Youghal

MIKE HACKETT – SIT BESIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE

A WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTION FROM MIKE HACKETT
Many followers of YoughalOnline, both at home and abroad, will be familiar with the wonderful storytelling and writing of Mike Hackett. His contributions are loved by readers for the memories, local characters, historical detail and fascinating stories he brings to life.
In this latest piece, Mike invites us to take a rest beside Youghal Lighthouse and look beyond the magnificent views to discover the remarkable history surrounding us. From the old 'consumption' seats and tales of lighthouse keepers to the story of Moby Dick, the memorial to William Perrott and the remarkable Fisher family, there is much to reflect upon.

So, take a seat, enjoy the view and let Mike take you on a journey through Youghal's past.

SIT BESIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE
On the slope of the Youghal Lighthouse hill - you will find a platform with seating to rest while you admire the magnificent view of the harbour and bay. It is on the town side of the lightkeeper's dwelling house. Some people are very active and like to walk the new greenway towards Midleton - and others prefer to use the boardwalk as far as Redbarn beach. But for those whose active lives have slipped away - it is time to sit - rest - and ponder on the tremendous history of this location.

When we were children our grand-aunts spoke of the 'consumption' seats that were spread along the lighthouse hill. People with T.B. sat all day looking out onto the water as salt air was said to cure (or at least slow) the progress of the disease. In the early 20th century - the train service from Cork brought patients from the sanatorium at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire and from Heatherside in Doneraile to the seaside in the hope of a cure.

A very charitable woman - Lil Walsh - would buy six postcards and six stamps every week to send to Hospital Requests on Radio Eireann asking for songs to be played for locals who were patients in those places. A 'stay' could be from 3 months to six months - and to hear their name on the radio cheered them up.

My own father Mick Hackett gave the year of 1969 in Sarsfield Court - bored out of his mind. He even served Mass there (as an adult altar boy) to get away from the ward for awhile. Then when he was discharged in 1970 - local priest Canon Christopher Sheehan had just retired and wanted someone to serve Mass for him in the Red House. When he suggested it to my Dad - having heard about his serving at the sanatorium - Mick promptly replied that he got it wrong - that it was a different Mick Hackett. My Dad was back to his normal self - no more Mass serving for him.

The site of this Lighthouse was where an order of nuns kept a fire burning all night to warn sailors about the rocks when entering the harbour. This continued for centuries before pirates started to imitate that behaviour by lighting their own fires in rocky parts of the coast - to lure vessels to their doom. That stopped the warning fires until the new lighthouses were built in the 19th century. This present one first shone its light in 1862.

On the western side of the lighthouse wall (Cork side) is a steep walkway that comes from the sand between the rocks up to the main road (N 25). This is said to be an old pirate trail dating back to before the river changed course in the 9th century from entering at Whiting Bay to instead form Youghal Harbour. Only then did the town begin to form - as before that Ardmore (of St. Declan) was the base. This great river has been used to invade and plunder Munster many times - by the Vikings, the Normans and the English.

Now as we sit here we advance to later times. In 1900 - two Sheppard brothers lived here on different sides of the river. One lived on the hill behind the lighthouse while the other lived over at Monatrea. Both had served in the British Navy and were accomplished at semifore flag signalling. Then every fine morning - they would appear outside their respective homes and commence their signals by flag waving. Great conversations would be had in those pre-telephone days - but there was just one downside: a lot of the salmon fishermen on the river had also been in the British Navy - and so could read all that was being said.

We think of 1954 - when the film 'Moby Dick' was made in this location. John Huston (director) chose this marvellous view to show the whaling ship 'Pequod' departing for the whaling grounds at the start of the film.

Lighthouses around our coast tend to be in isolated areas - for obvious reasons - like on barren headlands and even on islands. This beacon however is in the middle of a town where the shopping can be done without waiting for a supply boat to arrive. Elderly lightkeepers were given appointment here as a type of reward for having been on islands most of their lives. As a bonus - up on the hill behind us is Youghal Golf Club with superb views in all directions. Capel Island and Knockadoon Head can be viewed to the south and the Knockmealdown Mountains can be seen to the north. The famous Mount Mellerary Abbey is on those mountains and it is now reopened as Ava Maria University for American students. Near where we are sitting - you have the five-mile-long beach - tennis court - greyhound race track - indoor swimming pool and pitch-and-put course - all within a short walking distance. One new lightkeeper told me that he found it hard to sleep for the first few nights because of the traffic passing nearby on the road - such a difference from living on an island that had no cars.

