Former Lord Mayor and Current Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy is to restart his free historical walking tours during the month of April. Tours will be of the Barrack Street/ Friar’s Walk area, the Shandon quarter, the old Cork City workhouse site on Douglas Road in St Finbarr’s Hospital, and Fitzgerald’s Park respectively. 

Cllr McCarthy noted; “Having an opportunity to show people around the heritage of Cork City has always been an important job of work for me. I have pursued more research than ever in recent years. As more and more old newspapers and books are digitised it has allowed greater access to material and hence more material to create historical walking trails of some of Cork’s most historical suburbs and heritage set pieces”. 

“I am also trying to sharpen the tours I have and to create new ones in a different suburb. The four areas I am re-starting with for the 2025 all have their own unique sense of place, their own cultural and built heritage, their own historic angles, some really interesting ‘set pieces’ and add their own stories to how the city as a whole came into being. They also connect to the upcoming 2025 Cork Lifelong Learning Festival and its motto of Investigate, Participate and Celebrate”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.

Full details of Kieran’s April tours are below; All tours are free, 2 hours, and no booking is required.

Saturday 5 April, The Friar’s Walk Tour; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 1pm in association with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.

Sunday 6 April, Shandon Tour; explore Cork’s most historic quarter; meet at North Main Street/ Adelaide Street Square, opp. Cork Volunteer Centre, 1pm, in association with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.

Saturday 26 April, The Cork City Workhouse Tour; learn about Cork City’s workhouse created for 2,000 impoverished people in 1841; meet just inside the gates of St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 1pm.

Sunday 27 April, Fitzgerald’s Park: The People’s Park Tour, from stories on the Mardyke to the Cork International Exhibition, meet at the band stand, 1pm.

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 20 March 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – A Great War Memorial Proposal for Cork

The construction of First World memorials in Europe inspired small voluntary organisations in cities such as Cork to think about commemorating deceased veterans. A proposed Great War memorial for Cork City was championed by The Cork Legion of Ex-Servicemen and the Cork Independent Ex-Servicemen Club.

At a meeting of the committee of the Cork Independent Ex-Servicemen Club held at their premises on Marlboro Street in late July 1924, the Cork Examiner records that Mr J Kelleher presided and that the following members were present – Messrs G Byrne, T O’Neill, D Fenton, W H Wynam, M O’Brien, M Burke, and P Byrne. On the proposal of Mr D Fenton, seconded by Mr M O’Brien. Messrs T O’Neill and V Byrne were appointed joint honorary secretaries.

Several designs for a memorial were submitted for approval and on the proposal of Mr O’Neill, seconded by Mr D Fenton, the one submitted by a local ex-service man was agreed to.

The Chairman, Mr Kelleher, congratulated those present on adopting one of the designs placed before them. He noted that every city, town, and village in England could proudly boast of a monument or other token of remembrance to the men who gave their lives in the cause of justice and the rights of small nationalities. He continued; “Now, it is our duty as comrades of those lads who gave their lives so freely in a just cause, and it is the duty of every person who mourns the loss of their departed ones to give every assistance to fulfil our obligations to our dead comrades by erecting a suitable monument to their memory”. The Executive members of the Club unanimously decided to place the sum of £50 to the credit of the memorial committee.

Mr Wyman noted that it would be advisable to have church door collections and to also invite female advocates who would be interested to give their support to such collections. Mr O’Brien proposed that arrangements be made to carry out those collections immediately as they were aiming to unveil the monument on Armistice Day in November 1924. Mr M Burke, in seconding Mr O’Brien’s motion, said he was very pleased with the work done by the Committee in placing the contract for the monument in the hands of an able city sculptor, and in so doing he noted they were advocating for “local skill and manufacture”.

It was further decided to submit the plan of the monument to the Public Works Committee of Cork Corporation for the purpose of getting a suitable site in one of the city’s most prominent city public thoroughfares. A small delegation was appointed.

