3 January 2019, Tales from 1919: The Future of a Shell Factory
“The first week of January 1919 coincided with the ongoing controversy of the ceasing of the Cork National Shell Factory and finding a future use for it. The work of closing down the Irish munition factories begun shortly after the cessation of the First World War in late November 1918. The 1 January 1919 coincided with the public call by the Ministry of Munitions, London that the plant machinery of the respective Irish and British munitions factories would be advertised for public sale and buildings leased by local owners such as Corporations to new lesees”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14777
10 January 2019, Tales from 1919: Permits, Parcels & Prisoners of War
“Nearly three hundred men, natives of Munster who had been prisoners of war, were given a warm welcome on 7 January 1919 at the Imperial Hotel, Cork, by the members of the Cork branch of the Irish Women’s Association”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14814
17 January 2019, Tales from 1919: Preparations for the First Dáil Éireann
“The 21 January 2019 coincides with the centenary commemoration of the assembly of 28 (of 73) Sinn Féin MPs at Dublin’s Mansion House and their declaration of the first Dáil Éireann”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14854
24 January 2019, Tales from 1919: Proceedings of the First Dáil Éireann
“Three minutes before the time announced for the beginning of the proceedings of the first Dáil Éireann on 21 January 1919 Count George Plunkett, attended by his colleagues entered the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin (continued from last week’s column). They proceeded to their seats. The audience rose and indulged in loud and prolonged cheering”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14874
31 January 2019, Tales from 1919: The Return of the Liners
“On Saturday evening, 11 January 1919 the first after-war advertisement of the City of Cork Steam Packet Company appeared in the Cork press. It announced passenger rates and accommodation on outward bound ships from Cork. Shipping within the port had re-emerged but German submarines had sunk many of the comfortable and speedy boats and ships”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14896
7 February 2019, Tales from 1919: SS Joachim and Anne’s Asylum
On any given day within the Cork Examiner from one hundred years ago, the news is diverse. One institution, which receives passing references is SS Joachim and Anne’s Asylum. The old beautiful building has survived the test of time on Anglesea Street, http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14909
14 February 2019, Tales from 1919: The Society of African Missions
“On 10 February 1919, Bishop Broderick, Vicar Apostolic, Western Nigeria held his first ordinations at the African Missions Church, Blackrock Road. The new Prelate of the African Missions was a native of County Kerry, having been born in Kilflynn in 1882, and was the first Vicar Apostolic of Western Nigeria. Twenty-seven postulants to Holy Orders were anointed at his hands on Blackrock Road. One hundred years ago, regular printed references appear in local newspapers as to the donations made for the Society of African Missions by Cork citizens and the merchant class”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14957
21 February 2019, Tales from 1919: A Postal Service in Debate
“Before the advent of the First World War 250,000 people were employed in the British Postal Service. At the end of the 1917, 75,000 employees were released by the Postal Service for war service. By February 1919 despite the war being over rebuilding the employee base of the postal service was difficult. One hundred years ago, on Sunday afternoon 16 February 1919, a mass meeting of the Irish various associations representing Post Office employees was held in the Council Chamber in Cork City Hall. The Chamber was thronged with people”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14962
28 February 2019, Tales from 1919: The Gaels of the GAA
“On 24 February 1919, the annual convention of the hurling and football clubs affiliated to the Cork County Board, Gaelic Athletic Association was held at the Council Chamber, City Hall. Mr J McCarthy (Chairman) presided and there was a large attendance of delegates from the different clubs, as well as members of the County Board. Outgoing officers were unanimously re-elected such as prominent Sinn Féin activist and MP Mr J J Walsh. Positions to the Munster Council, Munster Convention and to the All-Ireland Convention were appointed”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14969
7 March 2019, Tales from 1919: The Temperance Movement
“The celebration of the new St Francis Total Abstinence Hall at 20 Sheares Street was marked at the annual meeting of the society on Saturday 1 March 1919. The newly elected Lord Mayor of Cork Mr William O’Connor was in the chair”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14980
14 March 2019, Tales from 1919: The Work of the North Infirmary
“In 1919, the work of the North Infirmary appears regularly in Cork newspapers. One hundred years ago, 14 March 1919, a public meeting of Cork citizens was held at the Council Chamber, City Hall. Hosted by the Lord Mayor Cllr William F O’Connor, the meeting sought to perpetuate the memory of a well-respected young Cork Doctor, John Higgins, who had passed away from influenza”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14987
21 March 2019, Tales from 1919: The Fever Pitch of Politics
“Mid-March 1919 coincided with support for Sinn Féin at fever pitch. In May 1918 Eamon DeValera had been re-arrested and imprisoned but in February 1919 he escaped from Lincoln Gaol, England. In April, he replaced Cathal Brugha as head of Dáil Éireann. In Cork the release of Tadgh Barry and Peadar O’Hourihane as political prisoners from British prisons led to vast public support on the streets whilst the visit of the Speaker of the new Dáil Éireann, Cathal Brugha brought a national vision to locations like the southern capital”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=14995
