Lord Mayor's column: Cork Corporation dissolution was 100 years ago this week

As Lord Mayor, I get to acknowledge historic events and people who have helped shape the story of Cork.

I have done so on several times in recent days.

This week saw the 100th anniversary of the dissolution of Cork Corporation, what Cork City Council was known as until 2001.

This saw the standing down of all then elected members and their replacement with a full-time administrator, Philip Monahan, who would subsequently become the first city manager.

The dissolution was politically suspect, and, in my opinion, led to local government becoming less democratic in Ireland.

The anniversary gave me an opportunity to visit the courthouse on Washington St, a building that resonates history.

A century ago, Cork City Council met there while waiting for the new City Hall to be built.

I also participated in an event organised by the law society at University College Cork to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Jack Lynch.

Other speakers include former taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Professor Gary Murphy, and the president of the college, John O’Halloran.

As well as being Ireland’s fourth Taoiseach, Jack Lynch also served as an alderman/councillor with Cork Corporation. I was proud to be able to acknowledge his contribution to Cork and Irish life.

A beautiful art installation, ‘Lantern’, by the artist, Eoin Turner, was launched at Nano Nagle Place.

The opening gave me the opportunity of thanking the Presentation congregation, for it has followed through on Nano Nagle’s legacy, for many years through schools on Douglas St, and in recent times through community-based education.

Organisations like the Lantern Project and the Cork Migrant Centre continue Nano Nagle’s work by showing learning to be a shared and lifelong activity.

As the light from this new Lantern grew stronger as evening fell, I was reminded that it is important that we do remember, what it is we should remember, and, most importantly, of all how we remember.