A milk supply debate raged across newspapers in 1918. During 1917, new powers were granted to local authorities in England and Ireland to supply milk to children and expectant and nursing mothers at cost price or free. The Irish Local Government Board gave grants to urban and rural sanitary authorities of one half of approved net expenditure in the cost of milk and dinners provided for expectant and nursing mothers and children under six. The grants were given only when the arrangements formed part of a maternity and child welfare scheme established by the local authority. Dublin, Kingstown, Bray, Monaghan. Clonmel and Cork were noted as good schemes but were not enough to meet demand.
Apart from the local government scheme, notable in Cork was the Cork Milk Supply Scheme operated by the Roman Catholic Bishop, Rev Cohalan and local parish clergy. Set up in the winter of 1917, its story is told across minutes of meetings published in the Cork Examiner. The scheme was intended for poor families where there were young children of an age where milk was an important source of food.
In the early weeks of the scheme, the Cork and Kerry Creamery Company, acting on the initiative of committee member of the scheme, Mr Sunner, supplied to the poor of the South Parish, Cork. Excellent milk was supplied at a very cheap rat of one penny per pint. Subscriptions from local merchants and businesses made up the balance of price to the vendor. At the beginning of the scheme there were 660 families registered to get the milk at the cheap rate, with the figure rising to 965 families by the end of 1917. The income threshold of families interested in the scheme was not to exceed 25s per week, and in the family there were to be children under six years of age. An official register was compiled by the several parish committees. They made sure that the tickets were only given to the necessitous poor, eradicated duplication of tickets, and made sure the tickets went out from one central source in every parish.
At an executive meeting on Tuesday 28 May 1918 Bishop Cohalan presided. Mr Pelly, the Honorary Treasurer, stated that there was a sum of about £150 on hand. In view of the fall in the price of milk, the discussion involved debating about the discontinuing of the milk supply. The price of milk during the summer of 1918 was estimated to be 2d per pint, which was near the one penny mark already in place. The Committee decided that the scheme be discontinued except in the case of families already on the lists who had children suffering or recovering from ailments. The quantity of milk to be subsidised by the Committee was to be two pints per family a day. In making out the new lists of families to be relieved, the Parish Committees were to be given advice by the city’s dispensary doctors.
On 30 October 1918, a public meeting in connection with the securing of a supply of milk at a cheap rate for the children of the city was held in the Council Chamber, City Hall. Bishop Cohalan told the meeting they were assembled to commence the distribution of milk to the poor families of the city – to continue the scheme inaugurated the previous winter. He revealed that the number of pints of milk distributed between the end of 1917 and 1918 was 203,000. The money received in subscriptions in 1918 was £1,822 0s 6d. The amount expended was £1,745 8s 3d, leaving a balance, wherewith to start the winter of 1918 of £76 12s 3d.
Lord Mayor Thomas Butterfield proposed the following resolution: “That we deem it our duty to raise a fund with the object of putting the Cork Children’s Milk Scheme into operation again this year, in view of the inability of many poor families to procure a sufficient quantity of milk for children during the winter months, and especially in view of the outbreak of influenza”. Canon O’Sullivan of the North Cathedral seconded. He deemed that the absence of sickness the previous year in his extensive parish was down to the benefits of the cheap milk supply and school meals. There were 13,000 pints of milk distributed in his parish at 1d per pint, and it was not difficult to realise the benefits that arose in new parishes in the city.
At another meeting of the executive committee on 8 November 1918, reports from the different parishes indicated that arrangements were practically complete for putting the supply scheme into operation. An adequate supply of milk was to be put in place for each parish. The committee decided that the distribution of funds would be on the basis of the number of families on the parish lists as follows: North Parish – 400 families, SS Peter and Paul’s – 200, St Finbarr’s – 200; Lough – 70 and St Patrick’s – 60. The families under the scheme were expected to pay 1 ½d per pint for the milk and were to be entitled to receive two pints per day.
Caption:
948a. Creamery at Charleville c.1900 (source: National Library of Ireland)
Kieran’s June Historical Walking Tours:
Saturday 9 June 2018, Cork City & its Bridges (new tour), learn about the early history of the city’s most historic bridges; meet at the National Monument, Grand Parade, 2.30pm (free, duration: two hours, finishes in City Centre) in association with Meitheal Mara’s Cork Harbour Festival.
