Youghal

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‘God Rest His Soul’ Delights Audiences at the Mall Arts Centre

Youghal Little Theatre’s latest production of ‘God Rest His Soul’ by Hank Regan lit up the Mall Arts Centre from 9th to 12th October 2025, attracting packed houses on three successive nights and a lively Sunday afternoon matinee. With laughter echoing throughout the auditorium, this show proved a tremendous success for both cast and crew, reflecting the ever-rising production standards of YLT.

The play, which delivered fun, surprises and clever humour, saw Liam McCarthy make his well-received debut as director, alongside the capable assistant direction of Sinéad O’Donoghue. Both directors have graced the YLT stage in previous years, and their familiarity with the troupe ensured a confident, well-paced, and professional performance. High-quality audio and video—courtesy of Paul Murphy, Tom O’Keeffe and Willie O’Mahony Video Productions—elevated the live stage experience, allowing every moment to shine for audiences and to be captured for future viewing.

The cast—Denise O’Donoghue, Anne O’Brien, Elizabeth Morey, Paul Sweetman, Thomas Harrington, Karen Desmond, Tony Horgan, with special voiceovers by Jim Morey & Liam McCarthy—delivered stellar performances, ably supported by the hard-working crew, committee, and volunteers.

Front of House
Front of house played a vital role in the audience experience. Tommy Collins returned as Master of Ceremonies, welcoming theatre-goers and highlighting the importance of the cast, crew and generous sponsors. The front of house team included: Lys Coleman, Jim Flanagan, Phyllis Foley, Kay Ledingham, Marjorie MacDonald, Ben McCarthy, Laura McCarthy, Reg Keating, and Anthony Russell, creating a warm and efficient atmosphere before each show. Entertainment was provided by the talented Youghal String Ensemble, whose music added a special flourish and set the tone for memorable nights at the theatre. Set/Design: Jim Morey, John McCarthy and Tommy Smith. Make Up - Karen Desmond. ... See MoreSee Less

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A Haunting Experience. By Mike Hackett

It was back in the Autumn of 1958 that I was bundled out into the working world at fourteen years of age. This was to help rear my five younger siblings so that eight people weren't depending on one wage. Delivering telegrams was the job got for me - six full days every week - even late in the dark evenings. It was okay around town with the street lights but cycling out the country during the dark winter evenings was dreary and sometimes frightening. The bicycle light attached to the front wheel of the bike was pointing more up into the air than along the ground where it was wanted. Some guesswork had to be used to stay between the ditches.

Ballynatray House - where Horace Holroyd Smyth lived - got a lot of telegrams because it had no telephone. Being a long avenue from the public road meant a prohibitive cost to install one as it was expensive per telephone pole. At the time Horace was able to manage without it. The House had no electricity either and you can imagine cycling firstly over a loose timber bridge with rattling planks that had no sides to it. Then in along that long dark haunting drive with hundreds of tall trees sheltering the shrieking cranes up high as the wayward light of the bike upset them. It was all pedalling fast and furious until the frightening shape of the huge Ballynatray House threw a shadow over the front lawn. Then dismount from the bike and pull the bell-chain to ring the bell away down in the bowels of the house. While standing there at the huge front doorway - the outline of two canon guns could be spotted nearby as if on guard.

After what seemed like an age - the faint light of a single candle came to the glass front door - held by a very old lady. She blended perfectly into the surroundings. Her name was Nell McCarthy and she was a long established housemaid at Ballynatray. Of very small stature with a bun of grey hair - she could have been a ghost to me. Her wrinkled worn face outlined the shadows given from the candle-light like lines drawn with a pen. She invited me to stand into the huge reception room while she brought the telegram back down into the kitchen to Horace. He then had to pay two shillings porterage to me to bring back to the P.O.. Being a very decent man - he always gave me a sixpence (tanner) for myself.

It seemed like an age before Nell returned back up from the kitchen. Meanwhile - the big oil paintings and portraits on the high walls of that large room looked down on me in the darkness. And of course the mounted heads of the stags - with their exceptionally large antlers loomed out over all. If ever anyone believed in ghosts - then this was the place to see them. .

Nell slowly appeared again with the candle and gave me the money to release me from this ghostly haunting room. Saying a quick "Thank you" I jumped on my bike and pedalled like fair hell out along that tree covered drive. The big loud crane birds were screeching again as my crooked bicycle light shone up into the trees. Then crossing the timber bridge with the loose rattling planks - I had reached the double white lodges on the main public tar road.

Heading for town brought relief that such a frightening ghostly experience was once again behind me and the tanner in my pocket for myself was great. It would pay the four pence to the Sunday matinee at the Regal cinema with tuppence worth of slab toffee at Bridgie Quirke's. Happy days.

Mike Hackett - as recalled in October 2025.

Image: Pictured in the black and white photo: Kitty Fleming, Anne? Fleming, Captain Holroyd-Smyth, and Nell McCarthy. Behind the Fleming sisters is Horace Holroyd-Smyth (wearing glasses). Taken at the Market Square, Youghal, in the summer of 1954 during the filming of ‘Moby Dick’, when the Ballynatray people visited the film set. Part of Paddy Linehan’s ‘Moby Dick’ pub can be seen on the right of the picture, as the happy group face the quayside in Youghal where all the action took place - Picture courtesy of Mike Hackett

Image: Mike Hackett as a Telegram Boy when working at the Youghal Post Office aged 14 - Picture courtesy of Mike Hackett

Image: Ballynatray main gate and lodges - Picture Mike Hackett

Image: Tunnel of dark trees leading up to Ballynatray House - Picture Mike Hackett

Image: B&W photo of Ballynatray House taken back in 1953 by Mikey Roche

Image: B&W photo of the main entrance to Ballynatray House showing the double white lodges taken on Sunday 29th October 1950 (Mikey Roche) ... See MoreSee Less

Mackerel Fishing in Youghal 2025 — A Season to Forget

Mackerel fishing in Youghal this year has been exceptionally poor, leaving many locals disappointed. Sean Murphy, a seasoned fisherman, described 2025 as the second worst mackerel season in his lifetime, with very few fish seen in both the harbour and outer harbour.

This is a stark contrast to past years when mackerel arrived like clockwork, creating huge shoals along the quayside from the Mall Dock to Green Quay between late August and early September.

Many remember buying penny hooks at Healy’s shop (where the fire station is now) or gathering gear from Pratt’s tackle shop at North Main Street. Some even made their own lures from silver foil in cigarette packets to mimic scad, which the mackerel fed on.

The Mackerel season was always a social event—locals and tourists lined the quays fishing together, and enterprising children sold freshly caught mackerel on Main Street. The season marked the end of summer, with the fish disappearing as quickly as they arrived.

Sadly, this year’s scarcity has put a dampener on those traditions. However, as Sean Murphy hopes, maybe next year will bring back the mackerel, and with them, the lively scenes that are so cherished in Youghal. By Michael Hussey

Images: An old picture of Kent Street, formerly called Hanover Street, with Healy’s shop on the right and Moby Dick’s pub visible in the distance.

A photomontage celebrating Youghal’s rich fishing heritage ... See MoreSee Less

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CRY104FM OPEN DAY - 27th September 2025 - Cry Youghal ... See MoreSee Less