Question to the Manager:
To ask the City Manager, what is the status of the Blackrock Harbour area plan? Plus have tidal surges and sea level rise been taken into account re the proposed stepped down area into the tidal area itself? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).
Motions:
That the Council hold a National Expo in Docklands in future years (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
That a Docklands Festival be established making use of vacant buildings such as Odlums (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)
Sincere thanks to Majella Gould for her great work as community warden in Mahon with Cork City Council. Her new post is in the Fairhill area. We welcome Geraldine Sutton to the area!
Thanks to everyone who supported the Docklands tour on Saturday 9 November plus the various public tours of the ward during the year.
Cllr Kieran McCarthy’s tour of Cork Docklands takes place on Saturday 9 November leaving at 2pm from Kennedy Park on Victoria Road (free, two hours). Some of the themes covered in the talk will be the development of such sites as the Marina and the Atlantic Pond and how they came into being, and the historic structures that still exist in the area. Much of the story of Cork’s modern development is represented in their environs. The origin of the current Docklands is a product of centuries of reclamation and negotiation of swampland.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Ever since Viking age time over 1,000 years ago, boats of all different shapes and sizes have been coming in and out of Cork’s riverine and harbour region continuing a very long legacy of trade. Port trade was and still is the engine in Cork’s development. To complement the growth of the port, extensive reclamation of swampland took place as well as physical infrastructure quays, wharfs and warehouses. I’m a big fan of the different shapes of these wharfs, especially the timber ones that have survived since the 1870s. Perhaps the theme that runs through the new walking tour is connections. The tour explores very interesting sites such as Jewtown, Hibernian Buildings, the old electricity power station, the Gas Works, the Docks, the old City Park Racecourse, the early story of Fords, and Kennedy Park. All these topics are all about connecting the city to wider themes of exportation and importation of goods, people and ideas into the city through the ages”.
Kieran’s Our City Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, Thursday 31 October 2013
Docklands Walking Tour
On Saturday 9 November, at 2pm I will conduct a historical walking tour of Cork Docklands (free), meet at Kennedy Park, Victoria Road. The tour will take in the city’s docks, Albert Road/ Jewtown/ Hibernian Buildings and speak about the development of Centre Park Road. One aspect of this area are the old Cork Showgrounds, located there since 1892. In 2010, I was involved in penning a book with the Munster Agricultural Society on its heritage, its old name in the nineteenth century being the County of Cork Agricultural Society.
From 1857 till 1890 the shows of the County of Agricultural Society were held in the ground of the Corn Market (now the site of Cork City Hall). In the early months of 1890, the informality of attaining the Corn Exchange premises from the trustees turned to formality. There was a concern over finances and responsibility over outstanding costs arose between the County of Cork Agricultural Society and the Corn Market Trustees. That was resolved by the Society’s AGM of 22 March 1890 but uncertainty of using the space remained. Those issues were also coupled with lack of space for development. There was sufficient room for an ordinary Cattle Show but when the Society, following the lead of other cities, increased its operations and adopted the idea of holding horse-jumping contest, the enclosure in the Corn Exchange was too limited.
In late February in 1891, double booking occurred at the Corn Exchange on the days of the annual show. As work was already being carried out in terms of advertising and organisation, the committee decided not to move the time but investigate another location. A letter was read from Mr Daly, secretary from the Cork Park Race Committee who stated that their committee would be happy to give the society the use of their premises for which they would charge £25 and that they would even give a donation of £10 toward the show fund. The motion was proposed by Sir George Colthurst and seconded by Captain Newenham. Permission was received from the trustees to open an office at the Corn Exchange to receive entries. A series of temporary buildings were constructed at the Cork Park Racecourse.
