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.
PROCESSION SUNDAY MEMORIES by Mike Hackett
When we lived in Tallow Street - one of the highlights of the year was to see Bob Cronin's Fife and Drum band form up on the street - in front of our house - as it prepared to march off to take part in the annual Eucharistic Procession. The members were old senior citizens like Mick Hickey and Will Kelleher. Then you would hear the bagpipes of the Cork Hill pipe band as it came down the hill to play it's part. And a third band - the Boy Scouts pipe band would come up Brown Street. All would go to Ashe Street to take their places in the mile-long procession. It was quite a spectacle.
Up in front would be the altar boys - then the Children of Mary in their blue and white veils - the women's confraternity group, Cork Hill Pipe band, men's confraternity group, all the local fishermen, the Gortroe men and women, Boy Scouts band, boy scout troupe, boy scout cubs, and Girl Guides.
Next came the C.B.S. accordian and flagolette band, the C.Y.M.S. would have a group - as would the local Urban Council. Next could be the Fife and Drum band leading the army F.C.A. company before the church choir - the flower petal strewers and the Blessed Sacrament with the canopy bearers. Lastly - everybody else was welcome to join in.
The local priests walked beside the formations - giving out the different decades of the rosary to be answered by the people. It all made for very religious, colourful, musical, joyful day in town with the centre at the Green Park before returning to the Parish Church.
That huge church would be packed with two thousand people for the final singing of Faith of our Fathers - and I often thought that the roof would lift off.
Remember the nuns in the Presentation Convent were not allowed to come outside the convent grounds in those days and so they would be crowded up at the school windows as the procession passed. They didn't miss a trick and could say the next day what style everyone had worn. Forgive me if anyone has been forgotten in this recollection.
OLD COMRADES ON PROCESSION SUNDAY
St. Mary's Brass and Reed band were always proud to participate in the local Eucharistic Procession and would give a big display on the day. A band of over thirty musicians would practice hymns and marches weeks in advance - uniforms would be bought for newcomers - and formation marching would be practiced down on the quayside.
We remember our comrades who have passed away like: Sean Browne, Andrew Cronin, Billy O'Connell, Jim Coleman, Liam Carroll, Dinny Kelleher, Kevin (Cookie) Kearns, Tony O'Connell, Tommy Plante, Jimmy O'Regan, Thomas Williams, Paddy Sheehan, Paddy Broderick and many more. A few elderly survivors are left like : Tom Donnelly, Liam Healy, John Kiely, Billy Collins, Oliver Kelleher and myself. So today in this month of June (Procession month) - we think of and pray that they are enjoying their music and marching in a higher place. Here is 'Old Comrades' in honour of all.
Mike Hackett - June 2026.
Pictures
Brass Band 1; C.B.S. boys band; Children of Mary; Colm Keane with son Sean at Green Park; Cork Hill Pipe Band; Flower stewers; Procession approaches back to Parish Church; Scout Pipe Band; Walkers in Procession and the Women's Confraternity. ... See MoreSee Less
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→ Loreto Convent, Youghal. What year do you think this was? 👉 Do you recognise anyone? Tag them below 👇 Photo: © Bob Rock ... See MoreSee Less
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NOT SO FABULOUS
Famous actress and billionaire frustrate entry to car park -absolutely!
By Christy Parker
A west Waterford woman has had a brief but intriguing encounter with multi-billionaire James Dyson and famous actress, Joanna Lumley but found the experience at a riverside heritage site somewhat more “irritating” than fixating.
Retired GP Melanie Kelly, from Shanacoole had driven, with her friend Penelope, to Templemichael one recent morning.
The idyllic, serene location lies within a seagull scream of Ballynatray House and is part of the 850-acre Ballynatray estate that Mr Dyson purchased for reportedly over €30m in 2024.
On arriving at the site, Melanie and her companion, who was on crutches, found the car park, narrow and sharply to the right of the rudimentary entrance, obstructed by a vacated, black Land Rover Defender.
A white Volkswagen, equally unable to access the car park, was tucked in patiently behind it. The Volkswagen driver transpired to be a young man from Tallow.
It’s unclear how long the Volkswagen driver had been waiting for the Defender crew to return but perhaps fearful of gathering cobwebs, he set off to find them. Penelope, supported by her crutches, soon followed.
Melanie meanwhile tried to turn her Kia Ceed around but eventually settled for sliding her vehicle in behind the white car and “just about off the road.”
Within a few minutes the Tallow man returned, with two elderly ladies strolling in his wake, keeping pace with the growth of the grass. They were sorry about the blocked car park and assured that the rest of their group would shortly return.
Whatshername....
Sure enough, “two tall men and one small woman”, as Melanie described, soon came walking up the leafy pathway to the cars. Neither gathering addressed the other, perhaps surprisingly and certainly disappointingly, but Mr Dyson “looked at us with slightly raised eyebrows and a half smile”, Melanie recalls.
While Melanie instantly identified the gaffer himself, she only recognised the small woman as “a famous actress” whose name she couldn’t quite place. Happily her passenger, who had been gone but not forgotten, also returned and had recognised Ms Lumley.
For those who survived without a television set in the 1990’s, or who have maintained their tortured souls on a strict diet of RTE only, may appreciate that Ms Lumley was and probably still is, a supremely talented actress with very many diverse roles to her name across stage, screen and studio.
