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Kieran’s Speech, Part 8, Docklands & Albert Road, Cork City Council, 9 September 2019
Lord Mayor,
The large number of public submissions is most welcome and to accommodate a good tract of public comment is also welcome.
I will be voting for this proposal.
I’m happier with this Docklands part 8 report than I was on the Morrison’s Island plan Part 8. There is more consultation than ever before on such a project.
For me the heritage of this area is important – the built and cultural heritage.
Albert Road and the Hibernian Buildings complex – dating to the mid-1880s – was a product of the Cork Improved Dwelling Company – an employer organisation who had the vision to build 420 houses for their workers in the city – apart from Hibernian buildings, the other blocks being around Friar Street-Evergreen Buildings and Rathmore Terrace at the top of St Patrick’s Hill. The company, which set up in January 1860 and ran to about 1960 had its heart the importance of provision of affordable housing for workers in the city but also neighbourhoods with architectural character, where families could be brought up safely and a sense of place could be built – which this Part 8 is also about today.
Hibernian Buildings was lucky in its opening in the 1880s that Jewish refugees from Lithuania rented out some of the properties and within twenty years there were 300 Jews living in the area.
Today knocking on the doors of the area, the Jewish family legacy is gone and perhaps 20 old stock families have survived in the area, many of whose relatives worked in the docks. Much of the housing stock in Hibernian Buildings is rented – so I constantly fear for the fleetingness of its neighbourhood. Some who live in the area have shared with me their passion for the neighbourhood and worry about its future and the looming new buildings overlooking the area.
I am happy with this part 8 that through the public realm regeneration that the character of the neighbourhood will be regenerated and enhanced.
I am also happy that the quay project itself does not destroy heritage but takes an ugly concrete structure – rebuilt after its 1975 collapse – to create where the public can come and appreciate the story of Docklands through seating, trees and soft public realm measures for cyclists and buses, and a pontoon in the river.
My main worry with this area is the creation of a bland-placeless environment, where glass box design with no architectural detail rules and street development takes a back seat.
I am reminded of the 1780 Cork Corporation plan for the area where they wanted to great an Oliver Plunkett Street complex with side streets in docklands.
And when I talk about vision, I am quite worried that our South Docklands plan is taking time to come out. The Council needs this plan as soon as possible as the piecemeal development of South Docks continues apace. Developing a place with character and a sense of place is crucial for me.
Kieran’s Question and Motions, Cork City Council Meeting, 9 September 2019
Kieran’s Question to CE:
To ask the CE for an update on the progress of Marina Park? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
Motions:
That the City Council place traffic calming measures through Ballintemple in particular exiting from Lower Beaumont Drive onto Blackrock Road as it has become a dangerous junction for local residents (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).
That the one per cent art scheme connected with the Douglas Flood Defence Scheme be initiated and the funding put aside to attain proposals from interested artists for a work within Douglas Community Park (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).
That the Lee to Sea Greenway as proposed by the Cork Cycling Campaign and Cork City Council be progressed to its early planning stages (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).
That the City Council’s 1920-2020 Commemorative programme be put together as a matter of urgency (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 5 September 2019
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 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. The mill employed circa 300 people, covered an area of three acres and were fitted with all the most modern machinery. The products of the Douglas Mills had gained a world-wide reputation. Among the orders in hand were those from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, as well from various parts of the United Kingdom.
The fire broke out about one o’clock in the afternoon, when the mill hands had gone to their dinner. The moment the alarm of fire was raised several employees hurried back to the scene to try to save some of the stock. Mr John O’Brien, junior, and Mr Dermot O’Brien, whose mills were distant about a quarter of a mile at the other end of Douglas Village suspended work, and together with all their employees co-operated with those of Messrs Morrogh’s hands in salvaging a large quantity of tweeds. The goods, which were in the unfinished stage, were piled up on the ground and policemen placed in charge of them.
The origin of the fire lay in the bottom floor of the five-storey high main building – the cause being the overheating of one of the bearings of the machinery. This set timber alight and the flames worked their way through the shaft of the hoist, setting the roof ablaze. Fanned by a strong wind from the south-west, the conflagration spread with rapidity, and aided by the machinery oil, which was stored on the premises, the engine room and other departments of the mills were quickly enveloped.
The Cork Fire Brigade with steam engine and other appliances, and military with hose reel, immediately set about the work of fighting the fire. Lines of hose were laid on from the local mill stream. Such were the seething mass of flames that the fireman spent much of their work trying to stop the fire from spreading at its edges. The concentration was mainly in the direction of the offices, wareroom and stables, and to their untiring efforts may be attributed the saving of those portions of the premises. The firemen worked in the face of much personal risk, as it was feared the boiler located in the engine-room might explode at any moment. However, precautions were taken to ensure a sufficient supply of water to avert an explosion.
