The Discover
Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project launches in its 20th year
and is open to schools in Cork City. Funded by Cork City Council, the Project
is an initiative of the Cork City Heritage Plan.
The Project (est.
2002/03) is aimed at both primary and post primary level. Project
books may be submitted on any aspect of Cork’s rich past. Suggested topics are
over the page. The theme for this year’s project – the 2021/22 school season –
is “Cork Heritage Treasures”.
FREE and important project support in the form of funded workshops (socially distanced, virtual or hybrid) led by Cllr Kieran McCarthy in participating schools will be held in October 2021. This is a 45min physical or virtual workshop to give participating students ideas for compilation and resources.
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.
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy is calling on
residents, and communities in the south east of the city and beyond to have
their say on the 2022-2028 draft Cork City Development Plan. The
draft Cork City Development Plan, has recently been published and provides an
overarching framework to help shape the transformation of the City over the
next six years by supporting the creation of 20,000 homes and 31,000 jobs.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Eight weeks of public
consultation on the plan have just commenced and I encourage members of the
public, community groups, representative organisations to make a submission to
the draft plan before the closing date of 4 October. The draft plan can be
viewed at www.corkcitydevelopmentplan.ie and the public can have
their say on the Plan at https://consult.corkcity.ie/”
“There is some great ideas and opportunities within
this draft blueprint for Cork as the city embarks upon an exciting phase of
growth and change – with sustainability, quality of life, social inclusion, and
climate resilience at the plan’s core. In particular the need to protect green
spaces and create more in areas from Ballinlough to Douglas is essential”.
Cork City Council CE, Ann Doherty said: “This Plan
is significant in many ways; not least it is the first local policy-based
expression of the ambition for Cork contained in ‘Project Ireland 2040’ and the
National Planning Framework. The Plan follows widespread listening and
engagement with stakeholders in the first round of public consultation. The
draft plan’s rationale is further informed by a suite of evidence-based studies
on the various opportunities and challenges facing the city”.
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the sponsorship by Coillte of new native saplings at the Blackrock Castle Walkway. Cllr McCarthy remarked: “In total this year, up to 1,200 trees were planted by Cork City Council Operations (Parks) this year. Cork Chamber are sponsoring another 200 of the 1,200 native trees being planted this year and have committed to at least two more years of sponsorship at €3,000k per year. This is a very generous contribution as it assists with increasing tree cover throughout the City”.
Outgoing Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh said: “The Coillte trees planted are a representation of all primary and secondary schools in Cork City and speak to our past, present and future. The Lord Mayor’s Oak Tree Initiative 2021 symbolises the resilience, sustainability and growth synonymous with our schools”.
Coillte Supply Chain Manager, Dominic Joyce said: “Coillte is delighted to support such initiatives as they inspire future generations and increase awareness of the important role that trees play in mitigating climate change, improving habitats, increasing biodiversity and providing sustainable and renewable building materials. We are delighted to be associated with the Lord Mayor’s initiative to commemorate the independence struggle 100 years ago in this novel and environmentally friendly way”.
Saplings were also planted Glen River Park, Bridevalley Park, and the Curraheen Walkway. Plaques have been installed near the new trees and a QR code will direct people to the Cork City Council commemorations site, www.corkcitycommemorations.ie where further details of the initiative will appear.
8 June 2021, 19:30 – 20:30, In association with Cllr Kieran McCarthy.
Cork City’s growth on a swamp is an amazing story. The city possesses a unique character derived from a combination of its plan, topography, built fabric and its location on the lowest crossing point of the river Lee as it meets the tidal estuary and the second largest natural harbour in the world. Indeed, it is also a city that is unique among other cities, it is the only one which has experienced all phases of Irish urban development, from circa 600 AD to the present day. Hence its bridges all date to different times of urban growth and possess different architectural traits. 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.
Daly’s Bridge, AKA Shaky Bridge, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
– Bridges of Cork Treasure Hunt:
12 June 2021, 13:00 – 13:15, In association with Cllr Kieran McCarthy.
They say the best way to get to know a city is to walk it – in Cork you can get lost in narrow streets, marvel at old cobbled lane ways, photograph old street corners, look up beyond the modern shopfronts, gaze at clues from the past, be enthused and at the same time disgusted by a view, smile at interested locals, engage in the forgotten and the remembered, search and connect for something of oneself, thirst in the sense of story-telling – in essence feel the DNA of the place. 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 self-guided walk, mixed footpaths on city’s quays.
FREE, Join: Meet Cllr Kieran McCarthy at National Monument, Grand Parade, Cork, between 13:00-13:15, no booking required. Bring a pen. Self guided heritage treasure hunt.
St Patrick’s Bridge, Cork, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
– The Marina – Self Guided Audio Trail:
4 June 2021 – June 14, 2021, 06:00 – 23:55,In association with Cllr Kieran McCarthy, 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 historical tapestry of questions of who developed such a place of ideas. Where not all the answers have survived, The Marina is lucky, unlike other suburbs, that many of its former residents have left archives, autobiographies, census records, diaries, old maps and insights into how the area developed. These give an insight into ways of life and ambitions in the past, some of which can help the researcher in the present day in understanding The Marina’s evolution and sense of place going forward. Take a walk with us and discover more.
