Queen of The Sea Festival Youghal 2011 - YoughalOnline.com Survey Results by Kieran McCarthy

Queen of The Sea Festival Youghal 2011 YoughalOnline.com Survey Results An independent non-profit survey by YoughalOnline.com, not affiliated with any other bodies. Feedback was anonymous. No fields were mandatory. This survey ran from July 21st to the 5th August 2011. The folowing results were published on YoughalOnline.com 19th August 2011.

General Information Are you Male or Female?

What age are you? Average age was 36 yrs.

Â Â

Do you live in Youghal or were you an outside visitor?

Did you use accommodation in Youghal for the festival weekend?

If you were an outside visitor (not local) how many people attended the festival with you?

Which days of the festival did you attend?

What main events attracted you to the festival?

How did you hear about the festival?

Queen Of The Sea - Beauty Contest

Any other ideas, suggestions or comments regarding the beauty contest? l

The Queens should be on stage Saturday and the winners announced on the sunday allowing the girls get more time in the public eye.

More presence of queens during the festival.

I personally would never go to see the Queen of the Sea contest again! I was in the crowd watching and there were people behind me who gave a running commentary on each girl that went up on stage. I was disgusted with what I heard. I think all the girls did a great job just having the guts to get up on stage in front of so many people. I listened to both men and women criticize what the girls were wearing, call some of them ugly, others stupid and thick because of the interview they gave and even laughed about another girls teeth. If that's the kind of ignorant people we have in Youghal then I don't think we should hold contests like that. I for one won't be going to it next year and I doubt any of the people who were with me will either! It's not a beauty contest, that's saying that one is nicer than the other, like the Rose of Tralee, it's personality/fashion/beauty and a lot more, no need for a stage if it was just on beauty. Maybe a local celebrity to attend and take part. I think the queens should be walking in the mardi gras parade instead of been hidden in cars with masks on, u cant even see them. They should be leading the parade, after all its the Queen of the Sea festival.

It should not be called a beauty contest its sexist. Queen of the Sea is just fine.

Half of the contestants should be eliminated on the first night, allowing more time to talk to the Queens on Saturday night. Kíla were a wonderful treat although not everyone's preference; to remedy this for next year, I would suggest something a bit more relevant such as a Lady Gaga tribute band or something similar would be more suitable to a wider audience. The stage should be back in Barry's Lane with that section of road (between the tourist office and the snooker hall) cordoned off for the public. It was almost hidden behind the Quays Bar! Also, the band should be ready to play immediately after the Queen of the Sea competition as the crowds began to scatter as the band got ready on Saturday night!

Overall though, a very enjoyable weekend! l

Not sure it should be called a beauty contest. Think the stage should be in barrys lane!

Widen the market to include girls from outside the town. This would attract more visitors from these areas.

Research other festivals - what works. And buy raincoats for the other half of Youghal.

Thought they should have mingled with the crowd on the Saturday that would have been nice.

They should sing, play music etc.

Lacking in atmosphere and very open and breezy.

Scrap it.

The Queen of the Sea Festival 2011 was very good. The organisers said this year's charities are Childline and the RNLI. How much was donated to these charities, there was no cheque presentation after the event and both charities were well represented at the official launch? What happen to this fundraiser money? Last year at the Queen of the Sea 2010, each of the individual Queen of the Sea contestants had to collect 50 euro sponsor and that money was going to the childline charity, Did this happen also? Other than that it was an enjoyable event and well done to the committee.

Family Fun Day at Green Park (Sunday)

Any other ideas, suggestions or comments regarding the family fun day? l

Spread it out more over the town.

Great location - possible future potential for a marquee?

Perhaps more entertainment - I was surprised that the balloon magic man wasn't there - he told me he went to Dungarvan as he hadn't been approached for the festival in Youghal - that's a shame as he lives here and is very popular. Have more races for smaller kids on their own. The magician was very entertaining, the location was good but apparently there was a raft race at the quays and there was also some great music on the gig rig so i think it was an awful shame to have good entertainment separated. It would have been nice to have the bands playing on the bandstand and keep everything together. Barty was doing his DJ thing in the bandstand, but seemed to be all on his own a bit away from the rest of the activities, so more activities or move them closer to the bandstand.

Food Festival (Saturday)

If your choice was "No", where would you suggest it be located and why? l

Not enough parking.

