Douglas Road Independent
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has warmly welcomed the 2021 Culture Night edition, which
takes place this Friday 17 September. Now in its
sixteenth year, Culture Night once again presents a rich showcase of Cork as a
creative city, with over 70 venues and organisations taking part.
Cllr
McCarthy noted: “This year’s theme is ‘Come Together Again’, which represents a
moment many of us have looked forward to for a long time. Cork City Culture
Night presents a chance for those directly involved in the arts to showcase
exactly why this sector is so crucially significant, and so fundamentally
linked with our culture”.
“While
certain events are to be enjoyed virtually, much of the 2021 programme can be
accessed in person, safely in line with new guidelines as they come on stream –
which will be welcome news to those craving that tangible cultural experience.
But with numbers still very limited, patrons are advised to check booking requirements,
and if plans change, to please release the tickets to allow someone else attend”,
noted Cllr McCarthy.
Many
in-person events this Culture Night will require booking, and some online
events require pre-registration. View the full Cork City Culture Night
programme on www.culturenightcork.ie in advance, and keeping up
with latest news via @corkcityarts on Facebook and Twitter, and on instagram.com/culturenightcorkcity, particularly as new
guidelines may lead to changes. Join in the conversation online with
#CorkCultureNight and #ComeTogetherAgain.
Independent
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has warmly welcomed the official launch of the Douglas
Main Street parklet in the past week, as well as its other seven companions
across the city. In May of this year, Cork City Council announced that it was
looking to provide new parklets in the greater metropolitan area.
The
parklets, designed by Siobhán Keogh Design and built by Benchspace Cork, are
planted and maintained by the “parklet partners”, with funding for their upkeep
administered by the City Council. The Douglas Main Street Partners are Okura Japanese Cuisine and Douglas Tidy
Towns.
Cllr
McCarthy noted: “The parklets have converted several on-street parking spaces
into public open space and are a cost-effective way to create more vibrant
streets, promote economic vitality, and provide an inviting green space for
residents and passers-by to sit, relax, and interact. Providing greening
on the urban street and encouraging biodiversity are two key elements of the
parklets project. And certainly are very important to main streets like those
in Douglas which is completed dominated by car traffic”.
“The
intention is for planting is to be maintained in the parklets at all times, and
the majority (if not all) of this planting should be “pollinator friendly”,
concluded Cllr McCarthy.
Lord
Mayor, Cllr Colm Kelleher emphasised at the launch of the eight parklet
launches: “The feedback to date is that there is a huge welcome for the
parklets with every indication that they are being used on a daily basis by
pedestrians. The success of the parklets is not possible without the dynamism
and commitment of the partners”.
1112a. Upstream view of the south channel of the River from Cork’s Parliament Bridge on a recent sunset; Discover the story of the city’s bridges and some of the rich local history on Kieran’s new audio heritage trail on the history trails section at www.corkheritage.ie.
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 12 August 2021
Cork Heritage Open Day and Week Approaches
Cork
Heritage Open Day and Heritage Week are looming. Cork
Heritage Open Day which is organised by Cork City Council in partnership with
the Heritage Council, is a wonderful celebration of the built heritage in the
city. To mark the start of National Heritage Week, Cork Heritage Open Day will
take place virtually on Saturday August 14.
The
website www.corkheritageopenday.ie will go live on Saturday 14 August and will
feature virtual guided tours of over 45 historic buildings from all over Cork
City. Members of the public are allowed a glimpse of some of Cork’s most
fascinating buildings ranging from the medieval to the military. The event
showcases the many elements of Cork City’s rich heritage in a fun, family
friendly way. The team behind the Open Day do group the buildings into general
themes, Steps and Steeples, Customs and Commerce, Medieval to Modern,
Saints and Scholars and Life and Learning.
These
themes remind the participant to remember how our city spreads from the marsh
to the undulating hills surrounding it, how layered the city’s past is, how the
city has been blessed to have many scholars contributing to its development and
ambition in a variety of ways, and how the way of life in Cork is intertwined
with a strong sense of place.
It is always a great opportunity to explore
behind some of Cork’s grandest buildings. With the past of a port city, Cork
architecture is varied and much is hidden amongst the city’s narrow streets and
laneways. Much of its architecture is also inspired by international styles –
the British style of artwork pervading in most cases – but it’s always pays to
look up in Cork and marvel at the Amsterdamesque-style of our eighteenth
century structures on streets such as Oliver Plunkett Street or at the gorgeous
tall spires of the city’s nineteenth-century churches.