28 March 2019, Tales from 1919: The Booth and Fox Empire
“On 25 March 1919 an outbreak of fire was discovered in what was known as the drying chamber in the establishment of Messrs Booth and Foxes, Feather Merchants”, http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15028
4 April 2019, Tales from 1919: A Commercial Handbook
” Cork: Its Trade and Commerce was the official handbook of the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping and was published by Guy & Co. in early April 1919. It was edited and compiled by D J Coakley, then Principal of Cork Municipal School of Commerce. It is available in local studies in Cork City Library”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15048
11 April 2019, Tales from 1919: Tuberculosis and the City Dispensary
“One hundred years ago this week on 14 April 1919 a conference of representatives of the medical profession in Cork, the Public Health Committee of the Corporation, and the City Insurance Committee, was held to consider a scheme of how the Tuberculosis Act could be advanced further in Cork. The Tuberculosis Act was passed in 1908 but was not overtly followed through on primarily due to inadequate treatment facilities and a general lack of obligation by the public to declare infection if contracted”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15055
18 April 2019, Tales from 1919: An Irish Industries Fair
“One hundred years ago this week, the Irish Industries Fair was opened in Cork City Hall on Thursday 24 April 1919 by the Lord Mayor of Cork, William O’Connor. The fair was called Tír na nÓg and was an exhibition of Irish-made goods and the display of the manufacturing abilities of the country. It aimed to introduce to the public and to celebrate several commodities from the Irish art and craft movement”.http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15078
25 April 2019, Tales from 1919: A Bomb Factory Explosion
“On the morning of 28 April 1919, the site of a Volunteer secret bomb making factory at 33 Grattan Street was rocked by an explosion. It was the location of a three-storey tenement house and of a boot shop run by Andrew Ahern on the ground floor. Michael Tobin, aged about 26 of 15 Batchelor’s Quay, died at the Mercy Hospital on 20 May 1919 as a result of serious burns and shock sustained in an explosion”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15104
2 May 2019, Tales from 1919: The American Commissioners Arrive
“On 7 May 1919 different functions took place in Cork in connection with the welcome accorded to members of the American Commission on Irish Independence, Messrs Edward F Dunne and Michael J Ryan. The delegates had been well received in Dublin and Belfast. It was hoped that one of the results of the visit of the American delegates to this country was that America would back Ireland in her demand for freedom during the agreement on the Peace Terms”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15152
9 May 2019, Tales from 1919: Ms Sheehy Skeffington’s Plea
“On the 1 May 1919 a Sinn Féin aerideacht or cultural gathering/ rally was fixed for Coachford. It was proclaimed as an illegal activity by the military authorities. The fixture was advertised by distributing small posters and in the press – the speakers announced being Mrs Hannah Sheehy Skeffington, Mr Terence McSwiney, MP, and Mr Liam de Róiste”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15168
16 May 2019, The Little Book of Cork Harbour
“My new book The Little book of Cork Harbour has recently been published by The History Press (2019). Cork Harbour is a beautiful region of southern Ireland. It possesses a rich complexity of natural and cultural heritage. This is a little book about the myriad of stories within the second largest natural harbour in the world”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15219
23 May 2019, Prehistoric Cork Harbour
“My new book The Little book of Cork Harbour has recently been published by The History Press (2019). Following on from last week, below is another snippet from the book– focussing on some aspects of the prehistoric human activity in the harbour”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15228
30 May 2019, The Lights in the Dark
” My new book The Little book of Cork Harbour has recently been published by The History Press (2019). Following on from last week, below is another snippet from the book– focussing on some aspects of Roches Point Lighthouse and Daunt Rock lightship in the harbour”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15252
6 June 2019, Stories from Cork’s Docklands
“Welcome to the 1,000th column. To mark the occasion and to also coincide with the launch of my new book, The Little Book of Cork Harbour, and the Cork Harbour Festival and Seafest, the next historical walking tour will be of Cork Docklands on Sunday afternoon 9 June (full details at end of column as well as the June walking tours. Below is another snippet from the new book”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15277
13 June 2019, A Sociable Harbour
“My new book The Little book of Cork Harbour has recently been published by The History Press (2019). Following on from last week, below is another snippet from the book– focussing on some of the sociable aspects of the harbour’s history”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15296
20 June 2019, Tales from 1919: Tram Tracks Through a City
“On the second week of June 1919, a strike of the Cork tramway employees occurred, which threatened to cause a serious dislocation in transport movement in the city. Recorded in the Cork Examiner in May 1919 the employees put in their claim on the lines of the national demand for a weekly wage of 50s and a 49-hour week”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15339