Nealons Quay- because traffic was diabolical.

Leave where it is but extend it up further towards town hall it was a bit crowed so some more space.

Any other ideas, suggestions or comments regarding the food festival? l

Close the streets fully and allow more stalls.

I enjoyed the food festival there was a great buzz around the town. I think it's something they should do more often not just once a year.

There should have been more local crafts on display.

A celebrity guest appearance is a must; Rachel was just superb!

People (dressed up) going round with free tasters for the different stalls?

Expand it, seafood pie was a great idea.

Face painting was expensive thought cost should be kept down, while the food was lovely prices were a bit high if you had a couple of kids. Very good. Would come again. Nice compact location by the water.

The Myrtle Groove - Gig Rig (Music)

If your choice was "No", where would you suggest it be located and why? l

Back where the Aslan gig was held.

One pub got all the business.

Barry's Lane. Any time we had bands there for other festivals I think people were more inclined to stay and listen.

Green Park.

Outside Moby Dicks.

Barry's Lane.

Market Square facing up toward the Clock Gate.

Main Street.

Barry's Lane.

Green Park.

Barry's Lane - not as hidden away and not as open to the elements.

A more sheltered location.

Market Square.

At the Clock Gate.

Town Centre.

Outside Moby Dicks.

Any other ideas, suggestions or comments regarding the gig rig entertainment? l

The stage should have been on the far side of the Quay where the people could face out onto the bay, with the bands facing back onto the quayside, that way there would be better sound and protection for children running around on the quayside.

Should have been facing the opposite way as in facing the fire station.

Personally the bands weren't my cup of tea but I'm sure others enjoyed them.

It lacked atmosphere due to lack of crowd...maybe somewhere more sheltered would help..a pity as great effort was obviously made to put this together. I'm unsure if the location was suitable, I think it was good, pity it's off the main street. There is probably no other real option unless you knock a few buildings for a new town square or move the whole thing to the beach.

Should have been a headline act like Aslan because I didn't know any of act down there.

The music could have been piped through out the town, I feel It would have added to the festive atmosphere.

Print the times of the bands on the flyer!

Great work done here. Pity about the windswept location as the rig itself was well built and thought out.

A large circus-size tent would have been more suitable taking the elements into account. I don't know if that could be done at Nealon's Quay but maybe a more suitable grassy area should be considered like the Town Walls, French Convent (somewhere near The Myrtle Grove!!!!!) or even the site currently used by the circus's that come to town. I also think there should have been bar-extensions throughout the town during the festival weekend. It was embarrassing telling visitors that there was no place serving drink after 11pm when the music finished on Sunday night. Finally, I think the whole music weekend should have been broadcast on local radio and through the street loudspeaker systems. If they are used for Corpus Christi (which I didn't welcome btw) they could surely have been put to better use during the musical performances. Poor promotion of list of acts. More in the town centre not hidden away, more in your face when walking are driving past the gig rig to let you or a tourist that there is something going on here even when the acts are not playing. Be proud to display gig rig and not hide it!

I think the location left it down, passers by would have been more drawn to it if was at the clock gate. Also it would be more sheltered from the elements. Market Square more centre, a little bit off the beaten track and it should be linked more to the town and business in the town. Not visible from passers by etc. Besides the excellent stage & large array of acts on stage, the location is very weather dependant with the cold wind cutting through from the Quay. The individual acts should have been advertised, e.g. the banners at edge of the town could have said 'Silta' highlighting Friday evening etc.

Market square where Food festival was on would be a better location as I saw a few years back.

It took over what little free parking is available in the town, free parking should have been offered all weekend to entice families in.

Thought the gig rig was great and the bands were good - maybe more variety in the music next year?

Overall comments or suggestions? Any final ideas, suggestions or comments on the "Queen Of The Sea Festival"? l

