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On Tuesday 5th September 2000 the long awaited Youghal Marina Feasibility Study was officially launched at the Walter Raleigh Hotel. The steering group, Kevin Curtin, Tommy Curtin and Michael O’Regan, together with Youghal UDC and East Cork Area Development, raised £15,000 to engage the services of the Nautical Enterprises Centre to carry out the comprehensive study and report. At a total cost of £2,950,575 the study recommends a development utilising a site in the southern sloblands and another site at the Market Dock.
The area of the Southern sloblands is owned by Youghal UDC and offers protection from southerly and westerly winds. At a cost of £606,750, the study recommends a marina complex of 108 fully serviced berths for the area as well as a full suite of services. A renovated quayside, in conjunction with a 20 berth floating pontoon at Market Dock, would facilitate visiting yachts, chartered sea angling vessels, River Blackwater cruises and inshore fishing vessels.
During daylight hours many of these activities could operate from the convenience of the Market Dock while mooring in the larger facility at the sloblands at night. The Market Dock is the largest of Youghal’s four docks and is arguably the most scenic location for a marina and has the added advantage of being adjacent to the town centre. The cost of development here would be £2,343,825.
Based on an allocation of 45 visiting berths and 83 residential berths, it is estimated that Youghal Marina would attract 750 visiting yachts in its first year of operation rising to 1,350 by the third year and generating income of £90,000. Expenditure locally from the crews and occupants of visiting yachts could reach £250,000 in the marina’s first year of operation and £870,000 by the fifth year.
In terms of increased
local tourism and commerce and the associated expenditure, the study states that the
medium term benefits of a marina far outweigh the initial capital outlay. The marina is
regarded by Youghal UDC as being of pivotal importance to the strategic economic
development of not just Youghal but indeed of East Cork.
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MIKE HACKETT WRITES
The Ballyvergan Bog has been designated a wildlife preserve and is to be marketed all over
Europe. Just now, the big track machines are making an artificial lake at the Bog Road
side of the bog to encourage water birds like duck to land in even bigger numbers. Another
reason is to make it easy to spot them as they swim around in the lake. A long boardwalk
will connect a small car park to the edge of the lake where a hide will give cover to
spotters. Other hides will be provided on the high ground overlooking the bog. Next summer
will see a small colour booklet go on sale to explain the unusual and rare birds
that can be seen and showing colour snaps of them. The book will deal with Pilmore,
Foxhole and the Tourig Valley as well as the Ballyvergan Bog.
Plans for the by-pass are complete and February should see the action start. A few of the roadways in the town, particularly the back streets, are showing bad signs of wear and tear from the big lorries, so the sooner the town is by-passed the better.
Green's Quay is kept busy with vessels arriving to the Youghal Shipping and Storage facility with various materials including great loads of steel and coal. Some weeks can see as many as three ships unloaded. Nowadays of course, the vessels are much bigger than long ago and are of modern design with hydraulic hatch covers.
The bad storms
over the past few months have exposed some very old stone breakwaters on the Youghal side
of Redbarn Strand. They are made of big flat stones, standing on edge and stretching for
hundreds of yards along the shore and it is clear that they hold the sand in check. Such
exposure of the wall is unique and has never been seen before.
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RADIO BAN IS A GA-GA IDEA by MICHEÁL CLIFFORD - Evening Echo 20th July 2001
The head of a Cork community radio station has blasted the GAA, claiming they are not allowed to cover Cork games.
Croke Park have limited press accreditation in this year's All-Ireland series to only those stations whose counties are directly involved in matches.
But Seamus Murphy, chairman of Community Radio Youghal, says this is a facility not available to stations like his.
"We have tried to get into Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Thurles and Killarney for Munster championship matches involving Cork and we have not been allowed" said Murphy, who said that they did not have a problem at local level, with either the Cork County Board or the East Cork Board.
But Munster Council secretary Donie Nealon claims that they have never received a request from the station, but claimed that even if they did, there would not be room to accommodate them.
"We give facilities to the main stations. In Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Sunday, there were two booths, one for Cork and one for Kerry", said Nealon.
But Seamus Murphy insists they could still be accommodated as their equipment is so compact, it could be used from sidelines. However, that has been ruled out for security reasons.
Murphy claimed "The reality is we're not wanted as the big stations have big listenerships".
" But we're involved in grass roots GAA and that should be recognised" he said today.
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We are always on the look out for more staff, so if you know of anyone, particularly if they are interested in sport, please let us know. They can either join as volunteers or, if they are eligible, participants on the Community Employment Scheme.