Town hit with huge job losses fights back

JOB losses have hit Youghal harder than most towns in Ireland and locally the fallout is the single biggest election issue.

In recent years, 2,000 people were made redundant with the closure of Artesyn, Kodak, Seafield Fabrics and Couristan Carpets.

Every morning there is now an exodus of people heading to Waterford and Cork city for work.

During the 10 hours they are gone businesses in the town are struggling to attract enough customers to keep their heads above the waterline.

Smaller shops have closed without the publicity of the big plants and President of the Chamber of Commerce Michael Farrell estimates it is costing the local economy €30 million a year.

“People have to travel to work, there is no public transport so you have to consider petrol, extra child minding and it is probably costing people an extra two or €300 a week.

“This has had a big effect on the retail sector in the town, with inflation going up we are getting less customers to cover those costs,” he said.

Local auctioneer Diarmaid Keogh said every time the issue is raised they are reminded Government policy is to cluster investment in areas such as Ringaskiddy.

He said this may be convenient for servicing factories but fails to take account on the demands it is putting on workers and families.

“Central government policy tends to hub jobs and investment in certain areas and it doesn’t count the cost of dragging people to other areas or what it is taking out of people’s pockets,” Mr Keogh said.

Traditionally this was the dominant town for south east Cork and west Waterford but its status is dwindling with a lack of investment.

Owner of the Quay’s Bar Seamus Curran said with two ministers from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment based in Cork — Micheál Martin and Michael Ahern — it is surprising Youghal suffered so badly during the life of the Government.

“If this was any other town in the country something would have been done,” he said.

Volunteers from the town’s chamber and people around the town are fighting back.

They have identified key targets for investment and make no bones about harassing State agencies for financial backing.

Four times in the last six months the town has sent delegations to Dublin to lobby for better roads, tourism grants and the connection of the natural gas line to the town.

A local steering group has been assessing the market for a gas line in Youghal and it is facilitating studies on traffic movements.

Mr Farrell said the town is prepared to push itself hard but cannot keep being overlooked for support.

“To try and solve the problem we have been canvassing various departments and try to find our shortcomings and see where we can make the town more attractive to business.”

Youghal prides itself on its unique status as both a heritage town and sea port but it needs investment to develop these assets.

It also has plenty of school spaces and with two blue flag beaches it is enjoying a tourist boom in recent years.

But the quality of life enjoyed by travelling tourists and people retiring to the town is alien to the thousands of commuters travelling out of town every morning.