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
Paths of Snow, Japanese Gardens, Ballinlough, Cork, 7 January 2021 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)Paths of Snow, Japanese Gardens, Ballinlough, Cork, 7 January 2021 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)Paths of Snow, Japanese Gardens, Ballinlough, Cork, 7 January 2021 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)Paths of Snow, Japanese Gardens, Ballinlough, Cork, 7 January 2021 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)Paths of Snow, Japanese Gardens, Ballinlough, Cork, 7 January 2021 (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
1081a. Parnell Bridge, c.1900 from Cork City Through Time by Kieran McCarthy & Dan Breen
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 7 January 2021
Journeys
to a Truce, 1921: Excommunication and
Ambushes
Mid
to late December 1920 coincided with the continued cleaning up of the burnt out
ruins of St Patrick’s Street. In addition, there was fall-out from the decree
issued by Bishop of Cork Daniel Cohalan on 12 December 1920, that the penalty
of excommunication would be imposed on IRA men in the Cork Diocese if they
continued to carry arms against the Crown forces.
Bishop
Cohalan had intervened during Easter Week 1916 and was responsible then for
influencing the decision of the standing down of Cork City Irish Volunteers.
His actions then were believed to be motivated by concern for the peace and
safety of the citizens and in December 1920 his actions were also driven by
peace and safety. But the end of 1920, the Volunteers were on a full war
footing and there was anger across different levels of Cork society about the
Burning of Cork.
Michael
O’Donoghue, Engineer, 2nd Battalion in Cork Brigade No.1, in his
witness statement in the Bureau of Military History (WS 1741) details that the reaction
in Cork was immediate and emphatic to the Bishop’s decree. He notes that a
large portion of the Catholic population were disappointed at it and shocked
and angered as he describes it as “its anti-national bias”. More than half of
the congregation walked out in protest from the North Cathedral during his
Sunday sermon and decree issuing.
However
instead of the decree stopping violence, it increased. Not a single member of
the IRA in Cork ceased their Volunteer activities or eased off in their active
military opposition to the Crown forces. On the contrary, city Volunteers
pursued their offensive more than ever.
Michael
O’Donoghue noted that on the Sunday afternoon of 12 December 1920 he with other
Volunteers, were mobilised for republican police duty in St Patrick’s Street at
the scene of the fire. They were mainly engaged in salvaging goads, damaged and
undamaged, removed from the partly demolished smaller houses. These goods were
stored in houses and yards on the north side of Patrick Street. Looters, too,
had to be kept in check. He personally thought that these police activities by them
were unwise and unnecessary as he felt it exposed them to recognition and
identification as Republican forces. He notes: “The idea was to make a
spectacular gesture for propaganda purposes to show the Volunteer forces of the
Irish Republican Government protecting property and maintaining order in vivid
contrast to the disorder and vandalism of the British forces who had run amok”.
Michael
Murphy, Commandant, 2nd Battalion, IRA Brigade No.1 in his witness
statement (WS1547) takes up the story of IRA activity in the closing days of
1920. On 28 December 1920, by orders of the brigade, men of the 1st and
2nd Battalions entered the newspaper premises of the Cork
Examiner and broke up the printing machines with sledge -hammers. Michael highlights
that the offices were attacked as they were deemed by the IRAto have too much
of pro-British publication output. About fifty men in all took part in this
operation. The majority were on armed duty in the vicinity of the printing
works, St Patrick Street while the demolition was being carried out.
On
5 January 1921, martial law edicts were intensified across Munster as General
Strickland had issued another proclamation. For all breaches of martial law edict
in the south, ‘Death’ was the penalty – “for being in possession of arms or
ammunition or any lethal firearm, for levying war against the British Crown,
for harbouring, aiding or consorting with rebels (i.e. The Irish Republican
Army) for wearing military uniform, British or otherwise & or being in
possession thereof, the penalty was death by shooting before a firing squad”. The
edict continued – “The accused, if he was not shot out of hand on the spot,
which, incidentally, was a frequent occurrence, was tried immediately by
drumhead court martial, found guilty and banded over to the execution squad”.
