For over sixteen years, I have actively promoted Cork’s heritage and its various communities and people. I have led and continue to lead successful initiatives through community talks, City and County school heritage programmes, walking tours, newspaper articles, books and my work through my heritage consultancy business.
I graduated from University College Cork in 1999 with a Joint Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Archaeology. I subsequently completed a Masters of Philosophy in Geography in the Department of Geography, UCC. I have lectured widely at academic and popular level on the Cork region’s past, present and future in association with numerous institutions, in particular University College Cork, Cork City and Cork County Councils, the Cork Education Support Centre, the Vocational Educational Committee and with various community associations within the Cork area and further afield in Cork’s twinned cities, such as San Francisco and its Irish Cultural Centre. I have been involved in the compilation of several television reports for RTE and TV3 on various aspects of Cork’s history.
In particular, I have a keen interest in disseminating knowledge about the importance of local studies in Cork’s primary and post-primary schools. Since 2003, I have annually co-ordinated the Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project open to Cork City and County schools. The project focuses on celebrating, highlighting, debating and framing new and relevant approaches to Cork’s cultural heritage for Cork’s youth, teachers and the wider community.
For the past eleven years. I have written a local heritage column in the Cork Independent, a weekly Cork newspaper in which I have been writing a series on the history, geography and the intersection of modern day life in communities in Cork City and County. I am the author of eight books (see below).
I was elected to Cork City Council in June 2009 as an Independent Councillor.
Kieran’s Books:
Pathways Through Time, Historical Walking Trails of Cork City (2001)
Self published, ’Pathways’ grew out of my walking tours of the city and my early columns in Inside Cork. A book with two walking trails of Cork City, it leads the reader from St. Finbarre’s Cathedral through Shandon to St. Patrick’s Street. The book uses maps and buildings to profile the development of Cork City through the ages.
Cork: A Pictorial Journey
(co-edited 2001)
A book co-written and co-published with Michael Lenihan. Michael collects Cork books, photographs and postcards. We worked together to bring out a book which showed Cork City, one hundred years ago through postcards. The book showcases some of Cork’s key throughfares and architecture. The streets and shops have changed but the character and essence of the streets have survived.
Discover Cork (2003)
Discover Cork was published by the O’Brien Press in Dublin as part of their National town guide series. A great ABC book to how the city developed with maps and pictures. Part 1 focuses on the key stages of the city’s growth from early times. Part 2 focuses several of the city’s views, river locations, buildings and artwork.
A Dream Unfolding, Portrait of St Patrick’s Hospital (2004)
A book published by the Sisters of Charity in St. Patrick’s Hospital, it charts the development of the hospital from 1869 onwards. this was an eye opening experience to be able to write this work and be given access to the hospital to see the great work of the sisters and staff.
Voices of Cork: The Knitting Map Speaks (2005)
This book was my first venture into oral histories. I spent the summer of 2005 getting to know an amazing bunch of women who worked on the Cork 2005 Knitting Map. The book contains interviews with seventy women and focusses on life in general giving advice on survival and self empowerment. it was a pleasure to meet such great people. The book was published by Nonsuch Ireland.
In the Steps of St Finbarre, Voices and Memories of the Lee Valley (2006)
A book, which grew out my column in the Cork Independent, it focusses on the journey of the Lee and the key places of settlement, monuments and community leaders all the way along the valley. It contains lots of pictures and alot of original material previously not drawn together. The book is published by Nonsuch Ireland.
Generations: Memories of the Lee Hydroelectric Scheme (co-edited, 2008).
A book co-written with Seamus O’Donoughue, the work was published by the ESB to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Inniscarra Dam being commissioned. The work contains many pictures of before and after of the Lee Scheme being constructed but also of the landscape which was affected. It also profiles the positives and negatives of such as extensive venture for its day.
Inheritance, Heritage and Memory in the Lee Valley (2010)
This book is based on the series of articles that featured in the Cork Independent newspaper from October 2007 to June 2009. It documents my explorations in the parishes of Aghabullogue, Inniscarra and Ovens on the northern valleyside on Inniscarra Reservoir, part of the course of the River Lee. It encompasses much fieldwork and oral history testimonies. The book is published by Nonsuch Ireland.
