4 January 2024, Past Projections into the Future
In recent months one interesting project in the guise of Island City Sculpture Trail, has harnessed Cork’s urban environment and its heritage and history to bring art to the streets of Cork. The temporary artworks are located on Carey’s Lane, the Exchange Building on Princes Street, Cook Street, Cornmarket Street and soon at Triskel Christchurch. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 4 January 2023 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
11 January 2024, The New Digital Atlas of Cork
The new Digital Atlas of Cork/ Corcaigh is very welcome. It is one of a series of digital atlases created by the Irish Historic Towns Atlas team (the others are Derry, Dungarvan and Galway). The Digital Atlas of Cork/Corcaigh is an initiative of the Digital Working Group of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas research programme. The project has been led by Sarah Gearty (Royal Irish Academy) and Rachel Murphy (University of Limerick), with Mani Morse (Dublin City University) as Digital Manager. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 11 January 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
18 January 2024, Kieran’s Audio Heritage Trails
January generally coincides with some fine and cold cold days where walking the city is lit up by wintry Atlantic light. As someone who enjoys photographing the city, it is a good time of year to capture some of the city’s nuanced layers of its past. I hope to launch my physical walking tours again in April but in the meantime, check out my audio heritage trails, which have been developed with Meitheal Mara – on the Bridges of Cork and The Marina respectively. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 18 January 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
25 January 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – The Gibson Bequest
There are many curios in the Crawford Art Gallery – its exquisite set of Antonio Canova sculptures and paintings within its collections make for great viewing and scholarly output. The gallery opened in 1885 and was built on the generous financial support of William Horatio Crawford. The next generous sponsor has for the most part fallen out of Cork memory and that is the name of Joseph Stafford Gibson who provided finance through his will in creating the basis for a fund to buy paintings from 1919 onwards. The year 1924 – one hundred years ago – was a key year where the purchasing plan came into effect for the bequest. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town 25 January 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
1 February 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – Lord Mayor Seán French is Elected
Late January 1924 coincided with two new starts for the Corporation of Cork – firstly the final compensation was to be announced for the burning of City Hall and the Carnegie Library arising from the Black and Tan arson attack in December 1920, and secondly the election of a new Lord Mayor in the guise of Seán French. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 1 February 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
8 February 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – The Wycherley Housing Scheme
Lying just off Cork’s College Road lies Wycherley Terrace, such housing was constructed spanning from the spring of 1920 to the spring of 1924. The project completion was a slow one bound up with the War of Independence, Civil War, changeover of governments, building delays, rising costs and several debates on who the houses should be allocated to. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 8 February 2023 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
15 February 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – The Bons Secours Legacy
On 2 February 1924, the centenary of the foundation of the Sisters of the Bon Secours was observed in their Cork Convent on College Road (bicentenary in 2024). The inside portion of the institution was decorated for the occasion. The attendance included a large number of clergy and friends of the convent. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 15 February 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
22 February 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – The Universal Motor Company
On 15 February 1924, a special meeting of the Law and Finance Committee of Cork Corporation was held to consider the requests from a deputation from Messrs M Healy and Sons solicitors, on behalf of the Universal Motor Company, Ltd and its director John Patrick O’Mahony. The company was applying for a thirty-one year lease of the premises, known as the Shell Factory (now the Bodega), Cornmarket Street, and was agreeing to surrender the extent lease. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 22 February 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
29 February 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – End of the Line
On 25 February 1924 the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway Company was held. Sir Stanley Harrington, Chairman, presided and read out a detailed report on the challenges facing the company. Annual AGM reports one hundred years ago and published by newspapers such as the Cork Examiner provide rich material to chart the rise and fall of the railway company. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 29 February 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
7 March 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – Cork Child Welfare League
Set up in February 1918 through the brain child of Lord Mayor Thomas C Butterfield, the Cork Child Welfare League was an impressive voluntary charity group comprising prominent male and female Cork citizens ranging from the Lord Mayor to councillors to prominent businessmen to clergy to legal support to representatives of at least sixteen charitable organisations. Several philanthropic women and female doctors were also key players in maternity and child welfare in Cork. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 7 March 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
14 March 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – Progress at the Victoria Hospital
On 18 March 1924, the 46th annual general meeting report was read at the Victoria Hospital and published in the Cork Examiner. It summarises a period of difficulty in operation during the First World War, War of Independence and Irish Civil War and looks towards the future. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article, 14 March 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
21 March 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – Grain Silos at South Docks
It is the end of an era as the iconic grain silos are currently being demolished on Cork’s South Docks. The site has a rich history and heritage dating back over 200 years. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 21 March 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
28 March 2024, Leo Murphy’s Shaving Kit 1921
Recently Cork Public Museum marked the return to Cork of a small shaving kit used by Commandant Leo Murphy who died at the hands of Crown Forces during the War of Independence in 1921. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 28 March 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
4 April 2024, Launch of the Ballycannon Boys Memorial Park
This article is another follow up of articles I have written in recent years on the Ballycannon Boys memorial. In recent weeks the Ballycannon Boys Memorial Park, created by local community group of Clogheen/ Kerry Pike Community Association, has been unveiled. The park complements the nearby memorial (1945) and honours the memory of six young IRA men that were killed by Black and Tans on 23 March 1921. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 4 April 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
11 April 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – Calls for a City Administration
Set up in early June 1923, the Cork Progressive Association was formed by businessmen in Cork City. Their intention was to support proper schemes for the housing of the working classes, to lobby for the completion of land purchases, to improve and cheapen transport, and secure resilient administration in the public service. In particular they were dissatisfied with the politics at play at national and local level post the Irish Civil War, which limited progress in Cork Corporation. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 11 April 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
18 April 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – The Cork Corporation Inquiry
On 21 August 1924 in the Council Chamber of the Cork Corporation, Mr Nicholas O’Dwyer, Chief Engineering Inspector Local Government Department, opened a sworn inquiry into the performance of the duties of Cork Corporation. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 18 April 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
25 April 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – The Lord Mayor is Interviewed
On 21 August 1924 in the Council Chamber of the Cork Corporation, Mr Nicholas O’Dwyer, Chief Engineering Inspector Local Government Department, opened a sworn inquiry into the performance of the duties of Cork Corporation. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 25 April 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
2 May 2024, Making an Irish Free State City – Cork Corporation is Dissolved
On 31 October 1924, a deliberation on the performance of the duties of Cork Corporation was delivered to Cork Corporation. Following on from the nine-day inquiry by Mr Nicholas O’Dwyer, Chief Engineering Inspector Local Government Department, the result was dissolution. Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 2 May 2024 | Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy