Cork City Library to hold reflective discussion on 1913-1923 period

A REFLECTIVE discussion entitled: “It Seems History is to Blame 1913-1923” will take place in the City Library, Grand Parade, Cork city, this Saturday at 3pm.

Dr David McCullagh will be joined by Liam Ronayne, Thomas McCarthy, and Helen McGonagle, founding members of Cork City Libraries’ 1913 -1923 Commemorations Programme, for the discussion.

Dr McCullagh is an author, journalist, and presenter, who has written books including de Valera, Vols I & II, The Reluctant Taoiseach: A Biography of John A. Costello, and The Great Irish Book of Politics.

Liam Ronayne is a former Cork city librarian who established the commemoration programme “It Seems History is to Blame, Ireland 1913-1923”, within Cork City Libraries in 2013.

Thomas McCarthy is a poet, novelist, and fellow former librarian who wrote many books including Rising from the Ashes: The Burning of Cork’s Carnegie Library and the Rebuilding of its Collection.

Helen McGonagle is an executive librarian with Cork City Libraries and lead on the “It Seems History is to Blame, Ireland 1913-1923” programme.

She is author of the library publication A Room of their Own: Cork Carnegie Free Library & its Ladies Reading Room 1905-1915 and is currently a PhD candidate in the School of Social Policy, UCC, working on research which examines gender construction in the Messenger of the Sacred Heart 1905-1915.

The years 1913 to 1923 were a time of intellectual and political turmoil — the new State was born following the conflicts of the War of Independence and the Civil War.

The event organisers say that “It Seems History Is to Blame 1913-1923” is a way for the people of Cork to understand what happened, and why, and perhaps a chance to learn lessons for our own time — an opportunity to consider, discuss, and reflect on the past 10 years of commemoration.

The event is free of charge and all are welcome.