However, she has to live with being arguably best remembered for her 1990’s role as the chain smoking, amoral Patsy Stone in the Absolutely Fabulous television sitcom.
For no other reason than it sounds appropriate in the circumstances to mention it, the 80 year-old, double BAFTA and OBE recipient is also quoted as once saying, “I've been to very poor countries and I'm convinced that happiness is not connected with wealth."
Ironically, back in Templemichael, with everyone returning to their cars, nobody could go anywhere until Melanie backed onto the roadway to create space. This she gingerly did, being conscious, no doubt, that she didn’t own the place!
“I found the whole thing a bit irritating to be honest, but then it only lasted less than 15 minutes, so maybe it wasn’t too bad”, she reflects with a smile. “It was just one of those strange experiences”.
Would kind of make you think about getting a helicopter pad all the same...
Courtesy of the Dungarvan Observer ... See MoreSee Less
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Where in Youghal? 👀 Think you know the town inside out?
Here’s your first close-up clue. A familiar face, but maybe not one you’ve noticed before...
📍 Where in Youghal would you find this?
Drop your guesses in the comments below. We’ll reveal a little more in the next post! ... See MoreSee Less
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🕰️ Youghal Clock Tower (1981) · RTÉ Archives
A great piece of RTÉ archive footage showing Youghal’s Clock Tower at a very different stage in its history.
The report describes the Clock Tower as Youghal’s most historic landmark and recalls its darker past, when Irish patriots were once hanged from its windows.
But the focus of the clip is also on a more positive chapter. By the time of this report, the tower was being used as a tourist office, with a museum already in place for 13 years. A new art gallery had just been added, opened by Joe O’Reilly, Chairman of the Cork Kerry Regional Tourist Company.
The gallery was put together with help from the National Art Gallery and the Regional Tourism Investment Trust. According to the report, it was believed to be the only tourist office in the country at the time with an art gallery attached.
A great snapshot of Youghal’s heritage, tourism and cultural life. ... See MoreSee Less
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A step back into Youghal’s Main Street, around the late 1960s
A wonderful old view of Youghal, capturing the old Wimpy Bar sign, with Tom Green’s Pub, and the L&N supermarket across the road.
Who remembers Tom Green’s Pub, the L&N supermarket or the Wimpy Bar? ... See MoreSee Less
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End of an Era at JDs Pub, Youghal ❤️
At the end of June 2026, JDs Pub will close its doors for the final time as Colin and Marion Doyle begin their well-earned retirement.
Their own message says JDs was “more than a pub”, and the response from the community shows just how true that is.
People have been sharing memories of great nights, live music, bands, first jobs, darts, golf society trips, fancy dress nights, World Cup mornings, family gatherings, staff, regulars, and friendships formed over the counter.
One person described JDs as “the life and soul and heart of Youghal.” Another remembered it as a safe and friendly place where people were made to feel like family.
That is the mark of a true local.
There is sadness in seeing another familiar Youghal pub close its doors, but there is also huge gratitude for everything Colin and Marion have given to the town over more than thirty years.
The people of Youghal wish Colin and Marion every happiness in retirement.
Thank you for the music, the memories, the welcome, and the years of service to Youghal.
And as Marion herself said: “You can check out, but you can never leave.”
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Original message from Colin & Marion Doyle | JD's Pub, Youghal
It’s official... after our many wonderful years here in JDs pub serving our local and wider community it is time for us to eventually retire. We will be closing our doors for the final time at the end of June 2026.
It is difficult to capture our thirty plus years in a short synopsis but what an experience it has been. JDs has been more than a pub for us. We have watched our own family grow up during this time, we have formed countless friendships over the bar and our JDs family has grown with our fantastic staff both past and present. There are far too many to mention individually, but please know we will be forever grateful to you all. We remember you all for your hard work and patience, your endless working hours but especially the fantastic support and memories you have given us. As Marion always says, “you can check out, but you can never leave”. We have been privileged to host so many incredible musicians and bands over the years, both local and from further afield. Thank you all for entertaining us all. A very special mention must go to our resident musician Martin P. You have been an integral part of JDs and despite being a proud Déise man you will always be considered part of our JDs family!!
For anyone who has run their own business, you will understand the challenges and pressures that come with it today. We are very fortunate that through hard work, passion and more importantly the support of all our customers and staff that JDs continued to thrive over the years. This has made our decision to retire all the more difficult. We sincerely hope the pub trade in Youghal continues and we look forward to sitting on the other side of the counter in time. Who knows what the future holds, but we hope that the taps will flow again one day and that JDs will again be a place that welcomes everyone with open arms and familiar warmth.
Finally, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. It has truly been an honour and a privilege to serve you all.
With love and gratitude, Colin & Marion Doyle JDs Pub,Youghal
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Article by: Kieran McCarthy | Youghal Online
Please leave your memories, stories, and good wishes below. 👇 ... See MoreSee Less
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Presentation Convent Primary School, Youghal · Sr. Coleman's First Holy Communion Class (circa 70s) · What year do you think this was? 👉 Do you recognise anyone? Tag them below 👇 ... See MoreSee Less
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→ NEW PHOTO No.8 “The Debs” Youghal. If you were there, you’ll remember it well. What year do you think this was? 👉 Do you recognise anyone? Tag them below 👇 Photo: © Bob Rock ... See MoreSee Less
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