Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 3 January 2019

Tales from 1919: The Future of a Shell Factory

     Welcome to Our City, Our Town for its 20^th year. The official anniversary is in October of this new year. I wish to continue exploring life in Cork during the period 1916-1921. The back issues of this column, which explored the period from 1916 to 1918 are on the index of my website, www.corkheritage.ie and the articles from this column from the last ten years are now online and accessible to read. Before that many are published in book format and the titles of these books can be viewed on the website. In addition, I post extra articles and pictures on my heritage facebook page, Cork Our City, Our Town or check out my twitter page at @cllrkmac.

    The first week of January 1919 coincided with the ongoing controversy of the ceasing of the Cork National Shell Factory and finding a future use for it. The work of closing down the Irish munition factories begun shortly after the cessation of the First World War in late November 1918. The 1 January 1919 coincided with the public call by the Ministry of Munitions, London that the plant machinery of the respective Irish and British munitions factories would be advertised for public sale and buildings leased by local owners such as Corporations to new leasees. The Government authorities wished not to have role in picking the new owners but would pass on interested business interests to the relevant owners.

   Staff at Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Galway were to be dispensed with. The staff of the Dublin factory, which at one time numbered over 1,500 were all been paid off, except for a small number required to catalogue the considerable machinery and stock. The value of the machinery in Parkgate factory exceeded £100,000. Most of it was not suitable for private work – it being impracticable to attempt to adopt shell making machines to other general uses. The machinery was to be sold as scrap.

    Another effect of the closing down of the Parkgate Street Factory was the freeing for industrial use of a large quantity of gas and electric power. When the factory was in full swing the gas consumed was at the rate of over 6,000,000 cubic feet per annum, while electricity was being used at the rate of 250,000 units a quarter. As big extensions were in progress when hostilities ceased, the amount of gas and electric current required would have been considerably more. The freeing of this amount of power was to greatly benefit, industrial firms in Dublin, who because of the coal shortage had their supplies considerably reduced.

    There were about 150 employees in the Cork Shell Factory, which opened in June 1916. By December 1916, the scale of the wages paid to the girl workers was 10s 6d per week of 45 hours as probationers. At the conclusion of the probationary period, they were to take their places in one of the three eight-hour shifts, when their wages according to the shift in which they were engaged, namely – those on the shift from 6am to 2pm received 2s 6d per day, 2s 9d per day if on 2pm to 10pm shift; and 3s 3d per day if on the shift from 10pm to 6am. At its maximum capacity there were 42 machines, chiefly lathes used for the manufacture of 4.5-inch shells. Elsewhere, there were over 100 hands employed in the shell factory at Galway and 600 workers found remunerative employment in the Waterford Cartridge Case Factory.

    Schemes were developed for the utilisation of the four factories for commercial purposes, but no definite pronouncement was expected immediately in regard to their future. An offer was made for the Cork factory by a Dublin trader and it was favourably considered by the Ministry of Munitions. However, it did not meet with local approval and the offer fell through. At the Tolls and Markets Committee of Cork Corporation on 1 January 1919, reference was made of the Hammond Lane Foundry Company Ltd, Dublin looking for a lease of the premises known as the Cork National Shell Factory, 40-41 North Main Street, which extended to Corn Market Street. The matter fell through owing to a remark made at a Council meeting and broad opinion that the building should be leased to a local firm. The proposal was to employ approximately a hundred men.

    By late June 1919 the lease of the factory in its entirety was taken over from the Corporation of Cork in association with the Ministry of Munitions by Mr Richard Woodhead, who acted on behalf of the Ford Company. The purchase comprised the entirety of the valuable electrical plant, machinery, compressor, and accumulators. It was the specific intention of Mr Woodhead to make the factory a depot for repair work for the South of Ireland for Fordson farm tractors and Ford cars. To that end considerable money was expended in the installation of the most up-to-date plant, and the entire building was altered and renovated. The plant aimed to employ 100 people and trade under the name “City Garage”. The firm was to have its own petrol pump inside and outside the premises and have a modern hydraulic tyre press. The business survived 1921 and during the 1920 saw two lessees, first the Universal Motor Company, circa 1924 to 1929 and then the Lee Motor Company, c.1930s onwards.

Happy New Year to all readers of the column.

Captions:

978a. Section of Goad’s insurance plan of North Main Street and Cornmarket Street, 1938 showing Dwyer’s’ Lee Hosiery Company, former site of Cork National Shell Factory (source: Cork City Library).