Saturday 23 June 2018, The Cork City Workhouse; learn about the workhouse created for 2,000 impoverished people in 1841; meet at the gates of St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 12noon (free, duration: two hours, on site tour), in association with the Friends of St Finbarr’s Hospital Garden Fete.
Saturday 30 June 2018, The Lough & its Curiosities; explore the local history from the Legend of the Lough to suburban development; meet at green area at northern end of The Lough, entrance of Lough Road to The Lough; 12noon (free, duration: two hours, on site tour)
Saturday 9 June 2018, Cork City & its Bridges (new tour), learn about the early history of the city’s most historic bridges; meet at the National Monument, Grand Parade, 2.30pm (free, duration: two hours, finishes in City Centre) in association with Meitheal Mara’s Cork Harbour Festival.
Saturday 23 June 2018, The Cork City Workhouse; learn about the workhouse created for 2,000 impoverished people in 1841; meet at the gates of St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 12noon (free, duration: two hours, on site tour), in association with the Friends of St Finbarr’s Hospital Garden Fete.
Saturday 30 June 2018, The Lough & its Curiosities; explore the local history from the Legend of the Lough to suburban development; meet at green area at northern end of The Lough, entrance of Lough Road to The Lough; 12noon (free, duration: two hours, on site tour)
Thanks to everyone who supported the ninth McCarthy’s Make a Model Boat Project 2018 adjacent The Lough, Cork; thanks to the lead partner Meitheal Mara and all at the Cork Harbour Festival.
Stories from 1918: The Cork Sailors’ Widows and Orphans Fund
Across the newspapers of Spring and Autumn 1918, references are regularly made of subscriptions being made to the Cork Sailors’ Widows and Orphans Fund. It was established to consider the impact on families who lost their breadwinners on torpedoed vessels and to relieve a large number of cases of distress among deserving widows and orphans.
A sub-committee of key merchants in the city was set up on 5 April 1918 and by late September it had held ten meetings. The committee was championed by Bishop Daniel Cohalan of Cork, Bishop Charles Cork of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Lord Mayor T C Butterfield, A R MacMullen, President of the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, Ebenezer Pike, Chairman of the City of Cork Steam Packet Company, Sir Stanley Harrington, Samuel H Newson and T Lillis, General Manager of Munster and Leinster Bank.
The Committee logged all meetings and published in the Cork Examiner all donations. Some were individual donations, which were banked until required for the payment of relief. Promises of annual subscriptions of any sum, small or large over five or ten years were also welcome. Larger sums of money came from bodies such as the Cork Cattle Trade Association. This association aimed to acknowledge the contribution of seamen in the cattle export trade.
Citizens in the city and county organised entertainments and collections, which also helped materially strengthen the Fund. A benefit concert was hosted by Lord Mayor Butterfield in Cork Opera House. On 25 March 1918, the programme had contributions by several very-popular artistes Miss Rita Wallace sang selections from Madame Butterfly and Maritana. The accompaniment was by Miss M Barker of the Cork School of Music. The Opera House Orchestra was augmented for the occasion. It performed the overture Poet and Peasant and long selections from Cavalleria Rusticana and other pieces.
A summary report was given at a meeting of the General Committee of the Fund held on 25 September 1918 at the Munster and Leinster Bank, with the local Canon O’Leary, PP in the chair. Up to September 1918 the sub committee dealt only with cases arising out of the loss of the six Cork steamers, Bandon, Ardmore, Lismore, Kenmare, Innisfallen and Inniscarra (see last week’s column). A debate was ongoing whether to include a number of cases of widows of Cork men who were lost on other non-Cork related boats. About 20 cases were known to the sub-committee.
Ninety-six lives were lost on the six Cork steamers and applications for relief from the fund were received for 95 households. Of these 17 were dealt with by grants of fixed loans, 67 others received monthly allowances, and of the remaining seven cases there were still under consideration and four for different reasons were not considered suitable for assistance. In dealing with all the cases the General Committee worked closely with the parish priests of the city in the Middle Parish, North Parish, South Parish,Blackrock and with clergymen in county districts. The services of the Cork Savings Bank gave useful advice and practical help in the distribution of the fund.
