Macroom Workhouse and the famine

MACROOM Union Workhouse - Before, During & After the Great Famine - is the subject of a talk coming up in Ballincollig early next week.

The Great Irish Famine 1846-1852 was the seminal event in modern Irish History. Ireland’s population fell from more than 8 million in 1841 to about 4.3 million in 1911.

war,” he said.

Details of the two exhibitions were unveiled at St Peter’s Cork at the weekend when a new exhibition on the burning of Cork by British forces in December 1920 was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr John Sheehan.

Officially opening the exhibition, Cllr Sheehan paid tribute to Christine Moloney, CEO of LW Management and her team at St Peter’s Cork for their creative approach in compiling the exhibition.

“I had the opportunity to preview Cork 1920 – The Burning of

The national disaster and its consequences were mirrored locally in Muskerry and this talk examines the part played by Macroom Union Workhouse.

The talk which will be given by Con Kelleher is being organised by Muskerry Local History Society in Ballincollig Rugby Club on Monday, 10 February at 8pm.

a City with the St. Peter’s team and ... their creative approach gives a poignant insight into 1920”.

Cllr Sheehan said that through the use of archival material, historic photographs and witness statement, St Peter’s Cork had created an exhibition that captured the vision and energy of the men and women of 100 years ago.

Historian, Gerry White said the exhibition, “Cork 1920 - The Burning of a City”, which runs for the year at St Peter’s Cork on the North Main Street, would introduce many Corkonians to

the reality of life for its citizen 100 years ago.

“In 1920, the people of Cork were participating in the birth of a new nation, set against the backdrop of the collapse of empires that occurred at the end of World War I,” said Mr White who has written about the burning of Cork.

“The exhibition and events being held over the coming year, such as this one here in St Peter’s, will serve as a reminder of that important chapter in our history and of the huge debt of gratitude we owe those who came before us.”