978b. Former site of Cork National Shell Factory, now the Bodega on Cornmarket Street; the factory site stretched to North Main Street (picture: Kieran McCarthy)

   The column for 2018 highlighted everyday events and local history nuggets from this period of centenary commemorations. The year 1918 brought continuing challenges and opportunities to Cork and Ireland – elements such as rationing, war fatigue, renewed Sinn Féin vigour, the war ending – all offer lenses in telling the story of life in Cork one hundred years ago. The full index is here: http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=4835

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 20 December 2018

Stories from 1918:

A Crushing Electoral Victory by Sinn Féin

      In December 1918, Sinn Féin swept to a crushing victory over the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) or Irish Nationalist Party. which aimed for Irish representation and recognition at any post war peace conference. The IPP policy was to leave negotiation to the British government. However, a new generation of young voters, and the increase of women voters over thirty, meant that vast numbers of new voters of unknown voter affiliation emerged. It changed dramatically the make-up of the Irish electorate. Except for Waterford City, Sinn Féin won every seat outside of Ulster. Sinn Féin MPs refused to sit in the House of Commons and instead formed Dáil Éireann in January 1919. The Irish Parliamentary Party, Irish Unionist Alliance, Labour Unionist Party and an Independent Unionist MP remained in Westminster.

    On 28 December 1918, the results from Great Britain were the first to arrive. From noon onwards, results were regularly and rapidly sent to the offices of Cork, Dublin and Belfast evening papers. The Irish political tide was well estimated during the previous fortnight. That of Great Britain supplied many surprises, though there were few who failed to realise the extent of the costly campaign which Coalitionists waged to secure its decisive governmental majority. The surprises generally voiced were the defeat of the Asquithian Liberals and the failure of the Labour Party while as between Ireland and Great Britain the respective strengths at an early hour were sized up as Sinn Féin and Coalition.

    Just before 7pm the result of the Cork poll was declared, and soon after the results were delivered from the upper steps of the Cork Courthouse to the people in waiting. Mr J J Walsh, who headed the Cork City MP poll, was seen descending the steps making his way to the street. He was instantly rushed and raised shoulder high, while from a number of women large bouquets of flowers were presented to him. Soon after Mr Liam De Róiste came in for as equally enthusiastic reception. This procession then passed through Great George’s Street (now Washington Street) and St Patrick’s Street, and back again to the Grand Parade.

   James J Walsh, of Dublin origin, was a member of Cork Corporation and was for a long time connected with the GAA in the South, being Chairman of the Cork County Board for many years. He fought in the 1916 Rising, was sentenced to death, but afterwards he was commuted to penal servitude, and released under general amnesty. He went through forcible feeding and was on four hunger strikes including that under which Thomas Ashe died. He was also sentenced to two years’ hard labour for speeches delivered in the North.

  Liam De Róiste was a Technical Instructor, was President of the Sinn Féin Executive, and was one of the earliest secretaries of the Cork Industrial Development Association. He was the author of several books and pamphlets on temperance and industrial development.

   For Mid Cork Terence MacSwiney, was elected. He was in charge of the Cork Sinn Féin Volunteers up to Easter Week, and after the surrender in Dublin was deported. He was again arrested in May 1918, and deported, being in December 1918 in Lincoln Gaol. He was a commercial instructor and was an author of several national dramas and poems and. A fluent Irish speaker and scholar, he had been for many years an active Gaelic League proponent.

   For Cork East David Kent was elected. After the Easter Rising he had been sentenced to death, which was commuted to five years’ penal servitude in connection with the resistance offered to police raid on his house at Castlelyons in 1916. David Kent was subsequently arrested in connection with a speech he delivered in North Cork, and the charge of inciting to murder was thrown out by the Grand Jury.

   For Cork South Michael Collins was elected. He fought in the GPO at the Rising and was deported to Frongoch. On his return he was appointed Secretary of the Prisoners’ National Defence Fund.

   For Cork East Diarmuid Lynch was elected. For his participation in the Easter Rising, he was sentenced to death which was afterwards commuted to ten years’ penal servitude. He was release due to the amnesty of 1917. He was arrested again in early 1918 and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for his part in the well-known Sinn Féin Food Supply scheme. At the execution of his sentence, being an American citizen, he was deported to the US. He was a native of the Kinsale district and did prominent work for the Gaelic League including a special mission with Thomas Ashe to America.

   For North Cork Padraic O’Keeffe was elected. He was for some years General Secretary of Sinn Féin up to his arrest in May 1918. He took part in the fighting in the GPO. At the time of his election he was a prisoner in England.

  For Cork North East Thomas Hunter was elected. He had commanded the 4th Battalion of Volunteers at Jacob’s at the Easter Rising. He was sentenced to death, which was afterwards changed to penal servitude. He was released under the general amnesty, but was re-arrested in May last, and was at the time of his election in an English prison.

   For Cork West Sean Hayes was elected. He fought in the GPO at the Easter Rising and was deported to Frongoch. After his release he returned to Cork and was appointed editor of the Southern Star when that paper was taken over by Sinn Féin.

Happy Christmas to all readers of the column

Missed a column this year, check out the indices at Kieran’s heritage website, www.corkheritage.ie

Kieran’s new book, Cork in Fifty Buildings (2018, Amberley Publishing) is now available in Cork bookshops.

Kieran is also showcasing some of the older column series on the River Lee on his heritage facebook page at the moment, Cork Our City, Our Town.

