Youghal is a seaside town steeped in history, heritage, and coastal charm, promising a memorable experience for all who visit.
Historic Landmarks and Cultural Heritage
Youghal is rich in history, landmarks include the 13th century St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, the preserved Youghal Town Walls, the iconic Youghal Clock Gate Tower, with ties to notable figures such as Oliver Cromwell, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Richard Boyle.
Outdoor Activities and Beach Fun
Youghal is perfect for outdoor activities, explore the countryside on foot or by bike, or take advantage of 5 sandy beaches ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports.
Dining and Entertainment
The town offers a diverse range of dining and entertainment options. From traditional Irish pubs to contemporary restaurants and cafes, there’s something to satisfy all tastes. Year-round events and festivals add to the lively local culture.
Accommodation in Youghal
When looking for accomodation in Youghal you can choose from a cozy bed and breakfast or guesthouse to self-catering or a luxurious hotel.
BRING BACK POISON BUSH LANE
Poison Bush Lane, once a well-trodden shortcut between the Lighthouse Hill and the upper Golf Links Road, now lies choked with briars and overgrowth, its upper half effectively lost from public use. The photographs taken this week from the midway point tells its own story: a narrow strip of tarmac leading into a wall of vegetation, with the former Loreto Convent grounds on one side and the Walter Raleigh Hotel on the other. Around twenty years ago, at the height of the Celtic Tiger, Carlton Village was constructed above, and a new access slip road was created from this halfway mark to link the gated development with the main road below.
While Cork County Council holds responsibility for public rights of way like Poison Bush Lane, the upper section remains blocked. Interestingly, the ESB installed public lighting partway up the lane not long before the Celtic Tiger boom—likely in the 1980s—showing it was then seen as an active public route.
The huge reaction to recent posts on YoughalOnline about the Loreto and the demolition of the extension shows how deeply Poison Bush Lane lives in local memory. Former students and townspeople recalled walking the steep path in all weathers, slipping down to catch school buses, or sneaking up for a quiet smoke before class. Others remembered summer afternoons heading along the lane to Green Hole, Green Park, The Divings and the 49 Steps for a swim, avoiding the tourist-crowded strand and staying close to their own patch of shoreline. Many commented that “if only that lane could talk”, it would tell stories of convent girls, Christian Brothers lads and generations of Youghal families.
Those same voices are now calling for the lane to be brought back to its former glory. Several people suggested that locals would willingly bring strimmers and tools to cut back the briars themselves, so that this traditional public right of way—belonging to the town—can be opened again as a safe walking route between the Lighthouse Hill and the Golf Links Road.
Far from being just an overgrown track, Poison Bush Lane is a living piece of Youghal’s social history, and the strength of feeling online shows that the townspeople would love nothing more than to see it cleared, protected and used once again.
Researched, written and photographed by Michael Hussey
Photo captions:
1. Poison Bush Lane choked with briars and overgrowth.
2. Poison Bush Lane viewed from the Lighthouse Hill.
3. Poison Bush Lane looking down from the halfway point.
4. Poison Bush Lane at the halfway mark, where the access slip road links to Carlton Village gated development.
5. Poison Bush Lane choked with briars and overgrowth, showing the ESB pole for public lighting installed partway up the lane - proof it was then an active public route. ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Brilliant piece Michael, and every word correct. Such a great pity that it is now in the appalling condition shown in your pictures, and hopefully the reaction will be very positive . It is a large part of the memories of many students and, indeed, of the people of Youghal. Even the name itself “Poison Bush” is unique to the town and well worth looking into. Well done 👍
100% it should be brought back for the puplic use.....we would take a short cut home from green park to Dermot Hurley Est up that hill in the 70s 80s
Maybe they could put a footpath ?? there. 🤔
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Pluribus review - By Michael Twomey
Apple TV
Writer and Director: Vince Gilligan
Warning! This review is completely AI free.
Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, returns with Pluribus, a near‑perfect Apple TV series that, according to him, isn’t about artificial intelligence. Technically, he’s right—but only just. While not a direct allegory for AI, Pluribus delves deep into the consequences of our infatuation with it. The utopian dreams being sold by tech companies carry the same unsettling whiff as any cult: tolerate the odour, they promise, and you’ll be rewarded with freedom from human misery.
