This is a kindly reminder of the upcoming closing date for the above project.

The project’s primary objectives are as follows:

• To improve access between South Docklands and the City Centre in terms of convenience, safety and capacity across all modes but with emphasis on sustainable modes of transportation (walking, cycling and public transport).
• To provide a high-quality public realm aligned with the ambitious redevelopment plans for the area and respectful of the existing community within Docklands. The public realm will seek to achieve the correct balance between hard & soft landscaping, uniqueness and sustainability while also embracing the riverside amenity potential of the area.

To achieve these aims it is proposed to make the following modifications:

• Introduction of a City Centre bound contra-flow bus lane on Victoria Road (North) and Albert Quay.
• Introduction of an outbound bus lane on Albert Quay East & Victoria Road (North).
• Introduction of a 2-way Cycle Track on Albert Quay and Victoria Road (North).
• Replacement of the Victoria Road / Centre Park Road Roundabout with a sustainable transport focused traffic signal-controlled junction.
• Improvement and reconfiguration of Monahan Road / Victoria Road Junction.
• Enhancement of the Old Blackrock Road / Victoria Road Junction.
• Public realm improvements on Albert Quay East, Victoria Rd, Albert Rd, Marina Terrace etc.
• Kennedy Quay access from Albert Quay will be restricted. The primary access to Kennedy Quay will be from Marina Walk.
• Introduction of a new residential access link between Marina Terrace and Rosefield Terrace.
• Footpaths will be widened and repaved for the safety and convenience of pedestrians.
• Crossing facilities will be provided at all junctions for the safety of vulnerable road users.
• All bus stops will be upgraded.
• Public lighting will be renewed, and feature lighting provided.
• Utility services will be renewed, and spare capacity provided.
• Land acquisition will be required to facilitate aspects of the above work.

 Information and maps are available at www.consult.corkcity.ie. Closing date for receipt of submissions is Monday 10 March 2025 at 4pm to Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Development, Cork City Council in City Hall

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 27 February 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The Retirement of City Engineer Joseph Delaney

Spring 1925 coincided with the formal retirement of Cork Corporation City Engineer Joseph F Delaney who had amassed just over 21 years’ experience working for the Corporation. The aftermath of dealing with the Burning of Cork in 1920 and the long and complicated quest to commence reconstruction within the five acres of burnt out premises brought added stress and health complications for Joseph.

Arriving to Cork Corporation in 1903, Joseph had also overseen improving the water supply system and reducing the abnormally high rate of water wastage in the city. Joseph was also interested in Irish industrial and language movements, in the country’s national well-being, its educational advancement and in economic reform.

The Cork Examiner on 19 January 1925 describe that Joseph was entertained at a farewell presentation function and a concert at the Victoria Hotel by a very representative number of Cork citizens. Mr Barry Egan, former Councillor, who presided, in opening the proceedings said they were meeting that evening to show their appreciation of the work that Mr Delaney had pursued for the city. As a memento of his connection with the city, Barry presented Joseph with a silver cup and a set of special engineering and surveying instruments.

Barry Egan nodded to the unprecedented difficulties that Joseph had to face during the trying times of 1920 and 1921 ending up in the big conflagration in the St Patrick’s Street district. Barry described and shared the belief that that during that time Joseph did the work of ten people; “Mr Delaney kept his head and energies to carry them through the difficulties that presented themselves under circumstances that would break any man’s health and nerves. On the morning of the big fire I met Mr Delaney in St Patrick’s Street, and going around with him I was amazed at his energy knowing as he did that for weeks, before he did not have a night’s rest, and that his position was a nerve-wrecking one”.

Correspondence was read to the assembly from John Callaghan Foley, Managing Director of John Daly and Co Ltd who was away on business. John outlined that he had the pleasure of Joseph’s acquaintance ever since he came to Cork, some 21 years ago;  “It was with great regret we learned that the strain of 21 years’ arduous work, spent in the service of the citizens, and especially the trying period following the destruction of our city, proved too much for his constitution, and caused him to relinquish his post…At this juncture in our country’s history it is men of his status in the engineering world who will be of good account in the conception and development of the numerous schemes of reconstruction, which must be brought to fruition in the near future”.

Mr T F O’Leary, Cork Chamber of Commerce, noted that he had only a short acquaintance with Mr Delaney, but he was greatly impressed by him; “Joseph was an active member of our Chamber of Commerce and his suggestions were invaluable. I felt that wherever Mr Delaney went that particular place would be all the richer, and Cork would be all the poorer for losing him”.

