Arts make comeback

Youghal has a new theatre. Eoin English reports on what it means for the town.

The first floor performance area in Youghal's historic town hall, closed for the last 30 years, has been completely renovated as a multi-purpose theatre and arts venue.

And tonight it will be given back to the people of Youghal with an evening of nostalgic theatre.

Town clerk Liam Ryan said he hoped the venue would enrich the cultural and artistic life of East Cork. "This is a hugely exciting venture in Youghal that will add to the social infrastructure of the town for years to come. The old building has been reopened and new life has been breathed into it," he said.

The new multi-purpose Mall Arts Centre can accommodate theatre, dance, concerts, readings, film, schools events, young peoples' art and exhibitions.

"The design will allow for maximum flexibility of use in the space and it is envisaged that as well as hosting performances, the venue will allow for increased participation in the arts," Mr Ryan said.

The venue has retractable seating for 175 people.

It has rehearsal and storage space, a green room for artists, a dressing room, reception area, an administration area, and disabled access including lifts.

The stage and performance area can be adapted to a number of uses including theatre performance, exhibitions, workshops, small readings and public meetings. One of the most striking design features is the glass foyer area on the seafront linking the building with its outside decking terrace area.

A café restaurant is housed in this area giving patrons a wonderful view out across the river Blackwater and the sea.

It is a unique location for an arts centre which Mr Ryan said has also inspired the design.

Youghal's town hall on the banks of the river Blackwater was built in 1774 for public use and was known as the Mall House.

On its first floor was a ballroom and assembly area which was an integral part of the social fabric of the town and was in use up to the 1970s.

It was principally used as a ballroom but also served as a venue for touring theatre, hosting performances by Jimmy O'Dea and Maureen Potter and McMaster's Shakespearean Theatre Company amongst others.

The venue closed in the 1970s, leaving a gaping hole in Youghal's list of arts venues.

"You could see the slates through the roof at that stage," Mr Ryan said.

As a result, the county arts officer was limited in what he could programme for Youghal because of the lack of a suitable facility.

And so about 10 years ago the then Urban District Council set about trying to renovate the venue but the costs involved were prohibitive.

They consulted widely with potential local user groups including Youghal Combined Theatre Company, Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann, Coran Craft Art Group, Youghal Camera Club, Cork Hill Pipe Band, Youghal Musical Society, Youghal Choral Society, Youghal Panto Society, about a proposed arts venue.

And in 2002, grant aid from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was secured allowing their ambitious €2 million building and renovation project to go ahead.

Designed by Wilson and Associates Architects and built by Joe Lane, work on the venue was completed within the last few days and tonight, more than 100 members of Youghal Musical Society will be the first group in almost 30 years to perform there.

Last night the society's secretary Eileen Hunt said the group are "speechless with excitement and high as kites".

"It is a great honour for us to be the first group to perform in this fantastic venue," she said.

The society will stage a show called Magic of the Musicals, featuring highlights of the hit musicals they have staged, like The King and I and Les Miserables, since their formation in 1992. The show runs every night until Friday.

The venue's catchment area has a population of 41,000 people. Since 1996, over 400 houses have been built in Youghal an increase of more than 1,200 people.

"The new centre will add to the sense of community in Youghal," Mr Ryan said.

Ambitious target audience figures have been set for the centre for its first year of operation. It is hoped that up to 20,600 people will use it in year one rising to 23,500 by year two, and 29,000 by year five.

The centre is already booked out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights in July and August.

Mr Ryan said: "The aim of this project is to give back to the people of Youghal a space which has always been dedicated to entertainment, performance and community activities and to increase the participation of people in the arts in Youghal."

Anyone interested in staging a show or securing tickets for any event should contact Youghal Town Council on 024-92926.