A memorable weekend on the heritage front
The Creative Ireland Conference 2018 took place in Baile Mhúirne on Friday and Saturday, 9th and 10th November and it proved to be a most special two days.
Opening with an address, as Gaeilge, by Cllr. Gobnait Moynihan, deputising on behalf of the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Patrick Gerard Murphy, the tone was set for the captivating talks and discussions that followed over the two days, beginning with a talk by Sarah Keaveney of the National Creative Ireland Programme Team.
On the Friday morning, members of Cork County Council’s Culture Team (Tourism, Arts, Irish, Heritage and Library) gave an overview of the range of different cultural initiatives underway within the County, touching on a range of different funding streams for a range of different projects.
The afternoon saw wonderful presentations by An Coimisinéir Teanga Rónán Ó Domhnaill; Máirtín Ó Méaloid (Oileán Chléire), Rachel Ní Riada (Údaras na Gaeltachta), Bríd Cranitch (Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne) and Peadar Ó Riada, followed by a most wonderful performance by local school children involved in the Aisling Geal Programme. A number of those who attended the conference also went to the Ionad Cultúrtha in the evening to see a wonderful performance by the Bow Brothers.
The Saturday saw four fantastic presentations in the morning by Siobhán Ó Dhúinnín (Rinceoir); Rachel Holstead (Ealaín na Gaeltachta); Tara Kennedy (Free Market) and Dr. Rosarie Crowley (HSE). Topics covered included the importance of open space for cultural interaction and the importance of cultural interaction for our well-being, as well as dance and art in the Gaeltacht areas of the County.
The afternoon featured a wonderful tour of St. Gobnait’s early monastic settlement by County Archaeologist Mary Sleeman, followed by a most memorable tour of the Nine White Deer Brewery in Baile Mhúirne, which takes its name from the folklore surrounding St. Gobnait herself.
At the conference the Cork County Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022 was also launched for the County. The Strategy was produced by Cork County Council’s Culture Team following an extensive public consultation period and a number of workshops throughout the Municipal Districts of the County. This extensive public involvement has resulted in a wonderful document tailored to meet with the cultural aims of the County over the next 5 years.
Six key priorities were identified, based on strong values and a positive vision, containing a number of specifically tailored actions. The values are many, strongly based on community values including participation and inclusivity as well as recognising the full diversity of culture as well as the need to truly recognise who we are as an Irish people.
The strategy strongly values volunteers who are the backbone of Ireland and also values collaboration, education, quality of life, health, including mental health and overall well-being both at the individual and community level.
The strategy sets out a number of mechanisms for raising awareness of culture and helping local groups in getting culturally beneficial community projects off the ground, from pop-up shops and pop-up gaeltachtaí to community based culture led plans, grant schemes and conferences.
The six key priorities contained within the strategy, informed by the extensive community engagement that took place, are ‘Enhancing and Investing in our Local Cultural and Creative Infrastructure’; ‘Liberating Creativity’, ‘Knowing Ourselves’, ‘Supporting and Promoting Community Engagement with Culture’, Showcasing County Cork’, and ‘Our Native Voice’.
Groups are encouraged to take note of the strategy with regard to their many cultural initiatives being undertaken at the local community level. Copies of the strategy are available on the internet (https://www.corkcoco.ie/arts-heritage/ creative-ireland) and on Floor 3 of the County Hall. A DVD documentary of the conference is also being put together with thanks to Frameworks Films and this will be posted and made available online once completed.
The Creative County Cork Conference aside, last weekend, of course, was one to live long in the minds of people from a commemorative perspective as the Armistice Centenary was commemorated on Sunday 11th November. Events took place throughout the County of Cork including Buttevant and Mitchelstown in North Cork to commemorate the fallen of World War One; a war that saw over 4,500 people die from the County of Cork. With the ending of one war, another was about to begin – the Anglo-Irish War of Independence – and the coming years will see many commemorative events in this regard.
With regard to upcoming events there is one ahead certainly to take note of - Friday 23rd November will see a night of Memories and Stories commencing at 19:00 in the Cork Folklore Project Outreach Hub in the North Cathedral Visitor Centre, Cork City. It should be an enthralling night and all welcome.