The scope and usefulness of the work done by the Fund was wide ranging. Many heartbreaking cases were brought to the General Committee. In one case a widow had ten children and was expecting another. There were numerous cases of six and seven children in a household. Three expectant mothers were given special grants. A grant was given to a family to bury their mother, who only survived her husband a few weeks. Her children were being helped by a weekly allowance from the Fund. The aging father of a deceased seaman lived on a small island off the west coast of Ireland. His only income after his son’s death was by picking and selling periwinkles and Carrigeon moss. In another case a grant was made for sanatorium treatment for a son who was recommended as suitable by his doctor. The committee also considered an application from a widow for the amount of fees required to qualify herself as a maternity nurse.
On 11 August 1918 the Committee sustained a great loss by the death of Mr Francis Lyons, of 4 Ashton Place, Blackrock Road. He was one of the committee’s core members and was Joint Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. Besides being one of the founders of the Fund, Mr Lyons took a keen and an interest in its management and promotion and gave up a great deal of time to the General Committee meetings.
On 25 September 1918, the financial position of the Cork Sailors’ Widows and Orphans Fund included total receipts, £7,282 4s 10d, which includes the large subscription of £705 1s 1d received recently from the Cork Cattle Trade Association, and £40 received from the Canteen Committee of the Incorporated Church of Ireland. The sum of £1,651 6s had been allocated in final grants and weekly allowances.
The Committee was paying weekly allowances amounting to £39 19s per week, at which rate the balance they felt would last less than three, years. It was hoped that during that time additional contributions would be received which, would enable them to continue longer its important work.
Captions:
947a. Steam Packet Office at Penrose Quay Cork, c.1900 (source: Cork City Museum)
947b. King George Statue atop Steam Packet Office on Penrose Quay, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Kieran’s June Historical Walking Tours:
Saturday 9 June 2018, Cork City & its Bridges (new tour), learn about the early history of the city’s most historic bridges; meet at the National Monument, Grand Parade, 2.30pm (free, duration: two hours, finishes in City Centre) in association with Meitheal Mara’s Cork Harbour Festival.
Saturday 23 June 2018, The Cork City Workhouse; learn about the workhouse created for 2,000 impoverished people in 1841; meet at the gates of St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 12noon (free, duration: two hours, on site tour), in association with the Friends of St Finbarr’s Hospital Garden Fete.
Saturday 30 June 2018, The Lough & its Curiosities; explore the local history from the Legend of the Lough to suburban development; meet at green area at northern end of The Lough, entrance of Lough Road to The Lough; 12noon (free, duration: two hours, on site tour)
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy at the recent Tourism Events Arts and Marketing Functional Committee of Cork City Council praised the initiative of the Cruise Ambassador programme. It commenced for the season on 2 April. To date Cruise Ambassadors have boarded six liners, five of which were clocked at Cobh and one at Ringaskiddy, this location is used as a second berth when there are two large vessels in the Port and Cobh is already occupied. Passengers have the option of availing of a rail service scheduled by Iarnrod Eireann to facilitate the cruise market. As the season progresses Ambassadors will also board a number of smaller liners who can berth at Customs House Quay in Cork City.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “The Cruise Ambassador Programme continues to be very well received both by Port of Cork and by the Cruise Line companies. The Ambassadors have now established contact with staff on board who make return journeys and so it has been possible to have information on board in some cases prior to their arrival in Cork. Ambassadors continue to make available the Top Attractions brochure and Cork City maps etc”.
“The Cruise Ambassadors will serve Cruise Liners due to the end of the 2018 Cruise Season and continue to provide tourists with information on Cork increasing the footfall of cruise tourists to the City. The City Council has been engaging with business interests in relation to the development of initiatives that will maximise the economic benefit in terms of retail, hospitality etc” said Cllr McCarthy.
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy at the recent Tourism Events Arts and Marketing Functional Committee of Cork City Council has called for further thematic Council brochures to be printed showcasing the city’s bridges and churches as part of the city’s attractions. Cork City Council has reprinted the Top Attractions in Cork brochure for the 2018 season. Circulation began with a French print prepared for the Cork City Council participation in the Rennes Tourism Fair in February, when almost 4,000 brochures were distributed from the Cork stand.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “To date over 100,000 brochures have been printed and circulated in English, French, German, Spanish and Polish. The Tourism Section has engaged the services of Glance Promotions who distribute brochures to hotels and tourist hot spots in the City and County, stocking them in specially designed stands in reception areas or areas with high footfall. The brochure is also being distributed via the Tourist Office on the Grand Parade and Car Hire Companies and is also available to View online. The brochure is also distributed Via the Cruise Ambassadors boarding liners at Cobh, Ringaskiddy and Customs House Quay. There is huge scope to develop a thematic series of these top attraction brochures for the region”.