At a post show discussion on 1 August 1891 at a general meeting led Mr A Ferguson, former chairman proposed that a permanent show yard be erected in a portion of the Cork Race Park with grounds 20 acres in extent. The general committee agreed to appoint a deputation to discuss the matter with the Corporation of Cork. The deputation comprised General Davies, Sir George Colthurst, A Ferguson, D Ahern, L Beamish, Crawford Ledlig, R.L. Longfield, Jason Byrne and A.J. Warren. The Corporation of Cork was approached as the site was on their land.
Initially, there was no immediate response from the town clerk by mid-September 1891. By October there was some formal discussion between parties. Mr. Bass, the society’s solicitor was instructed to write to the town clerk and inform him that on no account would the society take a lease unless they were given a free hand to use the ground as they sought fit. By early November 1891, there was still no lease forthcoming from the corporation. By 14 November 1891, Mr Bass recommended that the society should form themselves into a limited liability society in order to raise the money required for the erection of the new buildings. A sub-committee was subsequently formed to investigate the matter and reported back on 28 November 1891. By early December 1891, the society decided that the clause with reference to the loan fund should be altered and that the society should not undertake to pay back any part of the money raised by voluntary contribution.
By mid-December 1891, all society members were sent a circular with a copy of the scheme and a request asking for a subscription. A deputation was sent to the Royal Dublin Society asking for a grant towards the new buildings. There was no success there. The secretary was further directed to write to the secretary of the North East Agricultural Society for some information as to the new buildings which they were erecting. Mr S French proposed on 23 January 1892 that a premium of £10 for the best plans for the new show yard be given. The idea was accepted. The three gentlemen nominated to adjudicate on the plans for the new show yard reported that eight plans were submitted for the competition. They selected two marked respectively – “Native Industry” and “Fiat Pistetia Ruat Coelum”. The second (‘Fiat’) was adopted. The author of the successful design was Mr John Leslie O’Hanlon, Darmouth House, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin. He was subsequently invited down to meet the directors of the new company.
On 3 March 1892, the memorandum of agreement between the limited company and the society was adopted and in early 1892, the company obtained a lease from Cork Corporation of 27 acres of reclaimed land and the first stages of the show yard was built. More on the above can be got from my 2010 book on the Cork Showgrounds (available from the Munster Agricultural Society, 021 480 1919).
Captions:
715a. Recent Rebel Cork Week Concert, Cork Docklands, October 2013 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Thanks to all who supported the Ballintemple historical walking tour on yesterday, Saturday, 12 October 2013
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Ballintemple Historical Walking Tour
Thursday 10 October 2013
With the autumnal weather quickly coming in, change can be seen on The Marina’s trees with a mirth of colour beginning to form. I have been researching a new walking tour of the adjacent Ballintemple area for a while (Saturday, 12 October, 2pm, meet at Ballintemple graveyard, opp. O’Connor’s Funeral Home, Boreenmanna Road, two hours, free).
It forms part of a set of ten tours I’ve developed in this side of the city, an experiment in one way in one corner of the city before beginning to look at other suburbs. There are several suburban local history books within the local studies in Cork City but there a feeling on the ground that much of the history remains unexplored. Each tour I try to focus on the significance of landmarks, such as big houses, modern housing, graveyards, monuments, churches and in Ballintemple’s case convents as well but also telling the story through archives such as government reports, diaries, census reports, statistical reports, sketches, maps oral histories and even headstones.
Ballintemple as a settlement hub is one of the earliest in the city that came into being. Urban legend and writers such as Samuel Lewis in 1837 describe how the Knight’s Templar had a church here, the first parish church of Blackrock: “At the village of Ballintemple, situated on this peninsula, the Knights Templars erected a large and handsome church in 1392, which, after the dissolution of that order, was granted, with its possessions, to Gill abbey. At what period it fell into decay is uncertain; the burial ground is still used”. The graveyard is impressive in its collection of eighteenth century and nineteenth century headstones. It has a series of low uninscribed gravemarkers in its south east corner. There are also many inscribed headstones with smiling faces with one inscribed with Remember Death. The graveyard remains an undiscovered corner of the city with much of its family histories unresearched and unpublished.