Other speakers followed in equally praise worthy terms. In reply to the praise, Joseph detailed the significance of the occasion to him; “This of all occasions of a lifetime is one of special significance to me. The traveller in life’s highways sooner or later reaches the great divide. For one cause or another he has got to change his course. For health and other reasons, this change has come to me”.

Joseph relates that when he arrived to Cork from Dublin he was full of ambitions for its improvement and welfare in his initial speech possessed the spark of of high civic enthusiasm, and was inspired with a strong sense of duty; “I was full of youthful resolutions – I was 31 then – and professional verve for achievement in my sphere of work…In thanking the Council of the time for doing me the honour of appointing me to the position, which I have just vacated, I spoke as follows; “I hope I shall prove worthy of the trust of the Council has reposed in me. I thoroughly appreciate the importance of my position, and when I enter on my duties it will be our mutual interest – the Council and myself – to serve the citizens, and to help to advance the premier municipality of the south”.

Joseph further related in his speech that since his first speech he strove faithfully to practice the messages given in that first public and official appearance in the city. He was flattered to be entertained that evening by an entourage of friends who were present denoting that they all possessed interests in supporting Cork’s citizenry; “I know you all to be rich in good qualities of citizenship and public spirit and animated by high national ambition and sterling zeal for the moral and material progress of the city and country…I have been in association with you in various paths of endeavour – social, philanthropic, civic, and cultural, and knowing your qualities, I can say that in your hands the city’s welfare and progress is assured. I know of your work, I know of your ambitions, I know of your ideals, and I feel that it is only with the aid of such a coterie of citizens as you, who are inspired with a strong sense of public responsibility, fired by civic pride for local development and improvement that this city, with its fine traditions, its literature, history, and its exceptional opportunities for the future will it be properly piloted to its true destiny”.

Caption:

1293a. Joseph F Delaney, City Engineer, c.1911 in W.T. Pike’s “Contemporary Biographies”, published in Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century (1911) by Richard J Hodges.

Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy will host the upcoming award ceremony of the Discover Cork Schools’ Heritage Project 2025 in the Concert Hall in City Hall on 3 March. A total of 29 schools in Cork City took part in the 2024/25 school year, which included schools in Douglas, Ballinlough, Beaumont, Blackrock and with a reach to Glanmire, Ballincollig, and inner city schools as well. Circa 800 students participated in the process with approx 200 project books submitted on all aspects of Cork’s local history and it cultural and built heritage. 

The Discover Cork Schools’ Heritage Project is in its 23rd year and is a youth platform for students to do research and write it up in a project book on any topic of Cork history. 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: “Every year the project books that are produced are amazing. There is a huge appetite amongst our young people to learn about our local history and to celebrate it. For every student as well there is also family support – so whereas there are 800 students involved, one could multiple that by a factor of four or five when you take the support of immediate family members into account”.

“This year great projects were written up on Cork landmarks such as The River Lee to Shandon to streets such as MacCurtain Street to an array of oral history projects – I’ve even seen very original projects, such as this year I received a number of history trails on local neighbourhoods. The standard of model-making and short film making – to go with project books – continues to be very high and very creative”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.

The Project is funded by Cork City Council with further sponsorship offered by Learnit Lego Education, Old Cork Waterworks Experience and Cllr Kieran McCarthy. Full results for this year’s project are online on Cllr McCarthy’s heritage website, http://www.corkheritage.ie

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 20 February 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The Work of Henry Dale

The announcement in the Cork Examiner on 12 January 1925 of the death of 84 year-old Mr Henry Dale (1841-1925) at his residence, Riverview House, Sunday’s Well, was received with widespread regret in the city. It was marked as an end of an era – the end of an era for an important Cork figure and one of the drivers of public health reform in particular in late nineteenth century Cork.

Contemporary biographies edited by W T Pike (Brighton, 1911) outlines that Henry was a Managing Director of Richard Clear & Company and a Managing Director of Cork Cold Storage & Warehousing Company. He was also a Director of Dwyer & Company Ltd.

Henry was a leading member of the Corporation of Cork for a long number of years. He sat uninterruptedly on the Corporation of Cork for upwards of 40 years. He was a senior Alderman for the greater part of that period as well as being a Justice of the Peace. He took a deep and active interest in the city’s affairs.

As Chairman of the Corporation’s Public Health Committee he gave great attention to the carrying out of the Public Health Act of the 1880s and 1890s with reference to the sanitation and supervision of the health of the citizens of the city. 