On
the same day as the Munster martial law edict was enacted, an attack by the IRA
on RIC officers was conducted on Parnell Bridge near Union Quay Barracks.
Each
evening, shortly after 6 o’clock, it was the custom for a party of 25 to 30
police and Black and Tans to leave the barracks at Union Quay. They would cross
the River Lee at Parnell Bridge and there disperse to points in the city. Commandant
Michael Murphy arranged to attack this party, using only the company officers
in his battalion, the idea being to give all of them experience under fire.
On
the evening of 5 January 1921, Michael Murphy, Peter Donovan of C Company, and
Christy Healy went by a motor car driven by Michael Coonan to Morrison’s
Island. In the car they had a Lewis gun, one of the two Michael Murphy had got
in London a few weeks previously. They parked outside Moore’s Hotel, which was
almost directly opposite Union Quay Barracks – the River Lee being between them
and the barracks at a distance of about 50 to 60 yards. The remainder of their
men were posted at Parnell Bridge, Anglesea Street and at points in the
neighbourhood, covering approaches to the enemy barracks. The IRA men were
armed with revolvers and grenades.
At
approximately 6.15pm the police and Tans came out of Union Quay Barracks and,
by the time they were ready to move off, they fixed the Lewis gun in position
on the roadway outside Moore’s Hotel.
As
the enemy party proceeded towards Parnell Bridge, they opened fire with the
Lewis machine gun. The first burst killed seven of them and wounded others. Of
those not hit some ran back to the barracks and those at the head of the party
ran towards Parnell Bridge where they were met with revolver fire and grenades
by IRA men stationed there. The affair lasted no more than ten minutes. None of
the IRA men were wounded on the occasion.
When
the RIC members had all had disappeared, either shot or gone to cover, the IRA
members got their Lewis gun back into the car and made for the house of Sean
Hyde, a Volunteer officer, in Ballincollig, where the gun was left for a few
days before its next outing.
Caption:
1081a. Parnell Bridge,
c.1900 from Cork City Through Time by Kieran McCarthy & Dan Breen
Happy new year to everyone.
Stay safe.
Missed one of the 51 columns
last year, check out the indices at Kieran’s heritage website,
www.corkheritage.ie
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.
Independent Cllr
Kieran McCarthy wishes to remind the general public that Cork City Council will
provide facilities for the acceptance of Christmas Trees for recycling from
householders in Cork City.
Christmas trees may be deposited free of charge at any of the following
sites from 2 January to 31 January 2021 – Gus Healy Swimming Pool,
Ballinlough (on the green adjacent), Clashduv Park, Togher (adjacent to bring
bank site), Ballincollig Regional Park, Ballincollig (on the green adjacent to
bring bank site), Murmont Road, Montenotte (on the green adjacent), Sam Allen
Sports Complex, Gurranabraher (on the green adjacent), and Tramore Valley Park,
South Link Road
Cllr McCarthy noted: “the continuance of this free annual service is to
be welcomed. Cork City Council appeals to members of the public to dispose of
Christmas trees at these designated locations only. Any persons found disposing
of Christmas trees at sites other than the above mentioned will incur a fine”.
Sturdy on a table top and lit by youngest fair, a candle is blessed with hope and love, and much festive cheer, Set in a wooden centre piece galore, it speaks in Christian mercy and a distant past of emotional lore, With each commencing second, memories come and go, like flickering lights on the nearest Christmas tree all lit in traditional glow, With each passing minute, the flame bounces side to side in drafty household breeze, its light conjuring feelings of peace and warmth amidst familiar blissful degrees, With each lapsing hour, the residue of wax visibly melts away, whilst the light blue centered heart is laced with a spiritual healing at play, With each ending day, how lucky are those who love and laugh around its glow-filledness, whilst outside, the cold beats against the nearest window in the bleak winter barreness, Fear and nightmare drift away in the emulating light, both threaten this season in almighty wintry flight, Sturdy on a table top and lit by youngest fair, a candle is blessed with hope and love, and much festive cheer.
