I organised a successful afternoon of talks on Cork’s rich history last Saturday. It was an initiative that followed on from two other talks given by me last week as part of the Lifelong Learning Festival – a talk on St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Turners Cross Community Centre and a talk in Scoil Aiseiri Chriost BNS.

It is widely known that growing up in Cork is a unique experience to all involved. Cork is an ancient city with a rich history and provides rich memories for all its citizens. The motto of the Lifelong Learning Festival is to investigate, participate and celebrate. Building on those traits, the Lifetime Lab on Lee Road and I were proud to present an afternoon of talks, chat and music bringing a cross section of Cork’s finest historians and ‘caretakers’ of Cork’s past to speak about the city’s history and memories as only they know how. I deem heritage a very important tool in the building of a sense of place and pride in our communities.

Speakers included: Ronnie Herlihy (topic: Jerome Collins), Gerry White (topic: Cork’s Military Memories), Tom Foley, (topic: Blackpool Memories), Richard T. Cooke, (topic: Musical memories), Cliona O’Carroll and Mary O’Driscoll from the Northside Folklore Project, Nora O’Donovan (topic: West Cork memories) and Tim O’Brien (topic: Trams of Cork).