Immediately down on the rocks below us is a simple memorial cut there in 1933. The ketch 'Daisy' was moored in the middle of the harbour when a fight started between the captain and a cabin boy named William Perrott from Wales. In an effort to escape - the young lad jumped overboard to swim to shore. But the huge river has savage currents and the boy was drowned. His body was washed in at Templemichael - four miles upriver and he was buried in that graveyard.

The Perrott family came from Wales for the funeral and local man Tom Hickey promised to mind the grave for them. He oiled the simple timber cross, cut the grass and planted box hedge around the perimeter. But time moved on and Tom passed away. The grave became overgrown and the cross decayed and fell.

Move on to 1978 when a local fisherman was searching for periwinkle shellfish on the rocks below where we are now sitting. Pushing back some seaweed - he noticed a small flat one-foot square memorial to William Perrott. It has his name and a little seagull on it. Seemingly his brother was a stonemason and secretly chiselled that small memorial to William on the rough rocks. It is on the river side of a sand walkway between the rocks and a person has to climb up to look down on it. Now in this year of 2026 - after 93 years - it can still be clearly read.

A new timber cross was erected on William's grave at Templemichel before Colin Bulman donated another version made of a mixture of steel and concrete that now stands there.

Lastly as we look across the river to the Piltown Valley (north-east) - it reminds us of the Fisher family. They were Quakers who had a big corn mill at Piltown during the terrible famine of 1947/8. They were very generous and emptied their mills in an effort to keep the local people alive. When you know that across the river in the British garrison town - you had corn stores full to the brim - awaiting transport of tons of wheat to England while the Irish starved.

A daughter of the Fisher family - Anna - came home from the Quaker school at Newtown in Waterford to give a hand with feeding the hungry. After that Anna went to England - became a doctor and met her husband (another doctor) named Haslam. They came to Dublin to practice and Anna Haslam became a prominent member of the Suffragette Movement. She campaigned non-stop to get the vote for women and lived to see it achieved.

At the age of 93 - Anna Haslam - (born and reared at Piltown on the Blackwater) - like all the women in Ireland - got to vote for the first time in 1918. Anna and her husband are buried in Ballyboden County Dublin and there is a bench in St. Stephen's Green dedicated to them.

So as you sit here admiring the view - think of all the history within reach and thank Doctor Noel Browne for solving the T.B. disease. Doctor Noel was a native of Ballinrobe Co. Mayo and a member of Dail Eireann.

MIKE HACKETT - November 2026.

PHOTOGRAPHS ACCOMPANYING MIKE HACKETT'S STORY.

1. The view from the seating area
A magnificent view across Youghal Bay towards the coastline, enjoyed from the seating area beside Youghal Lighthouse.

2. Youghal Lighthouse today
The lighthouse as it stands today, a familiar landmark overlooking Youghal Harbour and the entrance to the Blackwater Estuary.

3. The hill where the 'consumption' seats were located, circa 1900
An old photograph showing the hillside and coastal road near the lighthouse, where people suffering from tuberculosis were said to have spent time enjoying the fresh sea air.

4. Youghal seaside, 1945
A busy summer scene showing the popularity of Youghal's seafront, with visitors enjoying the beach and promenade.

5. Youghal Lighthouse, circa 1920
An historic view of the lighthouse and surrounding coastline, showing how much the area has changed over the past century.