1080a. Daly’s Bridge AKA Shakey Bridge, post refurbishment, December 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 24 December 2020
Celebrating the History of Daly’s Bridge
Over
the past two to three years, three bridges in Cork have received much media
focus – St Patrick’s Bridge and its cleaning and restructuring, the new Mary
Elmes Bridge and its modern design, and thirdly Daly’s Bridge, AKA the Shaky
Bridge and its mass cleaning and re-strengthening programme. Such work was spearheaded by Cork
City Council.
Perhaps
of the three bridges that I have listed the last one, Daly’s Bridge or the
Shakey Bridge, opened in 1927, is one which holds the fascination of the public
the most. The recent removal of the main body of the bridge to de-clean it off
site caused a large tinge of public sadness. Its re-opening this week heralded
hope and almost the sense of a valued family member having returned. The
bridge’s essence has transcended time from a physical bridging point to one of
playfulness, one of fun and one whose shakiness is a key part of Cork’s
cultural heritage.
The story of Daly’s Bridge is rich. With the development
of Fitzgerald’s Park and the adjacent Rugby Grounds circa 1905, the
ferry crossing that had formed a route from Sunday’s Well to Shanakiel came
under increasing pressure.
On
28 August 1908 a deputation of residents of Sunday’s Well appeared before the
members of Cork Corporation in the then City Hall. Coroner Blake acted as
spokesman and noted that he had got a recent letter during that week from Mr
Thomas Dooley, proprietor of the ferry at Ferry Walk, stating that he was
willing to sell his interest in it (due to his impending retirement) to the
Corporation of Cork for £100, if they sought to purchase it.
Coroner
Blake outlined that the Corporation had been, as far he knew, owners and
proprietors of most of the ferries in the city of Cork, and if they attained
Dooley’s ferry rights in question it would be, he believed, “an advantage
to the citizens at large”. If the Council thought the proposal a good idea, he
suggested that instead of a ferry, a suspension bridge could be erected.
Sir
Edward Fitzgerald, councillor, said he believed that the bridge proposal was a
necessity and asked that the matter be referred to the Corporation’s Public
Works Committee.
On 1 September 1908,
the proposed Ferry Walk Bridge was discussed at the Public Works Committee.Sir Edward Fitzgerald said the first thing to be
done was to instruct the City Engineer to supply the Committee, at his earliest
convenience with the cost of a suspension bridge.
In April 1910, the City
Engineer gave particulars regards the site and the approaches to the bridge and
a general discussion took place on the question of the situation and character
of the new bridge. Shortly afterwards, the proposed cost of a new bridge became
a stumbling block for the Corporation to be able to move forward developing the
project.
Sixteen years later, the substantial
financial contribution by local man James Daly eventually broke the deadlock on
funding the suspension bridge project. Born at Moycollop, County Waterford in
1856, James Daly (1856-1942)began his busines life in his native
district as a butter and egg merchant. His business acumen was not long in
making itself felt, and at an early age he was able to open up as a butter
merchant being founder and managing director, of the firm of James Daly
and Sons, Ltd., Shandon Street, Dominick Street, and Mulgrave Road. His
association with the butter industry extended over 50 years from the 1880s to
the early 1930s – over half a century.
Under his own
personal supervision James merited for his firm a world-wide reputation and
employed many people. In addition to the butter industry, the firm were
also proprietors of the Shandon Castle Margarine Factory, which was established
until 1905, and erected on the site of the ancient Shandon Castle.
James
was one of the trustees of the Cork Butter Exchange. As an agriculturalist, James was
well known throughout Cork and Waterford, being the owner of large farms in
each of these counties, while he also possessed extensive
fishing preserves on the River Blackwater, and game preserves in the same
vicinity. James was also a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Cork Chamber
of Commerce, and a member of the National Liberal Club of London.