9 March 2021, “In a reply to a question posed by Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy at Monday evening’s full council meeting, Mr Joyce revealed that Cork City Council was not successful in securing funding last year from central government to proceed with the second phase of repair works”. Atlantic Pond repair works on hold due to funding delay, Atlantic Pond repair works on hold due to funding delay (echolive.ie)
The conclusion of this school season’s Discover Cork
Schools’ Heritage Project was recently marked by an online awards ceremony and
presentation of winning projects. A total of 25 schools in Cork City took part
in the 2020-21 edition, which ranged from schools in Ballinlough, Ballintemple,
Blackrock to Blarney and Glanmire, and from Ballyphehane to the Shandon
area. Circa 1,000 students
participated in the process this year with approx 200 project books submitted
on all aspects of Cork’s local history & heritage.
The Discover Cork Schools’ Heritage Project is in its 18th year
and is a youth platform for students to do research and write it up in a
project book whilst offering their opinions on important decisions being made
on their heritage in their locality and how they affect the lives of people
locally. The aim of the project is to allow students to explore,
investigate and debate their local heritage in a constructive, active and fun
way.
Co-ordinator and founder of the Project,
Cllr Kieran McCarthy noted that: “The Project this year was even more apt this
year as we all find ourselves within our localities much more. In particular,
this year’s entries focussed on famous buildings of Cork City, historic
walkways, public parks and many oral history projects. Again, this year
students made fab models and short films on their topics. One could also see
the family and friend involvement in projects. Technically with this project
for every one student, there are another four people who have been consulted
and who are consulted to help with projects. One could argue that over 4,000
people have some input into project books every year”.
“The Schools’ Heritage Project remains focussed about
developing new skill sets within young people in thinking about, understanding,
appreciating, and making relevant in today’s society the role of our
heritage – our landmarks, our stories, our landscapes in our
modern world. Ultimately the project focuses on motivating and inspiring young
people through them working on a heritage project for several weeks and seeks
to build a sense of place and identity amongst younger people”, concluded Cllr
McCarthy.
The Project is funded by Cork City Council with further
sponsorship offered by the Old Cork Waterworks Experience and Cllr Kieran
McCarthy.
Full results are online on Cllr McCarthy’s local
history website, www.corkheritage.ie. There is also a link there to the YouTube
award ceremony. On the YouTube video Kieran, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe
Kavanagh, and Niamh Twomey, City Council Heritage Officer speak about the
winning projects for this school season.
“Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the beginning of the phase 1 of the Passage Railway Greenway Improvement Scheme on next Monday 22 February. Great credit is due to officials in City Hall of the Infrastructure section; there is great momentum at the moment between drafting plans, gaining the input of the public, amending plans where needs be, and presenting them to the National Transport Authority for funding. There is a deep affection for the old railway line walk and in these COVID times is used regularly by locals”.
“The widening of the footpath is to be welcomed and one which locals have called for. I am personally excited that the old Blackrock Station platform is to get conservation works. It is in a poor state and it would be a shame to lose the platform completely due to neglect. I am also excited by the planting of 60 semi mature trees and over 2,000 saplings along the phase 1 from the Mahon Point to The Marina. It is also welcome that the greenway will be kept open to the greatest possible extent throughout the works”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
“Last week’s announcements by the National Transport
Authority (NTA) are really positive for the Marina area and the Old Railway
Line Walk through to Bessboro. Firstly phase 1 of the Greenway has been given
funding of e.3.2m to progress construction. It comprises widening of the existing surfaced area along
the old railway line path from 3m to 5m, the installation of new public
lighting and CCTV, emphasising the heritage of the railway (especially at
Blackrock Station) and producing a biodiversity corridor along the railway
line.
Secondly, it is also really great to see funding
following the public consultation and its vision for the Marina and the Council’s
subsequent vote to pedestrianise the Marina walk full-time.
A total
of e.240,000 has received from the NTA to progress preliminary design,
planning, design team appointment & detailed design for the Marina
Promenade Pedestrian and Cycle facilities project. Many people have complained
that is very difficult to walk over certain sections of the Marina’s road plus
the need to have a think about public lighting after dark and the counter
balance of that with protection of natural habitats around the Atlantic Pond
and eastwards. The project will also seek funding for some
repairs to the quay wall and some general improvement to the public realm
including seating, bike parking etc.
In March/ April this
year, the Infrastructure Development Directorate of Cork City Council will be
publishing a notice seeking tenders from suitably qualified and experienced
Design Consultants for the upgrade and enhancement of the Marina (Centre Park
Road to Blackrock Village).
By the end of 2021
City Hall officials aim to present a recommended layout to Council members with
construction to follow in early 2022 subject to the necessary consents and
funding approval.
Great credit is due to officials in City Hall of the Infrastructure section; there is great momentum at the moment between drafting plans, gaining the input of the public, amending plans where needs be, and presenting them to the National Transport Authority for funding”.
