Ireland - County Cork:- Youghal and Painting

Ballymaloe, Ballycotton, Co Cork

Youghal (pronounced Yawn) and the Old Monastery is situated on the mouth of the Blackwater River which feeds into the Irish sea. Each year, we have been guests here. The Old Monastery was, as the name implies, a former monastery which has been converted into condominiums. Our particular unit is ground floor, overlooking the river and the Irish Sea. It is a beautifully appointed two bedroom apartment which has been carefully restored and appointed. The medallion in the ceiling comes from France c 1600 and the chandelier is Waterford crystal. We have window seats which face the ocean and these are prime spots for reading.

One of the 3 window seats

Helen's favourite window seat

Comfortable couches and chairs and good reading lights


To reach the street above one must take these steps as a short cut		The town of Youghal was incorporated in 1209 and is seeped in history. It is a walled city and quite hilly, lots of steep hills and stairs. The town has numerous restaurants, our most frequented being Aherne's, famous for seafood and our favourite the seafood chowder accompanied by their home made Irish soda bread.

View from our Condo

view from our condo

So many vistas to paint and so little time!

St Mary's Church dates back to 452 - and is oldest continuous Catholic church in Ireland

Our haven for one week allows us to be with family, cook, dine, take long walks along the beach and there are many interesting day trips within easy driving distance and these deserve a separate post.


In 1777, the town's Clock Gate was built on the site of Trinity Castle, part of the town's fortifications. The Clock Gate served the town as gaol and public gallows until 1837; prisoners were executed by being hanged from the windows.