Lord Mayor makes lives broadcast to Cork schools

23rd October 2020

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh made a live broadcast to the city’s 119 primary and post primary schools this morning as part of a ‘re-imagined Lord Mayor’s school visit’.

His broadcast comes just two days before the 100 year commemoration of the death by hunger strike of then Lord Mayor, Terence MacSwiney in Brixton Prison and the death - the same day - in Cork Gaol of a second Cork hunger striker, Joe Murphy. Just eight days earlier, a third hunger striker, Michael Fitzgerald had also died on hunger strike in Cork Gaol. The tricolour has flown at half mast at City Hall this week to mark the anniversary of the three men's deaths.

In his speech, the Lord Mayor reminded children that this is a special year of commemoration in the City and how our rich history demonstrates how ‘Cork City has always been resilient”.

“We will get through this [ pandemic] as we’ve got through worse. One hundred years ago, the people of the city were also living through tumultuous times…. much of the violence, killing and upheaval of the War of Independence was centred in Cork City…. Yet, the City rose from the ashes…. There is a resilience in Cork people that makes me proud. Just look at how shops and business in the city mopped up, cleaned up, dusted themselves down and got back trading within hours of this week’s serious flooding, “he said. The Lord Mayor's broadcast will be on Cork City Council social media channels from 3pm on Friday afternoon.

 A new webpage www.corkcitycommemorations.ie will also be launched on Sunday. This section of the www.corkcity.ie site contains details of the City’s re-imagined commemorations programme and a reservoir of interviews with the families of and experts on some of the leading figures in Cork 1920.

 Separately, a new documentary and play on hunger striker, Joe Murphy will go live on Cork City Council’s You Tube channel at 8pm this Sunday evening. This community project is supported by Cork City Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The documentary/play package sheds light on Murphy, a man from Ballyphehane, who sacrificed his life on a hunger strike for fair trials.

 Directed by Joe Murphy’s grandniece Shirley Kelleher, the documentary Joe Murphy, The Boy From Pouladuff, tells the courageous story of the young man, his family and their relentless efforts to honour his legacy.

 My Unsung Hero is a play about the life of Joe Murphy and is written and produced by Maurice Dineen, co-written by Elizabeth Scanlon and directed by Catherine Mahon Buckley.The play is set around the kitchen table, where Joe Murphy’s mother, Nora Murphy recounts the adventures and challenges she and her son faced throughout the revolution.