Cork: A Potted History

Place matters in Cork. From its marshy foundations at the lowest crossing point of the River Lee, the city spread across its steep suburban hillsides. Journeying from the south of the city to its north prospects reveals a rich range of historic spaces. The urban landscape is filled with stories about its past. Some sites one would pass and stop and contemplate whilst many others one would not give a second look. But a second and even a third look reveals some very historical nuggets about Cork’s development. Cork: A Potted History takes the viewer on a walking trail of fifty sites and takes a line from the city’s famous lake known just as The Lough across the former medieval core and ends in the historic north suburbs of Blackpool. Starting at The Lough – a Cork gem – which once hosted everything from duels to ice-skating and its own tree nursery, the trail then rambles to hidden moats, ancient hospital sites, lost meeting houses, legacies of medieval remnants, across ancient streetscapes to exploring forgotten industrial urban spaces. Potted History reveals the city’s lesser-known heritage and hidden urban features.

For over twenty years, Kieran has actively promoted Cork’s heritage with its various communities and people. He has led and continues to lead successful heritage initiatives through his community talks, City and County school heritage programmes, walking tours, newspaper articles, books and his work through his heritage consultancy business. For the past 16 years, Kieran has written a local heritage column in the Cork Independent on the history, geography and its intersection of modern day life in communities in Cork City and County. He is the author of fourteen books local history books. In June 2009 and May 2014, Kieran was elected as a local government councillor (Independent) to Cork City Council. More on Kieran’s work can be seen at www.corkheritage.ie and www.kieranmccarthy.ie