Mall House / Town Hall

This is the Town Hall. In the 19th century, there was a belief that property should look after poverty, that rich people should provide work for poor people. During the Famine, a group of men met here to decide how best they could help starving people in Youghal and the surrounding areas. These men were called the Relief Commissioners. They decided on 5 schemes of work – the Court House, the Slob bank, the Bridewell, a watchtower on Capel Island and the road to Killeagh. Three of these schemes of work can be seen on the Famine Trail. Angry crowds gathered around the Town Hall demanding that the Relief Commissioners do something about the plight of the starving people. The Royal Navy was called in to protect the ships leaving Youghal with food. The army was called in to prevent rioting. Some of the riots took place here.