A key scene captures this idea with tragic irony. Carol (Rhea Seehorn), one of the last immune humans, searches her home for board games while Zosia (Karolina Wydra), a representative of the hive-mind collective, looks on. The collective is the product of a virus—born from a lab experiment that transformed an alien signal into a biological organism—now spread across nearly all of humanity. Those infected share one consciousness, speaking with a single, benevolent “we.” They know everything, can do anything, and exude a disarming kindness. When Carol suggests playing Risk or chess, she realises the futility: every game, every challenge, is meaningless to perfect beings. Her flaws—once marks of individuality—now seem like obsolescence.
Carol despises the collective but struggles to articulate that hatred to Zosia, who is beautiful, patient, and unfailingly generous. Zosia wants only one thing—for Carol to be happy—and promises that one day she too will join the collective, once her immunity is overcome. The series’ central question emerges: what does free will mean when perfection demands conformity? Zosia assures Carol she is free to choose, yet that very freedom comes with conditions that echo religious doctrine. Eternal paradise is yours, as long as you follow the rules—and the first rule is not to break them.
Before the great unification, Carol was not particularly content either. A famous romance author, she secretly longed to write serious literature and resented being confined to crowd-pleasing love stories. Even in material comfort, she found fault with everything—the cold hotels, the easy luxury, the superficiality of happiness sold as fulfilment. After losing her partner, Helen (Miriam Shor), to the virus, Carol is left truly alone amid millions who act as one.
Those expecting monsters or space battles may find Pluribus slow, but its stillness is the point. Utopia, Gilligan suggests, is dull—frictionless, conflict-free, and devoid of humanity. His signature visual style remains, especially in the haunting desert landscapes that evoke isolation and dread. The final episodes set up a second season: Carol, having lashed out violently and briefly driven the collective away, begs for their return—because solitude is worse than assimilation. Meanwhile, another immune survivor, Manousos (Carlos‑Manuel Vesga), travels north to find her, believing they can defeat the collective together. Whether Carol retains any true autonomy by then remains ambiguous.
Though classified as science fiction, Pluribus transcends its genre, echoing Brave New World, 1984, Logan’s Run, and Silo in its portrayal of individuality crushed by collective bliss. Gilligan’s Utopia is one of creative decay and intellectual surrender—a world where people trade originality for comfort and criticism for conformity. Beneath its sleek surface lies a quiet horror: the death of self-determination.
Gilligan insists Pluribus isn’t about AI, but the parallels are impossible to ignore. As Elon Musk predicts a near future where work and money are obsolete, Pluribus forces us to confront the existential vacuum that might follow. Carol drinks, watches The Golden Girls on repeat, and drifts aimlessly—an emblem of a humanity anesthetised by its own inventions. The show’s warning is clear: paradise without purpose is hell. If the future of AI is a world free of struggle, then what’s left to make us human?
Pluribus concludes with a grim philosophical turn. The question is no longer “To be or not to be.” In Gilligan’s vision, the question becomes: “To be bothered—or not bothered—to be?” ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Could you condense that review to 5 lines or 20 sec video. You know reading is so yesterday.
SAFE FROM HARM: LIVE TRIP-HOP & ELECTRONICA TRIBUTE WITH EAST CORK ROOTS
Get ready for a sonic journey through the golden era of trip-hop and electronica as SAFE FROM HARM takes the stage at SEA CHURCH, BALLYCOTTON, on SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, with doors opening at 8:00 PM.
Blending deep grooves, layered textures, and cinematic soundscapes, this special live tribute celebrates the sounds of MASSIVE ATTACK, PORTISHEAD, MORCHEEBA, MOBY, MOLOKO, ZERO 7, AIR, GORILLAZ and more — bringing the moody, magnetic energy of the 1990s and early 2000s back to life.
What makes this night even more special is its local connection — the talented musicians behind Safe From Harm hail from YOUGHAL AND ACROSS EAST CORK, uniting their shared love of live electronica in one unforgettable performance.
With Sea Church’s intimate acoustics and atmospheric lighting, the venue is the perfect backdrop for fans of ALTERNATIVE, DOWNTEMPO, and ELECTRONIC music to immerse themselves in the pulse of a timeless genre.
Tickets are €15 and available now at seachurch.ie/event/safe-from-harm.
