Item category 1: Reference Room

"The Croppy Boy Walk encompasses Knocknaheeny, Hollyhill (Knocknacullen), Nash's Boreen, Fairhill, Farranree and Churchfield. The walk is enjoyed on a daily basis by local residents. it is the authors' aim to document and preserve our local folklore, sporting life and social history for future ge...

Designed for Life: Architecture and design in Cork city, 1900–90 is the first detailed study of twentieth century design dedicated to an Irish provincial city and sets the standard for examining this fascinating period. Whilst the political and military history of Cork have been exhaustively stud...

Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are into their second decade, a period that has seen a considerable expansion in their spheres of activity. Responsibilities now stretch from primary schools through to tertiary education and skills training, as well as out-of-school youth services. They are t...

In the early 1820s. Peter Robinson, a Canadian official, oversaw the emigration and resettlement of more than 2,500 Irish men , women and children, with support from the British government. Most originated from the Blackwater Valley in North County Cork, and made the transatlantic journey to begi...

Fairy forts are an iconic feature of the Irish landscape, and an integral part of the country's folklore. Join Jo Kerrigan as she delves into the history and beliefs behind these striking landmarks. With evocative photographs by Richard Mills, master folklorist Jo Kerrigan explores the origins of...

Tom Walsh was a carpenter from Tipperary who bought the Hope Diamond for his daughter...John Mackay built a cathedral in Sacramento for his good friend Patrick Manogue.....William Grace was the first Irish person elected mayor of New York......Nellie Cashman saved a group of prospectors from star...

James Wilkinson was and still is, to date, the longest-serving librarian of Cork City’s public libraries. Appointed in October 1892, he held the post of librarian for a forty-year tenure. James Wilkinson established the city’s public library service and was pioneering in developing children’s lib...

Until now, in-depth analysis of key female figures in Irish republicanism in the early twentieth century has been limited. Mary MacSwiney was one of the most single-minded anti-Treaty women, leading Eamon de Valera to describe her as 'incorrigible'. Rather than just dismiss MacSwiney as one-dimen...