Daily Archives: July 4, 2011

Historical Walking Tours of Old Railway Line and Ballinlough, This Week!

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy will lead a historical walking tour of the Old Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway line on Tuesday 5 July 2011. The walk starts at 7pm. at the entrance to the line on The Marina side adjacent the Main Drainage station. The Cork Blackrock and Passage Railway, which opened in 1850, was among the first of the suburban Cork railway projects. The walk will discuss the evolution of the line and also some of the historical sites which overlook it.

Cllr. McCarthy will also lead a historical tour of Ballinlough on Wednesday 6 July 2011, starting at 7pm at Ballinlough Pitch and Putt car park, opp. Pairc Ui Rinn, Cork, duration: 1 ½ hours, finishing around Ballinlough Church. With 360 acres, Ballinlough is the second largest of the seven townlands forming the Mahon Peninsula. The area has a deep history dating back to Bronze Age Ireland. In fact it is probably the only urban area in the country to still have a standing stone still standing in it for over 5,000 years. The walk will highlight this heritage along with tales of landlords, big houses, rural life in nineteenth century Ballinlough and the evolution of its twentieth century suburban history. Cllr. McCarthy noted: “South east Cork City is full of historical gems; the walks are not only talks about the history of suburban sites but are also forums for people to talk about their own memories and knowledge of local history in the ward. All events are free and are open to all.

 

Cork Blackrock and Passage Railway Line, advertisement, early 1900s

Munster Agricultural Society, The Story of the Cork Showgrounds

Cllr Kieran McCarthy’s new book, which was commissioned by the Munster Agricultural Society, explores the history of the Society and the evolution of the former Cork Showgrounds. With roots in the early nineteenth century, the Society has had a long history, being founded in 1806 under the name County of Cork Farming Society, changing to County of Cork Agricultural Society sometime in the 1830s and evolving in 1908 to its current name.  In 1892, the Society’s agricultural shows moved from behind the city’s corn market (now City Hall) to create the Cork showgrounds.

The society has evolved as the needs of its members changed over time to incorporate what they saw as relevant to the contemporary and future of agriculture in Ireland. Each successful season is immortalised in the society’s minute books, on the society’s perpetual tournament trophies and on the numerous photos that adorn the scrapbooks held in the society’s archive collection. The Munster Agricultural Society has been a pioneer in attaining improvements in Irish agriculture and in agricultural education. Commenting Cllr McCarthy noted: The society has contributed to technological change, broader cultural change and new areas of knowledge. But this book, through the story and pictures, is about so much more. It is about tradition, nostalgia, pride, change and continuity, promotion, inspiration, leadership, education, motivation and unfailing generosity on the part of the members of all the committees who worked tirelessly through time. This book, at its heart, is an exploration and celebration of all those ideas.”

The book Munster Agricultural Society, The Story of the Cork Showgrounds is on sale in Liam Ruiseal’s on Oliver Plunkett Street or at the offices of the Society in the Marina Commercial Park, 021 4315772. Showjumping at the Society’s new grounds at Greenfields, Ballincollig, takes place this weekend.

Munster Agricultural Society, The Story of the Cork Showgrounds

Cllr Kieran McCarthy’s new book, which was commissioned by the Munster Agricultural Society, explores the history of the Society and the evolution of the former Cork Showgrounds. With roots in the early nineteenth century, the Society has had a long history, being founded in 1806 under the name County of Cork Farming Society, changing to County of Cork Agricultural Society sometime in the 1830s and evolving in 1908 to its current name.  In 1892, the Society’s agricultural shows moved from behind the city’s corn market (now City Hall) to create the Cork showgrounds.

The society has evolved as the needs of its members changed over time to incorporate what they saw as relevant to the contemporary and future of agriculture in Ireland. Each successful season is immortalised in the society’s minute books, on the society’s perpetual tournament trophies and on the numerous photos that adorn the scrapbooks held in the society’s archive collection. The Munster Agricultural Society has been a pioneer in attaining improvements in Irish agriculture and in agricultural education. Commenting Cllr McCarthy noted: The society has contributed to technological change, broader cultural change and new areas of knowledge. But this book, through the story and pictures, is about so much more. It is about tradition, nostalgia, pride, change and continuity, promotion, inspiration, leadership, education, motivation and unfailing generosity on the part of the members of all the committees who worked tirelessly through time. This book, at its heart, is an exploration and celebration of all those ideas.”

The book Munster Agricultural Society, The Story of the Cork Showgrounds is on sale in Liam Ruiseal’s on Oliver Plunkett Street or at the offices of the Society in the Marina Commercial Park, 021 4315772. Showjumping at the Society’s new grounds at Greenfields, Ballincollig, takes place this weekend.