Kieran’s Publications

Kieran McCarthy’s newspaper columns & books on Cork History:

 

 

Cork Independent series, September 1999-ongoing:

Beginning in September 1999, my series, Our City, Our Town, has been ongoing for  over 650 articles. For me, it has been such an enjoyable experience. The first number of years focussed on the city and its development through the centuries. Over the ensuing  years, the series has been concerned with the heritage of the River Lee Valley . Starting in Gougane Barra, the river Lee has led me into the lives of residents of the valley exploring their rich heritage. In the present day, Technical Education in the focus of the column, visit http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=20 for indices of the column.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cork City Through Time (Co-written, 2012) 

A postcard book contrasting then and now; As a port town, Cork was and still is strongly connected to the outside world – the international and small city ambitious in its ventures linking to a world of adventure and exploration. The city’s hills and troughs have created different perches for some of the city’s elaborate structures to stand on and for photographers to capture the city’s urban space. The buildings and streets shown in the pictures give one access to the imagination and efforts of the people. The photographs within this book are key to understanding the human experience, sense of place and pride in the city, one hundred years ago. Views of streets, public spaces, churches, the docks, and an international exhibition all show the energy and drive of a city, the legacies of which still linger on the southern capital of Ireland.

 Launch pictures: http://kieranmccarthy.ie/wordpress/?paged=2

Buy it from amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cork-City-Through-Kieran-McCarthy/dp/1445611422

 

 

Munster Agricultural Society: The History of the Cork Showgrounds (2011):

 

With roots in the early nineteenth century, the Munster Agricultural Society has had a long history, being founded in 1806 under the name County of Cork Farming Society, changing to County of Cork Agricultural Society sometime in the 1830s and evolving in 1908 to its current name. The Society has evolved as the needs of its members changed over time to incorporate what they saw as relevant to the contemporary and future of agriculture in Ireland. Each successful season is immortalised in the society’s minute books, on the society’s perpetual tournament trophies and on the numerous photos that adorn the scrapbooks held in the society’s archive collection. The Munster Agricultural Society has been a pioneer in attaining improvements in Irish agriculture and in agricultural education. This book is its story told through a rich historical and evocative pictorial record set against the backdrop of the historic Cork Showgrounds. This book was published by the Munster Agricultural Society as part of a consultancy project. It can be purchased from the Society. 

 

 

 

Royal Cork Institution, Pioneer of Education (2011)

In this volume I shed light on an important aspect of the educational heritage of the city which, in the nineteenth century, laid important foundation stones for our twenty-first century education. Although little remembered or spoken of in current day Cork, the Royal Cork Institution was remarkable in its time and the city owes a great debt to those who founded, developed and maintained that institution. Cork Institute of Technology, particularly it’s Science Faculty and its constituent schools of the Crawford College of Art and Design and the Cork School of Music can trace their origins back to the influences of the Royal Cork Institution. This establishment also played a critical role in the movement that led to the foundation of Queens College Cork, later re-named as University College Cork. This book was published by Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) Press as part of a consultancy project. It can be purchased from CIT Press. 

 Launch nights pictures: http://kieranmccarthy.ie/wordpress/?p=6223

 Information: http://kieranmccarthy.ie/wordpress/?p=6365

Inheritance, Heritage and Memory in the Lee Valley (2010) 

 

This book is based on the series of articles that featured in the Cork Independent newspaper from October 2007 to June 2009. It documents my explorations in the parishes of Aghabullogue, Inniscarra and Ovens on the northern valleyside on Inniscarra Reservoir, part of the course of the River Lee. It encompasses much fieldwork and oral history testimonies. The book is published by Nonsuch Ireland.

About the book: http://kieranmccarthy.ie/wordpress/?p=2415

 sales: http://www.thehistorypress.ie/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=493

Launch night pictures: http://kieranmccarthy.ie/wordpress/?p=3278

 

 

Generations: Memories of the Lee Hydroelectric Scheme (co-edited, 2008).

A book co-written with Seamus O’Donoughue, the work was published by the ESB to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Inniscarra Dam being commissioned. The work contains many pictures of the  Lee Scheme being constructed and pictures of the ‘before and after’ of  the affected landscape. It also profiles the positives and negatives of such an extensive venture for its day;   http://www.lilliputpress.ie/listbook.html?id=81855908

 

 

 

 

In the Steps of St Finbarre, Voices and Memories of the Lee Valley (2006) 

 A book, which grew out my column in the Cork Independent, it focusses on the journey of the Lee and the key places of settlement, monuments and community leaders all the way along the valley. It contains lots of pictures and alot of original material previously not drawn together (Sold out from the publisher, still available from amazon). 

 

 

 

Voices of Cork: The Knitting Map Speaks (2005)

This book was my first venture into oral histories.  I spent the summer of 2005 getting to know an amazing bunch of women who worked on the Cork 2005 Knitting Map. The book contains interviews with seventy women and focusses on life in general giving advice on survival and self empowerment. it was a pleasure to meet such great people. The book was published by Nonsuch Ireland (sold out).

 

 

A Dream Unfolding, Portrait of St Patrick’s Hospital (2004)

A book published by the Sisters of Charity in St. Patrick’s Hospital, it charts the development of the hospital from 1869 onwards. this was an eye opening experience to be able to write this work and be given access to the hospital to see the great work of the sisters and staff (available from Marymount Hospice, Bishopstown, Cork). 

 

 

Discover Cork (2003)

Discover Cork was published by the O’Brien Press in Dublin as part of their National town guide series. A great ABC book to how the city developed with maps and pictures. Part 1 focuses on the key stages of the city’s growth from early times. Part 2 focuses several of the city’s views, river locations, buildings and artwork. Still available from Amazon. Sold out from the O’Brien Press. 

 

 

 

 

Cork: A Pictorial Journey (co-edited 2001)

A book co-written and co-published with Michael Lenihan. Michael collects Cork books, photographs and postcards. We worked together to bring out a book which showed Cork City, one hundred years ago through postcards. The book showcases some of Cork’s key throughfares and architecture. The streets and shops have changed but the character and essence of the streets have survived (sold out). 

 

 

 

 

Pathways Through Time, Historical Walking Trails of Cork City (2001)

Self published, ’Pathways’ grew out of  my walking tours of the city and my early columns in Inside Cork. A book with two walking trails of Cork City, it leads the reader from St. Finbarre’s Cathedral through Shandon to St. Patrick’s Street. The book uses maps and buildings to profile the development of Cork City through the ages (still available from Kieran, limited edition).