Call for poetry and writing from the people of Cork County for specially commissioned publications

This year marks 100 years of a number of key events in the War of Independence. More than 20 ambushes together with over 30 assassinations and executions took place across Cork County during 1921. 1921 was also the year that witnessed the Truce and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

As part of a series of commemorative projects, Cork County Council has launched a poetry competition for secondary schools within the county. The Council is also seeking written essays from anyone with an interest in this period of history for a publication titled ‘Thoughts of Independence’.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan highlighted how, “The Truce and the signing of the Treaty one hundred years ago were momentous occasions in Irish history.  It is timely to ask ourselves, is the present reflective of a future that had been dreamed of?  When reflecting on the past we get a better sense of ourselves in the world today, and what tomorrow could look like. 1921 was a significant year in the County of Cork with ambushes in Dripsey, Cúl na Cathrach, The Battle of Crossbarry, and the greatest loss of Republican life at any War of Independence engagement, the Clonmult Ambush. There were house raids, barracks attacks, disappearances, rescues and close to 100 shootings. I hope that students and people of all ages will submit their poems or essays and show that 100 years later, we still remember.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added, “The War of Independence and Civil War had profound impacts on Irish people, both individually and collectively, not least here in Cork County.  These publications are an opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts on these pivotal moments in our shared history and form part of a series of commemorations that Cork County Council is proud to support. Through the County Cork Commemorations Grant Scheme, close to 30 groups are marking key events and ambushes. There will also be a War of Independence and Civil War Exhibition, a database of centenary memorials within the county, a commemorative oral history project and much more.”

Secondary school students are invited to submit their own poems relating to the War of Independence or the Civil War. Assessed by Cork County Council’s Commemorations Committee, poems will be chosen to feature in a bespoke commemorative poetry publication. Every student who submits a poem will receive a copy of the publication with additional prizes for specially selected entries and the overall secondary school winner.

For the ‘Thoughts of Independence’ publication, the Commemorations Committee is seeking contemporary writings and insights into the events of 100 years ago and what they mean for us today. Historians, heritage societies, academics, students and anyone with an interest in this aspect of Cork’s history is invited to submit an essay. A number of essays will feature in a bespoke publication which will form Book 1 of 2 with the second book undertaken in 2022/23 and focusing on the Civil War. Every person who submits an essay will receive a copy of the publication.

The closing date for receipt of all poems and essays is Friday 29th October and entries can be emailed to commemorations@corkcoco.ie.

Cruthóidh Comhairle Contae Chorcaí dhá fhoilseachán saincheaptha ina mbeidh filíocht, smaointe agus cuimhní poiblí timpeall imeachtaí 1921 agus an bhaint atá acu le Contae Chorcaí agus an tír ina bhfuil cónaí orainn iontu inniu.

Marcálann an bhliain seo 100 bliain de roinnt príomhimeachtaí i gCogadh na Saoirse. Tharla níos mó ná 20 luíochán mar aon le breis is 30 feallmharú agus forghníomhú ar fud Chontae Chorcaí i rith 1921. Ba í 1921 an bhliain freisin inar tharla an sos cogaidh agus inar síníodh an Conradh Angla-Éireannach.

Mar chuid de shraith tionscadal comórtha, sheol Comhairle Contae Chorcaí comórtas filíochta do mheánscoileanna sa chontae. Mar aon leis sin tá an Chomhairle ag lorg aistí scríofa ó dhuine ar bith a bhfuil spéis acu sa tréimhse staire seo d’fhoilseachán dar teideal ‘Thoughts of Independence’.

Deir Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Gillian Coughlan “Ba mhór an ócáid ​​i stair na hÉireann an sos cogaidh agus síniú an Chonartha céad bliain ó shin. Tá sé tráthúil fiafraí dínn féin, an ionann an t-am ina bhfuilimid anois agus an todhchaí a ndearnadh aisling air in 1921? Agus sinn ag machnamh ar an am atá thart faighimid tuiscint níos fearr orainn féin inniu, agus an chuma a bheidh ar an todhchaí amach romhainn. Bliain shuntasach ab ea 1921 i gContae Chorcaí le luíocháin i nDruipseach, Cúil na Cathrach, Cath Chrois an Bharraigh, agus an caillteanas is mó de shaol na bPoblachtánach ag aon chomhrac i gCogadh na Saoirse, Luíochán Chluain Molt. Bhí ruathair thí, ionsaithe beairice, éalaithe, tarrthálacha agus gar do 100 lámhach. Tá súil agam go gcuirfidh mic léinn agus daoine de gach aois a gcuid dánta nó aistí isteach don tionscadal seo, ag taispeáint gur cuimhin linn fós 100 bliain ina dhiaidh sin. "

Dúirt Tim Lucey, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, “Bhí tionchair domhain ag Cogadh na Saoirse agus Cogadh na gCarad ar mhuintir na hÉireann, ina n-aonar agus i dteannta a chéile, go háirithe anseo i gContae Chorcaí. Is deis iad na foilseacháin seo do gach duine a gcuid smaointe a roinnt ar na heachtraí ríthábhachtach seo inár stair chomhroinnte agus a bheith mar chuid de shraith chuimhneacháin a bhfuil Comhairle Contae Chorcaí bródúil as tacú leo. Trí Scéim Deontais Cuimhneacháin Chontae Chorcaí, tá gar do 30 grúpa ag marcáil príomhimeachtaí agus luíocháin. Beidh Taispeántas fé Chogadh na Saoirse agus Cogadh na gCarad, bunachar le sonraí cuimhneacháin céad bliain sa chontae, tionscadal stair bhéil chuimhneacháin agus go leor eile. "

Tugtar cuireadh do dhaltaí meánscoile a gcuid dánta féin a chur isteach a bhaineann le Cogadh na Saoirse nó leis Cogadh na gCarad. Measfaidh Coiste Cuimhneacháin Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí na dánta agus roghnófar dánta astu le cuimsiú  i bhfoilseachán filíochta comórtha saincheaptha. Gheobhaidh gach mac léinn a chuireann dán isteach cóip den fhoilseachán. Beidh duaiseanna breise d’iontrálacha a roghnaíodh go speisialta chomh maith le buaiteoir iomlán na meánscoile.

Maidir leis an bhfoilseachán ‘Thoughts of Independence’, tá an Coiste Cuimhneacháin ag lorg giotaí scríbhneoireacht agus léargas comhaimseartha ar imeachtaí 100 bliain ó shin agus a bhfuil i gceist acu dúinn inniu. Tugtar cuireadh do staraithe, cumainn oidhreachta, lucht acadúil, mic léinn agus aon duine a bhfuil spéis acu sa ghné seo de stair Chorcaí aiste a chur isteach. Beidh roinnt aistí le feiscint sa bhfoilseachán saincheaptha,  a bheidh roinnte in dá imleabhar, 1 de 2. Beidh Imleabhar a 3 á ullmhú in 2022/23 agus beidh an ceann sin ag díriú ar Chogadh na gCarad. Gheobhaidh gach duine a chuireann aiste isteach cóip den fhoilseachán.

Is é Dé hAoine 29 Deireadh Fómhair an dáta deiridh do gach dán agus aiste a bheith faighte againn agus is féidir iontrálacha a sheoladh ar ríomhphost chuig commemorations@corkcoco.ie