Thick volumes of smoke shot out from the building, while the flames could be seen a considerable distance away. A large local crowd congregated at the fire and a detachment of soldiers from the military, assisted by the local police, rendered assistance in forcing back the people from the danger zone. The noises occasioned by collapse of the floors in the main building with all the machinery was terrifying as highlighted by passing observers. The destruction could be clearly viewed the following day as the Morrogh family walked the smouldering ruins. Committing to rebuilding the mills, they were up and running within two years and played a key role in the area for over another 50 years till their closure.
Industrial archaeological studies by scholars such as Dr Colin Rynne and the National Archaeological Inventory record that the mill building was designed and built in 1866 by the Cork architect and antiquarian, Richard Bolt Brash, for Hugh and James Wheeler Pollock (flax-spinning merchants of Belfast). The mill’s design was modelled closely on contemporary Belfast mills. Walking around the remaining mill site today one can view that the main enclosing walls were built with Youghal brick and were externally faced with Ballinhassig (Ballinphellic) Brick. Engine beds and most of the cut stone was supplied by a quarry in Foynes, County Limerick, some quarried at Carrigacrump quarries near Cloyne.
The Wallis and Pollock’s Douglas Patent Hemp Spinning Company was the largest ropeworks in the south of Ireland. However, in 1883 the mill building was bought by John and Patrick Morrogh and R A Atkins, the High Sheriff of Cork. John Morrogh had made his fortune in South Africa in his early life after becoming one of the directors of the De Beers Mining (Diamond) Company. After his return to Ireland he invested his wealth to any attempt at industrial revival in and around the city. He was also elected to Parliament for the South-East Cork-Division on two occasions.
The Morrogh Brothers converted the mill to serve woollen manufacture. They engaged the Cork architect William Henry Hill to make the necessary modifications to the existing structures for their own customised mill – the creation of a 170 feet long weaving shed from an existing annexe to the main five-storey building. The mill engine was built by Hick, Hargreaves and Company of Bolton, was an Inglis Corliss engine with 40 nominal horse power and a Spencer-Corliss valve gear (up-to date textile mill technology). The preparing and spinning machinery were supplied by Belfast foundries.
Captions:
1013a. Advertisement for Morrogh Brothers & Company Mill, Donnybrook, from Cork: Its Chamber and Commerce, 1919 (source: Cork City Library)
1013b. Former site of Morrogh Brother & Company Mill, Donnybrook with retail units, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Blackrock Village Festival, Saturday 7 September 2019
Blackrock is a fun family friendly festival with music and entertainment for all!
Come on down to the beautiful waterside plaza in Blackrock square.
Hank Wedel, Jim X Comet ,Dowtcha Puppets, Aaron the Balloon Man, Face painting by Niamh’s face and Body Art, Ursulines Choir with the Marina Melodics, Niamh Hatchell Irish Dancers, Children’s fancy dress competition, Local sports and leisure clubs and selected delicious food stalls from the Blackrock Village Sunday Market!
Supported by local Blackrock Business Community.
Pictures, Ballinlough Summer Festival, 31 August 2019
Well done to the brilliant volunteers of Ballinlough Festival Committee who organise the annual Ballinlough Summer Festival.
Ballinlough Summer Festival, Saturday 31 August 2019
Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project 2020 launched for new school term
The Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project is entering its seventeenth year and is open to all schools in Cork City. The new areas of the City are especially welcome. The project encourages students to compile a project on any aspect of Cork history. It is about exploring and investigating local heritage in a constructive, active and fun way. Interested students can pick any topic on Cork’s local history to research and can participate as individuals, groups or as a class. Students produce a project using primary material such as fieldwork, interviews, making models and short films of their area.
Project books may be submitted on any aspect of Cork’s rich past. The theme for this year’s project is “The Past and its Legacy”.
FREE and important project support in the form of funded workshops led by Cllr Kieran McCarthy in participating schools will be held in October 2019. This is an hour workshop to give participating students ideas for compilation and resources.
FREE Workshop support is also available to schools who have never entered before and wish to have a workshop to see how the project works.
The fourth-class level is open to fourth class students. The primary senior level is open to students of fifth and sixth class. Post primary entrant/s will be placed in Junior
Certificate or Leaving Certificate levels. The post primary level is open to any year from first to sixth year. A student may enter as an individual or as part of a group or as part of a class project.
Co-ordinator and founder of the Schools’ Heritage Project, Cllr Kieran McCarthy noted that “The project is about thinking through, understanding, appreciating and making relevant in today’s society the role of our local heritage – our local history, our oral histories, our landmarks in our modern world for upcoming citizens. The annual workshops involve visiting circa 20 schools in Cork City with hours of workshops given overall to over 800 students. The workshops comprise showing students projects from previous years and providing a framework to work to and to encourage colour and creativity”.