27 June 2019, Tales from 1919: The Life of William Martin Murphy
“On 27 June 1919 newspapers across the country ran their regret of announcing the death of Mr William Martin Murphy, which took place in Dublin. He was one of the most prominent men in Irish commercial circles, being actively engaged at the heart of many enterprises”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15349
4 July 2019, Tales from 1919: Alfred’s Interventions
“In late June and early July 1919, the Cork Sinn Féin Executive arranged a series of public lectures aimed at increasing local activism whilst critiquing Westminster social policies in Ireland. The lectures were delivered by Professor Alfred O’Rahilly (1884-1969) to an interested audience, in the Council Chamber of Cork City Hall”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15415
11 July 2019, Tales from 1919: The First Fordson Tractor
“In late June 1919, citizens of Cork welcomed the announcement that Mr Edward Grace, Managing Director with a party of engineers from Messrs Ford’s Tractor Works had arrived in Cork to expedite the completion of the Marina factory”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15430
18 July 2019, Tales from 1919: The Work of the Waterworks
” In the western corner of the Old Cork Waterworks on Lee Road lies a weighing scales for deliveries of coal. Coal came up a back cobbled laneway into the complex. One hundred years ago in mid-July 1919 Cork Corporation’s Waterworks committee met with councillors”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15448
25 July 2019, Mother Jones Festival and Summer School 2019
“The eighth Spirit of Mother Jones festival and Summer School will take place in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter from Wednesday 31 July until Saturday 3 August 2019. The festival celebrates the life and achievements of Cork woman, Mary Harris. She was born in the Shandon area in 1837 and went on to become Mother Jones, known as the “most dangerous woman in America” due to her activism on behalf of the miners, and exploited workers”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15460
1 August 2019, Tales from 1919: Death of a Library Philanthropist
“On 11 August 1919, almost one hundred years ago, a good friend of Cork’s library service passed away in Lennox, Massachusetts, USA. Mr Andrew Carnegie, funder of many Irish libraries and Cork City Library passed away after a brief illness”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15477
8 August 2019, Cork Heritage Open Day, Saturday 17 August 2019
“Cork Heritage Open Day and Heritage Week are looming – a kind of Christmas week – for a heritage fanatic like me. It is great to see the city’s local history and natural heritage being focussed on. Indeed as a city we need to celebrate it more publicly and more regularly”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15493
15 August 2019, Kieran’s Heritage Week Tours, 17-24 August 2019
“National Heritage Week is upon us again next week (19 – 26 August). It is going to be a busy week. For my part I have organised seven tours”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15515
22 August 2019, Tales from 1919: The Consecration of St Colman’s Cathedral
“One hundred years ago this week on 24 August 1919 impressive ceremonies took place at Queenstown (now Cobh) to consecrate St Colman’s Cathedral. Local newspapers such as the Cork Examiner covered the event and the cathedral history was well documented in their August 1919 spread. Since then many historians, locally and internationally, have written on the gorgeous building”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15523
29 August 2019, Tales from 1919: The Burning of the Metropole Laundry
“A few minutes before 2am on Saturday night, 30 August 1919 some people passing along King Street (now MacCurtain Street) and the police on duty in the vicinity of St Patrick’s Church, observed flames emerging from the roof of the Metropole Laundry on Alfred Street. Within ten minutes the whole roof of the building was enveloped and the interior of the Laundry becoming a seething mass of flames”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15535
5 September 2019, Tales from 1919: A Fire at Donnybrook Mill
“This week, one hundred years ago on 5 September 1919, the mill of Messrs Morrogh Brothers and Company – woollen and worsted manufacturers in Donnybrook in Douglas – suffered a devastating fire with much damage and loss. The Cork Examiner detailed that the fire raged with intensity and except for the warehouse, offices and stables, nothing remained of the magnificent set of buildings except the skeleton walls”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15556
12 September 2019, Launch of Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project 2019-20
“The advent of the new school year coincides with the seventeenth year of the Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project. Brochures have been sent to all Cork City schools including the schools within the newly extended city areas. Launched again for the 2019/20 school term, the Project is open to schools in Cork City at primary level to the pupils of fourth, fifth and sixth class and at post-primary from first to sixth years”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15633
19 September 2019, Tales from 1919: An Independence War Intensifies
“One hundred years ago, British forces attempted to re-emphasise their control over the country, often recoursing to random reprisals against republican activists and the civilian population. An unofficial government plan of reprisals commenced in early September 1919”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15649
26 September 2019, Tales from 1919: A World of Inflation