A week later, the proposal was discussed at Cork Corporation’s Public Works Committee. The Cork Examiner noted on the 7 August 1924 that Mr M J O’Riordan, who led the Club deputation, said that he had no need to say many words to commend such a project and highlighted Ireland’s part in the Great War. He detailed: “At the beginning of the Great War, Ireland was called upon to play her part, and she took a noble and honourable part. Her old ally, France, was in danger – France, where Irishmen always found a refuge. They took their part in the fight for small nationalities. Some of the young men who fell in the war were his comrades and playmates. If this monument were erected in Cork, it would show all the world that Ireland had done her part when called upon, and not shirked it”. Before concluding he suggested as a site for the memorial at the corner of Winthrop Street as the most central position in the city.

Cllr D Horgan, the Chairman of the Corporations Public Works Committee, said he did not think there was any need to hear the other members of the deputation or to labour the matter further. He felt the members were in entire agreement with the deputation. It was proposed and seconded that the plans and other details be submitted to the engineering officials for a report.

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Seán French, who entered the debate at this stage, said the position was a very delicate one. He was one of those who thought that the men who died in the Great European War would, if they get the chance, have fought in Ireland for Ireland in 1921. He noted: “I am not going to take away from any tribute to the dead, but I want to see the way clearly. The European war was not theirs. A lot of their men gave their lives in what they thought was the defence of small nations, and the first test of the sincerity of the ideal was in Ireland. This was not certainly carried out with sufficient justice to the men who fought for that ideal. Their memory of England’s justice was the burning of half their city and the Municipal Buildings”.

The Lord Mayor argued that he would be very slow to make a monument to the memory of the English nation. He was prepared to admit that the majority of the men who fought in Flanders would have died in Ireland fighting against England. In conclusion, the Lord Mayor said he was not going to have his name associated with anything to perpetuate the memory of “England’s tyranny in Cork”.

Club committee delegation head M J O’Riordan asserted he was not there to uphold England’s banner. He was there in the cause of the men who gave their lives in the fight for humanity “against tyranny and infidelity”. He was one of the men outside their party honoured by the Republican Corporation to form a guard of honour over the body of Terence MacSwiney. He noted; “When bringing the body across to Cork the men who were most prominent and fearless in wearing the badge of the Republic in England were the Munster Fusiliers…I am a Republican, and I am not at the meeting to uphold the banner of England, but on behalf of the men who fought and died for freedom”. The majority of the Public Works Committee assented to the development of the memorial project.

In the days and weeks that followed a site for the memorial was chosen at the intersection of the South Mall and the Grand Parade.

To be continued…

Caption:

1296a. Commemorations at First World War Memorial, South Mall, 11 November 2018 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).

Former Lord Mayor of Cork and current Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy is reminding those living in the Boreenmanna Road area that Cork City Council has given notice to develop a piece of land at the junction of Boreenmanna Road and Clanrickarde Estate. The site is in the ownership of the City Council.

The Clanrickarde Lodges proposed development comprises of the construction of a new part 3-storey/part 2-storey/part single -storey residential building comprising four number own door access residential units, including two number accessible 2-bed ground floor units, one number 2-bed first floor unit and one number 3-bed duplex unit on the first and second floor.  The proposed development also comprises the demolition and reconfiguration of the existing front wall.

Cllr McCarthy noted; “There have been many local questions todate on this proposed development. It is important to have your voice heard through making a submission whether one is in support or not. The resulting public consultation report must address the comments made. The closing date for submissions and observations is Monday 28 April 2025 at 4pm. Submissions and observations may be made electronically through https://consult.corkcity.ie/ or in writing to Mark Birch, Acting Programme Manager, Housing Directorate, Cork City Council, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork”.

