News and Events

Training for Cork City Heritage Groups 

Cork City Council Heritage Officer is delighted to announce a training day aimed at Heritage groups and individuals active in the Cork City area. “Training for Cork City Heritage Groups” will take place on the 26th of June in the Millennium Hall. Funded by the Heritage Council and Cork City Council this is an action of the Cork City Heritage and Biodiversity Plan. 

Virginia Teehan, CEO Heritage Council stated, “The Heritage Council is delighted to support this worthwhile training which will help build capacity and create communication networks within the heritage organisations in Cork city. It is hoped that in the long term this project will engender the creation of joint projects, and sharing of resources amongst these Heritage groups”

This day-long workshop will provide training in aspects of heritage such as archiving, community engagement, grants, insurance, P.R. & social media. Featuring presentations from practitioners in these areas with panel discussions and Q & A sessions, this event will also feature peer to peer mentoring between heritage groups on various issues such as finding a space, getting published, engaging with the community and organising an event. 

Niamh Twomey, Heritage Officer stated “This is a great opportunity for Heritage groups to meet and discuss common challenges and opportunities, and hopefully empower these groups to continue the vital work they do for heritage in the community”

Please note that numbers are limited and restricted to 2 maximum per organisation and priority will be given to those who are based in Cork City.

This event is free of charge, and includes lunch but booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cork-city-council-heritage-group-workshop-day-tickets-914632238647

For further information and for booking queries please email: heritage@corkcity.ie or telephone (021) - 4924757      

Walking through history with a tour of St Joseph’s Cemetery.

A summer series of walking tours of St. Joseph’s Cemetery will take place on the first Wednesday of each month from May – September 2024 at 7.00 pm. These tours, given by expert local historians Finbarr Barry and Liam O' hUigin, and are full of fascinating facts and spellbinding stories.

Located on Tory Top Road on the Southside of the City, St Joseph’s Cemetery is one of the jewels in the crown of our Cork city. For nearly 200 years, located behind its beautiful high stone wall, lies the final peaceful resting place of approximately 220,000 people including Mayors/Lord Mayors, Businesspeople, Parliamentarians, Writers, Poets, Sportspeople, Teachers, Famine Victims, the Poor, and thousands of others.

Join Liam and Finbarr to hear about St Joseph’s Cemetery rich history from being the old Botanic Gardens and the first public cemetery of Cork opened by Fr Mathew to the story of the famous people at rest here including, Edward Mulhare actor, Kathy Barry Ale House Owner, Sir James Mathew High Court Judge, Michael Deering GAA President, Fr Mathew and the person who gave the name to Paddy’s whiskey.

Why Not Join Us!

1st Wednesday of every month at 7.00 pm May, June, July, August & September 2024 (Weather Permitting)

• Tours are free of charge.
• Meet at cemetery gate.
• Dress for the weather!

For further information email stjosephswalkingtours@gmail.com 

https://publications.corkcity.ie/view/938598995/ 

Heritage Grant Schemes 

Cork City Council acknowledges and supports the tremendous work that is carried out by local heritage groups and organisations across the city to protect, enhance and promote the heritage and biodiversity of Cork City. To that end there are three grants available for heritage and biodiversity in the city. 

The Heritage Week Event Grant Scheme is aimed at providing funding in the form of a small grant for local, community-based not for profit Heritage and Biodiversity groups and individuals to organise a Heritage Week event in Cork City. Funding of between €200 and €500 is available per grant. Examples of eligible activities include holding public talks, exhibitions, walking tours etc which promote Heritage and Biodiversity in Cork city. The overarching theme for National Heritage Week 2024 invites us to explore the ways we are connected to each other through physical or cultural connections.  To find out more and to register your event please visit https://www.heritageweek.ie/ 

 The Local Heritage and Biodiversity Community Grant Scheme is aimed at providing core funding in the form of small grants for local, community-based heritage groups and individuals who are involved in ongoing work that benefits the heritage and biodiversity of Cork City.  Funding of between €200 and €1,000 is available per grant. Previous projects funded include a winter series of archaeological lectures, training on natural heritage, exhibitions on local history, podcasts on the bridges of Cork and events such as the Coal Quay Festival and the Mother Jones Festival.

The Local Heritage and Biodiversity Publication Grant Scheme is aimed at supporting the publication and printing of high-quality publications on local heritage topics, which raise awareness and appreciation of local heritage and biodiversity.  Funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 is available per publication grant. A total of up to €12,000 will be available for this grant scheme.  13 books have been supported through this grant since 2015 and include publications on topics such as St Josephs Cemetery, The contribution of Cork women during the revolutionary years, the history of the LGBT community in Cork and the history of the Fire Service in Cork to name a few.

These grant schemes are an action from the Cork City Heritage Plan 2021-2026.

Gardening For Biodiversity Course

A very successful “Gardening for Biodiversity” course was held on the 19th of February in Ballyphehane Community Centre. Organised by Cork City Council Heritage Officer, Scientific Officer and Cork City Horticulturist and run by Aoife Munn, the training day was very well received with excellent feedback from all the participants.

Course coordinator Aoife Munn stated “The success of the project is due to its simplicity and interactive design.  Participants learn why they should protect the environment, how to protect it and who to turn to for support in doing so.  The course is tailored to the local community which allows attendees to network with other groups in the area to get more support and they enjoy the course”. 

This one-day course covered topics such as avoiding chemicals, vegetable growing, pollinators, rewilding, pond building and composting.

Speaking after the event the Heritage Officer, Niamh Twomey said, “this is a very practical training course showing people simple and cost effect ways for all of us to manage our green spaces, big and small, in an environmental and sustainable way”.

Mangan's Clock

Mangan's Clock has been a landmark on Saint Patrick's Street since the 1850s. Located near Merchants Quay it is a much-loved piece of heritage street furniture in Cork city.

Mangan Jewellers was a family business of clock makers and jewellers in Cork City from 1817 to the late 1980s and were responsible for the installation of Mangan's Clock as well as the iconic clock on St Anne’s Shandon.  A Cast-iron clock, comprising of square-profile base, tapered shaft having square-profile capital, with two faces having decorative surrounds and surmounted by finial.

This clock has witnessed the ebb and flow of Cork city’s history from narrowly escaping destruction during the burning of Cork to the construction of Merchant’s Quay shopping centre in the 1980s to the refurbishment of the public realm on St Patrick Street in more recent times. On a more romantic note, it is said that many a happy marriage started with a couple meeting for their “first date” under the watchful eye of Mangan’s clock!

Cork City Council recognise the importance of Mangans Clock from both a social and technical heritage point of view and have commissioned Stokes Clock and Watches to carry out repair works to restore the clock to working order by refurbishing the clock hands, repairing and replacing damaged parts and cleaning and painting the supporting pillar. At a cost in the region of €7,500 the work will start at the end of January and is estimated to take about 3 months, when this special piece of street furniture will be back in full working order and continue its role as a silent witness to the life of Cork city.