Henry was Chairman for a long time of the Corporation’s Waterworks Committee. During his chairmanship many important improvements were carried out. He led the support needed for important improvements with the general supply of water to the city. In 1887, such work was pursed in conjunction with local academic knowledge as well as with Mr William H Shaw and Mr Arthur Hill. A new American turbine system for pumping water to the reservoirs was introduced, which effected a considerable saving in the consumption of fuel. Up to that time the city was mainly dependent on the working of the old-fashioned, but picturesque old water wheel and the Cornish engine.

Henry Dale pushed the Corporation to build and erect a new turbine engine house and a new pair of 60in “American” turbines installed. This story is more detailed at the Old Cork Waterworks Experience on the Lee Road. One of their history panels notes; “The excellent performance of this equipment influenced the decision to acquire two additional turbines in 1895, bringing the total to four all of which operational by 1901. The waterworks was upgraded again between 1904 and 1907 when the two Lancashire boilers and three Inverted Triple Expansion Engines were installed. These engines and boilers were in use up to the late 1950s”.

In his day Henry was a keen angler and knew the river well from Gougane Barra to Cork. He was a founding member of the Cork Angler’s Club, which was established in 1870.

Henry was for many years a member of the School of Art Committee. He was also President for two years of the Cork Literary and Scientific Society.

Henry also took a distinguished and beneficial part in practically all movements aimed at improving the industrial, commercial and social life of his native city. He was an enthusiastic member of the committees that successfully created the two great Cork Exhibitions of 1883 and 1902 respectively.

Henry was President of the Cork Butter Exporters’ Association and was also President of the Flour and Bread Trade Association. He was an original member of the Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, and ably filled the position of President for two years.

At a special meeting of the Council of the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping on 19 January 1925, Mr William Dinan, President, was in the chair. The Cork Examiner write-up details that the President noted that they met to express their sorrow at the loss of their colleague, the late Alderman Henry Dale.

On the proposition of Mr C E Beale, seconded by Sir Stanley Harrington, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: “That we, the members of the Council of the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, beg to tender to the relatives of  Alderman Henry Dale our deep sympathy on the great loss they have sustained, and place on record our appreciation of the invaluable services which he rendered the Chamber as a member for many years”.

Mr C E Beale in proposing the resolution said he did so with considerable feelings of sadness, as he had known the late Alderman Dale for many years, and admired so very much the important part which he played in every project connected with the city’s activities.

Sir Stanley Harrington, in seconding, fully endorsed the sentiments expressed by Mr Beale with reference to their late friend and colleague; “I can well recollect the important services which the late Alderman Dale rendered not only to this Chamber, but to the general commercial and industrial interests of the South of Ireland. In the early days of our Chamber he took a leading part in its organisation and left the impression of his sound judgment and outlook on the traditions of the Chamber, which were built up during his time, and which helped in no small degree to give to the Chamber the importance and standing, which it now enjoys…for many years he took an active part in endeavouring to maintain a standard of economy and efficiency in the working of our public departments. He was for many years a member of the Cork Technical Instruction Committee”.

Caption:

1292a. Portrait of Henry Dale from Contemporary biographies edited by W T Pike (1911) (source: Cork City Library).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 13 February 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – The BBC Interview with Fr O’Flynn

Some of those who began their acting careers at the Cork Shakespearean Company’s Loft became household names, such as Monica Murphy, Joe Lynch, Niall Tóibín, Edward Golden, Chris Curran and Edward Mulhare (who went onto have a successful Hollywood career).  Fr O’Flynn carried on gallantly, holding classes in the Loft, producing plays down the years at various venues and appearing in Sunday concerts. In addition, in 1946, Fr O’Flynn was made Parish Priest of Passage West.

In 1960, Hywel Davies of the BBC visited Fr O’Flynn at The Loft to make a half-hour documentary on his life called, It Happened to Me, produced by James Buchan. Mr Buchan noted of Fr O’Flynn: “I have met many great humanitarians in the course of doing documentary programmes for television, but Father O’Flynn was the greatest of them all What impressed us all about him was his tremendous love of his fellow-man as well as for God. To us he epitomised the Christian”.

Raymond Smith in his book Father O’Flynn – The Well of Love denotes that the 30 minute documentary was televised on Tuesday night, 17 January 1961. It showed Fr O’Flynn taking a Shakespearean production class in The Loft. An estimated 3 ½ million BBC viewers are said to have watched the programme.

