Youghal

Jake Kaliliec Performance at Triskel Arts Centre. By Michael Twomey

Youghal has never been represented like this, on a stage as prestigious as Triskel, in a setting as lush as Christchurch, with music as arresting as Jake Kalilec’s interpretations of his hometown’s history, folktales, culture and memory. A standing ovation from a packed house. Words such as ‘magical’ and ‘world class’ fell from lips with ease. There was self gratification for those present, particularly those who made the journey. The sense of wonder was shared openly after the last tonal strains fell silent on the stage. This was a performance to remember.

The 11 piece orchestra swooned and jigged, the players at times betraying their pleasure and feel for the notes by swaying through their parts and smiling during their pauses. Layer upon layer of melody, sometimes cinematic jazz of the 1930s, sometimes cascading notes of traditional origin, sometimes overlapping with a sudden and surprising blues riff on the piano or even rock progression on the banjo. All of it grounded in the gravity and currents of the rhythm section, communicating in their own tongue, while the strings, trombones and clarinet hummed the melodies as if compelled by the emotion of the piece.

Youghal has never been represented like this. Mackerel Fishing evoked the tide, the giddiness of the mackerel breaking and the lament of its passing. The second composition, Cherrymount, perhaps the most emotional composition in the performance, charmed with its deceptive lightness, drawing the audience unsuspectingly into the song’s deeper lament. The equally beautiful Longing, seemed to bring a confidence to the stage imbued by the warmth coming from the audience. Moll Googin’s Corner began with a deep, descending, note on the double bass like the lonely call of a ship's fog horn. Its extraordinarily contradicting moods worked counter-intuitively, wavering from jazz to traditional and at times in unison, like lovers on a promise. The performance was brought to an end with the complex, sometimes primordial, movements (particularly the opening section) of Florence Newton. Its drum breaks and organised chaos was elevated by Paul Dunlee’s fearsome trombone solo.

Youghal has never been represented like this. Towns, cities and countries are boastful when praising talents they often claim to be responsible for. One can only hope that this performance will not just be about Jake Kalilec’s hometown, but that he can bring it home so the town can celebrate one of its most talented sons.

Pics by Kieran McCarthy ... See MoreSee Less

A COUNTRY WELCOME FOR TOWNIES By Mike Hackett

A kind woman lived about a mile outside Youghal in the 1940s and she loved to entertain her friends from town when they walked out on Sunday afternoons. That was the time for townies to seek fresh air in the open countryside - away from the smog of the coal-fire chimneys. Her name was Minnie Hackett (Mrs. Ansbro) and she was my aunt. Minnie lived with her father, husband and four children in a house at Knockatigan near 'The Bush' - on the Quarry Road.

She never seemed to mind how many came to visit her and there was a welcome and a seat for all. It was real Old-Ireland style.

There was one thing missing from the house - and that was running water. It had to be drawn in buckets from a stream about fifty yards away and it was pure and cold. It came from a spring up in the nearby field where a 'pattern' day was held once a year in bygone days.

Granda Hackett had a donkey and cart to transport vegetables to town - mainly potatoes and cabbage - and then to bring back provisions for the house. Granda would get the donkey hitched to the cart - but it was usually Minnie who went with it to town. She was very popular in the middle of town with her donkey and cart. Saturday was shopping day and the kids of the town - who had no school - would pester Minnie for a spin. If they helped her to unload and deliver the potatoes and cabbage - they were allowed to sit up on the cart and steer the donkey up the street. Then Minnie would call to my mother for a cup of tea and a chat or to Kathleen Whyte. She had a choice of more houses - because she looked after them all well when they walked out to Knockatigan on Sundays.

Friends, relations and walkers that come to mind from those years of the 1940s and 50s - are Mary-Anne Smyth of Sarsfield's Terrace - Hanny Kelleher (nee Hackett - another aunt of mine) of Mill Road - Mary Nevin and Anne Donovan both of Mill Road and Reenie Murphy (nee Bradley) of Copperalley.

Most remarkable was how she fed everybody - mothers and kids - who had nice appetites after their walk. In the large living room/kitchen was a big open fire with a crane hanging over it. There was ample sticks and timber to ensure a roaring fire to cook whatever would be in the pot hanging on the crane. Then to cook the contents evenly - more fagots (hot embers) would be piled onto the lid.

Minnie had her own free-range hens running around the garden and that meant lots of eggs available for any cake. Sunday afternoon always saw a bastable cake in the pot - getting ready for the visitors. The smell was enough to make anyone hungry. Then when it was cooked - it was cut while red-hot into chunks and buttered with salted country butter. Rosaleen and Angeline Smyth (whose Dad was owner of Youghal Brickyard) lived nearby and made the country butter for the shops in town.

All the adults sat around the big kitchen table - telling yarns about the happenings of the week - while the kids ate their chunks of bastible cake playing outside.

The fun lasted until around six o'clock before the first guest began to move to go home. Then it was just an easy stroll back into town after an enjoyable day at Minnie Hackett's.

Pictures courtesy of Mike Hackett.
Image: The Mill Road, Youghal.
Image: Minnie with her donkey and cart. ... See MoreSee Less

Easter Sunday 2026 Sinn Fein Commemoration on April 5th in Youghal.

A large parade will leave from Pearse Square at 10-30 am on Sunday April 5th and march through town to North Abbey cemetery. It will be led by the Youghal Pipe Band (now the third best in the world) and a colour party of flags plus relations and supporters. A short service - with the raising of the tri-colour - will take place at the Republican plot where Conor Mcguinness T.D. and Pat Buckley T.D. will both speak. Several wreaths will then be laid on behalf of various sections of West Waterford and East Cork Republicans. The proclamation of the G.P.O. will be read and the Last Post and Reveille will be played on trumpet by Billy Collins. Then the group will move to the nearby new headstone of Johnny Kenefick for a short tribute to him before a wreath is laid on his grave. The morning will finish with the National Anthem played by the Youghal Pipe band.

Bi ann linn le cunamh De - (Be there with us with the help of God).

An Clar -The Programme

10-15 am Assemble at Pearse Square.

10-30 am Parade to the Republican Plot at North Abbey Cemetery

Lowering of the tri-colour by Eddie Fitzgerald

Welcome address by Andrew Burrell of Youghal Sinn Fein.

The men buried in the Republican Plot - a tribute by Liam Allen.

Wreath Laying as follows:

Pat Buckley T.D. on behalf of Sinn Fein nationally.

Andrew Burrell on behalf of Sinn Fein Youghal.

Frank Cummings for the Piltown Ambush Committee

Martin O'Donnell for the West Waterford Ambush Committee.

John Daly on behalf of 4th Battalion 1st East Cork Brigade.

Speakers:

Pat Buckley T.D. - Cork East Sinn Fein.

Conor McGuinness T.D. - Waterford Sinn Fein.

Conor will then read the G.P.O. Proclamation of 1916.

Last Post and Reveille played by trumpeter Billy Collins.

The Tri-Colour will be raised by Eddie Fitzgerald.

Closing remarks by Andrew Burrell.

The group will then gather at the nearby Johnny Kenefick memorial where a wreath will be laid by Richard Leo who is a family member.

Andrew Burrell will introduce Mike Hackett - another family descendant who will give a brief account of the life of Volunteer Johnny Kenefick.

To conclude - the National Anthem will be played by pipers from the Youghal Pipe Band.

Pictures from last years commemoration 2025 ... See MoreSee Less