Read more here: Part 8 Planning Notice – Clanrickarde Lodges, Boreenmanna Road, Cork City. | Cork City Council’s Online Consultation Portal

Former Lord Mayor and current Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called on Cork City Council’s roads section for an audit of road safety needs surrounding schools in Douglas. There has been much discussion in recent months at the south east local area meeting between local Councillors and the local roads engineers on a future pedestrian safety plan for Douglas Road. In particular the footpaths and lack of footpaths around Eglantine National School have been the subject of much discussion.

Cllr McCarthy noted; “I have received much correspondence from parents asking for safer footpaths on Douglas Road and in Eglantine Park for students to walk on and for a safer crossing from Go Go’s restaurant section across into Browningstown. I continue to call upon the Council to address the dangers connected with this crossing and to address how much of a blind spot it is and the need to create safety mechanisms to slow down traffic”.

“The discussions so far at City Council level have noted that any new wider footpaths on Douglas Road will come as part of the National Transport Authority’s Bus Connects corridor work on Douglas Road. Roll out for this project is still 2-3 years away. The corridor must still go through An Bord Pleanála for approval. The Eglantine Park piece can be pursued through the National Safe Routes to Schools pedestrian safety programme. I’d ask the school and its Board of Management to keep pursuing that route. It’s an easier way for all stakeholders to assemble the funding needed for design and construction of any safety measures. Whether or which, I’ll keep my own pressure on the need to deliver pedestrian safety measures. There is also a need to make sure a full complement of Lollypop persons are also available to our local schools. They are a very important addition to the safety around our schools”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 13 March 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The Munster Cross at Ieper

In April 1924, the Cork Legion of Ex-Servicemen, through large scale funding, erected a 20 feet high memorial Cross at Ypres/Ieper in Belgium. The Munster Memorial had its origins in a decision taken by the Cork Legion early in 1924 to erect a suitable memorial in Flanders in memory of the comrades from Munster whom sacrificed their lives fighting to liberate Belgium from German occupation. The person chosen to design and manufacture the memorial was John A O’Connell, a well-known Cork sculptor, who had his studio in Cork City.

A memorial committee was also formed to raise funds for the memorial and oversee its erection, and among its patrons was William F O’Connor, a former Lord Mayor of Cork, Richard Beamish, the High Sherrif of Cork, Field Marshal Haig, and General William Hickey, the former commander of the 16^th (Irish) Division.

While the necessary funds were being raised and the memorial was being designed and manufactured a suitable location for it to be erected in Flanders had to be found. To facilitate this, the committee contacted members of the Ieper League in the city and they in turn spoke to the Burgomeister (town Mayor) and members of Ieper City Council.

During these discussions the Ieper City Council suggested that the memorial be erected near the ruins of The Cloth Hall and St Martin’s Cathedral and this was accepted. On 1 July 1924 the Irish newspapers reported that “The Burgomeister sent a message to the Secretary of the Memorial Committee, stating that that the city of Ypres [Ieper] is proud at having been chosen as the site for the memorial”.

The Cork Examiner records that on 5 July 1924, around one hundred of Irish veterans of the First World War left Cork City bound for Ieper where they would attend the unveiling of an Irish memorial dedicated to the men of Munster who died fighting for freedom and visit other battlefield sites. Before leaving Ireland, they were joined by a large crowd of veterans from other parts of the country who were accompanied by members of their families.

On the morning of 7 July 1924, the Irish veterans arrived at Ieper train station for the dedication of the Munster Cross and they were met by the Burgomeister, members of Ieper City Council and many of the city’s citizens. Among those who attended the dedication were Count Gerald O’Kelly, the Irish Free State Representative in Belgium, members of the Belgium Government and Major-General Sir Bryan Mahon, former commander of the 10^th (Irish) Division and a senator in the Irish Free State.

Mahon also thanked the Burgomaster and councillors for granting such a splendid site for the memorial stating:“Our honoured dead will rest at peace under the shadow of the new Cathedral, and within the ruins of the old”.

  The Burgomeister also spoke saying that he recalled the sacrifices made by Irish soldiers to save his country and congratulated the Irish people on attaining their long-fought-for freedom.

