Youghal

🐋 Moby Dick Festival, Youghal · Programme · 29th to 31st May 2026 · A huge thanks to Youghal4All for putting together another brilliant weekend for the town.

Here’s the full programme for the weekend ↓

🐋 Moby Dick Festival Programme
📅 Friday 29th to Sunday 31st May 2026

🎉 FRIDAY NIGHT:
📍 Barry’s Lane
👗 6.30pm · Kids Fancy Dress Competition
For the young and the young at heart. Dress to impress. No one is overdressed at Moby Dick Festival!

📍 Nealon’s Quay
🍕 7.00pm · Slice by the Sea
Free pizza slice to get the night going. Limited tokens, one per person.

🎧 Dance to DJ Ger until late.
✅ Free events

🎠 Amusements on the Quay
6.00pm until late
Charges apply.

___________________________________________

🎪 SATURDAY:
📍 Barry’s Lane
🛍️ 10.00am to 5.00pm · Craft Market
Locally made crafts and bespoke items at reasonable prices.

🥁 10.30am to 12.30pm · Drumming Workshop
Learn the technique and find your rhythm.
✅ Free event

🎪 12.30pm to 1.30pm · Circus Workshop
Test your Big Top skills with Mira.
✅ Free event

🚜 1.00pm · Tractor Run
A parade of tractors passing through Youghal from Carlow to Cork. Time is approximate and traffic dependent.

🎶 1.30pm to 2.30pm · Tony McLoughlin

🎨 2.00pm to 4.00pm · Arts and Crafts
Fun for all ages. Release your inner artist and take something home.
✅ Free event

🎵 Funky Fidelma

🕵️ 3.30pm · Treasure Hunt
A clue-based hunt around town.

🎤 5.00pm · Karaoke Competition
Cash prizes to be won!

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🧸 SUNDAY:
📍 Green Park
🧺 2.00pm to 4.00pm · Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Bring your picnic and your favourite bear. Prizes for best-dressed teddy.

🎩 2.00pm to 4.00pm · Family Fun Activities
Magic shows, games, dancing with DJ Ger, and lots more.

🐶 2.30pm · The Moby Dick Dog Show
Enter your fur baby into Moby’s Dog Show. Lots of categories!

✅ All Green Park events are free.

📍 Nealon’s Quay
👑 4.00pm to 6.00pm · The King is Back
Elvis tribute act with Ben Elvis.
He’s got the looks, the voice, and the magic.

🎠 Amusements
Open until late.
Charges apply.
___________________________________________

🐋 See you in Youghal for a weekend of family fun, music, food, crafts, and festival atmosphere! ... See MoreSee Less

→ NEW PHOTO No.5 “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

🎶 Youth Busking Competition – Feel Good Friday Youghal 🎶

Young musicians and performers are invited to take part in this year’s Youth Busking Competition as part of Feel Good Friday in Youghal.

📅 Friday, 22nd May 2026
🕒 Busking: 3:15pm to 4:30pm
📍 Main Street, Youghal
🏆 Results: 4:45pm at Market Square

There will be music, energy, community spirit, and great prizes kindly sponsored by Youghal Credit Union.

✅ Registration is now open
To register for busking, email:
📧 communityhealthyoughal@gmail.com

Hosted by Youghal Community Health Project. ... See MoreSee Less

→ The Tuscan Plait Institution of Youghal · 300 Workers and 7 Straw Bonnet Factories.

One of the more unusual names in Youghal’s 19th century history is the Tuscan Plait Institution.

It opened in 1829 and taught the making of hats and bonnets from plaited straw. By 1837, it was recorded as employing over 300 females, making it a notable local craft industry.

Its exact location is unknown, and its later history is uncertain, but its influence can be seen in the number of straw bonnet businesses later recorded in the town.

By the mid 19th century, Youghal had seven straw bonnet factories.

The recorded proprietors were:

Catherine Browning · Cross Lane
Alice Fitzgerald · North Main Street
Ann Newby · North Main Street West
Jane Blackall · North Main Street
Margaret Farmer · South Main Street
Hannah Dyer · The Mall
Rebecca Woodcock · South Main Street

The timing is also worth noting. The Tuscan Plait Institution opened in 1829. The Presentation Convent School was established in Youghal in 1834 and had 600 girls by 1835. In 1845, the Presentation Sisters introduced needle lace making into the town, leading to the development of Youghal lace.

Together, straw plaiting and lace making show a strong tradition of craft, production and employment in 19th century Youghal.

Youghal’s old industries are often remembered through the harbour, fishing, brick, lime, grain, mills and lace. The Tuscan Plait Institution adds more to the list: straw hats and bonnets.

📚 Source: Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 27, Youghal.

Article researched by: Kieran McCarthy · Youghal Online ... See MoreSee Less

→ NEW PHOTO No.4 “The Debs” Youghal.
If you were there, you’ll remember it well…
👉 Do you recognise anyone?
👉 What year do you think this was?
Tag them below 👇
Photo: © Bob Rock ... See MoreSee Less

Windmill Hill, Youghal (prior to 1914) · Photo by Robert French, in the collection of the National Library of Ireland. · Colourised by Kieran McCarthy - Youghal Online 2026 ... See MoreSee Less

🌊 A Fresh Look for the Youghal Sea Swimmers’ Hut

Great to see painter Philip Monaghan hard at work refreshing the Youghal Sea Swimmers' hut, bringing colour back to this much loved local spot.

A small job that makes a big difference for everyone who uses it, especially the hardy swimmers who are in and out of the water all year round.

Fair play Philip 👏

📸 © Youghal Online ... See MoreSee Less

🎙️ Podcast: Porters Lane Residents Youghal Development Concerns

Residents of Porters Lane area of Youghal have raised concerns over a proposed development and the impact it may have on their homes, access, traffic, privacy, and the character of the area.

Hear the local residents share their views and explain why they feel the proposal deserves closer attention.

🎙️ Audio link in comments. ↓ Interview by: Michael Hussey | Youghal Online

#youghal #porterslane #youghalonline #CommunityVoices #LocalNews #youghalpodcast ... See MoreSee Less