would be hidden a few blocks away under Mary’s bed. She told me that she slept as soundly as ever that night.

Another story concerning John mentions how he had an Aston-Martin car at one stage and a big Citreon later. Seemingly he was known to be a fast driver and liked big cars.

One day he called Jack Walsh and asked if Jack would drive him to Dublin – – John had been at a late meeting in Cork the night before and was tired. Jack – – who was a moderate driver – – agreed to do the driving and so in Jack’s car they started for Dublin. Somewhere in County Kilkenny, an animal jumped out in front of the car and Jack had to brake hard to avoid a collision. Jack turned to John and said “There now John, if you had been driving, where would we be”. John replied, “We’d be in Dublin by now having our breakfast”.

John Murray had great connections himself with West Waterford in that he had a farm at Ballinamertina, Clashmore for years and he later lived across the road from my house here at Shanacoole.

Taking all the foregoing into consideration – -it’s no wonder that local folk called the firm ‘The Waterford Factory’. God be with the days.
Mike Hackett. … See MoreSee Less

YoughalOnline.com

2 days ago

CHERNOBYL AID GROUNDED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC
By Christy Parker | Courtesy of the Dungarvan Observer

Chernobyl aid trucks due to travel to Belarus next week have been left unloaded due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The stalled aid effort means tens of tons of items donated by the Irish public over the past year will remain in storage for the foreseeable future.

In further blows to victims affected down the generations by the 1986 nuclear plant disaster, scheduled vacations with host families in Ireland and other countries are postponed. There are also reports that the virus is spreading across orphanages and care centres in Belarus.

It’s not easy to find someone that makes Donald Trump seem wise these days but in a mind-numbing display of ignorance, insensitivity and conceit, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has denied any crisis and prescribed sport, vodka and sauna trips as remedies for any semblance of Covid-19 in his unfortunate country. “The tractor will cure everyone there, the fields cure everyone”, he also helpfully suggests!

Back in the real world, Chernobyl Aid Ireland (CAI) CEO Liam Grant says his organisation was due to dispatch four 90 ft. artic trucks on May 1st. They were to leave from Waterford, Youghal, Limerick and Dublin, with destinations in aid centres in the Belarus capital Minsk and Grozovo 100 km further south. The centres care for children and young adults with mental and/or physical disabilities.

In particular, the agency has fashioned a strong connection with approximately 200 residents at the Grozovo centre. Formerly an army barracks, over the past 23 years voluntary Irish labour, funding, and other donations have transformed what was a bleak, cold and damp complex into a comfortable residential centre double-glazed windows, insulated bedrooms, a kitchen, hot and cold water and a working farm. CAI also helps to provide medical treatment.

Liam, a retired paramedic from County Kilkenny is well known from his ambulance service days across much of Waterford. He established CAI in 1997 and while it operates collection services across Ireland, its head office is in Waterford city.

Varied load
Liam says each truck’s “15 tonnes or so” of aid would comprise medical items such as beds, blankets, wheelchairs, crutches, and other walking aids, along with furniture, clothing, shoes, games and general household items.

Amongst the material now in storage is about 10 tons of salt. It is needed to treat large boilers whose heating elements are susceptible to lime in the water. “It’s a serious problem. We have little treatment plants but without salt, the elements can burn out in about three months”, he explains. Washing powder is also a prime commodity, Liam informs because the equivalent in Belarus is of “very poor quality and the clothing generally needs strong treatment”.

Building materials, including a large quantity of OSB boards, are further included for delivery next time, with the agency building a new toilet block. Again the structure was built by Irish efforts -for which a JCB and chainsaws were transported from Ireland to clear a site- and May was to see out the job, prior to construction of another toilet block. A Cork chef was also recruited to tend to the Irish workforce.

The material sent to Minsk and Grozovo is sorted out and distributed over weeks and months according to need and applications. A recent tragedy has seriously undermined that approach, with Covid-19 claiming the life of one Luid Milla, a Minsk-based administrator with which CAI had worked for over 18 years. “She was simply brilliant at her job”, says Liam. “From distribution of aid to acquiring visas, speeding up customs clearance, everything; it leaves a huge void and I’m not sure how we will fill it or indeed with whom. Our hearts go out to her husband and family”.

Local connection

Liam’s sentiments are echoed by John O’Connor, a retired cross-Europe truck driver from Youghal. “Luid was a wonderful woman and will be dearly missed”, he echoes.

John’s participation in the annual aid convoy dates back five years and he is usually accompanied on his trips by his wife Esther. His ‘patch’ as it were comprises east Cork and west Waterford. The year-long collecting begins immediately after each trip. “People are incredibly generous”, he enthuses “and we now have an absolutely full warehouse awaiting removal at an industrial estate”.