6. The William Perrott memorial
The small memorial carved into the rocks below the lighthouse, commemorating William Perrott, the young Welsh cabin boy who tragically drowned in Youghal Harbour in 1933. ... See MoreSee Less

CUMANN Na mBAN MEMBER - Kathleen McLoughlin/Hollingsworth/O'Shea
By Mike Hackett

When researching a few years ago for famous women from the West/Waterford and East/Cork areas - one woman remained somewhat elusive. The project was in connection with a museum in Youghal devoted to women only. At last now a lot of information has come to light about Kathleen

McLoughlin/Hollingsworth/O'Shea - and we are grateful to Nioclais O'Griofain of An Rinn for discovering it for us. The following is a condensed version of Kathleen's life as researched by her nephew Barry McLoughlin.



Willie McLoughlin (born 1881) married Annie Drohan (born 1871) about 1900. She had earlier emigrated to the United States but returned because of chronic homesickness.

Her parents - Gaelic and English speakers - yet illiterate - worked for the local landlord Richard Fuge at his house in Glencorran near Old Parish on Ardmore Bay. Lord Fuge was a man very loyal to the Crown.

Annie was a domestic - while Willie took over from his father-in-law as Fuge's cattle man and general labourer. Seeing no future for his children in that sparsely populated area - the family moved to Youghal in 1916. Incidentally their belongings were transported on a horse and cart by the father of the late John Kennedy of Ballyquinn, Ardmore. Willie McLoughlin died in 1939 and Annie in 1955.


Kathleen (born 1904) - the eldest child - was in Cumann na mBan - the women's section of the I.R.A. As you can see from the years mentioned - she was just twelve years when the family moved to Youghal in 1916. They lived firstly at South Main Street before moving to Rosary Cottage at McCurtainstown. Even then while a very young girl she kept her involvement with the West/Waterford Cumann na mBan crossing the Blackwater to carry despatches. Stories were told of how she later cycled to Dublin with messages for the Volunteers and was never suspected of it. She looked just a country girl cycling a bike and would be looking for a hay barn in the evening to sleep in. She rarely spoke in later life of the 'Troubles' and would pass it off as 'For the Cause'.


Kathleen then worked in a butcher's shop and married Jimmy Hollingsworth - a tailor from Wicklow. He died very sadly at a young age in 1936 and Kathleen was left with four young children - Patricia, Bernadette, Billy and Maura. The Hollingsworth family were the first occupiers of a new house no. 73 Sarsfield Terrace. Patricia died of the dreaded T.B. disease in 1945 - having been in Heatherside Sanatorium in Doneraile. Kathleen worked as a nurse and married again during the second world war - this time to Maurice (Mossie) O'Shea and they had one child, Eileen. Kathleen died in the early 1980s.


A brother Paddy (born (1906) worked for farmers around Youghal - served an apprenticeship to a butcher - before moving to live in Clonakilty. He married Bridget Hunter in 1934 and they had a large family. Paddy had some great stories to tell. He returned to Youghal in the 1960s to work at the thriving carpet factory and passed away in 1980.

Another brother - Joe - was born in 1917 after the family moved to Youghal. He was the only Cork born member of the family.

A sister Anne (born 1908) - said to be the prettiest of the girls - married the handsome Bill Gleeson during the war. They had three children - Kay, Aileen and Liam. Anne and Bill lived in the old family home at Rosary Cottage, McCurtainstown, Strand near the railway station. Anne lived with them until her death in 1960. Eileen still lives at 73 Sars. while Maura lives nearby - just a block away - at Windmill Hill.

Sin an sceal mar gheall Kathleen McLoughlin/Hollingsworth/O'Shea. That's the story of Kathleen of West/Waterford Cumann na mBan - captured at last from initial research by her nephew historian Barry McLoughlin. Barry now lives in Vienna.

Anois buiochas mor do Nioclais O'Griofain as An Rinn mar an sceal seo. ... See MoreSee Less

𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦, 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬

Mother and daughter Kay and Alison Curtin share a memorable night at the LIBA Awards.

It was a double celebration for one Youghal family when mother and daughter Kay and Alison Curtin both received awards at the Little Island Business Association (LIBA) President's Dinner and Awards 2026.

The ceremony took place at the Garryvoe Hotel on Friday, 23rd October, with businesses and community organisations from across East Cork recognised for their work and achievements.

Kay Curtin, of Kay's Flowers in Youghal, was named 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿, while her daughter Alison Curtin, who runs Scamps & Rascals Playgroup in Ladysbridge, received the 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 award.

