Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 10 April 2025

Making an Irish Free State City – A Great War Memorial Council Deliberation

A week can be long time in politics. By the time the motion on allowing the First World memorial on the South Mall reached the full suite of Councillors of Cork Corporation – six weeks later following on from the Public Works Committee debate, public vote and public debate – the elected members were ready with their perspectives.

The Lord Mayor Cllr Seán French presided and he put the question to the full Council on the question of giving permission to erect a monument in Cork to the Irish soldiers who fell in the Great War. A similar debate to the Public Works Committee occurred with perspectives for and against the proposal.

Cllr Seán Nolan moved that permission for the erection of the monument be not granted. He did so not out of disrespect for the memory of the men it was intended to honour, but he believed that the time was not opportune for the erection of such a memorial. He argued that they had seen great heros belonging to the Corporation such as Lord Mayors’ MacCurtain and MacSwiney and Alderman Tadgh Barry, and many others who had fallen in Cork City and County, and “so far the nation had not seen fit to erect a memorial to those men”.

Cllr Nolan continued that he knew that the country would pay them a tribute when the time came. He also believed that the time and money associated with a Great War memorial would be better devoted in looking after the widows of those fallen soldiers and their dependents and the wounded.

Cllr Seán O’Leary seconded the rejection of the monument and said it was not to commemorate the men who fell that the proposed monument would be erected, but for the cause for which these men fell; “The monument would commemorate England’s war, with which they in Ireland had nothing to do with. Those men went out to fight, unconsciously, and so enabled to send troops here, which she could not otherwise have done”.

Cllr T O’Neil denoted himself for the motion and said the ex-service men of Cork and the other parts of Ireland went out to France in 1914 at the call of the Irish leaders at the time; “That call was given by the recognised leaders of the Irish nation at that time and they answered the call in Cork and all over Ireland. A great majority of the Cork men who went out fell in the fight and their comrades desired by erecting a suitable monument to honour their memory”.

Alderman E Coughlan said it was not the intention of any member opposing the erection of the monument to show any disrespect to the men who died. He regretted his opposition vote as he wished to keep the streets “pure and clean of symbols of Britain”. He noted; “I suggest that it be erected in one of the cemeteries, which was a more suitable place for a monument of the kind. It would not be suitable in the streets of Cork after what occurred in those streets in those streets during the last three or four years…I want to keep the streets of Cork free from any taint of Imperialism”.

Cllr G Byrne supported the proposal. He spoke regarding the fact that no monument had been erected to the martyred Lord Mayor’s memory. He desired to say that if any such project were started in the city that the ex-servicemen in Cork would be the first to come forward and support it; “The ex-servicemen and their friends believed that the time had arrived when they should erect a memorial in honour of their fallen comrades…their fallen dead deserved such an honour”.

Cllr J Allen supported the proposal noting that his own brother was killed in the streets of Cork by Irishmen and his mother put a monument over his grave to honour his memory, as did every other member of his family, and also his friends. He noted; “Why should the ex-servicemen of Cork be prevented from paying similar respect to their fallen comrades. They fought and died side by side and it would be unjust if men who had come back were not allowed to erect a memorial to their fallen comrades”. He further felt that any opposition to such a monument would only widen the gap between fellow-Irishmen and such a thing should be avoided.

Cllr John Horgan said that he asked those who offered opposition to the erection of the monument to waive that opposition. He noted that the monument was one merely for the purpose of reminding the relatives and others what the sacrifices of those fallen soldiers should not be forgotten.

Councillor Sir John Scott denoted that he yielded to no man in his respect for Lord Mayor MacCurtain nor were the citizens of Cork forgetful of his sacrifice and services. They had raised a valuable testimonial to his memory and over £12,000 or subscribed to his family. He continued to say that people of all the nominations joined in paying attribute to MacCurtain and a similar tribute was started in connection with Lord Mayor MacSwiney; “The man who fought for the freedom, not only of their own country, but of the world at large, were entitled to respect, and he would vote for giving a site for this monument as a matter of duty, another tribute to the bravery of fellow citizens”.

Cllr J Good argued that he had respect for the men to whom the monument was to be erected and he certainly said when “England did what was right by Ireland” he would be quite prepared to shake hands with England and be “friendly and neighbourly with her in every way”.  He continued to note; “But until that time comes, I will hold my own principles that I have always stuck by, am proud of”.

Cllr Sir Edward Fitzgerald noted that the men who went out to fight in the Great War did so out of the corner of their conscience, and they gave the greatest proof of their consistency when they died for their conviction. He noted; “Their memories deserve to be honoured and I would be a traitor to all belonging to me if I did not honour them to the best of my ability”.

After several more speakers of for and against the memorial a vote was taken of the full Council – the majority of which was in favour. Sixteen members were for with twelve members against the proposal for the monument.

To be continued…

Caption:

1299a. Close-up of the fallen soldier on the First World War memorial on the South Mall, Cork (picture: Kieran McCarthy)