There is also much to discover within a short space in Ballintemple and its role in the wider city as an architectural conservation area. Various architectural styles can be noted Norman, Gothic, Renaissance, Georgian, Victorian, Italianiate, French, and Oriental. The houses can boast such architects such as Bro Michael Riordan, Sir John Benson, Deanes, Morrisons, Richard Brash, Hargraves, Walkers and the Hills. The architectural DNA comprises local stone, sand, brick, slates from Killaloe, Rosscarbery and Wales, timber from Canada and Scandinavia, cement from Portland in England and ironwork for railings obtained from Scottish foundries.
In the nineteenth century there was an increasing tendency in Cork for the middle classes to live in suburban homes and for the work-place to be separate. Your social circle saw your house a lot. It was important that the house was impressive that is was designed in the latest fashion. The house of a successful Victorian family was more than merely a home. It was a statement of their taste, wealth, and education. The Victorians drew deeply from history, nature, geometry, theory, and personal inspiration to create their designs. At the top end of the market, builders employed employ a reputable architect. Private Houses were an important status symbol – detached house allowed privacy, comfort, convenience, spaciousness, order and warmth. There was an increasing diversity in house styles, a detached big house to a row of terraced houses. Many interiors were done in the grand manner reflecting their owners and builders. Interiors of the Renaissance mode included smooth plastered walls often in light colours, marble fireplaces usually with heavy gold mirrors above, elaborate ceiling cornices, elaborate pediments over doors, frescoed ceilings, and chandeliers.
West of Ballintemple on Blackrock Road, the area also has the presence of personal monuments. For example Daniel McCarthy erected the McCarthy Monument near the former Diamond Hill quarry (a quarry of white quarts or rock crystal. It was built in honour of his brother Alexander McCarthy in 1871. Alexander was a junior, Butter Merchant plus was an MP for Cork in 1846 and became High Sheriff of the County in 1856. McCarthy was a fine public speaker and a supporter of Daniel O’Connell’s Repeal movement. He died on 2 January 1868. The memorial, a column of limestone, 25 feet tall, was designed by William B Atkins. Richard Evans built the monument and the sculptor was Samuel Murphy. Bronze plaques, showing scenes from the history of the McCarthy clan, have been lost from the monument over the years.
As for the architect William Atkins, he was was born at Firville, near Mallow, circa 1812. Between 1845 and 1869 Atkins entered at least thirteen architectural competitions, gaining first place in five of them. In time he became a prominent architect in Cork and further afield in Co Kerry. Some of his prominent works include The District Lunatic Asylum on Lee Road (1847-1852), the priory at Mary’s Dominican Church on Pope’s Quay (1861), the completion of the interior of Holy Trinity Church (1850), St Marie’s of the Isle Convent of Mercy (1850), St Patrick’s Orphanage, Greenmount (1855), and the Lindville Private Lunatic Asylum (1855 and which is part of the walking tour) and the base of the statue of John Hogan’s Fr Mathew Statue on St Patrick’s Street (1864).
Caption:
712a. Ballintemple Graveyard (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Article 710- 26 September 2013
New Book – Journeys of Faith
Following on from last week’s article, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballinlough was dedicated on Sunday 11 September 1938. A day later The Cork Examiner published an in-depth report of the dedication ceremony and a guide to the new building, which was constructed on land given by a local woman, Mrs McSweeney. There was a large attendance of parishioners for the dedication ceremony. When the time came for the public to enter the church, the accommodation for 700 worshippers was well taxed. The bishop first blessed the outer walls and subsequently the interior after the recital of the litanies and psalms. The Bishop was assisted by Canon William P Murphy. The singing was provided by the choir of St Michael’s Church, Blackrock especially augmented for the occasion under the direction of Ms Mary Keller, with Ms Sheila Keller presiding at the organ.