Follow updates and behind-the-scenes previews on Instagram: @safefromharmlive ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Tickets: seachurch.ie/event/safe-from-harm/
YOUGHAL FRONT STRAND 1980s.
www.facebook.com/share/v/1LXxKYEEFT/
Original video by William O'Mahony of O'Mahony Videography ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.13 CommentsComment on Facebook
Original video by William O'Mahony of O'Mahony Videography
Video by William OMahony O'Mahony Videography
I filmed that video back in the mid 80's at Youghal Front Strand. Some Memories
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EYESORE NO MORE: LORETO EXTENSION REDUCED TO RUBBLE
The final demolition of the former Loreto Convent extension building in Youghal reached its conclusion today, Monday 19th January 2026, leaving just a massive heap of rubble where the stark red-brick structure once stood. For years, this four-storey eyesore at the town's entrance has drawn complaints from residents proud of Youghal's heritage, but its complete removal marks both relief and a poignant end to an era.
Huge excavators and cranes were deployed to dismantle the remaining sections, reducing the 1970s extension—built to serve the booming Loreto Convent Secondary School—to dust and debris. The school, which educated thousands from Youghal, East Cork, and West Waterford from the 1960s through to the early 2000s, closed in 2006. Many former pupils will feel a twinge of sadness watching this functional but architecturally plain building vanish, its red bricks once matching the adjacent Aston Court but lacking its elegance.
Photos taken today capture the scene: towering piles of rubble dominate the site, dwarfed by the iconic Aston Court red-brick manor—once a private residence, later a Loreto boarding house in the 1950s. This classic structure, with its turrets and historic charm, stands weathered but intact, badly needing tender loving care to restore its former glory.
Youghal's community has voiced delight online, with memories flooding in of school days, Poison Bush Lane walks, and the lost grotto. As the dust settles, hopes rise for renewal—perhaps saving Aston Court and reopening paths for public use. Whatever comes next, today's demolition clears the way for positive change in this cherished corner of town. (By Michael Hussey) ... See MoreSee Less
35 CommentsComment on Facebook
Even though it was an eyesore for the last few years there's still a twinge of sadness to see it go. Lots of memories and friendships made inside those walls ❤️ glad that something is eventually being done with it though
Some amount of Steel Rebar etc in that pile to sift through 🤓😎
It was awful but I hope they will do something with the red brick building. I was teaching there for a year many moons ago and the view from the staff room were spectacular
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Sporting Passion Through the Lens – David Keane Wows Full House at Youghal Film and Photo Museum. By Michael Hussey
The Youghal Film and Photo Museum was filled to capacity on Thursday evening, January 15th, as sports and photography enthusiasts gathered for a special presentation by acclaimed freelance photographer David Keane. The event, hosted by the Youghal Camera Club (YCC) in collaboration with museum curator Ed Guiry, proved to be one of the standout cultural evenings of the new year in Youghal.
From the very start, David captured the audience’s attention with his easy manner and captivating stories from behind the lens. He began by recalling his very first photograph — a snapshot of racing legend Lester Piggott taken during a family day at the races. “What a way to start!” David said, laughing, as he looked back on what became a lifelong passion for both sport and photography.
Throughout the evening, a stunning collection of David’s images lit up the big screen — dramatic moments of horse racing and point-to-point action, local GAA contests, athletics, and boxing. Each photo carried a story, often told with humour and heart. One memorable series showed a spectacular race tumble, only for a jockey to land gracefully on his feet — prompting the quip from the rider, “De ye get that?” The crowd erupted in laughter.
David’s work has featured widely in both local and national press, with a long association with the Irish Examiner and Evening Echo. He has photographed some of Ireland’s great sporting icons, including Sonia O’Sullivan, Katie Taylor, Rachael Blackmore, and Davy Russell, bringing their energy and emotion vividly to life through his lens.
Alongside showcasing his portfolio, David shared valuable insights into his technique — from mastering delayed shutter speeds to combining flash with movement for expressive, action-filled compositions. His advice to the keen photographers present was practical and encouraging: seek out local sporting events, mind your safety, and always look for the story within the shot.
As the evening drew to a close, attendees enjoyed tea, biscuits, and lively conversation, reflecting on a night that blended artistry, sport, and storytelling in perfect harmony.
YCC members and guests alike left inspired by David’s images and his evident love for Irish sport — from the greats of horse racing to grassroots GAA heroes. It was, as one attendee put it, “a night where every photo spoke a thousand words.”