After the speeches, wreaths, including many from Cork, were laid at the plinth and after the ceremony a deputation visited the grave of Willie Redmond MP at Locre. The Irish veterans went on to visit many of the battlefields of the First World War and they returned to Ireland on 11 July.

The inscription on the Munster Cross is in English, Irish and French. It reads: “In memory of Those men of Munster who died fighting for freedom, A tribute Erected by the people of the Province And Cork its capital City”.

Immediately under the shaft of the Cross are richly wrought symbols – on one of which are the Three Crowns, the Arms of Munster. The Cross proper is an imposing monolith, 11 feet high, the shaft being divided into panels filled with interlaced carving, and the ancient “Trumpet” pattern. On the centre of the Arms is a raised monogram of the Redeemer, and the Arms themselves are richly and boldly decorated.

Two additional historic connections between our Cork and Ieper are in the fact that Lieutenant Colonel James Lee, a graduate of the North Monastery School in Cork, was the town Mayor of Ieper from April 1916 to April 1918. In addition to that, a substantial amount of the funding for the cross was provided by the people of Cork.

Followed delegation visits in 2008 and 2015 by former Lord Mayors Cllr Brian Birmingham and Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, it came to the attention of Cork City Council that the Munster Cross was in a state of disrepair. A project team from Cork City Council were sent on a site visit to assess the situation in Ieper. As a result of that, the Common Wealth Graves Commission completed repair works to the Munster Cross. 

Last year, 2024, coincided with the centenary of the dedication of the Munster cross. New benches to sit upon and reflect upon were unveiled as a partnership project between Cork City Council and Ieper City Council. The benches are a quiet reflective space for visitors to the Cross to take time to remember those lost.

As Lord Mayor of Cork in April 2024 I visited the City of Ieper to thank the Mayor, Emily Talpe, Deputy Mayor, Dimitry Soenan and Chief Executive Steofan Depretere who were so positive and helpful in their response to Cork City Council’s conservation proposals for the Munster cross and associated bench projects.  Cork historian Gerry White gave a brief history of the cross at the unveiling of the benches with support from Nuala Stewart, Corporate Affairs in Cork City Council. Dan Breen, curator of Cork Public Museum was a massive help at the time and helped with the research of this column.

To be continued…

Caption:

1295a. Gerry White, Historian with former Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy & Dimitry Soenan, Deputy Mayor, Ieper, April 2024 (picture: Cork City Council).

Question to the CE:

To ask the CE on the progress of reinstating the playground at the Old Cork Waterworks Experience and the fixing of the roof within the visitor experience building ? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

Motions:

That the yellow box at the intersection of Clover Hill Estate and Bessboro Road, Blackrock be repainted (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

For the south east LEA, the existing speed ramps on Ardfallen Estate were never raised when the road level was raised two years ago. I ask that the ramps be redone (Cllr K McCarthy)

That the patch of road opposite St Anthony’s School in Beechwood Park, Ballinlough be resurfaced due to the fall of drainage issues (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

That the broken seats at Beaumont Park be replaced (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 6 March 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The Making of the Cork Legion of Ex-Service Men

March 2025 coincides with the centenary commemoration of the unveiling of the First World War Memorial on Cork’s South Mall. The campaign for its construction was organised by the Cork Legion of Ex-Servicemen, which was founded in the middle of 1921, following the formation of the British Legion. The Cork branch was one of several regional branches in Ireland and in the UK.

The British Legion started as a merger of four different organisations, all with a similar purpose. These four organisations were: The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers, The Comrades of The Great War, and The Officers’ Association.

The Cork Examiner records that one of the first key events for the Cork Legion was on Sunday 13 November 1921. The members (both Roman Catholic and Protestant in nature) formed up at 9am outside their headquarter rooms at No 6 South Mall and marched to their respective places of worship. The order of the procession was The Band No 1 Company under Mr. T O’Leary, No 2 Company under Mr J Sheehan, No 3 Company under Lieutenant S Ahern and No 4 Company under Captain C Tully. A Captain Murtagh was in charge of the parade. After the band marched the officers and committee.

