Youghal Clock Gate Tower was built in 1777 as a gaol, but its story spans seven hundred years of history. This iconic building is now not a grim prison, but a place to explore tales from its fascinating past. Against period backdrops, the storytellers, clad in “Time Costume” will bring you through the surprising life and times of this distinctive site and the many varied characters associated with it throughout the years.

Youghal Co. Cork is a walled seaport town and one of the best-preserved examples of a 13th-century town in Europe. Youghal Clock Gate Tower occupies the former site of Trinity Castle, one of the five principal fortifications of the late 14th/15th century Walled Town. The large commanding structure of Trinity Castle, straddling the main thoroughfare and dividing it into North and South Main Street, was replaced in 1777 by the present-day Clock Gate Tower, having fallen into disrepair.

Today at Youghal Clock Gate Tower you are invited to journey with storytellers through 600 years of “Time”. Youghal Clock Gate Tower holds many stories. The storytellers, clad in “Time Costume” engage you in stories of life as lived in the Tower in bygone eras. These are stories of pain, tragedy and rebellion, but also stories of love, friendship and generosity.

At the Tower, you will hear the sounds, feel the atmosphere and even meet a former Youghal Clock Gate Tower resident. All of this, under the watchful gaze of the ever-present ticking Clock. See for yourself how the clock works and hear it in action. Spend moving time talking intimatley with John McGrath whose family were clock-keepers in Youghal for generations.

A visit to Youghal Clock Gate is a truly memorable experience.