For my part I am involved in a short film on
the history of Cork City Hall. Cork has had a number of City Hall sites through
the ages but none as grand as the present one. In the age of the Anglo Norman
walled town and eighteenth century, civic business was conducted in King’s
Castle. Business was also conducted in Cork City Courthouse for a time in the
nineteenth century. In 1883, it was decided by a number of Cork businessmen
that the Corn Exchange should be converted into an exhibition centre, a centre,
which in 1892 became Cork’s City Hall. In December 1920, the premises were
burned down by fires attributed to the Black and Tans as retribution for
republican attacks. A new City Hall by architects Jones and Kelly was
subsequently built. The limestone like for so many of Cork’s buildings is from
nearby Little Island. The foundation stone of Cork City Hall was laid by Éamon
de Valera on 9 July 1932.
Sites
that also appear on the online Cork Heritage Open Day are Riverstown House in
Glanmire, the Quaker Meeting House and Graveyard, The Maryborough Hotel, Cork
Opera House, The Courthouse on Washington Street, Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills,
Blarney Castle, Cork City Hall, Cork Savings Bank, St Luke’s Church and the Military
Museum in Collins Barracks.
The virtual one stop shop
www.corkheritageopenday.ie celebrates various Cork Communities who through
interviews, video and imagery tell their story. For example, check out:
Memories of a Cork
Jewish Childhood, which has been
produced by Ruti Lachs and sees former Cork residents remember their childhoods
in Ireland, their Jewish upbringing, the synagogue and the characters.
Interspersed with photos from the last hundred years of life in Jewish Cork,
these stories paint a picture of a time and community gone by.
Anne Twomey from the Shandon Area History
Group speaks about Emma Hourigan, an extraordinary woman from the Maddens
Buildings in Cork who played a central role in the Irish Revolution 1916-1923.
Biddy McDonagh and Jean O’Donovan from the
Traveller Visibility Group discuss their language Gammon and Cant and the
tradition of the Beady Pockets in the Traveller Community.
Jim Fahy speaks about the language of the
Stone Masons “Bearlager na Saor”.
Valerie Power, Breda Scanlon and Suzanne
Dineen pay tribute to the Shawlies in Cork.
Historian Michael Lenihan uses historic
postcards to show how Cork has changed in the past 100 years.
For the first time, Cork Heritage Open Day, celebrates the natural
heritage of Cork and members of the public can enjoy a wonderful guided tour of
the Mangala in Douglas with William O’Halloran and a fascinating insight into
the Glen River Park with Julie Forrester and Gerard O’Brien. For those wishing
to test their knowledge of the streets, bridges and buildings in Cork, historian
Liam O’hÚigín has created a special quiz for Cork Heritage Open Day!
Heritage
Open Day is usually the start of weeklong heritage week events in Cork. For the
second year in a row, physical events have been curtailed. My own historical walking
tours remain ‘off the road’ at present. I have written up over fifteen of my
tours complete with pictures and some very short films and put them in a new
section on my website www.corkheritage.ie.
In
addition on the website I have partnered with Meitheal Mara and Joya Kuin in
putting together two audio heritage trails. The first is on the various
historic sites down The Marina and this came out in early June. Our Heritage
Week Audio Heritage Trail is on the 31 bridges of Cork. Start at South Gate
Bridge and make your way anti-clockwise around the South Channel and North
Channel of the River Lee. All you need is a smart phone and a set of head
phones!
Captions:
1112a. Upstream
view of the south channel of the River from Cork’s Parliament Bridge on a
recent sunset; Discover the story of the city’s bridges and some of the rich
local history on Kieran’s new audio heritage trail on the history trails section
at www.corkheritage.ie.
1112b. Canon
from the Siege of Sevastopol, 1854-55 on The Marina, Cork, present day;
Discover the story of The Marina and its rich local history on Kieran’s new
audio heritage trail on the history trails section at www.corkheritage.ie.
1112b. Canon from the Siege of Sevastopol, 1854-55 on The Marina, Cork, present day; Discover the story of The Marina and its rich local history on Kieran’s new audio heritage trail on the history trails section at www.corkheritage.ie.
Local historian Cllr Kieran McCarthy will participate in the virtual Cork Heritage Open Day this Saturday 14 August. Cork Heritage Open Day which is organised by Cork City Council in partnership with the Heritage Council. The website www.corkheritageopenday.ie will go live on Saturday 14 August and will feature virtual guided tours of over 45 historic buildings from all over Cork City. Members of the public are allowed a glimpse of some of Cork’s most fascinating buildings ranging from the medieval to the military.
Kieran will participate by showcasing some of the stories connected to Cork City Hall as an important heritage building within the city. Kieran noted: “Cork has had a number of City Hall sites through the ages but none as grand as the present one. In 1883, it was decided by a number of Cork businessmen that the Corn Exchange should be converted into an exhibition centre, a centre, which in 1892 became Cork’s City Hall. In December 1920, the premises were burned down by fires attributed to the Black and Tans as retribution for republican attacks. A new City Hall by architects Jones and Kelly was subsequently built. The limestone like for so many of Cork’s buildings is from nearby Little Island. The foundation stone of Cork City Hall was laid by Éamon de Valera on 9 July 1932”.