Photo 1: Freelance photographer David Keane with Youghal Film and Photo Museum (YFPM) curator Ed Guiry.
Photo 2/3: David Keane sharing his life through the lens at the YFPM event. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
A great night, and a great speaker! 👏
ST RAPHAELS JUNCTION UPGRADE CONTINUES – KEY DATES ANNOUNCED
Official confirmation has come that the St Raphaels Junction scheme in Youghal is moving forward with important safety improvements designed to benefit both drivers and pedestrians.
The next stage includes construction of a TABLE TOP RAMP at the junction of BAWNMORE ROAD, GOLF LINKS ROAD, WINDMILL HILL and RAHEEN PARK (ARDRATH PARK), a ramp at the zebra crossing by SOUTH ABBEY NS, and resurfacing along a section of BAWNMORE ROAD.
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT will be in place BETWEEN 09:15 AND 17:30 FROM TUESDAY JANUARY 20th TO FRIDAY JANUARY 23rd. Local residents’ access will be maintained throughout the works. For questions, contact sustainabletravelunit@corkcoco.ie.
These measures form part of a safety‑led redesign. The new layout prioritises shorter, safer pedestrian crossings for schoolchildren, elderly residents of St Raphaels Centre, and families heading to Ardrath Park football pitches. The table‑top ramps will further slow turning traffic while the resurfacing ensures a smooth, durable surface for all users.
The attached map shows the planned layout. These are practical steps toward a calmer junction where cars and people can share the space more safely.
Stayed tuned to local media for updates. No comments on this post. ... See MoreSee Less
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
All too tight for vehicles and bicycles, it's dangerous.
Very difficult now to negotiate.
Engineers from Temu
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REFLECTIONS FROM POISON BUSH LANE: THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE LORETO CONVENT EXTENSION
By Michael Hussey
Today, Tuesday 13th January 2026, I captured on my mobile phone the long-awaited demolition of the former Loreto Convent extension building in Youghal — a huge, harsh brick facade that has been an eyesore at the entrance to the town for well over a decade. For many of us, its removal feels like a small but meaningful victory for the pride we hold in how our town looks and feels.
The extension, built in the 1970s to accommodate the growing numbers at Loreto Convent Secondary School, was hardly a beauty — a plain, rectangular structure of four concrete floors. Yet, it served its purpose well. Thousands of students from Youghal, East Cork, and West Waterford passed through those red-bricked walls over the decades. At least it shared that one redeeming feature — the same coloured brick as the original, elegant Aston Court building it was attached to. That old red-brick house, once a private residence before the Loreto Order took it over around the 1950s, is steeped in its own history — including days when boarding schoolgirls lived there during term time.
At one time that proud red-brick building was, rather bizarrely, painted completely white for a short period. It happened when Aston Court came into the ownership of Seafield Fabrics and Blackwater Cottons — factories well known for their gleaming white exteriors. Workers from those factories, so the story goes, were tasked with covering the red bricks of Aston Court with leftover factory paint. Thankfully, sense prevailed in time, and the whitewash was stripped away, returning the building to its original red splendour.
In the short video clip I filmed today, I speak about all this — the end of the extension, the plight of the original building, and a deep wish that Aston Court, though badly in need of structural attention, will now have a chance to be saved and restored to its former glory. I filmed most of the footage from halfway up Poison Bush Lane — a fitting vantage point overlooking one of Youghal’s finest views: across Green Park, the Walter Raleigh Hotel, and out toward the lighthouse hill where the majestic Blackwater River meets Youghal Bay.
Poison Bush Lane itself deserves mention. Once a proud public right of way connecting the Golf Links Road with the Lighthouse Hill, it has sadly become overgrown and impassable in places. I made the point as I filmed that this right of way belongs to the people of Youghal — it should be cleared and reopened. Many older townsfolk will remember walking that lane from Sarsfield Terrace during summer months on their way to “Green Hole” for a swim. Long before the beach became dominated by tourists, the locals favoured familiar bathing spots — “Green Hole”, “The Divings” near the lighthouse, and the “49 Steps” — all part of our town’s living memory.
I also paused in the video to recall the once-beautiful and much-loved Loreto Grotto, now completely gone — not a trace remaining. Its demolition after the school’s closure in 2006 stunned the community. The notion that such a sacred and cherished place could be abandoned and destroyed felt almost unthinkable. Many said nothing good could come after that, comparing it to the old Irish belief that disturbing a fairy fort brings misfortune. Whether through religion or tradition, this deep respect for the past runs through the Irish soul.