“One hundred years ago this week, debate ensued in the local press of the need for future development in the Cork City and the region. It was ten months since the end of the First World War plus a city-wide carpenters strike for better wages across the city had just been resolved. The local economy was recovering and Cork architects and builders were confident of a busy season ahead in their building trade”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15659
3 October 2019, Tales from 1919: A University President Moves On
“The first week of October 1919, one hundred years ago, coincided with the formal announcement of the resignation of Sir Bertram Windle, President of University College, Cork. The Cork Examiner relates that during his connection with University College Cork of over 18 years, he had made great progress in attracting new students”, http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15721
10 October 2019, Tales from 1919: The Call of the National Development Company
“The autumn and winter of 1919 coincided with the complexities of Cork’s housing market being laid bare in Cork Corporation meetings and in the local press. The Housing (Ireland) Act was passed on 15 August 1919 and obligation was put for the first time on Irish municipalities to meet the housing need in their area”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15742
17 October 2019, Tales from 1919: A Tour of the Cork School of Art
“On the week of the 24 October 1919 under the auspices of the Cork Literary and Scientific Society, a successful conversazione or public conversation event was held at the Cork School of Art within the Crawford Art Gallery on Emmet Place. In their dispatches of their activities to the press that evening the Society refer to the work by the pupils of the craft and trade classes and give an insight into life within the school one hundred years ago”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15751
24 October 2019, Tales from 1919: A Detroit Visitor to the Cork Ford Plant
“In October 1919, American writer, Mr Jay G Hayden, contributed an engaging article for the Detroit News on the history and prospects of the Ford factory on the Marina in Cork”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15773
31 October 2019, Tales from 1919: Providing for the Poor
“On 5 November 1919, a public meeting was held in Cork City Hall to discuss the public milk scheme in operation for the winter. The scheme is another lens to study living conditions and the poverty in Cork, one hundred years ago. Bishop Daniel Cohalan presided at the meeting, and the attendance included the Lord Mayor William F O’Connor, the city’s High Sherriff and members of the clergy and approximately 25 male and female leading citizens”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15789
7 November 2019, Tales from 1919: Criticism of King and Country
“Saturday 8 November 1919 coincided with unresolved grievances being discussed by the members of the Cork Branch of the Irish Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15845
14 November 2019, Kieran’s New Book, Championing Cork, Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1819-2019
“Championing Cork, Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1819-2019 is my new book and has been funded and published by the Chamber of Commerce. Established in 1819 the Chamber has consistently led a mission to be the leading business organisation in the Cork region. For two hundred years, it has committed itself to ensure the city and region’s prosperity, vibrancy and competitiveness through sustainable development”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15894
21 November 2019, Kieran’s New Book, Championing Cork, Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1819-2019
“Championing Cork, Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1819-2019 is my new book and has been funded and published by the Cork Chamber of Commerce. Following on from last week, below is another snippet from the book– focussing on some aspects of its early history and the creation of its commercial hotel, which became known as Royal Victoria Hotel”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15937
28 November 2019, Kieran’s New Book, 50 Gems of West Cork
“This new book, 50 gems of West Cork, builds on a previous publication called West Cork Through Time (Amberley Publishing 2015), which explored the fascination by post card makers one hundred years ago of West Cork in its scenery, its culture and its people. This new book returns to some of those sites chosen and details new ones exploring how these key sites became the focus of attention and development – and how their stories, memories and the making of new narratives were articulated in an attempt to preserve an identity and/ or communities locally and nationally at sites or to create new identities and communities”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15943
5 December 2019, Gems From West Cork
“My new book, 50 Gems of West Cork (Amberley Publishing, 2019) book explores 50 well-known gems of that beautiful region. Below is an abstract from two of my favourite archaeological sites – Drombeg Stone circle and The Hag of Beara”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15962
12 December 2019, Gems From West Cork
“My new book, 50 Gems of West Cork (Amberley Publishing, 2019) book explores 50 well-known gems of that beautiful region. Below is an abstract from two of my favourite castle sites – Three Castle Head and Ballinacarriga Castle”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=15996
19 December 2019, Gems From West Cork
“My new book, 50 Gems of West Cork (Amberley Publishing, 2019) book explores 50 well-known gems of that beautiful region. Below is an abstract from two of my favourite sites – Bantry House and Bantry Bay”. http://kieranmccarthy.ie/?p=16004