Maryborough Hotel will also feature in this year’s Heritage Open Day. For the first time, the Open Day will also celebrate the natural heritage of Cork and members of the public can enjoy a wonderful virtual guided tour of the Mangala in Douglas with William O’Halloran.
In addition, for National Heritage Week, Kieran has partnered with Meitheal Mara and Joya Kuin in putting together two audio heritage trails. The first is on the various historic sites down The Marina and this came out in early June. Their Heritage Week Audio Heritage Trail is on the 31 bridges of Cork. All you need is a smart phone and a set of head phones. The bridges audio trail can be found on Kieran’s www.corkheritage.ie website under history trails from 14 August.
One hundred years ago in Ireland marked a time of change. The continuous rise of an Irish revival, debates over Home Rule and the idea of Irish identity were continuously negotiated by all classes of society. In Cork City Reflections, authors Kieran McCarthy and Daniel Breen focus on the visual changes that have taken place in the port city on Ireland’s south-west coast. Using a collection of historic postcards from Cork Public Museum and merging these with modern images they reveal how the town has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures featured combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene.
The authors have grouped the images under thematic headings such as main streets, public buildings, transport, and industry. Readers will be able to appreciate how Cork City has evolved and grown over the last century but also how invaluable postcards can be in understanding the past. In an age where digital photography and the internet have made capturing and sharing images so effortless, it is easy to forget that in the decades before the camera became popular and affordable, postcards were the only photographic souvenirs available to ordinary people.
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy will host three events for the upcoming Cork Harbour Festival. Two of the events focus on the rich history of the city’s bridges and the third focuses in on the history and sense of place on The Marina. The events and dates are as follows:
– Bridges of Cork, Online Talk by Kieran, Tuesday 8 June 2021, 7.30pm-8.30pm, FREE:
This zoom presentation explores the general development of the city’s bridges and why they were historically so important and are still so important in connecting the different parts of Cork City together. Details of the link for the talk are available at www.corkharbourfestival.com
– Bridges of Cork, Heritage Treasure Hunt, hosted by Kieran, Saturday 12 June 2021, 1pm, FREE, self-guided walk:
This treasure hunt is all about looking up and around and exploring the heart of Cork City whilst exploring the stories and place of the city centre’s bridges. Suitable for all ages, approx 2hr, with mixed footpaths on city’s quays.Meet Kieran at National Monument, Grand Parade, Cork, between 1pm-1.15pm on Saturday 12 June, to receive the self-guided treasure hunt pack, no booking required. Bring a pen.
– The Marina, Self Guided Audio Trail with Kieran, 4 June 2021 -14 June, FREE:
A stroll down The Marina is popular by many people. The area is particularly characterized by its location on the River Lee and the start of Cork Harbour. Here scenery, historical monuments and living heritage merge to create a rich sense of place. The audio tour will be available here to stream live on your smartphone from 4-14 June 2021. Details of the link for the audio trail are available at www.corkharbourfestival.com
Independent
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called on the City Council and the ESB to work on a
joint programme of works to return the sub-station on Caroline Street to an art
gallery/ cultural space.’
The sub station
on Caroline Street is in the ownership of the ESB. Until recently the Sub
Station was advertised for Commercial Let. Cllr McCarthy has been informed that
Cork City Council does not have sight of the ESB’s plans for the building. And
that the wider needs in terms of cultural infrastructure in the city will be
reviewed in the context of the forthcoming Arts & Culture Strategy, currently
under development.
Cllr McCarthy
noted; “there is massive scope to do a joint partnership in re-opening the disused ESB substation as a cultural space.
It has a very rich industrial history. It was built in 1931 and was originally
used to convert direct current electricity to alternating current. This
substation is representative of the design employed by the ESB in the first
part of the twentieth century in Ireland.
“In 1932, the ESB
could boast cables running from Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station to Cork as
well as having the old generating station and offices at Albert Road, a Station
at Kilbarry, a transformer station at Fords, and the central substation in
Caroline Street. The annual consumption of electricity in Cork City was 8
million units by 1934 and 16 million units by 1945”.
“The
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage notes of this building: “This
functional building is a well-articulated building, with a high level of
architectural design. The building retains many interesting original features
and materials, such as the metal casement windows and metal folding doors”.
“It
is also ten years ago when the Triskel Arts Centre, whilst waiting for the
renovation of Christ Church, moved its gallery off site to the ESB
substation on Caroline Street and did a great job in utilising the space. In
addition, in 2018, Brown Thomas teamed up with Cork City Council and artist
Shane O’Driscoll to transform the exterior of the then disused ESB station
building which had fallen into disrepair. The City Centre Placemaking Fund from Cork City Council was
used to support the project”.
