A new initiative is bringing traditional music CDs to people cocooning in Youghal, thanks to the generosity of Comhaltas Craobh Eochaille and the efforts of Cork County Council’s COVID 19 Community Support Programme.

The ‘Oidhreacht Eochaille’ or ‘The Heritage of Youghal’ CD is the product of a year of research carried out by members of the Youghal Comhaltas branch with the help of ethnomusicologist and musician Daithí Kearney.

The initial project was proposed by Youghal Comhaltas and financially supported by Cork County Council’s Municipal District Arts Development Fund in 2018.

The music on CD was originally for a show by their performing group Ceolta Sí.

As part of the Community Response programme, Craobh Eochaille has been distributing the new CDs free to vulnerable citizens in the Youghal area.

This is being made possible by local postmen Aidan Daly and Denis McCarthy who have been delivering the traditional music to rural households, while Youghal Meals on Wheels have been dropping the CDs to urban households where people are cocooning.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Ian Doyle described the story as indicative of the success of the programme.

“A lot of hard work went into the making of this wonderful traditional music CD. Now thanks to the collaboration of the many different agencies involved in the Community Response Programme, from An Post to Meals on Wheels and the kindness of Craobh Eochaille, these songs are now bringing cheer to Youghal residents who are required to cocoon at home for the time being. It’s a great story of community cooperation. I know there were many people involved in bringing this CD to fruition, too many to mention individually, but well done to each and every one of you for bringing such joy in these testing times," he said.