Fast forward to August 1923 and one can get a sense of the scale of the Cork Legion and how many people it represented. The Cork Examiner records that at special general meeting of 23 August 1923 at 6 South Mall, the Cork Legion met to consider what stance to take on during the upcoming General Election on the candidature of Mr J J Walsh, a Cumann na nGaedheal candidate. Mr Walsh was in attendance and was accompanied by his election agent Mr W F O’Connor, solicitor and former Lord Mayor of Cork.

The Cork Legion noted it represented over 12,000 ex-servicemen in Cork. In return for electoral support, the Cork Legion asked J J Walsh for four acts of supports, which he agreed with and signed a document. Such asks also encompassed the Cork Legion’s work and other legions as well across Ireland. Firstly that if elected that J J Walsh would use his influence and position in the Irish Parliament to obtain from the British Government “just and equitable fulfilment of the claims of Irish ex-service men”. 

Secondly J J Walsh was requested to avail of every opportunity to ensure that past services in the British Army or Navy or in any other branch of the British crown services would not militate against such men in regard to employment and other matters affecting them as citizens.

Thirdly the ask was that J J Walsh would oppose any attempt at interference by the Irish Government with pensions, allowances and housing of ex-service men and their dependents and the dependents of the fallen in the First World War, “whether reserved to the British Government or in the hands of a trust, unless and until the Legion of Irish Ex-Service men desire a change”. Fourthly and lastly J J Walsh was asked to further the interests of ex-service men and the dependents of “all fallen soldiers on all occasions”, and endeavour to have ex-service men accepted for services in the public, departments of the Irish Free State, “equitably with other citizens of the country”. 

By 9 October 1923, further advancement of the Cork Legion had been made, which tallied with the overall work at national Legion level and across other branches in Ireland. The Cork Examiner on 9 October 1923 published a letter by the secretary of the Cork Legion, T Long, who outlined its extent campaigns.

The housing and land question for the soldiers and sailors had been advanced. It was anticipated that houses and plots would shortly be provided within the City area for ex-servicemen and their families. Early applications were requested to be sent to 6 South Mall. Owners of land in the Borough of Cork who wished to offer land for development were asked to come forward.

The provision of a grant from the national Unemployment Grants Committee to provide money for work with a public utility with a view to the employment of ex-servicemen was also receiving careful attention of the national Legion of Irish ex-servicemen. The national Legion were carefully watching on behalf of pensioners and the dependence of fallen soldiers the progress of events in regard to the a change of the pension administration in the emerging Irish Free State. The organisation had already put forward concrete proposals to improve and consolidate the position of the service for disability pensioners in the country.

It was hoped to open a list of ex-servicemen who were in need of employment showing their qualifications. Employers would then be asked to cooperate in placing these members in suitable positions “to enable them to earn a livelihood in their own country”.

In addition arrangements had also been completed by the Cork Legion to receive applications from the next of kin who fell in the First World War and who were buried in the various cemeteries of France in Belgium. This was pursued with a view to providing, in cooperation with the British and French Legion, for the free travelling and hotel expenses of the parents for other next of kin. It was recognised that there were relatives who were not able to visit the graves and who for reasons of financial distress were unable to pay their own expenses.

The Cork Legion continued their focus on the act of pilgrimage to Belgium. Indeed, by April 1924, the Cork Legion, through large scale funding, erected a 20 feet high memorial Cross at Ypres/Ieper. It was carved by Mr A O’Connell, MacCurtain Street, Cork. It was such a cross, which sparked even more the interest in erecting a memorial in Cork.

To be continued… 

Caption:

1294a. Battlefields of the First World War, near Ieper, Belgium c.1918 (source: In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper, Belgium).

Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy wishes to remind community groups in the south east of the city that Cork City Council’s community development grants have an upcoming closing date. Applications for Community Associations Capital Grant and Small-Scale Programme Grant 2025 close on 5 March. Applications are welcomed from community groups who wish to apply for small once off programme grants or community associations with community centres/buildings that require works of a capital or building maintenance nature. Further details in relation to 2025 grants, including the online application form for funding can be found at www.corkcity.ie    

The Cork City Council Small Scale Programme Grant 2025 is aimed at community groups in the Cork City area for once-off, small scale programme activities excluding arts, sports activities and estate management including landscaping, tree/flower planting. The maximum grant that can be applied for will be €2,500. 

            The Community Associations Capital Grants 2025 is for recognised community associations in Cork City who own or can get permission to carry out works of a capital or major building maintenance nature. Funding will be awarded towards large scale Capital Grants between a minimum of €5,000 and a maximum of €35,000. 

  Cllr McCarthy noted: “The continuance of such grants is to be welcomed by Cork City Council. Our community centres do trojan volunteer work. Their centres are beacons of togetherness and solidarity and showcasing the myriad of reasons why building community capacity matters. The small scale grants are also very important to running community events, which are also all about bringing people together, learning from each other and progressing community life and activities in our neighbourhoods”.

This is a kindly reminder of the upcoming closing date for the above project.

The project’s primary objectives are as follows:

• To improve access between South Docklands and the City Centre in terms of convenience, safety and capacity across all modes but with emphasis on sustainable modes of transportation (walking, cycling and public transport).
• To provide a high-quality public realm aligned with the ambitious redevelopment plans for the area and respectful of the existing community within Docklands. The public realm will seek to achieve the correct balance between hard & soft landscaping, uniqueness and sustainability while also embracing the riverside amenity potential of the area.

To achieve these aims it is proposed to make the following modifications:

• Introduction of a City Centre bound contra-flow bus lane on Victoria Road (North) and Albert Quay.
• Introduction of an outbound bus lane on Albert Quay East & Victoria Road (North).
• Introduction of a 2-way Cycle Track on Albert Quay and Victoria Road (North).
• Replacement of the Victoria Road / Centre Park Road Roundabout with a sustainable transport focused traffic signal-controlled junction.
• Improvement and reconfiguration of Monahan Road / Victoria Road Junction.
• Enhancement of the Old Blackrock Road / Victoria Road Junction.
• Public realm improvements on Albert Quay East, Victoria Rd, Albert Rd, Marina Terrace etc.
• Kennedy Quay access from Albert Quay will be restricted. The primary access to Kennedy Quay will be from Marina Walk.
• Introduction of a new residential access link between Marina Terrace and Rosefield Terrace.
• Footpaths will be widened and repaved for the safety and convenience of pedestrians.
• Crossing facilities will be provided at all junctions for the safety of vulnerable road users.
• All bus stops will be upgraded.
• Public lighting will be renewed, and feature lighting provided.
• Utility services will be renewed, and spare capacity provided.
• Land acquisition will be required to facilitate aspects of the above work.

 Information and maps are available at www.consult.corkcity.ie. Closing date for receipt of submissions is Monday 10 March 2025 at 4pm to Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Development, Cork City Council in City Hall

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 27 February 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The Retirement of City Engineer Joseph Delaney

Spring 1925 coincided with the formal retirement of Cork Corporation City Engineer Joseph F Delaney who had amassed just over 21 years’ experience working for the Corporation. The aftermath of dealing with the Burning of Cork in 1920 and the long and complicated quest to commence reconstruction within the five acres of burnt out premises brought added stress and health complications for Joseph.

Arriving to Cork Corporation in 1903, Joseph had also overseen improving the water supply system and reducing the abnormally high rate of water wastage in the city. Joseph was also interested in Irish industrial and language movements, in the country’s national well-being, its educational advancement and in economic reform.