“It is a real shame that such a prominent building remains vacant with so many possibilities for its use. I will be continuing my lobbying of the City Council to partner up with the ESB in finding an appropriate cultural use for the building”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
Press, 25 May 2021, “The abandoned substation has massive scope for transformation now that Cllr. Kieran McCarthy is urging the city council and ESB to turn it into a new entertainment venue for Leesiders. Originally built in 1931 in the art deco style favoured by ESB at the time, the substation was last used by Triskel Arts ten years ago”, Endless possibilities for this gem of a building on Caroline Street to be transformed as council consider new proposal, Derelict Art-deco substation could become amazing Cork city music and arts space – Cork Beo
Caroline Street Former ESB Sub Station, Cork present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy continues
his commissions of street art on Douglas Road. In recent weeks, two new pieces
have emerged on traffic switch boxes. The first mural, which is located at
Cross Douglas Road, is that of Terence and Muriel MacSwiney who lived at 5
Eldred Terrace in 1917.
Cllr McCarthy highlighted: “There was a commemorative plaque erected on the wall of their former house in June 1980 but unfortunately the plaque was taken down a few months later. There have been calls within the Ballinlough area and Douglas Road by locals to once again mark the story from over hundred years ago of the MacSwineys living within the local community. This mural’s central image is from an old photograph of the couple whist the rose motif is a nod to the always beautiful adjacent flower shop.
Terence and Muriel MacSwiney by Kevin O’Brien, Commissioned by Cllr Kieran McCarthy
The second mural is opposite the entrance
to St Finbarr’s Hospital. Cllr McCarthy noted: “The mural has the theme of
“hold firm” and is dedicated to healthcare staff within the hospital who have
held firm against COVID-19. The mural adds to the existing street art mural,
which was painted Kevin O’Brien outside CUH last year”.
“It has been great to commission artist
Kevin O’Brien again. This is my sixth commission with him. He really brings
ordinary municipal utility boxes to life with his creativity, imparting
uplifting and positives messages. Roads such as Douglas Road are well walked everyday,
so it is great to bring his work into heart of suburban communities, concluded
Cllr McCarthy.
Artist Kevin O’Brien noted: “Street art is
a fantastic way to improve the aesthetic of urban areas and build a sense of
character in communities, but beyond that, with cultural
spaces currently closed, the availability of street art in public
spaces takes on an even greater importance”.
Hold Firm by Kevin O’Brien, Commissioned by Cllr Kieran McCarthy
Cllr Kieran McCarthy is calling on any community groups based in the south east ward of Cork City, which includes areas such as Ballinlough, Ballintemple, Blackrock, Mahon, Douglas, Donnybrook, Maryborough, Rochestown, Mount Oval and Moneygourney with an interest in sharing in his 2020 ward funding to apply for his funds. A total of E.11,000 is available to community groups through Cllr Kieran McCarthy’s ward funds.
Application should be made via letter (Richmond Villa, Douglas Road) or email to Kieran at kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie by Friday 5 February 2021. This email should give the name of the organisation, contact name, contact address, contact email, contact telephone number, details of the organisation, and what will the ward grant will be used for?
Please Note:
– Ward funds will be prioritised to community groups based in the south east ward of Cork City who build community capacity, educate, build civic awareness and projects, which connect the young and old.
– Cllr McCarthy especially welcomes proposals where the funding will be used to run a community event (as per COVID guidelines) that benefits the wider community. In addition, he is seeking to fund projects that give people new skill sets. That could include anything from part funding of coaching training for sports projects to groups interested in bringing enterprise programmes to encourage entrepreneurship to the ward.
– Cllr McCarthy is also particularly interested in funding community projects such as community environment projects such as tree planting, community concerts, and projects those that promote the rich history and environment within the south east ward.
– Cllr McCarthy publishes a list of his ward fund allocations each year on this page.
Evening Echo is a public artwork by New Zealand artist Maddie Leach. It is sited on old gasometer land gifted by Bord Gáis to Cork City Council in the late 1980s. This site was subsequently re-dedicated as Shalom Park in 1989. The park sits in the centre of the old Cork neighbourhood known locally as ‘Jewtown’. This neighbourhood is also home to the National Sculpture Factory.
This year the last night of Hanukkah is Thursday 17 December and offers the only opportunity to see the tall ‘ninth lamp’ alight until next year. The cycle begins 10 minutes before sunset, which occured this year at 4.13pm, and continued for 30 minutes after sunset when the ninth lamp was extinguished.
Evening Echo, Shalom Park, 17 December 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)Evening Echo, Shalom Park, 17 December 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)Evening Echo, Shalom Park, 17 December 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