The items are collected through the help Gavin Tivey and his family who own Perk’s entertainment centre, who provide collection vans. The items are eventually collected for transportation to Belarus through the generosity of truck providers O’Leary International Ltd.

Besides material goods, the volunteers also receive monetary donations, which are vital for the enterprise. A return journey takes about six days and “it costs up to €5,000 in visas, fuel expenses and so on”, says John, adding that the drivers pay their own expenses in terms of food, etc. The convoy will travel through Dover, Belgium, Germany and Poland to Belarus.

The aid agency would hope to travel in September but, as Liam surmises. “Spring 2021 might be a more realistic target as things stand”.

Further information, monetary donations,: www.chernobylaidireland.ie. Also, johnoconnor34@gmail.com.

Picture: Retired cross-Europe truck driver John O’Connor
with his wife Esther and Canon Thomas Browne P.E. … See MoreSee Less

YoughalOnline.com

2 days ago

Aerial view of the old Presentation Convent, O´Brien´s Place, Youghal, Co.Cork, taken by local photographer Piotr Kedzierski Photography

In the old days, the boys went there up to their communion and then transferred across the road to the Christian Brothers School (CBS) in Strand Street. The girls would continue on to complete their secondary education here or the nearby Loreto Convent secondary school.

There once was a statue of Our Lady on a plinth of the Bell Tower overlooking the grounds and the nun’s graveyard. Sometime in the early 90s, the nun’s coffins were disinterred and reburied in the North Abbey Cemetery. The graves of the nuns can be seen at the entrance to the North Abbey graveyard from the Cork Hillside. The empty plinth can still be seen in the corner on the second tier from the top of the bell tower.

In 1852 the Convent Lace School was opened by Mother Mary Ann Smith of the Presentation Convent and the world-famous Youghal Lace was made here.

In 1992 it became the Youghal International College a boarding School specialized in the teaching of the English language. It is approved by the Irish Ministry of Education.

History
The history of Youghal International College dates back to 1224 with the Franciscan Monastery of South Abbey in Youghal, which was founded by Maurice Fitzgerald buried there in 1257.

Samuel Lewis, in his Irish topographic dictionary of 1837 wrote:

In 1224, Maurice Fitzgerald founded the Franciscan Monastery in the south area of the town which was the first religious foundation of this order in Ireland. There are data which confirm that his original aim was to build a castle but eventually he changed his design and devoted it to religious use. When he died in 1257, his youngest son Thomas finished it in 1260.

The exact date when the Franciscan brethren arrived in Youghal is uncertain. Some sources say 1224 and others 1226. Anyway, none of these dates are far from the St. Francis of Assis life.

The Monastery came to an end in XVI Century and no ruin stands nowadays. However, some local sources suggest that there existed some remains but they were demolished when it became the convent of Presentation Sisters.

The convent was closed and nowadays the building is a Spanish school called Youghal International College that was refurbished and adapted for its new purpose in 1992.

The building has been declared National Monument by the Irish Government. … See MoreSee Less

YoughalOnline.com updated their cover photo.

2 days ago

28th May 2020
CORK COUNTY OLDER PEOPLE’S COUNCIL URGES “C.A.R.E.” AS TOWNS REOPEN

New guidelines designed to ensure older people feel comfortable after cocooning



As towns across County Cork prepare to re-open, the Cork County Older People’s Council is asking the wider population, communities and business generally to be alert to the needs of older people.



Project ACT, Cork County Council’s initiative to help activate the county’s towns during the COVID-19 crisis, has put support for the older population at the centre of its roll-out plans. Details are currently being finalised in 23 towns for the temporary redistribution of road space for motorists and pedestrians, usage of outdoor space, the need for temporary pedestrianisation measures, street furniture, repainting of pedestrian crossings, and parking management.



Each Town Team is to consider the Council’s new CARE guidelines, which have been prepared through extensive consultation with the Cork County Older People’s Council, in any decision made to ensure all members of society are treated equally with equal access to services. These guidelines ask people to observe the following;



CONSIDER older and vulnerable people’s needs as they re-join our communities after weeks of cocooning and isolation.

ASSIST older and vulnerable people by respecting age-friendly parking spaces and accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities in our towns, villages and shopping centres.

RESPECT physical distancing for older and vulnerable people and give them space on our streets, parks and walkways.

EMPATHISE with older and vulnerable people and understand that they may feel especially anxious at this time.


