“We now need a good plan aimed at involving everyone in the community doing their part locally, in conjunction with nationwide action by our government.”

COASTAL EROSION....One of the effects of Climate Change.

In 1962 Youghal experienced one of the worst storms in living memory. Many locals still remember the devastation caused by high seas, gale force winds and heavy rain. For those who were too young, and people who did not live in the town at the time, they can see the aftermath of the event captured on Cine camera by an amateur photographer.

It shows a Ketch, named 'The Three Brothers' owned by Capt. Arbuthnot who lived at Myrtle Grove, grounded and breaking up on the Front Strand. The Buoys which marked the sand bar at the mouth of the harbour were torn from their moorings and flung onto the shore; one at the Strand and the other at the Green Park. Craters can be seen at the entrances to many houses in the Front Strand area. Gas pipes were exposed where the road was ripped apart near the Railway Station, and the front wall of Hurst's shop was completely blown away. Nearer to town, the walls of Green Park were torn asunder and flung all over the grassy area of the park and the sea walls around the Town Hall were knocked down, allowing tons of sand to pile up around it.

That event happened overnight but today we have an even greater threat due to Climate Change, namely Coastal Erosion. This is not happening overnight like the storm, but has been causing damage for many years, eating away at our coastline, robbing farmers of their land and property, causing sandy beaches to disappear over time, and washing away important landmarks all over Ireland.

Claycastle is a high grassy mound on Youghal Beach. It is a landmark which appears in many old postcards and photos. Hundreds of people can be seen in these photos, picnicking and watching Side Shows. Today, along with its nearby sand dunes, it is gradually being eroded by the rising sea levels that accompany Climate Change.

As a frequent walker on the beach for many years, I had noticed evidence of coastal erosion occurring on a continuous basis. It took a series of high tides in November of 2019, combined with S.E. winds and heavy rainfall, to make me realise just how serious the situation is, and how much of this landmark is