The programme opened with children playing ring-a-ring-o’-roses in a street in the Shandon area and there were many scenes taken in The Loft – the old hay loft above Linehan’s Sweet Factory. The programme showed an amazing improvement after six weeks in a young man who was hardly able to say his own name at the beginning, but who finally declaimed a lengthy Shakespearean passage admirably.

Schoolchildren and grown-ups were shown in excerpts from Shakespearean plays. The programme also included a recital by Fr O’Flynn’s school choir, showing his authority on Irish language and Irish music. There was a warm tribute from Gus Healy, who told Mr Davies that but for Fr O’Flynn insisting on his doing principal and minor parts in Shakespeare he would not have had the confidence to go into public life and would probably never have done so.

The programme created a sensation. Fr O’Flynn received hundreds of letters of congratulations and hundreds asking for help with their stammer. Letters asking for advice poured into him from across Ireland, Britain and even from the Channel Islands. They came from people of all religious beliefs. Raymond Smith outlines that one letter from an Aberdeen housewife: “It is good to know that such men as you live in this trouble world of ours”.

Some people asked if they could come to Cork see him and no one who came was turned away. A British doctor wrote that he was so impressed by what he had seen that he was sending over a boy who had. bad stammer.

Fr O’Flynn tirelessly devoted himself to helping the people who wrote to him. Raymond Smith recalls that one evening a well-known Cork journalist, Larry Lyons, told him that he was on the way to Passage West to gather material for a special article for The Guardian on Fr O’Flynn. He suggested that Raymond come along.

When Raymond and Larry called at his house, Raymond recalls finding Fr O’Flynn him sitting in his famous old armchair in front of a blazing fire the sitting room replying to a letter from a Scottish housewife whose brother had a speech defect. Raymond’s eye was immediately caught by the big bundle of letters, divided into two piles those already answered and those yet to be answered. Fr O’Flynn noted; “It’s so easy to show how stammers can be cured but so hard to put it in writing…People are in need of help and we must give it to them”.

Raymond in his account continues to outline that any money enclosed was immediately sent back. In addition, money was sent for special prayers by people, even non-Catholics, who had been deeply moved by the television programme. In particular there was one pound note which Fr O’Flynn could not return, for all that was enclosed with it was a covering note that read simply: “From a black Ulster Protestant”. Fr O’Flynn confessed to Raymond afterwards more than once that he cherished that note most of all and he carried it with him to his death bed. Unconsciously he felt he had broken down the barriers that divide for “his business was with universal humanity and not with a fragment of it”.

Inspired during his visit to Passage Raymond Smith also outlines in his book that he was the person who pushed Fr O’Flynn in the penning of a series of articles in the Sunday Independent setting out ideas on how to cure impediments. Raymond was staff representative for Independent Newspapers Ltd in the Cork Office at the time, having just returned from his first trip to The Congo.

In his book on Fr O’Flynn he noted; “Going down to Passage, I had no intention taking on such a heavy task for, looking back on it no more sweat and toil went into that series than into anything ever I did in my journalistic career. And yet in the end it was a labour of love…The rain-swept road to Passage West that night became as it were the road to Damascus. Father O’Flynn made such a deep impression upon me during that first meeting that I came away a disciple, intent lifting from his shoulders, if I could, some of the burden of answering all those letters. For then he could refer those seeking advice to the newspaper series rather than try to reply to each letter individually”.

On 18 January 1962 – almost on the first anniversary of his famous television appearance – Fr O’Flynn passed away.  After his death, the Cork Shakespearean Company continued the work that he had started. It is still going strong in the present day. In 2024, the Company celebrated their centenary.

Caption:

1291a. Fr O’Flynn with Hywel Davies, BBC 1960 (source: Raymond Smith’s Father O’Flynn – The Well of Love).

Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for public consultation to be included in any future management strategy for All Saint’s Cemetery on Carr’s Hill. In raising the historic cemetery at the February Cork City Council meeting, the Chief Executive outlined that since the completion of the transfer of ownership of the Carr’s Hill graveyard to Cork City Council in mid- 2023 a review of all surveys and information pertaining to the site is being undertaken in order to inform a sustainable maintenance and management strategy for the site. An archaeological conservation strategy is not currently being undertaken.

A number of non-intrusive archaeological surveys have been carried out including GPR (ground penetrating radar) and drone photogrammetry surveys which have created a detailed 2D and 3D model of the physical landscape and features at Carr’s Hill.