But today, as the excavators move again, clearing the site where the extension once stood, I can’t help but see it as part of a new beginning — a moment of renewal for Youghal. I can only hope that out of this clearing rises something that honours our past and serves our future.
Video filmed and narrated by Michael Hussey on 13/01/2026 ... See MoreSee Less
60 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thanks a million to everyone for the wonderful reactions, memories and stories shared here—Margaret, Ber, Neil, Marie, Michelle and so many more, it’s brilliant to hear your Poison Bush Lane tales from school days and beyond. Sorry to confirm, Juanita, the basketball courts are fully demolished too. Re the right of way (Lisa, Andrea), the whole lane is public but overgrown—let’s push to clear it! No word yet on boundaries (Anita) but fingers crossed they stay. If anyone has questions on the Loreto history, grotto, Seafield Fabrics or what’s next for the site, fire away—I’ll respond as best I can. Delighted this is sparking such chat about our town’s heritage! – Michael
In the old days ... Poison bush lane was a dirt track ...When it was dry then ok to use but when wet & Slippery ... Hold on and explain why ya clothes are ruined 🤣..... The School buses used to always be outside the Loreto ... The Guys & Gals from above had to walk or slide down Poison bush to get to the Bus 🤪 .... or be safe and go down Windmill hill 😎
If only that lane could talk 😃 us Convent girls meeting lads from the Christian Brothers having a sneaky cig,ahh what memories ❤️
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UPGRADES CONTINUE AT ST. RAPHAELS JUNCTION YOUGHAL
Reported by Michael Hussey – YoughalOnline / Community Radio Youghal
The much‑discussed improvement works at St. Raphaels Junction in Youghal are moving on to their next stage later this month. According to official information received today, Monday 12 January 2026, the works will include the installation of a new table‑top ramp at the meeting of Bawnmore Road, Golf Links Road, Windmill Hill and Raheen Park (Ardrath Park), together with resurfacing along Bawnmore Road and a ramp at the zebra crossing by South Abbey NS.
Traffic management will be in place from TUESDAY 20 JANUARY TO FRIDAY 23 JANUARY, between 9:15 A.M. AND 5:30 P.M., with local access maintained throughout. Residents with questions can contact the Sustainable Travel Unit at sustainabletravelunit@corkcoco.ie.
Although the new layout has sparked debate locally, I see these works as a major step forward for community safety and accessibility. Earlier today, 12 January 2026, I photographed an elderly woman standing on the new pavement at St Raphaels Junction, waiting to cross the road. In the old layout she described the crossing as “too wide, too fast and far too dangerous” for her. Now, thanks to the tightened junction and shorter crossing distance clearly shown in the photograph, she feels far safer stepping out, and says the finished markings will make it easier again for her and other pedestrians to get across in one quick, confident movement.
The narrowed lanes and new crossing points are designed to slow traffic, making the junction safer not only for drivers but—most importantly—for pedestrians: schoolchildren, elderly residents of St Raphaels Centre, and families heading to matches at nearby Ardrath Park.
For years, locals have worried about speeding and difficult crossings at what we all know as The Cross. These measures, when finished, will help put people first—exactly as they should in a neighbourhood that serves schools, care facilities and active public spaces.
The project is part of Cork County Council’s wider sustainable‑travel improvements for Youghal. Patience will be needed while the final surfacing and ramps are completed, but the long‑term gain will be a calmer, safer junction where cars, cyclists and pedestrians can share the road with greater care and respect.
Pictures: St Raphaels Junction, Youghal – 12/01/2026. An elderly resident waits on the new widened pavement to cross a much shorter, safer distance than before. Photo: Michael Hussey ... See MoreSee Less
40 CommentsComment on Facebook
Well said Freda but they are a law unto themselves
absolutely Zero consideration given to School Buses and HGV vehicles trying to even attempt a 90 degree turn either right or left, what you will see eventualy is the corners of those obstacles/Islands being disinterated, with Heavy wheels while attempting to turn, CCC need to engage with ther RSA engineers on how to do a juntion Properly/Safely as the current crop of CCC engineers/Dinosaurs responceable for the Youghal area, are proving the worthlessness time and again,(:-)))
Wider sidewalks and narrower road ?
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