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An important archive of historical photographs of Youghal and surrounding areas has been donated to Cork County Library and Arts Service and is being made accessible to the public for the first time in Youghal Library. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com
Anne McAuliffe, a descendant of Jim Horgan, at the exhibition
This important collection of nearly nine hundred photographs was made by various members of the Horgan family who for many years ran a successful photographic business in Youghal and who also operated one of the cinemas in the town. Reaching back to the 1890’s, the Horgan Collection is a unique and invaluable collection of photographs which records the landscape, streetscape and social history of Youghal into the twentieth century
Jim Horgan and child with early movie camera
Speaking to a very large gathering of people in Youghal Library at the launch of the collection on Thursday evening, Cork County Librarian, Ruth Flanagan thanked the members of the Horgan family for their generosity in making the entire collection available to the public through the Library Service. She noted that the Horgan collection is a priceless historical document that depicts the town of Youghal, the Blackwater river, Ardmore and many other areas and its importance for its representation of the social and commercial life in the area, through vivid images of maritime, agricultural, leisure and tourism activities.
Jim Horgan talked about the beginnings of the Horgan family involvement in photography and film and showed a series of images giving an overview of the extent of the collection. Frank Mills, Liam and Michael Coveney also spoke about the maritime heritage of Youghal and the Blackwater using photographs from the collection to illustrate their talks.
Standing- Ellen Kelly, Anne Marie Kenneally, Carmel Murphy and Marian O'Halloran from Youghal Library, Eileen O'Brien and Joseph Higgins from Library Headquarters, Ian McDonagh-Arts Officer C.C.C. and Christine O'Sullivan, Library Headquarters. Seated: Ruth Flanagan-County Librarian, Jim Horgan, Mayor of Youghal Sandra McLellan and Ikki Keane
In accepting this donation Cork County Council have preserved and conserved all of the images in the collection. These images have now been digitally recorded and will in due course be available for members of the public to view in Youghal Library
The collection is launched as part of National Heritage week celebrations. During the week a selection of photographic prints will be on view as well as continuous slideshow of digitised images on a public access computer.
For further information contact 021 546499 or email arts@corkcoco.ie
Click on image to see who was at the launch of the Horgan Collection