A bio-diversity study for the site was completed late last year. Further analysis of these surveys and studies is ongoing and Council Members will be updated as matters progress. In the meantime the graveyard has been included in the Parks work programme for 2025 and grass-cutting on the site will commence next month.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “The detailed survey work on All Saint’s Graveyard is welcome. I asked specifically at the Council meeting that there would be a form of public consultation woven into the future of any evolving management strategy for the site. Arising from public conversations, there are positive suggestions of how to improve access to the site and there are calls for improved interpretation on the site itself. There are also calls that that access to the site is maintained and improved. The maintenance of the Sorenson memorial Cross is essential as well as creating opportunities to commemorate more the victims of the Great Famine. There are also growing public calls to commemorate the children buried there from the City’s Mother and Baby Homes”.

View the site here and explore a short history video, October 2021:

Question to CE:

To ask the CE for an update to the archaeological conservation strategy for Carr’s Hill graveyard? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

Motions:

To get an update in the South East LEA the on the cycling and pedestrian scheme in Maryborough Woods (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

That consideration be given to having Vice Chairs of SPCs, who can represent the Chair when missing at the SPC and at the Corporate Policy group meeting (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

That continued work be pursued to keep rebuilding the Cork past and Present website hosted by the City Library (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

That a painting grant scheme be considered for St Patrick’s Street (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for further public lighting at the Japanese Gardens in Ballinlough. The popular park is daily frequented at all times of the day by walkers and joggers. Cllr McCarthy noted: “I have been contacted by several locals asking about the provision of public lighting especially during the dark winter evenings, where people wish to go for a walk after work in a safe environment. I am also conscious of the biodiversity of the park. I am for parkland to work with nature as much as possible, which is why it was great to have the insight of the Council’s parks department on the lighting proposal”.

The response to Cllr McCarthy from the City Council’s Park Department outlined that as a pre-requisite to the consideration of any proposal to provide public lighting, a bat survey will be required to ascertain if bats are roosting in the area and how they use the park for foraging. Currently, the Ballinlough Tidy Towns Committee is in the process of producing a Biodiversity Action Plan for the parks and other green areas in Ballinlough. A bat survey is being undertaken as part of this process and is likely to have implications for any public lighting design for the area.

Cllr McCarthy noted; “Once this report has been completed and reviewed a suitable design can be drawn up and costed in conjunction with the Council’s Lighting Department. Finances will then need to be sourced, as there is no provision for this proposal in the 2025 budget. I will be following up with the Parks Department again once the bat surveys are surveyed”.

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 6 February 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – Figures of the Cork Shakespearean Company

As time rolled on for the Cork Shakespearean Company, many of its members stayed to champion the Company, but grew older, or left to take up duties in several walks of life. A short few of these members were showcased in the press such the Cork Examiner over the decades.

On 18 October 1933, the Cork Examiner notes that congratulations were given by the Company to young actor Jack Curran. Jack was raised to the Priesthood in Rome. He was the first Company member to be ordained. The Cork Examiner noted: “To the older members it seemed a very short time ago since Jack Curran, as a little boy, struggled with difficulties.  Overcoming these difficulties he was able to play Hamlet with distinction at the Cork Opera House”.

On 26 March 1938, reference is given in the Cork Examiner that another popular actor of the Cork Shakespearean Company Henry A MacCarthy, had been appointed as Ireland’s representative on the Advisory Committee on Social Questions at the League of Nations. Henry came from a well-known Cork family, being the son of Mr Charles MacCarthy, sanitary engineer with Cork Corporation.

Henry MacCarthy qualified for the bar and was called in 1916. He had a flourishing practice in Cork both in the days of the British Empire and later under the Irish Free State legal system. He also enjoyed many social activities in the city. Chief of these was his interest in the Cork Shakespearean company and one of the roles by which he was best remembered by Cork audiences was that of Christopher Sly in the prologue of the Taming of the Shrew.

Henry was noted to have been gifted with a very fine diction. He was appointed to teach elocution in the Cork School of Music. He had just given only two or three lessons when the news of his appointment as a district justice was received. He acted as a temporary district judge filling in for justices who are on holidays or otherwise unable to carry on. In this capacity he visited practically every court in the country. The appointment was made about 1931 and soon after Henry became permanent in the Dublin District Court where he was regarded as a kindly and popular gentleman. In Dublin Henry took part in the Dublin Shakespeare Society for many years and also in several drama festivals in the Dublin region.