Cork City Council’s involvement in an EU Interreg Heritage project is a great learning curve for all involved according to Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has expressed delight that the Recovery and Valorisation of Maritime Military and Industrial Atlantic Heritage MMIAH Interreg Project is already helping the thinking process in the design of interpretation.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “The MMIAH project at Cork City Council officially commenced in the first quarter of 2018, with the appointment of a Project Manager to oversee this three-year project. Work on completing the technical details for the project are well underway, including preparation of an evolutionary study of the MMIAH assets of each partner area, and a study concerning best practice examples of recovery of MMIAH assets in Cork city”.
The outcome of this study will allow for the infrastructural element of the MMIAH project budget to be invested in Elizabeth Fort over the next three years. To date, two steering committee meetings for the project have taken place; the first at Ferrol in Spain, and the second at Ilhavo in Portugal.
Cllr McCarthy highlighted: “Cork City Council will host the third steering committee meeting to coincide with Cork Harbour Festival on 5 and 6 June 2018, and delegates from the nine partners involved in the project will be in attendance. A full programme has been developed for this meeting, including a (free) MMIAH public seminar in the Council Chamber at City Hall on 6th June. The aim of this seminar is to publicise the MMIAH project, and to show how the project aims fit with wider tourism and urban regeneration and enhancement proposals to Cork City”.
Stories from 1918: The Sinking of the SS Inniscarra
Another ship, another sinking occurred on 12 May 1918. This time the SS Inniscarra was sunk by torpedo by German submarine ten miles south east of Ballycotton Island on the approaches to Cork en route from Fishguard. Built by Wigham Richardson & Co. Ltd Newcastle in 1903, the ship was a passenger steamer of 1,412 tons. She was owned at the time of her loss by City of Cork Steam Packet Co. Ltd.
At the time of the disaster the ship was Cork bound with a general cargo and carried no passengers. At 4.20am the roar of an exploding torpedo was heard. The ship was struck on the port side, abreast the forward engine space, killing those in that space quickly below. While still making headway the ship sank bow down. Before this a barrel raft got away with one lifeboat. On the raft lay Captain Kelly, with his legs crushed and Chief Officer Swan, who was badly bruised. From the raft a cattleman slipped off and sank. Minutes later, the submarine emerged beside them from the waters, questioned the men on their rank, and then made off. As dawn broke one of the ship’s Seaman Mr Warren, was picked up by a passing small boat into which as well four other male survivors transferred themselves from the raft. Four hours later they landed them at Queenstown. From Queenstown the survivors were rapidly conveyed to the midst of their friends and family in Cork.
The five survivors comprised Captain Kelly (Ballyhooley Road), Chief Officer Swan (5 Beechwood Place, Douglas Road), Steward Keane, Seaman Bird arid Seaman Warren, (Kinsale). In his account to the Press Association, Captain Kelly stated that this was his second similar experience since the war began. He detailed that the SS Inniscarra commenced going down bow first about three minutes after being struck. He jumped from the bridge down on to the fore deck just as the ship was making her last plunge. He succeeded in netting upon a barrel raft, but was washed off. In trying to keep the raft clear of the bridge he got his left leg badly bruised and mangled. He was then picked up by a lifeboat containing the few survivors.
Mr Stewart F Swan, who was badly injured, was a member of the Mercantile Marine Service Association. He had plenty experience in shipping. He held the Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal and parchment for life-saving in the River Lee. He distinguished himself on the night of 13 May 1913, when he made a gallant rescue of a passenger who had fallen overboard from the steamer Innisfallen in Fishguard Harbour. The cry of “man overboard” having been raised by some of the cabin staff, Swan, who was in his berth, rushed on deck to see what he could do. Seeing the struggling man in the water about 30 feet from the ship’s side, without hesitation he plunged overboard. He swam towards him and after a struggle succeeded in placing a lifebuoy over his head.