For Alison, the announcement came as a complete surprise. Writing on the Scamps and Rascals Facebook page afterwards, she described the experience as something she was not used to, admitting she didn't know whether to cry or laugh when her name was called.

What makes the occasion particularly special is that both women were recognised individually for their work in two very different sectors, floristry and early childhood care, on the very same evening.

The two later posed together with their awards at Kay's Flowers in Youghal, a fitting photograph to mark a memorable family achievement.

Congratulations to Kay and Alison on their well-deserved recognition. Two awards and plenty for the family to celebrate!

Join us in congratulating them both in the comments.

Article: Kieran McCarthy · Youghal Online

Source: Little Island Business Association (LIBA), 2026 Awards Winners' Gallery. ... See MoreSee Less

YOUGHAL’S LOST DOMINICAN ABBEY: BRINGING HISTORY BACK TO LIFE. By Michael Hussey

A Glimpse Into The Past Of One Of Youghal’s Historic Religious Sites

Standing among the gravestones of North Abbey Cemetery in Youghal are the evocative ruins of a Dominican friary that dates back to the 13th century. Although much of the original structure has disappeared, the surviving stonework offers a glimpse of an important chapter in the town’s religious history.

According to the information provided on the heritage sign beside the ruins, the Dominican friary was founded in 1268 by Thomas FitzMaurice, outside the walls of medieval Youghal. The friars lived, worked and worshipped here, while the foundations of the church and domestic buildings lie beneath the modern graves.

The friary suffered a major upheaval in 1541, when Henry VIII’s campaign to control the wealth and power of the Church led to the confiscation of its possessions. However, some friars may have remained discreetly on the premises until 1583. The property was subsequently granted to Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587, and he may have been responsible for its eventual destruction.

Today, the remains of the church are still visible, including the western gable with its distinctive three-light window and fragments of stonework elsewhere in the cemetery. Viewed from different angles, the surviving walls convey something of the scale of the original building.

To help people imagine what has been lost, we have used artificial intelligence (AI) to create an illustrative reconstruction of how the Dominican Abbey may have looked in its heyday. The image is not a historical photograph or an exact architectural reconstruction, but an interpretation informed by the surviving ruins and the historical information available.

By bringing together the physical remains, historical records and modern technology, we hope to encourage renewed interest in Youghal’s rich heritage and help a new generation appreciate the buildings and stories that shaped the town.

Photo: The surviving western gable of Youghal's Dominican Friary in North Abbey Cemetery. Its distinctive stonework and three-light window are reminders of the medieval religious building that once stood on this site. (Picture by Michael Hussey)

Illustration: An artistic reconstruction, created with the assistance of AI, illustrating how Youghal's Dominican Friary may have looked during its medieval heyday. The image is an interpretation based on the surviving ruins and historical information, rather than an exact architectural reconstruction. ... See MoreSee Less

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FROM BOOLA WATER WORKS TO YOUGHAL'S WATER TOWER — A LOOK BACK AT OUR WATER SUPPLY. By Michael Hussey

With Youghal's water supply currently in the news, we take a look at some of the infrastructure behind this essential service.

Boola Water Works, near Glendine, has long been associated with the town's water supply. Our recent videos and photographs offer a glimpse of the treatment plant and its surroundings, while the water tower at the top of Cork Hill remains a familiar feature of Youghal's skyline.

We are also delighted to share a wonderful piece of local archive footage showing the water tower under construction during the late 1960s, filmed by Bobby Chapple in his home movie.

For those who remember the tower being built, this footage may bring back memories. For younger generations, it offers a fascinating glimpse of an important chapter in Youghal's development.

The current Boil Water Notice remains a serious matter for affected households and businesses. This post is intended to explore the history and infrastructure of the town's water supply, rather than speculate about the cause of the present situation.

Do you remember the water tower being built? We would love to hear your memories.

Main image: The Boola Water Works
Photo and Video: The Water Tower at the top of Cork hill.
Photo and Video: The Boola Water Works near Glendine.
Archive film: Youghal's Water Tower — Under Construction in the 1960s. ... See MoreSee Less