Another key stalwart of the Company and who assisted Fr O’Flynn to keep the Cork Shakespearian Company on the road from the 1930s to the 1960s was Eileen Curran. She was involved with the company from the very beginning. She was a member of a well-known Cork family, her great grandfather, was Patrick Curran, a well-known baker. She was sister of Rev Bernard (Jack) Curran OP of St Mary’s, Cork, Mr Chris Curran who was a well-known stage, radio and TV actor, Mrs Seán Clayton, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Miss Chrissie Curran, Cork, and Alfred Curran.

In the Cork Examiner across the 1940s advertisements showcase her giving elocution/ speech training at Skerry’s College on the16 South Mall. She was also a popular recitation artist at variety concerts across the city.

Eileen maintained the closest association with the Cork Shakespearean Company over the years and continued the great traditions set by its distinguished priest founder. She was also responsible for the annual musical productions in St Aloysius College on Sharman Crawford Street, where she taught elocution and singing.

On Eileen’s death on 9 April 1977 Mr Pearse Gunn, well-known Cork producer, who had been associated with Miss Curran for many years noted to the Evening Echo that Eileen’s contribution to the Cork Shakespearian Company was monumental. He noted: “The Company would not have survived after the death of Fr O’Flynn, but for her work and dedication. Fr O’Flynn left the Loft to Eileen Curran and by that I mean he intended that she should carry on the work he started. He had a very distinct method and style, and none could interpret its greatness better than Eileen who was a founder member and an actress of no mean ability”.

Another core supporter was Gus Healy. He was chairman and a founder member of the Cork Shakespearean company. Many actors who performed at the Loft were initiated into the arts of acting through his efforts. Gus played the leading role in many Shakespeare plays.

The Dictionary of Irish Biography denotes that Gus was born on 20 May 1904 on Castle Road, Blackrock, Gus was the second of two sons of Timothy Healy, collector for the Cork Gas Company, from Cork, and his wife, Pauline Groegor, from Germany. Gus was educated at the North Mon. When he left school he worked for a year in a saddlery business on Leitrim Street, Cork. He then went onto train as a dental assistant under Isa Scher at St Patrick’s Hill. By 1938 Gus had opened his own business in Grand Parade, Cork.

In 1943, Gus ran a successful campaign as an independent Councillor candidate in the Local Elections for Cork Corporation. In 1948 he joined Fianna Fáil. In February 1957, he was elected to Dáil Éireann. He married Rita McGrath on 4 February 1957 and they lived at the View, Montenotte, Cork and later at Church Road, Blackrock.

Gus lost his Dáil seat in 1961 but served in Seanad Éireann for the following four years. He was re-elected to Dáil Éireann in 1965 and remained a Deputy until he retired in 1977. The Dictionary of Irish Biography recalls he held a number of chairmanship positions in Dail Eireann committees.

Gus was twice Lord Mayor of Cork in 1965-6 and 1974-5. As part of his Corporation work, he held a number of positions. The Dictionary of Irish Biography recalls; “Mr Healy was a member of Southern Health Board and the City of Cork VEC. He was chairman of the Cork Film Festival, which also included the Cork International Choral Festival, and a director of Cork Opera House. He was chairman of the Cork Tóstal council from its inception in 1954, chairman of the former Cork advisory committee and regional director of the Ivernia Regional Tourist Company”.

The Dictionary of Irish Biography also outlines that Gus took a prominent and active part in sport in Cork. He was a teacher of swimming with long ties with Sunday’s Well Swimming Club. The Gus Healy swimming pool in Douglas is named in his honour. He became president of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association in 1943 and later President of the Munster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. He was president of the Aloysius Camogie Club, Cork for over thirty years. A director of the National Association for Cerebral Palsy, Gus was also chairman of its local branch, the Cork Spastic Clinic and of the Cork branch of the Irish Red Cross.

To be continued…

Caption:

1290a. Front cover of 1930 programme for Cork Shakespearean Company (source: Cork City Library).

The always most awaited results of the annual Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project.

Thanks to all students who entered a project.

It’s year 23 of the Project with 30 City schools, 800 students, over 200 projects submitted, hours and hours of entertaining reading and shortlisting, and one jury who had to make difficult decisions on who should win.

But the Project at its heart remains an opportunity to explore Cork’s history and to be creative in the telling of its stories, and to build a sense of pride in our City.

My thanks to the Heritage Office of Cork City Council for their ongoing financial support for the project and to the Old Cork Waterworks Experience for hosting the projects, whilst reading and judging is ongoing.

Read the 2025 results here: http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=10008