Cork County Council Seeks Public Submissions for Heritage Resilience Publication

Cork County Council is calling on local communities to contribute stories, photographs and site recommendations for an upcoming publication exploring how the county's heritage has survived centuries of extreme weather events, natural disasters and human-caused challenges, with submissions due by 15th September.

The publication, the thirteenth in the Heritage of County Cork series, will document everything from frozen rivers and deadly storms to the Black Death and the Great Famine, examining how Cork communities recovered and adapted throughout history. The book will feature 30 heritage sites across the county where these dramatic events can be investigated and remembered.

Climate change poses one of the greatest modern threats to heritage preservation, making this historical perspective particularly timely. The publication will span from the earliest historical records through to the late twentieth century, drawing on written accounts, press coverage and eyewitness testimonies of extreme events.

Beyond weather disasters, the book will also examine human-caused challenges including disease outbreaks, ecosystem damage and industrial accidents that have tested Cork's resilience over the centuries.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, emphasised the importance of learning from history:

"From frozen rivers to deadly storms and from the Black Death to An Gorta Mór in the mid-nineteenth century, this publication will remind us all of what the County of Cork has witnessed over the centuries, and what we in turn have learned."

The Mayor added that Cork's heritage requires active preservation: "Heritage in this County is of the enduring kind but is also a two-way street. It requires us being kind to our heritage and not taking it for granted, as it can teach us what we need to know, in order to move forward with greater knowledge."

Previous publications in the series have benefited significantly from public contributions, and the Heritage Unit is particularly keen to receive local stories, historical photographs and suggestions for sites that should be featured. The Mayor encouraged widespread participation: "Cork County Council welcomes any submissions and suggestions, and I encourage local groups and individuals to get involved."

Local heritage societies, community groups and individuals interested in contributing to this important historical record have until Monday, 15th September 2025 to submit their materials. The publication aims to include as many references and submissions as possible, creating a comprehensive picture of Cork's remarkable ability to endure and adapt through centuries of challenges.

Those wishing to contribute can contact the Heritage Unit by email at corkheritage@corkcoco.ie or by phone at 021-428 5905. Whether it's a family story passed down through generations about a great storm, a photograph of flood damage from decades past, or knowledge of a local site with particular historical significance, all contributions will be considered for inclusion.

The publication is supported by the Heritage Council and continues Cork County Council's commitment to documenting and preserving the county's rich heritage for future generations, sure isn't that what makes Cork the real capital after all.