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“An A to Z of Cork” by Youghal native Tom FitzGerald
3 comments | 
“An A to Z of Cork”
Monday, December 14, sees the publication of “An A to Z of Cork”– an entertaining guide to Cork’s history and people.
An A to Z of Cork by Tom FitzGerald
The publisher is Youghal native Tom FitzGerald. “The first book in this series was “An A to Z of Youghal”, says FitzGerald. “That book was very well received in Youghal by advertisers, book-sellers and readers. The people of Youghal proved to be very enthusiastic and supportive for what was a new format in local history books. Now, there are several other titles in production, including another Youghal book. However, the next title for publication is “An A to Z of Cork”.
As with the Youghal book, the content is presented alphabetically as a series of stand-alone items that readers can dip into. Each item deals with an aspect of the city’s history or one of its remarkable people who have made history, either at home or abroad.
Topics from history include the impact of the Black Death during the Fourteenth Century when more than half of the population was wiped out leaving the city unable to pay its taxes. There is also an account of the Burning of Cork in 1622, which was seen as Divine retribution on a sinful city following a curious warning in 1621 in the shape of flocks of warring starlings. In 1922, the Civil War reached Cork when 800 Free State troops landed at Passage West and engaged in a three-day gun battle with 600 anti-Treaty guerrillas for possession of Cork.
Among Cork’s famous emigrants is Stephen Moylan who acted as George Washington’s aide-de-camp and secretary during the American War of Independence in the 1760s, and who achieved the rank of General in the United States Army. Another Cork man, Daniel O’Leary took part in the wars to liberate Spanish America in the 1820s, becoming aide-de-camp to Simón Bolívar and achieving the rank of General at the age of twenty-eight. The most famous Cork woman in the United States was Mary Harris. She became known as “the most dangerous woman in America” for her work as a political activist and union organizer and her campaign to abolish child labour in the 1900s. She is best remembered by the song “She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain (When She Comes)”, written about her work among the miners in the Appalachian Mountains.
An A to Z of Cork by Tom FitzGerald
Strange events in Cork include the resurrection of Patrick Redmond, hanged in 1766 but revived by surgeon-turned-actor William Glover, who was among the spectators at a public execution at Gallows Green. When Father Mathew started his campaign of Total Abstinence, little did he realise the craze for drinking ether that this would spark, which ultimately prompted government intervention.
The most famous character from recent history is Bernie Murphy. Regarded as a joke political candidate with radical policies, things look different in retrospect. His ambition to reduce the number of TDs, abolish pensions for sitting TDs, abolish state cars for politicians, introduce better regulation of banks, reform the health service and abolish the Senate are issues that are now being taken more seriously.
These are just some of the items that reveal the unique evolution of the city on the Lee.
“An A to Z of Cork” is from all good bookshops in Cork, Midleton and Youghal and on-line at eBay.ie.
An A to Z of Cork by Tom FitzGerald
3 comments |
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your support in publicising “An A to Z of Cork”. During the course of my research, I came across this amusing letter in The Cork Examiner dated Thursday September 14, 1911. Some of its content might resonate with your readers:
“Dear Sir, – I am sure a good many of Youghal visitors will thoroughly endorse the remarks of your correspondent in this day’s issue of the “Examiner”. Time after time complaints have been made through the Press of the dull monotony and lifelessness of this seaside resort, but to no avail. Youghal has natural endowments that should warrant it holding a premier position in this country, but its own very people, through sheer blindness, are keeping it back.
For some years I have been a regular visitor to Youghal. Year after year I feel it getting duller and duller, so much so that I anticipate going elsewhere in future where I shall be offered more exhilarating morsels than the arrival of the daily trains and the grinding of the “Merry-Go-Round”. It is easy to fix the responsibility for this ante-diluvian state of things. The townspeople are glad enough to get our money during the season. The jarveys have a fancy tariff that would not be permitted elsewhere. The railway station swarms with an organised fraternity of helpers, whose scale of charges for carrying a few portmanteaux a few hundred yards would convey a household of goods a respectable distance across the Sahara desert. These facts make Youghal a unique spot. They spell well for the inhabitants, but what of the visitors? Do we get value for our money?
During the day we stroll along an uneven promenade; we climb Clay Castle; we sit down; we see the same faces, hear the same old talk. Ennui beginning to creep over us, we retrace our steps and very probably we will sit for a short time on the promenade wall or on one of the seats generously provided for us by a fatherly Council. We then turn into the station, studiously study the gaudily coloured railway posters, and we decide to await the arrival of the train. In due course it comes, deposits a crowd on a narrow platform. Thus more grist to Youghal’s mill. The crowd scatters, and we stroll away, indefinitely. We try the Green Park. It is certainly green, but that is all can be said about it. I make but a passing reference to that very melancholy band-stand. At night, well, you have the “Merrys” and you can see the gas-lamps being lit, and you won’t fail to see them being put out. This is the daily routine of the average Youghal visitor. I add nothing to the remarks of your correspondent as regards the Blackwater steamer, but I could do so.
Many suggestions might be made, but what’s the use? Would it be possible to relegate the administrative, and of course the political, duties of the present Urban Council to a more up-to-date and more practical body, and by public subscription or otherwise send the present Council on a three-months’ holiday next year to Douglas, Blackpool, or some other English watering place? Oh, of course, they could return with no patriotism lost, but with much knowledge gained. This letter may call forth the usual tirade – empty abuse – “Why doesn’t this person go elsewhere?” etc., etc. My answer – I love Youghal, but I feel grieved to see its destinies controlled and shaped by the present local authority.
Yours faithfully,
A VISITOR
Sept. 12, 1911”
While a little unfair to our dear town and somewhat exaggerated for effect, I was struck by the reference to the railway depositing crowds. I’ve been using the excellent railway service from Midleton to Cork recently. This was originally the Cork and Youghal Railway, completed on May 21, 1860 (see “An A to Z of Youghal”!). My great-grandfather worked as a labourer on the final stretch between Killeagh and Youghal. It is incredible that the line to Youghal has not received the same investment as the line to Midleton. The only conclusion can be that our elected representatives, apart from being merely inadequate, are actually hostile to the best interests of our town. The abandoned railway station is a sad but fitting monument to their incompetence.
Well said Tom. Since tourism is the only industry we’re left with it’s a joke not having the train back. I liked the last book about Youghal. I must get this one. I suppose Alan Prim will have it?
Thanks Niamh. Yes, Alan Prim is stocking the book, as well as Read & Write, Cree’s and, of course, John Kennedy’s. It’s also available from bookshops in Cork including Liam O’Ruiséal’s, Eason’s, Porter’s and Vibes & Scribes. All, in fact, except Waterstone’s. They told me that they “don’t do small accounts”. Which made me feel very self-conscious about the size of my account.