First Cut! Youth Film Festival

Youghal: Looking Forward, Looking Back - John McGrath: My Life in the Clock Gate

Expired May 9, 2021 10:59 PM
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The premiere of a documentary on Youghal legend John McGrath made by students at Pobalscoil na Trionóide, the local secondary school. Youghal is a beautiful seaside town in East Cork that is steeped in history. McGrath was the last person to be born in its iconic clocktower. A compelling raconteur, McGrath shares vivid and personal memories of life growing up in this unusual home and of mid-20th century Youghal in general. It is accompanied by Youghal: An Historical Overview, another documentary made by the same group of students in which local historian and author Kieran Groeger provides historical background to the town and clocktower.


Actor Ruth Hayes will join McGrath and Liam O’Leary, one of the young people involved in the making of the film, for a discussion of this grass roots project before the screening.


Youghal has been the home of First Cut! Youth Film Festival since 2014. In that time, it has become more than just a festival venue – it is part of the very fabric of First Cut. As an acknowledgement of Youghal’s tremendous ongoing support even during a year when putting on a physical festival is impossible, First Cut has commissioned local filmmaker Michael Hussey, and actor Ruth Hayes to make a short tribute to the town’s rich filmmaking history. Youghal - Looking Forward, Looking Back is a short documentary about Youghal, its Hollywood links and its future in film. This celebratory film featuring some of the town’s well-loved landmarks, archival footage and photographs will open this Youghal-focused programme.  


John McGrath: My Life in the Clock Gate is a Cork Young Filmmakers project funded by Cork County Council Municipal Districts Arts Development Fund in partnership with Pobalscoil na Trionóide.