What has Cork witnessed?
Calling all event heritage experts, you’re help is needed.
Submissions for an upcoming heritage publication are being sought which will take the reader on a journey through Cork county’s extreme event heritage and will feature 30 sites from around the county where this heritage can be investigated and remembered.
Speaking about the upcoming publication, Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, said: “From frozen rivers to deadly storms and from the Black Death to An Gorta Mór in the mid-19th century, this publication will remind us all of what the county of Cork has witnessed over the centuries, and what we in turn have learned. Heritage in this county is of the enduring kind but is also a two-way street. It requires us being kind to our heritage and not taking it for granted, as it can teach us what we need to know, in order to move forward with greater knowledge.”
She added: “Past publications in the Heritage of County Cork Series have benefited hugely from public submissions including photos, stories, and lists of recommended sites that should be featured. For the upcoming publication on the county’s Resilient Heritage, Cork County Council welcomes any submissions and suggestions, and I encourage local groups and individuals to get involved.”
Climate change is arguably one of the greatest threats posed to heritage and our way of life and this publication will explore the history and impact of extreme weather events and natural disasters on county Cork. It will also show how societies recovered and adapted and how memories of these events are part of our cultural heritage today.
Written accounts and records give us information on the last few centuries, from coverage in press to eyewitness accounts. These include not only weather events but also occurrences mostly brought about by humans such as the spreading of disease, damage to ecosystems, and disasters attributable to industries and technologies.
The aim of the publication is to revisit a selection of threats to the county’s heritage by extreme events and what we can learn from these challenges. This will span a period from the earliest records, right up to the recent past (late 20th century).
This publication is the 13th instalment in the Heritage of County Cork publication series, supported by the Heritage Council. A key element of each publication is the input from local groups and heritage enthusiasts. Local heritage societies, community groups and individuals are invited to get involved in the project by submitting any specific information, stories, and photos of interest to the Heritage Unit of Cork County Council, by Monday 15 September. The publication will seek to include as many references and submissions as possible.