Cork Views: Cry for help to breathe new life into my beloved Youghal

When a certain government minister some years ago decided to abolish the local Urban Town Councils, he did a terrible disservice to small towns.

Then he went off to a job in Brussels and left us to fight amongst ourselves to survive in bigger local authority areas.

It means competing with other towns for the support available and, where there is outnumbered representation, the pot is empty and some lose out.

Youghal is one such neglected town, with little support. It is at the fringe of County Cork and for bad measure it is Y for Youghal - so that when the money is being distributed, it is last on the list and the pot is empty!

Permit me to take you on a quick walk through Youghal town to prove my point.

Coming from the Cork direction - we first encounter the former Seafield Fabrics building - a tribute to Willie Dwyer of Cork city, but now looking very forlorn.

A little further on is the start of the greenway that runs as far as Midleton. This is a white-elephant and only suitable for runners and cyclists. A far better option would have been to restore the railway line along that land corridor. Comparisons were made with the Waterford greenway - but there are none. From Dungarvan to Waterford you have high terrain with views of the sea, plus a long tunnel and even a high viaduct. The Midleton to Youghal greenway is between hedges and fields. The best views here are of the different types of cow arses.

Moving towards town - we see Moll Goggin’s Corner - the best look-out post on this part of the coast. Some years ago, money was allocated to replace the plateau and seats - but it’s not done yet.

We come to the lighthouse - standing majestically, perhaps the only one of that kind on the whole island. Since Irish Lights handed it over to the local authority, I don’t think it has ever been painted. Instead of a white lighthouse - we now have a very grey one. And did you know that it was painted one time by the famous Brendan Behan? A painter by profession, he painted Irish lighthouses around the coast for a couple of years in his younger life. He left his name on one of the inner walls.

Walking downhill - our attention is drawn to the hulk of the ruin of the Loreto Convent high up on the left as it overlooks the lovely Green Park.

Rounding the corner at Pearse Square, we see the remainder of the once fine Devonshire Arms Hotel - now boarded up.

Several premises in this area are in poor condition.

The best-known building in Youghal is the Clock Gate Tower. Could the limestone front be cleaned before it goes green and could the weeds (starting to grow again on the windows) be removed?

And now we reach the site of a promised new library - beside the protected structure of the Benedictine Priory. This site has been checked for relics, etc, for some years now and the cost of building the library has soared - with no sign of any structure.

Along the riverside of the Blackwater River is a mile long walk called the Slob Bank - and it was to be enhanced with a proper footpath. Only half has been done.

The town walls are listed as the third best example of such in Ireland, but the work of restoring the last section of them has been frozen in limbo for some years now. The job needs to be completed and the fencing needs to be removed.

Keane Park on the Quarry Road was a lovely leisure centre before the powers-that-be decided to change the make-up of it. Like the Slob Bank - it was half-done and is now railed off for safety and is out of use.

And lastly on the list for now - we encounter the North Road where there is just a low 18-inch wall to keep the busy main road traffic from going into the river.

Now, let us acknowledge and admire the optimism of some local volunteers and the Credit Union, who are rowing against the tide of bad administration. Earlier this year, a group of more than 40 businesses, clubs and community organisations met to discuss a ‘Town Centre First’ plan.

Meanwhile, local volunteers in Youghal have opened a lace museum, a cinema-photography one and another about maritime affairs - all housed in separate shops along the main streets. Their will to breathe life into the town is remarkable.

And talking about museums - a full museum has been promised in the now empty fine stone courthouse building - but when?

It is awful that a walled town with so much history has no proper museum, while depending on a few volunteers to set up small ones.

Despite all the neglect - nobody can take away our lovely five-mile long beach, nor our Blackwater River, nor our woodland and nearby mountains. Nature gave them to us and we’re keeping them.

Please note that this is not a political broadcast - but merely the views of a neutral, non-political old age pensioner who is so frustrated watching his town fall apart.

Thank-you for bearing with me - Míle Buíochas Duit.