When the Town Crier turns out in full regalia to announce the start of your Photo Walk with an accompanying loud, clanging bell, you know something’s happening and that the odds are more than favourable for a great day ahead.
So it was in Youghal, Co. Cork on Saturday 3rd October 2015 when the walkers gathered for the 8th Annual Scott Kelby WorldWide Photo Walk organised by East Cork Camera Group on a beautiful, sunny morning. As well as our own members and some locals, we were delighted to welcome walkers from Blarney, Carrigaline and Clonmel who made the journey for the 10.45am start. Present also was our guide for the day, local historian, John Kelly, who proved to be a human repository of information regarding Youghal through the ages, giving meaning and perspective to our many stops along the route.
Our walk was based on the existing Youghal Heritage Trail which has a total of seventeen stops, the third of which is the Clockgate.
A jail and scene of gruesome executions in its time, the building has been recently renovated and has a viewing platform at the top offering fantastic views across the town. Since it is presently closed to the public, we were really pleased to have special access granted to us for our Photo Walk by the local Municipal Council.
Having fully ingested this unique view of the town and beyond, our walk wound it’s way through the narrow streets where history and photo opportunities abound.
The next major stop was at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church. Built in 1220 and extended in the 14th and 15th centuries, it is one of the few parish churches of the period still in use in Ireland. It has a fascinating history which is fully illustrated in the church.
Recent radio-carbon dating on wood samples in the Church place this roof in the middle of the 13th century (AD1223 – 1281). These findings prove that St. Mary’s has the oldest radio-carbon dated roof structure of any Church in Ireland.
About a half hour after the appointed finish time of 2pm, our walk came to an end at The Red Store on North Main Street, where some welcome food and refreshments, served by the friendly and attentive staff, finished our day off just nicely.
Youghal has been a destination for ECCG on several occasions in the past and features in our Lighthouse and Blackwater projects as well as in other shoots we have done there. With its long, golden beaches, harbour and enormously deep historic significance, Youghal has an abundance to offer the photographer and non-photographer alike.
With some new friends made and all of the world’s photography issues put to rights, it was off home to get the editing and uploading underway. Already there are around 150 images in our gallery with more to come over the next few days.
Many thanks to Youghal’s Municipal Council, Youghal Tourist Office, Community Radio Youghal, Town Crier, Mr. Clifford Winser, historian and guide, John Kelly, the staff at The Red Store and the people of Youghal for allowing us to roam your streets and photograph everything and anything on our path.
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Youghal Radio: @cry104fm
Don’t forget to visit our gallery of images from the PhotoWalk. Enjoy!