Skip to main content

Latest News

President of Ireland celebrates a century of publishing by Cork University Press

15 Jan 2025

The oldest University Press in Ireland, Cork University Press, celebrates its 100th birthday this year and the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, was presented with one of its landmark publications at a special event in Áras an Uachtaráin this week.

Founded in 1925 by Alfred O'Rahilly with a mission to stimulate Irish learning, Cork University Press, the publishing arm of University College Cork (UCC), has supported the rise of Irish studies globally with landmark publications including Daniel Corkery's Synge and Anglo-Irish Literature (1931); Bridget G MacCarthy's Women Writers (1944); James Handley's  The Irish in Scotland (1945);  David Gwynn Morgan A Judgment Too Far (2002); Fintan Vallely’s  Companion to Irish Traditional Music (1999, 2011, 2024); as well as pioneering series, Undercurrents, Ireland into Film and The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing.

Scholars and public figures such as Nell McCafferty, Ivor Browne, Denis Cotter, Terry Eagleton, Rachel Allen, Catherine Fulvio, June Levine, Timothy O'Neill and Kevin Whelan have all had works published with the Press. To celebrate a centenary of publishing at Cork University Press, a year long programme of events including exhibitions, events and symposiums is being planned. 

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins stated: “I am delighted to have the opportunity of marking the centenary of the Cork University Press, the publishing arm of University College Cork. Since its foundation by Alfred O’Rahilly in 1925, Cork University Press has played an invaluable role in developing and stimulating learning, both in Ireland and across the world, including bringing attention to a number of neglected areas of Irish study, resulting in a rich and distinctive body of work. 

May I recognise especially the wonderful achievement of the Atlas series, including the Atlas of the Great Irish Famine, the Atlas of the Irish Revolution, and the most recent publication in this series, the Atlas of the Irish Civil War. I was honoured to be invited to contribute a foreword to both the Atlas of the Irish Revolution and the Atlas of the Irish Civil War

The Atlas series has made a major contribution not only in providing public access to a diverse consideration of a range of important subjects, but also provided an important broadening of the historiography and opportunities for reconsideration. In particular, we owe the Cork University Press a debt of thanks for its inclusion of new scholars and of a number of areas of Irish study and scholarship, including perspectives and voices, which merited greater attention.” 

“After a turbulent period in Irish history, Cork University Press was established with the single goal of supporting scholarly interest in Irish studies. It is testament to all those who have worked there and all those who have published with this magnificent press that today there exists a rich global field of Irish studies. This year we look forward to recognising the valuable role Cork University Press has played in furthering insight and interest for the past 100 years” stated Professor John O’Halloran, President of UCC.  

In recent years Cork University Press has published the award-winning Atlas series. This unique blend of scholarly texts, cutting edge research, maps, archival documents, paintings and photographs have resonated widely with the public, with the series now regarded in a university context as a highly successful exemplar of public outreach and engagement. A publishing phenomenon by any standards, the atlases have received numerous awards and have regularly featured prominently in best-selling book charts. The Atlas of the Irish Revolution was named Irish Book of the Year in 2017, the Atlas of the Great Irish Famine in 2012 and The Coastal Atlas of Ireland in 2021 were named Best Irish-Published Books of the Year, while the Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New perspectives published this year was named history book of the year, and will be presented to President Higgins this week.  

“With 15-20 new books and editions per year and a backlist of almost 600 active titles, Cork University Press remains today a publishing powerhouse. For a university press to endure for so long is testament to the importance that the University places on ensuring scholarly output in the arts, humanities and social sciences reaches as wide an audience as possible” stated Head of Publishing at CUP, Sinéad Neville. 

Further details of the yearlong celebrations will be announced soon.  

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

Top