Through the sinking of the SS Inniscarra, many relatives of the deceased were plunged into deep mourning. For example Maurice Geary, Fireman (42), lost his life and he left behind his wife Margaret and seven children, and resided in Ballinure, Blackrock. I have added the list of those who lost their lives below, the vast of which were from Cork and region; Patrick Cox, Fireman (47), was husband of Ellen Cox (nee Murphy), of Ballinure Quarries, Blackrock, Cork. Robert Hayes, Greaser (53), was husband of Margaret Hayes (nee Regan), of Convent Road, Blackrock. William Neil, First Engineer (60), was husband of Mrs Neill, of Marion Ville, Blackrock. Michael Forde, Quartermaster (66) was husband of Norah Forde, of 91, Friar Street, Cork. John O’Connell Fireman (27) was husband of Norah O’Connell (nee Jones), of 1, Desmond Square. Mathew O’Sullivan, Able Seaman (53), was the husband of Mary O’Sullivan (nee Creedon), of 29, High Street, Cork.
Arthur Attridge, Carpenter (72), was husband of Bessie Attridge (nee Riordan), of 3, St James Place. Mr Buckley, Trimmer (27), was son of Hannah Buckley (nee McCarthy), of 5, Hegarty’s Square, Blarney Street. John Harrington, Firerman (48) was husband of Mary Harrington, of 4, Cassidy’s Avenue, Barrackton, Cork. John Mullane, Cook (37) was the husband of Mary Agnes Mullane (nee White), of 23, Kelleher’s Buildings. John O’Brien, Trimmer (27), was the husband of Mary O’Brien (nee Murphy) of Mayfield. Denis O’Mahony, Fireman (29), was the son of James and Sarah O’Mahony, of 10, Alfred Street. Denis O’Shea, Fireman (30), was the son of Edward and Eliza O’Shea, of 76, Great William O’Brien Street, Blackpool. William Ryan, Donkeyman (38), was the son of Margaret and Hugh Ryan, of 7, Mahoney’s Avenue, Lower Road.
George Clarke, Able Seaman (61) was the son of the late George and Catherine Clarke (no location noted). Daniel Driscoll, Able Seaman (39), was husband of Nora Driscoll (nee Hayes), of Scilly, Kinsale. Michael Murphy, Able Seaman (34), was husband of Catherine Murphy (nee Coughlan), of 2, Cork Hill, Kinsale. James Harris (36) was the son of James and Alfina Dunne Harris, of Curraghboy, Youghal.
Laurence O’Connell, Fireman (36), was the son of John and Ann O’Connell, of Glencarney, Rockchapel. William Evans, Second Mate (54), was the husband of Alice Kate Evans (nee Patrick), of Tan-y-Bryn, New Quay, Cardiganshire. Michael O’Hare, Greaser (41) was the husband of Margaret O’Hare (nee Masterson), of 48, Cecil Street, Newry, Co. Down.
Joseph George Page, Leading Seaman (no age given), was the son of Charles and Catherine Page, of 2A, Chaucer Street, Kingsley Park, Northampton. Robert James Peters, seaman (no age given) was born at Neyland, Pembrokeshire. George Tucker, Able Seaman (20), was the son of Charles and Martha Tucker, of Rock House, Llanrhidian, Reynoldstone, Glamorgan.
Caption:
946a. SS Inniscarra berthed at Penrose Quay, c.1915 (source: Cork City Library)
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed progress on the opening of Tramore Valley Park. Given the increased amount of additional work necessary to satisfy Health and Safety requirements the opening is scheduled for early Autumn 2018. Information given to Cllr McCarthy at last week’s City Council meeting outlined that a works programme to address the essential works necessary prior to opening are presently underway: it includes additional carparking, realignment of the main access road from the South City Link, creation of internal roundabout and, segregation of the civic amenity activities from park activities. These works are essential in the context of satisfying Health and Safety requirements for a park and civic amenity site users. A Management Plan to manage, open and maintain the park is also being prepared at present.
Cllr McCarthy noted:” While the BMX track and a number of playing pitches in the park are used from time to time, access for the general public has been limited due to a number of staff shortages and operational issues. It will be great to see the park fully opened and become a key in the expansion of the city, ensuring that family, community and park life all remains at the heart of a bigger city centre. It will be the equal of the Ballincollig regional park in the city. Family and community life will be enhanced by the opening of this enormous resource”.
