East Cork Advertiser July 29Th 2021

Vol. 2 Issue 1 - July 29th, 2021 NEXT EDITION Aug 12TH 2021 email: [email protected] East Cork News & Advertiser Thursday July 29th, 2021 Team Youghal's 24hr Cycle For Down Syndrome Pictures: John Hennessy Ella and Lucy O'Brien with Peig Peter and Shane Landers, Youghal, at Flanagan, Team Youghal's 24 hour charity cycle Grace Prendergast, Sadie O'Brien and Shayne Landers Jenny and Sally with Sadie O'Brien Christy McCarthy, Youghal Pipe Band, playing the National Anthem with Gemma Ryan Ahern, Brian Hehir, Ger Flanagan, Maurice Flanagan, Kieran Groeger, Martin Drake and Gráinne O'Brien at the start of Team Youghal's 24 hour charity cycle in support of Team Youghal Member Ger Flanagan who is taking part in the Tour de Munster 2021 to raise funds for Down Syndrome. This is Ger's third year taking part in the Tour de Munster which covers over 600km in four days across all six counties in Munster. Team Youghal have participated in various endurance events down through the years including Race Around Ireland and Race Across America. Carol Murphy and Claire Kilgannon, Zita Kearns and Jess Fox, Keith Kelly, Youghal, with Barry Team Youghal begin their 24 hour charity cycle Drake and Layla Flaherty, Shayne Landers and Sadie O'Brien Shayne Landers and Sadie O'Brien with Christy McCarthy, Gemma Ryan Ahern, Brian Hehir, Ger Flanagan, Maurice Flanagan, Kieran Groeger, Martin Drake and Gráinne O'Brien at the start of Team Youghal's 24 hour charity cycle email: [email protected] East Cork News & Advertiser Thursday July 29th, 2021 email: [email protected] East Cork News & Advertiser Thursday July 29th, 2021 RECEIPT FROM 17th 'HEALER' FOUND IN YOUGHAL ATTIC Christy Parker succeeded in his task and sometimes not but regardless, attracted huge crowds. A family renovating a newly purchased house in Youghal have discovered a 17th Greatrakes (sometimes spelled century land sale receipt signed by histor- Greatraks) earned the nickname 'The ical figure and alleged healer Valentine Stroker' because he would 'stroke' the Greatrakes. afflicted area, while allegedly praying and sometimes applying his own saliva simul- The handwritten acknowledgement of taneously. Those who claimed to have £860/6/7 was one of several intriguing been healed said their pains would trans- items found in a house in Grattan Street fer to their extremities before dissipating that was formerly the home of the late completely. seaman Mikey O'Brien. Other discovered artefacts include a plas- Eventually the Bishop of Lismore, ter bust of Irish Home Rule campaigner staunchly unimpressed, forbade and Land League reformist Charles Greatrakes from laying hands (or spit!) on Stewart Parnell. anyone due to not having a physician's The house's new residents are Aimee licence from the Church to do so, as was O'Connor and her sons Daniel (11) and the norm. 20 year-old Loughlin who arrived in Undeterred, Greatrakes continued his Youghal last October from Waterford city. vocation, his mission taking twice him to England where his powers failed before Cures, witches and critics the King but where he found better results Aimee O'Connor with Parnell and Greatrakes receipt Valentine Greatrakes was believed by when decamping to London slums. He Southweles *** *** by *** within particular low rescuer from the water before being many to have miraculous healing powers eventually grew disenchanted with the *** *** my hand on this day of the year himself being similarly rescued shortly and criticised by others who saw him as a mixed reviews and retired to farming for above I say received the sum afterwards when a crew mate pulled him well-meaning quack who couldn't cure a his final decades before dying in Affane in of......£680/7/6'. back on board by grabbing his belt. "That side of bacon let alone a life-threatening 1683. belt hung in our family home in Lismore disease. Others labelled him a Satanist, a The receipt is signed: 'Greatraks', but for decades in recognition of it saving his Republican instigator or just deluded. He Tucked away also references to others present, name- life", says Aimee. Sadly all hands on was also a witch hunter and was one of The Greatrakes receipt was discovered in ly W Greatraks, who was probably his board the Teaser were lost. The seven the 'witch testers' in the trial of alleged a glass case alongside a brief biography father, Thomas Croker and John men who tried to save them were later Youghal witch Florence Newton, in of the 'healer'. "It was wrapped in paper Neesham, notary public (civil servant awarded medals by amongst others, King Youghal in 1661. and stuffed in an attic corner", says involved in business matters). F George V, in London. Loughlin. A small inscription on the case A former Cromwellian soldier, Greatrakes names Youghal printer Thomas Field, Land transaction More contemporaneously, Aimee's