Check out the new online oral history newsletter
ORAL history is a very important part of our collective heritage and as part of the 1916 centenary year a number of oral history collections are being put together, particularly here in County Cork.
One of the main proponents of oral heritage in Cork is the Cork Folklore Project group, now in its 20th year, having been established in 1996 as a non-profit research and public oral history archive with material collected by, from and for the community of Cork City, including Cork County in recent years.
In 20 years, the CFP has recorded the memories, testimony and folklore of 573 people, amounting to over 700 hours of recorded material. The group has now brought out its first newsletter online, which is available to view by visiting www.ucc.ie/en/cfp.
More good news on the oral history front, is that this coming October 7th and 8th, the National Oral History Network of Ireland two day annual conference, will take place in U.C.C. Cork. The event will feature presentations, workshops and projects and is free for those registering by 27th September by visiting www.oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/2016-conference/.
PRIMARY SCHOOL GARDENS
Now in its fourth year, Muintir na Tíre, with the support of Cork County Council’s Environment and Heritage Sections, recently held the 2016 Awards Ceremony for the County Cork Primary School Garden Competition. Banteer National School won best overall school garden, a whole school effort and one that also saw great support from the local parents and the Banteer Tidy Towns Committee.
“Deputy County Mayor Mr. Kevin Conway presented the overall award and he praised all 37 schools who took part this year.
Sean Holland, Chairman of the organising team, said the standard was getting better each year making it very difficult for the judges”. The competition is certainly going from strength to strength and the standard is getting better and better. The competition in 2016, to reflect the centenary, had a special 1916 Theme, which saw two schools share top spot in that category; School of the Divine Child and Scoil an tAthair Maitiú.
HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
From natural history to folklore and oral history, Cork is very proud of its heritage and one group that has always been to the fore in conveying this is the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, now containing over 220 members.
The Society is celebrating its 125th birthday this year, having been founded in 1891. Since 1892 it has published an annual journal devoted to the history and archaeology of the county. In recent years it has held a day-long conference every second summer, including in 2014 a successful and well-attended one that marked the centenary of the death of Robert Day (1836-1914), who was a prominent Cork businessman and antiquarian in his time.
This year’s conference will take place on Saturday 2 July from 10am to 4pm in St Peter’s, North Main St (the former Vision Centre) on the theme ‘Cork in 1916 - a Revolutionary Society?’ Speakers will address a variety of aspects of Cork cultural, social and political life, including the Volunteers, the Press, the Gaelic League, women political activists, protestant support for the war effort and the developing ideologies of Terence MacSwiney and Daniel Corkery”. For more information visit www.corkhist.ie.
EASTER RISING AT MILLSTREET
Also on Saturday 2nd July, there will be a guided tour of the Easter Rising at Millstreet Country Park. The existing Easter Rising Trail at Millstreet Country Park is a wonderful 500m route detailing the key characters and background story of the Rising. The guided tour will give a great introduction to locals and visitors alike on all things 1916 and the walks commence at 12.30pm and again at 2.30pm. See http://www.millstreetcountrypark.com for more information.
Later on the evening of Saturday July 2nd, there will be a wonderful event in Bantry House entitled ‘Lament for the Poets’, a setting of three poems about the Easter 1916 Rising, performed by West Cork Music.
CORK’S STORY
A few days later on Tuesday July 5th in the Council Chamber in the County Hall, there will be a talk entitled ‘What’s The Story - The Irish Story and the Human Condition’. The talk, which commences at 1:15pm, will be given by Martin Millerick, and examines the Cork story within the wider Irish and human stories. Bearing in mind the relevance and dilemmas connected with 1916, the presentation looks at the sources of hope and inspiration that may continue to influence the unfolding Cork story. All welcome.
On Friday 8th July, a plaque to Thomas Hunter, Vice- Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, will be unveiled at 7:30pm in Castletownroche. A historical talk will follow, together with music and refreshments.
The month of July is already shaping up to be a great month from a heritage perspective with numerous events on offer including historic walks in Doneraile Park and the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival, not to mention a large 1916 commemorative weekend in Conna and a large Commemoration of 1916 in Cill na Martra, which will involve a Gaelic Football Blitz featuring the Irish Army, An Gardaí Síochána, P.S.N.I., German Army and the NYPD/American Army.