Overall I though it was good but should be advertised more and times should be posted better for people to see what and where events were taking place. Well done to all, great work by many people, looking forward to the next one. Overall I think the festival was poor. Take Ardmore for example, for such a small village they have a fabulous festival every year. They have fireworks, great bands and entertainment to suit all ages. The atmosphere there is mighty and everyone is welcomed. Youghal could learn some lessons from them. Enjoyed the music, the food fair, the opening parade. I think there should have been Local Artists Paintings and crafts on display all weekend at Barry's Lane, also busker's would have added to the mix, Bobby Lee & Friends were a treat to hear at the Food Festival day. The Sandcastle Competition could be renamed 'Queen of the Sand'; one of the local photographers referred to it as this in the local paper - a nice touch! Guys, sadly I missed most of it due to car trouble and bad weather. my only problem was that it felt a little scattered the brief times I was in town. it seemed there was no central place from which everything articulated around. The music should have been at Barry's Lane. And the print of posters/timetables were poor/weak, late and too few to be noticed. BUT a brilliant weekend by all account, ive heard no negative feedback but just a bit more grounding would have been nice... Were the Tannoys used all weekend to maintain a steady atmosphere? Some fireworks at the end would have been a super way to end it with the queen of the sea winner being announced then. I think there should also be 3 winners, 2 sirens and a queen ;) But over all a lot of heart and time went into this and everyone involved deserves to know it is appreciated and helps get our town on the map :) excellent job!!

Love to see the festival blossom in to an annual event that would draw plenty of visitors and encourage more locals to get "involved". Do more advertising in Cork / Waterford. Promote the food fair more. Get local restaurants and businesses to offer concession cards to be redeemed in the following 6 months to bring people back. Some kind of water based or beach based activity- kyak race, wind surfing, angling, crab catching etc etc. A great event, great atmosphere but the crowds watching on should have been marshaled in front of the performing bands, not standing outside the barriers which most of them did. Bands like to see faces in front dancing and swaying etc.

Keep up the good work.

Get more people involved, young and old.

The acts need to be a lot more varied Why wasn't there a raft race over the whole weekend, that proved very popular before and got the pubs and clubs involved.

There needs to be a LOT MORE emphasis on the river! Its a Queen of the Sea festival after all, maybe bring the Queen thru the crowds to see on da way down to a fisherman boat or something? Why were the gates at the Town Hall SHUT ALL weekend. Visitors and locals alike should be encouraged to see the wonderful vista of the River Blackwater NOT BLOCK IT OFF, Crazy and would not happen in any other town in Europe! There seemed to be nothing happening at the Northern End of the town and dam all happening out the front strand, Again wouldn't happen in any other town. Where were the fireworks. Why not have some of the bands playing on the portable jetty moored off the quay, I'm sure some of the bands would like that. BRING BACK CRY 104FM!! and finally some fire display on the water always look good and cheap at that oh and the Queen should be paraded thru town for all to see. l

Again keep prices down tell traders they have to do this especially children's activities. I thought there was a vast improvement from previous years, and I hope the lack of people will not deter the effort put in next year. I think because it was the first year people did not realise how good the set up was but I feel it will grow year by year. Well done all involved. MORE Beach/Sea/RIVER activities BEACH VOLLEY BALL IN THE MALL / OR FRONT STRAND WITH BEACH VOLLEYBALL BABES SOCCER IN THE MALL BEACH RUGBY ON THE BEACH BEACHVOLLEY BALL AMONGST THE QUEENS SWIM COMP FERRY SLIP TO PIER HEAD AND BACK WET T SHIRT COMP CANOE RACE KAYAKE RACE JUMP OFF THE PIER HEAD IN FLYING MACHINE ...WHO GOES THE FURTHEST ETC... Great work and great effort. I thought the food festival was especially good but the singing acts over the weekend weren't great at times. Overall it was very good. Disappointed to see not alot of the Clubs marched in the parade on the Friday which would of great added to the overall event, getting more children and adults involved. Well done to the committee. The gig rig set up was excellent with great bands playing. Maybe a few more trading stalls on the quays could have improved the atmosphere. CRAP FESTIVAL..When the town had the Busking Festival and Walter Raleigh Festival they got rid of them.What a crock of s**t. Good festival, maybe we need to look at our close neighbors in Ardmore to see how to run a really GREAT FESTIVAL jam packed full of activities. Great to see the crowds and the happy faces. The weather almost drowned the food festival but luckily it was towards the end of the day. Maybe this could be looked at for next year. i.e. temporary shelter for the public. This would help keep the crowds at the events. The Festival was by far much bigger than last year, far more attendance from public and stands esp during the food festival. The entertainment was excellent. Great credit due to the organisers.

Queen of The Sea Festival Youghal 2011 YoughalOnline.com Survey Results © 2011 YoughalOnline.com Any or all of this document may not be reproduced, used, duplicated or copied without express permission of YoughalOnline.com