Following the Gospel, the dedication sermon was preached by Fr Kieran, OFM Cap. His sermon was wide-ranging but focussed on how churches animate personal belief and faith. He spoke at length about the building belonging to the people and the people belonging to the church: “We are gathered and united in one living holy faith this morning in this beautiful little church, planned by Christ like minds and built by human hands and generous hearts”. He wove many ideas into his sermon describing Our Lady of Lourdes church as a place apart, a gate of heaven and a sacred space.. That through the building, “Catholic devotion transforms itself into stone and steel and precious metals” – that the story of Our Lady of Lourdes Church will quote: “not be written in stone but in the souls and lives of those who visit and worship it in the years ahead”.
Bishop Cohalan in his address highlighted the importance of having a temple to worship God thanked all those involved in it:
I would like to thank all who have helped to provide the means of meeting the cost of this new church. About £10,000 has been already expended and paid out on this church. That was a notable sum for the organisers and collectors to collect…there remains a debt of £1,000 and a house must be provided for the priest in charge of this church…And I appeal to the parishioners and to charitable friends to help Canon Murphy to wipe off the debt and to provide the small sum required. And not to confine myself to mere words, to appeal by example, I am myself giving the Canon £100 to meet the remaining liability.
The architects were Messrs Ryan and Fitzgibbon, 21 South Mall (originally of 44 Grand Parade). Anthony Fitzgibbon was a son of Daniel Fitzgibbon of Robertsville, Friars’ Walk, Cork. Born on 9 June 1906, he trained in the office of O’Flynn & O’Connor and was still working for O’Connor in 1929 after the partnership with O’Flynn had been dissolved. Although he was elected a student of the Royal Irish Architects of Ireland in 1927, he never became a member. In the early 1930s he lived in Bernadette Way, which would have made him aware of the church project going ahead. Very little is recorded of his later career, apart from the fact that he designed the Ritz Cinema in Washington Street, Cork, in 1939. He later emigrated to work as an architect in London and in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) in the late 1950s. He ended his career in Cape Town, South Africa. His nephew, Dan Fitzgibbon, still lives in Ballinlough. Of the other architect Ryan, I have been unable to find information on him or her (if anyone has info give me a call).
As a building, Our Lady of Lourdes Church is in a Romanesque style and is faced externally with bricks and white cement. It was originally decorated internally in cream-coloured paints. The flooring in the nave was timber, with the centre and side passages of terrazzo and the sanctuary floor was in cream, white, brown and blue mosaic. The altar rail, altar, or predella (the platform or step on which an altar stands), and steps are of marble. There was ample room for a mortuary. The baptismal font was situated at the west end of the nave. Two recessed confessionals were provided, and space was provided for an organ.
Messrs Coveney Brothers, West Douglas, Cork were entrusted with the important job of chief contractors in the erection of the new church. Paddy Coveney, a native of Ballyfeard in South Cork, headed up that operation. His company were specialists in the work of building churches and erecting new schools. He was known for his attention to detail in making solid lasting structures. The products of Ballinphellic Brick Company, Ltd were widely known and appreciated. Their works were at Ballygarvan and their offices at 29, Watercourse Road. The owner was a brother of Barrett, a builder, living on the Douglas Road. To Messrs Lynch’s Joinery Works, Kyrl Street, was entrusted the work of the seating and other joinery works. The firm had a reputation as manufacturers of joinery of a very high standard.
For more info and to read the memories of local parishioner, Kieran’s new book, Journeys of Faith, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballinlough, Celebrating 75 Years is available (E.15) from the church and its parish office.
Caption:
710a. Entrance hall window, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, The Little Flower – dedicated to opera singer Katie (Birdie) Conway (d.1936), sponsored by her family (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Great Gala concert last evening (20 Sept) to mark the 75th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballinlough! The concert featured Mary Hegarty, Siobhan Coakley, Lorraine Manley, the Three Tenors and the City of Cork Male Voice Choir. Pictures by Vincent Twohig.
Well done to all the participants of this great evening of entertainment in Blackrock for Cork Culture Night!
