New book will chart 126 years of lord mayors in Cork

A new book, provisionally titled The Chain, encompassing the history of Cork’s lord mayor, is currently in production, charting 126 years of office.

The book is co-authored by Aodh Quinlivan of University College Cork (UCC) and Paul Moynihan, a recently-retired local government official, with an introductory essay from acclaimed Cork writer Cónal Creedon.

Research assistance for the book has also been provided by Anne Twomey and John Ger O’Riordan.

“We have a very strong team involved with the book, and we hope to do justice to the office of Cork’s lord mayor, which means so much to each of us,” Mr Moynihan said.

While covering historic events, including Queen Victoria’s decree that Cork’s first citizen would hold the inaugural lord mayor position, the shooting of Tomás MacCurtain, and the arrest and hunger strike of Terence MacSwiney — The Chain will also follow the mayoral year in real time, tracking the office from June 2026 to June 2027 — beginning with the final weeks of Fergal Dennehy’s term, through the handover to Damian Boylan, and closing with the first weeks of Cork’s 90th lord mayor next June.

Mr Quinlivan said Cork people have “a close affinity to the office of the lord mayor”.

“We would be delighted to hear stories about mayoral school visits or other events, and to receive relevant pictures,” Dr Quinlivan said.

Anyone with a story or photo to share can contact Mr Quinlivan at a.quinlivan@ucc.ie.

The Chain is due for publication in October 2027, supported by UCC’s Centre for Local and Regional Governance and The Echo.