Liz Maddox, Chairperson of the Cork County Older People’s Council says, “People who have been cocooning are as eager as anybody to get back into towns and live the fullest life possible after weeks of isolation. There will be a natural anxiety amongst this more vulnerable group, and we are asking everyone across society to be conscious of this as our towns re-open. What we are asking is that people be considerate, assist where they can, respect social distancing and empathise with those who feel vulnerable. There has been tremendous community spirit in recent weeks.”



The CARE guidelines have been drafted as part of the Cork Age-Friendly County Programme, an initiative of Cork County Council. The Cork Older People’s Council is a representative group of older people from across the county whose role is to represent the “voice of the older person”, and guide the Council in its policies, operations and service delivery.



Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Ian Doyle highlighted how the Council’s CARE guidelines ensure consistently in terms of physical, economic and social opportunities for members of the older population, “Ageing is a matter that will affect us all and I want to see such valued members of our society enjoy the very best quality of life. Following weeks of cocooning it is vital to ensure that when our older population venture into our towns, they feel supported and safe in doing so.”



Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey says, “When activating our county towns we have to be conscious of all of those who will use them. Project ACT involves a €6 million investment in supporting communities and businesses, but most importantly, supports our citizens. Everyone should feel as safe as possible, and that is one of the key drivers for our Town Teams in the decision making process. We have all rallied to support older people since the start of this crisis, and I am very confident that people will embrace the spirit of the CARE guidelines as normal activity returns in the weeks and months ahead.”



The CARE message is being distributed via social media, signage in car parks and parks, and through support from other community bodies such as the GAA and an Garda Siochána.

Pictured at the announcement were Cllr. Ian Doyle, Mayor of the County of Cork; Tim Lucey, Chief Executive Officer, Cork Co. Co. with Liz Maddox, Liz Downes and Christy Roche, all of the Cork Older People’s Council along with Noelle Desmond, County Council Age Friendly Programme (left), Mary Creedon, Age Friendly Office and Niall Healy, Dir. of Services, Cork Co. Co.
Pic: Brian Lougheed … See MoreSee Less

YoughalOnline.com

3 days ago

NEW APP WILL ENHANCE SAFETY FOR BAR AND RESTAURANT CUSTOMERS by Christy Parker

A west Waterford technology company has launched an app giving advance guidance to bar and restaurant customers on where and when it is appropriate to visit an establishment under Covid-19 crisis restrictions.

The Ordee app, named after Dungarvan-based Ordee Ltd., displays available space in the subscribing premises while businesses can also alert customers when room becomes available.

It also enables customers to pay for their orders in advance from home.

The app provides full details of businesses and their coronavirus protection measures, including floor space, physical distancing, sanitisation, etc.

Ordee Ltd CEO Anthony Cronin says the system will “eliminate outside queuing and waiting area congestion, while offering reassurance and convenience to customers, which in turn will generate footfall”.

The CEO says the app is “suitable for every size premises and is easily adjusted to cater for any alterations to status”.
The company has entered a trading partnership with Restaurants Association and is conducting a webinar presentation with it 3,000 members.

Ordee Ltd was co-founded by Mr. Cronin, a former lead consultant with multi-national HR management & software services provider ADP and Criostóir O’Codlatáin Lachtna, a technology officer who began his career with firms like Merril Lynch and IBM.

The founders are already widely known for the Flexiwage payroll system, which bearing “allowed us to build the infrastructure for the new application quickly and with copper-fastened security, including GDPR compliance”, says Mr. Cronin.

Mr. Cronin says the system was “originally designed with a view to serving the bar industry” but the company soon realised it was “an ideal fit for the restaurant trade as well”.
The app’s essentials were researched through feedback from Conor Hurley, facilities manager at Cork’s Blackrock GAA club, and from Dungarvan’s 360 Cookhouse restaurant.
The initiative has also drawn interest from “several breweries” in the UK, says the Cork-born CEO “and from a number of gyms in Ireland”.

The company is adding two new vacancies to its workforce of six in lieu of the growing interest.

App subscribers and their staff are given a free online tutorial along with a support telephone number.

“Businesses can set up online through the website and can easily update and amend their menus and prices, cleaning rotas, as well as advertise their promotions through what is a very easy to use platform”, Mr Cronin explains.

“The app also provides an updated government guideline section”, he continues. “So business owners can broadcast to customers that they are following them”.

The registration and installation process takes about an hour.
The subscription costs €1200 per annum or €100 per month.
However, businesses with up to 10 employees and under €2m turnover may qualify for a 90% cost rebate through the Local Enterprise trading online voucher scheme, if they satisfy the requisite conditions.

Ordee is available on app store from May 30th.
See: www.ordee.ie … See MoreSee Less