Occupation: Heritage Consultant, self employed, founder and director of Cork City and County Heritage Services
Education:
Secondary School: Colaiste Chríost Rí , Cork
Third Level Education: BA Joint Honours in archaeology and Geography (topics inc. Heritage management, town planning, environment and society); National University of Ireland, Cork.
M. Phil in Geography (topics: Cork City in the eighteenth century - heritage and development); National University of Ireland, Cork.
School Projects:
Founder and leader on Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project, 2003-ongoing;
- working with 70 schools in the city and satellite area, working with primary and secondary schools who undertake a local history project.
Ireland South Co-ordinator on the National Forum on Europe’s National Public Speaking Competition
- liasing with 40 schools in Munster, working with transition year students who undertake a public speaking programme, which involves researching contemporary debates on the European Union
Ireland South Leader on Understanding Europe, a transition year European Studies Programme
- working with Colm Burke MEP and transition year students in 30 schools across Munster; providing workshops for students who undertake projects on the European Union and the citizen’s voice in Europe.
Kieran’s Publications:
· Author of eight books on Cork and its region
- Pathways Through Time, Historical Walking Trails of Cork City (2001),
- Cork: A Pictorial Journey (co-edited 2001)
- Discover Cork (2003), http://www.obrien.ie/book459.cfm
- A Dream Unfolding, Portrait of St Patrick’s Hospital and Marymount Hospice (2004),
- Voices of Cork: The Knitting Map Speaks (2005),
- In the Steps of St Finbarre, Voices and Memories of the Lee Valley (2006)
- Generations: Memories of the Lee Hydroelectric Scheme (co-edited, 2008), http://www.lilliputpress.ie/listbook.html?oid=84588740
- Inheritance, Heritage and Memory in the Lee Valley, Co. Cork (2010)
· Columnist for eleven years with Inside Cork / Cork Independent
- writing on the past, present and future development of the City and the region with specific focus on the River Lee valley, its heritage, people landscapes and memories (see index http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=20)
Kieran’s Community and Civic awareness projects:
· Walking tours of Cork City for 16 years
- with general public, school children, university students, business groups & community groups
· Lectures and workshops to community organisations
- from ICA groups to Lifelong Learning Festivals) and Cork schools (visiting over 100 schools in Cork City and Cork County giving local history talks and workshops)
· Developing twinning links with San Francisco Cork branch
- Summer 2003 programme with the Irish Cultural Centre and the Cork Association.
· Member of Ballinlough Pastoral Council
- Working on various projects with other members including setting up a folk choir, annual carol service, parish social and being a youth representative for the Cork City South Deanery on the Diocese of Cork and Ross Pastoral Plan
· Beaver Scout Leader in Ballinlough for 16 years
- Former scout involved in Ballinlough All Ireland’s Melvin win in 1992
· Advisor, Cork Community Radio, 2009
. Former swimming instructor with Sunday’s Well Swimming Club, Douglas Pool
· Lifeguard in Douglas Swimming Pool for 12 years
· Actor - appearing in a number of Cork productions on the Cork Opera House, Everyman Palace, Cork Arts Theatre and Firkin Crane stages
· Active member and sponsor of Cork-Kerry branch of Showjumping Association of Ireland -Amateur rider, indoor and outdoor gymkhana participant; 1.20 & 1.30m
Awards:
· An Gaisce Gold medal, President’s Award Recipient
· Chief Scout Award Recipient
· Government of Ireland Scholar, Recipient of Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship
· Feis Maitiu Winner (President’s Cup and Gilbert and Sullivan singing categories)