Captions:

977a. Liam De Róiste, c.1918 (source: Cork City Library)

977b. Terence McSwiney and Muriel 1919 (source: Cork City Library)

977c. Michael Collins, 1919 (source: Cork City Library)

50th Anniversary, Cork Male Voice Choir Concert,

9 December 2018

Concert Hall, Cork City Hall

Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Kieran McCarthy

Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen,

How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight
To the home of my childhood away,
To the days when each patriot’s vision seem’d bright
Ere I dreamed that those joys should decay.
When my heart was as light as the wild winds that blow
Down the Mardyke through each elm tree,
Where I sported and play’d ‘neath each green leafy shade
On the banks of my own lovely Lee.

Being sent in as the warm-up act to tonight’s special concert presents its challenges to go before the talented performers, we will hear this evening.

What may come across as a random act of breaking into song by one deputising for the Lord Mayor, can be attributed to my long-held wish to want to sing on this stage and indeed test the acoustics of this great hall.

This hall specifically opened 82 years to host concerts of light opera and musical theatre like those we are about to hear this evening. And if you don’t believe me, the West End- London Strand electrical boxes still ablazen the side wings.

What this concert celebrates here this evening is another act of randomness and another long-held wish but this time, from 50 years ago, through the idea of a small group of individuals initially who wanted to come together to sing and create a new community and cultural outlet in the city.

1968 Cork coincided with an industrial boom in Cork – Fords and Dunlops had just had their factories expanded and further mechanised. The Harbour area was booming with industrial elements such as Verolme and Whitegate all making their mark.

In the same year, Cork Corporation planned to expand its city boundaries to take in new housing estates, social and private, which had emerged in the previous 20-30 years. From Churchfield to Blackrock, new houses etched the city’s skyline. The first City Car parks were planned as the number of cars on the streets soared.

The Ballrooms of Romance such as the Arcadia shook with the sounds of new sounds, new music and the beat of new music. People swirled into the city’s suite of cinemas; they swirled in the city of the brand-new Opera House. It was a baby just then three years old, but you could still smell the new paint and feel the texture of the new seats.

In the midst of all of that was the birth of a male voice choir, community based, who captured the energy of an industrially charged City.

However, as Cork over the past fifty years has seen boom and bust – one of the strong constant denominators to witnessing such change and getting on with their raison d’être – has been the Cork Male Voice Choir.

Moments of Life:

I have no doubt there were moments in the early days when the founder members held firm on why they established the choir. Paddy Murray one of the original particpants is here this evening and is still singing with the choir. Tonight, we remember him and the founders for their tenacity and vision.

There were moments where the choir suffered the blows of members who left for various reasons or who passed away. Tonight, we remember past members and rejoice in the talents of the present members.

There have been moments in the multitudes of rehearsals where complex musical notes confounded even the sharpest of members. We remember those who stayed quiet and let the choir master and accompanists do their work.

There have been moments when a new Choir master arrived and where members like a student were anxious to see what empathy and teaching skill would come forth. We remember all the past choir masters for their dedication and vision.

There have been moments when family members of Choir members critiqued the small flecks of dirt on a suit or shirt to be worn – probably asking the said family member to “take that shirt off”, probably threw it in the wash and like out of nowhere presented a brand-new shirt. Tonight, we remember the support of family members not just from a clothes perspective, but who smiled and said in their own way, “no problem, it was great to see you on the stage. I am very proud of you”.

There have been moments where members brought their life concerns in their head to rehearsal and through song worked out a resolution. We remember those who sang up and went with the flow of the music.

There have been moments in a break of a rehearsal – when a fellow member asked “is there anything wrong” to another member and a worry was shared -and in that quiet moment or a rehearsal room – the power of solidarity and friendship prevailed to soften the blows of life. We remember those guardians of empathy and the listening ear.

There have been moments where choir members did not want concerts to end and the words of “Beautiful City”, charming and pretty – echoed into their heart and soul long after they left the stage. We remember those melodies which brought the audience along on a journey of discovery of pride and to that “haven of rest”.

There have been moments when members knew that at a moment in time – they were the guardians of some of the city’s favourite songs, and it they don’t sing and champion them – who would? We remember that as the choir champions the city’s musical culture; the city’s DNA – an intangible quality of all things Cork – is also embedded into the members.

Over the past fifty years, there have been many moments.

In truth, the members are all true Corkonians, guardians of what it means to be from Cork – Ireland’s southern capital, where its climate, geography, culture and history meets the Atlantic – where being a true Corkonian is perhaps the ultimate accolade.

So tonight, we celebrate fifty years, we reflect on the fifty years of its history and everyone associated with in the past, present and going forward.  We thank the Cork Male Voice Choir for the journey they have taken the city on, and we think about the journey going forward.

Funds from this evening go to the Cope Foundation, who have also been on its own journey in the last fifty years, and who also deserve a whole speech themselves in another time and space.

I wish to thank the Sontarinas, Cope Foundation and also Cork’s first lady of song, Cara O’Sullivan, all of whom will also perform this evening.

Break a leg to all,

Go raibh maith agaibh.

Ends.