The City Edition of the Project is funded by Cork City Council. It is also sponsored by the Old Waterworks Experience, Lee Road, Learnit Lego Education, Sean Kelly of Lucky Meadows Equestrian Centre, Watergrasshill and Cllr Kieran McCarthy. Application forms to express interest and participation have been sent to all principals and history teachers in Cork. Unfortunately, due to back surgery for Kieran last year, the County Cork edition of the project has been discontinued. Contact Kieran at kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie for details or click on the brochure here:
2020 Brochure Discover Cork Schools’ Heritage Project
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town, 29 August 2019
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 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. The block of buildings besides the Laundry and its offices comprised some well-known Cork businesses – the sweet and confectionery works of Hadji Bey and Company (their shop was within the Metropole Hotel frontage), Messrs Avery and Company, a shop belonging to Mr D R Baker, while adjoining the building at the western end or King Street end was the stone and monument construction works of Mr J A O’Connell.
The Metropole Sanitary Steam Laundry company – one of the city’s largest laundries – was launched by the Southern Metropole Hotels, Cork on 24 February 1898. The extensive premises with frontage on Alfred Street had been a skating rink. It also had frontage onto lower King Street. It was opened in March 1898 as a public steam laundry. The Directors of the company visited several of the leading London, and Provincial Steam Laundries, selected the very modern American, patent washing and ironing machines. A separate portion of the premises was to be fitted up for carpet beating and general cleaning works. In 1919, the Metropole Laundry was one of five city laundry operations – the other four being Cork Hand Laundry on Drinan Street, Munster Steam Laundry on South Terrace, Convent of Good Shepherd Convent and St Mary’s Magdalen Asylum on St Mary’s Road. The Metropole Laundry operated till 1953 when its operations were moved to Millfield in Blackpool. The site was subsequently taken over by Chris O’Mahony Volkswagen Dealers.
How the outbreak of fire in 1919 occurred is not known, but it spread with rapidity. The Cork Examiner records that the laundry was gutted within thirty or forty minutes from the time the outbreak was noticed. The Cork Fire Brigade was called on telephone and were on the scene within a few minutes. Police from the police station on King Street and soldiers from the nearby Soldiers’ Homes also arrived. Many nearby residents were awoken by the general commotion and watched the fire from their doors and windows, and their adjacent footpath.
When the Fire Brigade under Mr T Higgins arrived, they proceeded to lay out a line of hoses from the street to each side of the burning building. Unfortunately, any attempt to extinguish the fire in the Laundry was useless as the material fabric of the building burned like matchwood. During the progress of the fire in the Metropole Laundry portion of the block, the boilers burst.
The Fire Brigade men then directed their attention to endeavouring to restrict the area of the conflagration. The fire had entered the end of Mr O’Connell Works nearest the Laundry building and at this point the Brigade men concentrated their efforts to stop its further progress in that direction. Men in charge of the hose at the other side also endeavoured to cut off the fire at Messrs Avery’s. Several people, including a sailor and some soldiers, saved some stock from Messrs Avery’s but the fire made such extraordinary headway that very little could be done beyond look at the blaze while the firemen were directing the lines of hose at each side with a view to saving the adjacent building and property. At one time it looked as if the YMCA (Red Triangle) Hut would be involved.
Notable amongst those engaged in the saving work was a party of sailors, one of whom, J Lindsay of HMS Heather, Queenstown, got a very bad cut in left wrist from some of the falling glass. He was attended to promptly by Sergeant Gloster and some civilians, but so serious was the cut and so great the loss of blood that he became weak, and he was taken to the North Infirmary by Fireman P Higgins on the Fire Brigade car. On arrival at the Infirmary he was at once seen and attended to by Dr W Galvin, who dressed the wounded hand.
The heat from the laundry conflagration was so intense that the paint from some of the hall doors on the opposite side of the street was burned off. After much hard work the fire brigade succeeded in containing the fire to a portion of Messrs O’Connell’s, and the St Patrick’s Art Works on the western side of the Laundry, which had been destroyed before the Brigade came on the scene.
On the Alfred Street side of the building, where the stabling of Messrs Musgrave was situated, the work of saving the large number of valuable horses stabled within began. Over twenty animals were brought to safety. In addition the saving of hotel buses and other cars were undertaken by the constabulary and a large number of willing workers.
Captions:
1012a. Former site of Metropole laundry Alfred Street on right hand side of photograph, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
1012b. Advertisement for Metropole Laundry from 1910s Cork Street Directory (source: Cork City Library).
1012c. Sections of Goad’s insurance map of Alfred Street, 1915 showing Metropole Laundry facility (source: Cork City Library).
Ballinlough Summer Festival, 31 August 2019