Youghal - Notable People

Notable People

• Sir Walter Raleigh was Mayor of Youghal in 1588 and 1599 and lived at Myrtle Grove, the Warden's Residence of the Collegiate Church. "As part of a group of entrepreneurial soldiers and administrators to form the new English government in Munster. These men were arriving in Ireland at a time when English Royal administration was reasserting its power in Munster following the Desmond Rebellion. A great sea change was taking place with the replacement of the Gaelic lordship economy with a market style English economy."
• Sir Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, 1st Viscount Dungarvan, 1st Baron Boyle of Youghal, Lord High Treasurer of the Kingdom of Ireland (although simply known as The Great Earl of Cork). (1566–1643) "Boyle is closely associated with the history of Youghal, purchasing the town as part of his acquisition of the Munster estate of Sir Walter Raleigh.", had a substantial residence at Youghal, known today as "The College", close to St. Mary's Collegiate Church.
• The Countess of Desmond (died 1604), who lived in nearby Finisk Castle is reputed to have fallen to her death at the age of 140 attempting to pick cherries from a tree. She is said to be buried, with her husband, in a Franciscan Friary at Youghal.
• Florence Newton (fl. 1661) was an alleged Irish witch, known as the "Witch of Youghal". The case against Newton is described as one of the most important examples of Irish witch trials.
• William Cooke Taylor (16 April 1800 – 12 September 1849), writer, journalist, historian and anti-Corn Law propagandist. Born in Youghal, died at 20 Herbert Street, Dublin.
• Abraham Dowdney (1841–1886), a United States Representative from New York, as well as an officer in the Union army during the American Civil War was born in Youghal.
• William Spotswood Green (1847–1919), naturalist.
• Communist journalist Claud Cockburn and his wife Patricia, artist, conchologist and traveller, lived in the town for many years. He described it, memorably, as "standing at a slight angle to the universe".
• Novelist William Trevor spent some of his early years in Youghal, and featured the town in his short story "Memories of Youghal".
• In 1954, John Huston filmed part of Moby-Dick there, with the town standing in for New Bedford. A licensed premises in the town still bears the name of the movie.
• Eddie O'Sullivan was appointed Ireland rugby coach in December 2001, replacing Warren Gatland and resigned in March 2008. He had earlier coached Connacht, and was involved in the US Eagles coaching set up with George Hook in the early 1990s, and returned there as Head Coach in 2008.
• Christy Cooney was appointed chairperson of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in 2009.