Cork stories of First World War told in new exhibition
A new exhibition on Leeside tells the stories of several Cork people who served in the First World War.
The historical exhibition at the City and County Archives, called Cork and the First World War, features photographs, diaries, letters, medals and keepsakes from many Cork people including Eleanor Bryanna Tivy, a nurse from Barnstead House in Blackrock who served in St Thomas’ Hospital in London and Michael O’Leary from Macroom, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915, for single-handedly charging and destroying two enemy barricades defended by machine gun positions on the Western Front.
It also includes Gerald O’Sullivan, Douglas, who was awarded a Victoria Cross for bravery during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915, but was killed later that year; Monsignor Joseph Augustine Scannell, who left Cork to take up duty as an Army Chaplain in 1916; and Irish nationalist and politician Daniel Desmond Sheehan MP, who enlisted at the age of 41, encouraging all Irishmen to do the same. His sons Daniel and Martin followed suit and were killed in 1917 and 1918 respectively.
The traumatic effects of the war on soldiers who returned to Cork is also examined. An entry in a case book from Cork District Lunatic Asylum shows a patient suffering from the “shock of battle” and the “blunting of all mental faculties” following a gunshot wound at Dardanelles.
1914-1918 saw numerous admissions of servicemen for symptoms which these days could be identified as shellshock or war-related trauma. The exhibition highlights artefacts from the archives, including a Princess Mary Box, issued in 1914 to all servicemen. Most boxes originally contained a Christmas card, cigarettes, and a picture of the princess. Delivery of many boxes was delayed due to the sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, which carried 45 tonnes of brass strip to be used in production.
The economic impact of the First World War on Cork is also explored through various archival documents, including council minutes discussing the manufacture of war munitions in Ballincollig Gun Powder Mills, newspaper advertisements for naval and military tailors in the city, and reports and letters from businesses and workers struggling with higher production costs and stagnant wages.
While there were high enlistment numbers in Cork, there was also strong opposition to the First World War, and conscription in particular. The exhibition features a report by a Royal Irish Constabulary Sergeant detailing a violent anti-conscription demonstration on Patrick’s Street in 1917, when “many revolver shots were fired”.
This is countered by the reminiscences of Irish Volunteer Thomas P Waters, of heckling British Army recruitment meetings in Bantry, which he fondly describes as “the most pleasant activity.”
The exhibition was curated by UCC Masters in History student, Ferdia Foley, who completed a work placement at the Archives as part of his MA degree.
He said: “With a strategic harbour and high enlistment numbers, Cork played a central role in the Irish war experience. This exhibition explores the everyday lives of Corkonian locals, soldiers, politicians, and protestors, and provides an insight into this overlooked and fascinating part of our past.”
Brian McGee, Senior Archivist, Cork City and County Archives, said: “We are delighted to be presenting this exhibition in the 110th anniversary year of the outbreak of the First World War. We wish to say a special word of thanks to Ferdia Foley for his excellent work in curating the exhibition and to UCC School of History for supporting Ferdia’s work.”
This free public exhibition will run at Cork City and County Archives until June. See Corkarchives.ie for more.