The
decision was made by City Engineer, Stephen Farrington that the new bridge
should be a steel suspension bridge, a type popular in the early decades of the
twentieth century, though few were built in Ireland. The decision was made to
purchase a bridge from the English bridge manufacturers David Rowell &
Company.
In his 3 February 1927 report, Stephen Farrington
said he was notified by Messrs Rowell & Co that the steel erectors were
coming over that week to start work on the suspension bridge at Ferry Walk. In late
February 1927,the new suspension footbridge was rapidly nearing
completion.
The formal opening of Daly’s Bridge took place on
Saturday 9 May 1927. Very Rev Canon O’Sullivan presided at the function. Mr M
O’Driscoll, PC on behalf of Mr James Daly opened the bridge.
Mr O’Driscoll said that he felt that a very great
honour had been conferred on him in asking him to formally open the bridge,
which “would do so much to enhance the attractions of the district, and at the
same time confer such as substantial benefit on the citizens in general, and on
the residents of Sunday’s Well in particular”.
For more information on the story of Daly’s Bridge
aka The Shakey Bridge, check out Kieran’s History Trails on www.corkheritage.ie
Happy Christmas to everyone.
Caption:
1080a. Daly’s Bridge AKA Shakey Bridge, post
refurbishment, December 2020 (picture: Kieran McCarthy).
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy
has noted that the planning applications for a Strategic Housing Development
(SHD) of 179 units and the proposal for 67 units, both in Bessboro, with An
Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council respectively, are still open to submissions
by the public until early in the first week of January.
In his submission to both bodies Cllr McCarthy has taken issue with the project splitting that has been pursued by the developer with regard to planning proposals being sent to both An Bord Pleanála and to Cork City Council respectively. Cllr McCarthy noted: “both proposals have serious massing, scale and height obtrusive issues. They do not provide for an acceptable standard of open space amenity for future residents. They would seriously injure the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.
“Secondly and most notably and morally wrong, the proposals have not waited for the publication of the Government’s Mother and Baby Home Commission Report. The proposals have not waited to see the summary of recommendations for sites of former institutions. By not waiting, the situation just drives another dagger into the hearts of the Cork Survivor’s Alliance, who are just looking for recognition, knowledge of what happened and a chance to memorialise their babies”.
“I would encourage members of the general public who are interested in Bessboro to make submissions to Cork City Council and to An Bord Pleanála sooner than later. My email is kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie if there are those who need help where to send submissions”, concluded Cllr Kieran McCarthy.
Cllr McCarthy has welcomed that the democratic call on permanently pedestrianising The Marina has been upheld and passed at the most recent City Council Ordinary Meeting. Cllr McCarthy notes; “The recent public consultation process of 250 submissions showed that 90 per cent were for the plan, with 5 per cent with specific issues on carparking and access, which are also resolved in the Directors response leaving 5 per cent against the proposal.
Several referred to The Marina’s function as a road in modern times and several have called for a review of the heavy traffic on Blackrock Road – and that latter thorn is something the City Council will have to grasp – especially around traffic speeds and pedestrian safety.
What we have seen down The Marina in recent months – in terms of the temporary pedestrianisation and the investment into Marina Park, phase 1 – is probably the first time in several decades that investment has filtered into renewing this area as one of the City’s key recreational areas.
The Marina as a pedestrianised space has a great future ahead of it – there is much to do on its place-making vision and to enhance the vision of the Council for The Marina walk, that has been around for almost 170 years.
My hope is that Marina Walk 2.0 would be worked at – I certainly would like a refocus to be placed on some of the heritage assets both built and natural – and also that we become bold in beginning to look at river front of ESB Marina and the Marina Commercial Park in terms of extending the western end of the Marina Walk and extending it to Cork Docks. That right of way was there 150 years ago when The Marina name was fashioned”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
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)