dad was born in Affane, west Waterford on who married a cousin of the Youghal Local historian and chartered engineer hails from Lismore, as does his brother February 14th 1628. His alleged healing shop's previous owner, John Lyndsay and David Kelly says the receipt is interesting Jimmy who lives in Ardmore. Another talents first emerged in 1662 when he whose only child was present proprietor "not particularly because of Greatrakes, brother, Pat, is a successful film director claimed to have experienced an 'impulse' Bill Field. who was renowned more locally than (ITALICS: Ballroom of Romance, Cal, to cure what was termed 'the king's evil' nationally or internationally, but for the Circle of Friends), in New York. or scrofula -a tuberculosis derivative The receipt is dated May 7th 1680, three considerable sum of money involved. affecting the neck. years before Greatrakes died and relates Cromwellian solders were often given Further finds to a land sale. The text is quite ornate, dif- land upon retirement", he explains, "and Back in Grattan Street, the bust pertain- Deeply religious, he soon proclaimed a ficult in parts to decipher and involves a Greatrakes was a farmer by trade". David ing to Charles Stewart Parnell is likely to God-given ability to cure an increasing deal between its author and a family estimated that land values in 1680 "may be one of many such works coated and variety of maladies, from migraine to member. An estimated deciphering reads have been under £5 per acre, which sold as copies of an original in the early blindness to cancers. He offered free as follows: would suggest a very large tract of land 20th century. Similar examples have treatments in rudimentary 'clinics' he set 'Received from my cousin Mister Barry was involved". apparently been exhibited in Dublin and up in barns and stables in west Waterford Perot the sum of six hundred & eighty in Waterford. and in Youghal. An associate of the Boyle pounds, seven shillings & five pence in The historian adds that the transaction family, he is believed to have lived for payments for rents due to me for his hold- has no direct connection with Youghal Other items discovered at the house to awhile in Myrtle Grove. Sometimes he ings in the County of Limerick of Robert and would not describe the receipt itself date include a samples of Youghal bricks, to be of high monetary value, despite its two large display cases of world flags, historic interest. vintage, unopened bottles of spirits from As for the Stroker's reputation, David around the glove reflective of Mikey's sea notes that he seems not to have contract- travels and a marvellous gentleman's ed any disease himself from his patients wardrobe with itemised drawers carefully and feels he may have treated people labelled. with minor ailments that would fade in time anyway. The compact back yard features as set of three wall murals depicting Youghal Shipwreck tragedy scenes and Ardmore tower. The stone Aimee O'Connor was born in Dublin but storage house where the bust was dis- grew up in Vancouver, Canada before covered is externally ornated with crests returning to Ireland at 17. Speaking of of Ireland's four provinces. Its interior, strong family links to the east Cork/west choc-a-bloc with paraphernalia, may Waterford region she says her great divulge further curios and historic items in grandfather on the paternal side "was due course. Daniel Lawton, a policeman who was involved in a well-known ship rescue "Its a gorgeous house with a wonderful attempt in Ardmore in 1911". atmosphere", says Aimee, "and whatever alterations we undertake will be done with Constable Lawton was one of seven men utmost respect for its history and the peo- who rushed to assist the crew of the ple who have previously lived here". schooner Teaser, which sank in a fero- Greatrakes Receipt cious storm. The policeman pulled a fel- email: [email protected] East Cork News & Advertiser Thursday July 29th, 2021 email: [email protected] East Cork News & Advertiser Thursday July 29th, 2021 Talbot Collection Chef Development Programme Midleton Park Hotel, part of The Talbot being covered along the way. This pro- and from Talbot Hotel Stillorgan to the also get the opportunity to take part in the Collection, have partnered with the gramme, the first of its kind in Ireland, training kitchens each day. Level 6 National Commis Chef Kildare and Wicklow Education and was created to make it easier for those Programme. Training Board (KWETB) to deliver our looking to begin or pursue a career as a Award Achieved: City & Guilds Level 2 Trainee Chef Development Programme Chef through a 3 step approach. Diploma in Culinary Skills. This is equiva- Step 3: Work hard, progress and excel in commencing on Monday 13th September lent to a QQI Level 5 Award.

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