The Cork Examiner on 19 January 1925 describe that Joseph was entertained at a farewell presentation function and a concert at the Victoria Hotel by a very representative number of Cork citizens. Mr Barry Egan, former Councillor, who presided, in opening the proceedings said they were meeting that evening to show their appreciation of the work that Mr Delaney had pursued for the city. As a memento of his connection with the city, Barry presented Joseph with a silver cup and a set of special engineering and surveying instruments.

Barry Egan nodded to the unprecedented difficulties that Joseph had to face during the trying times of 1920 and 1921 ending up in the big conflagration in the St Patrick’s Street district. Barry described and shared the belief that that during that time Joseph did the work of ten people; “Mr Delaney kept his head and energies to carry them through the difficulties that presented themselves under circumstances that would break any man’s health and nerves. On the morning of the big fire I met Mr Delaney in St Patrick’s Street, and going around with him I was amazed at his energy knowing as he did that for weeks, before he did not have a night’s rest, and that his position was a nerve-wrecking one”.

Correspondence was read to the assembly from John Callaghan Foley, Managing Director of John Daly and Co Ltd who was away on business. John outlined that he had the pleasure of Joseph’s acquaintance ever since he came to Cork, some 21 years ago;  “It was with great regret we learned that the strain of 21 years’ arduous work, spent in the service of the citizens, and especially the trying period following the destruction of our city, proved too much for his constitution, and caused him to relinquish his post…At this juncture in our country’s history it is men of his status in the engineering world who will be of good account in the conception and development of the numerous schemes of reconstruction, which must be brought to fruition in the near future”.

Mr T F O’Leary, Cork Chamber of Commerce, noted that he had only a short acquaintance with Mr Delaney, but he was greatly impressed by him; “Joseph was an active member of our Chamber of Commerce and his suggestions were invaluable. I felt that wherever Mr Delaney went that particular place would be all the richer, and Cork would be all the poorer for losing him”.

Other speakers followed in equally praise worthy terms. In reply to the praise, Joseph detailed the significance of the occasion to him; “This of all occasions of a lifetime is one of special significance to me. The traveller in life’s highways sooner or later reaches the great divide. For one cause or another he has got to change his course. For health and other reasons, this change has come to me”.

Joseph relates that when he arrived to Cork from Dublin he was full of ambitions for its improvement and welfare in his initial speech possessed the spark of of high civic enthusiasm, and was inspired with a strong sense of duty; “I was full of youthful resolutions – I was 31 then – and professional verve for achievement in my sphere of work…In thanking the Council of the time for doing me the honour of appointing me to the position, which I have just vacated, I spoke as follows; “I hope I shall prove worthy of the trust of the Council has reposed in me. I thoroughly appreciate the importance of my position, and when I enter on my duties it will be our mutual interest – the Council and myself – to serve the citizens, and to help to advance the premier municipality of the south”.

Joseph further related in his speech that since his first speech he strove faithfully to practice the messages given in that first public and official appearance in the city. He was flattered to be entertained that evening by an entourage of friends who were present denoting that they all possessed interests in supporting Cork’s citizenry; “I know you all to be rich in good qualities of citizenship and public spirit and animated by high national ambition and sterling zeal for the moral and material progress of the city and country…I have been in association with you in various paths of endeavour – social, philanthropic, civic, and cultural, and knowing your qualities, I can say that in your hands the city’s welfare and progress is assured. I know of your work, I know of your ambitions, I know of your ideals, and I feel that it is only with the aid of such a coterie of citizens as you, who are inspired with a strong sense of public responsibility, fired by civic pride for local development and improvement that this city, with its fine traditions, its literature, history, and its exceptional opportunities for the future will it be properly piloted to its true destiny”.

Caption:

1293a. Joseph F Delaney, City Engineer, c.1911 in W.T. Pike’s “Contemporary Biographies”, published in Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century (1911) by Richard J Hodges.