THE BURNING OF CORK
Lecture by
Michael Lenihan
The Parish Centre, Clonakilty
Thursday Jan 23rd 2020 at 8pm
'A tale of arson, loot and murder' was how one source described the events in Cork city on the night of 11-12 December 1920. In a scene of almost unprecedented destruction, members of the British forces bent on revenge for the ambushes at Kilmichael and Dillon's Cross set fire to both the commercial and the civic heart of the city. One side of Patrick Street and the area surrounding it were razed to the ground, while City Hall and the neighbouring Carnegie Library were gutted as Auxiliaries and Black and Tans shot at Cork's firemen and cut their hoses in an effort to ensure maximum damage. Then, to add insult to injury, as the smoke cleared the British government tried to blame Cork's own citizens for the devastation.
Author of Cork Burning (2018), Michael Lenihan uses eyewitness accounts, contemporary sources and exceptional images from the period, to tell the story of the events before, during and after that infamous night. Michael is a native of Cork who lives and works in the city. An avid collector of Cork memorabilia, he owns a large library of Cork books, photographs, postcards and maps which has taken over forty years to amass. His previous books, Hidden Cork (2009) and Pure Cork (2011), were local bestsellers.
New Mayor of Clonakilty
PHOTO: Newly installed Mayor of Clonakilty, Michael O’ Neill, Jnr., at last Thursday evenings public ceremony, with his fellow Mayors in front for the next five years. From left: Chris Hinchy, (2023-'24); Anthony McDermott, (2021-'22); current Deputy Mayor Pádraig O' Reilly, (2020-’21) and Paddy McCarthy, (2022-'23). At back, the four now retired Mayors who had served along with Anthony McDermott over the last five years, from left: Colette Twomey; Gretta O’ Donovan; John M. Loughnan and Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin. (Photo: Anna Groniecka Photography)
Michael O’ Neill, Jnr., was installed as the new "Mayor of Clonakilty" at a pleasant public ceremony at Asna Square last Thursday 6th June. In glorious sunshine, and with a large crowd assembled, the outgoing Mayor, Gretta O' Donovan, led her four colleagues - Deputy Mayor Colette Twomey, Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, Anthony McDermott and John Loughnan from O' Donovan's Hotel and arrived to great applause at Asna Square.
A few minutes later, the Mayor asked people to welcome the members of the newly-elected Mayoral Council for the coming five years. They too arrived from O' Donovan's Hotel, and were led by the incoming Mayor Michael O' Neill and his colleagues in order of election - Deputy Mayor Pádraig O' Reilly, Paddy McCarthy and Chris Hinchy. There was great applause too for them and they shook hands with the outgoing Mayors and stood beside them under the chestnut tree.