Bringing it all back home
Students of Schull Community College, Co. Cork, pictured with a copy of The Atlas of the Great Irish Famine outside Fastnet Marine and Outdoor Education Centre. Picture by Clare Keogh.
Students of Schull Community College, Co. Cork, pictured with a copy of The Atlas of the Great Irish Famine outside Fastnet Marine and Outdoor Education Centre. Picture by Clare Keogh.
The Atlas of the Great Irish Famine, edited by John Crowley, William J. Smyth and Mike Murphy, had already been launched in a variety of far-flung locations, including Boston, Chicago and New York.
Professor Caroline Fennell, Head of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, presented a copy of the book, published by Cork University Press, to Mr Timothy P O’ Connor, Principal of the College. She commented:
“It gives me great pleasure to present a copy of the Atlas to Schull Community College. By presenting the Atlas to all schools in Munster, we aim to build on the existing relationships between UCC and the second-level sector. We are immensely proud of the collaborative effort which has resulted in this publication which highlights the diverse range of scholarship and research taking place in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences at UCC”.
In accepting the publication, Mr O’ Connor said he was honoured that Schull Community College was the first school in Munster to be presented with the Atlas. “This is a hugely important occasion for Schull Community College, the people of Schull and surrounding areas. This part of West Cork was particularly badly affected by the Famine and this volume offers us an opportunity to understand more deeply that most difficult period in our history”.
A large audience made up of students, teachers, local historians and townspeople had the chance to examine the magnificent tome, which had resonance for many of them. Many in the audience paused to examine in particular a chapter by Patrick Hickey entitled ‘Mortality and emigration in six parishes in the Union of Skibbereen, West Cork, 1846-47’ which paints a poignant picture of loss and destitution in the parish of Schull/Ballydehob and elsewhere in the West Cork region.
Commented Leaving Cert student Rachel Goggin: “The Atlas is amazing and will be of interest to me and all my family. It really brings local history alive. My father’s people all came from Long Island, not far from Schull, and I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the generations”.
Also present was Terri Kearney, Curator of the Skibbereen Heritage Centre: “I’ve read several books on the Irish Famine but none before has captured my attention in such a profound way. I had a “lost weekend” reading it ... I just couldn’t put it down and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in our past”.
Dunmanway native Gearóid McCarthy, a PhD student in the Department of Geography, UCC, offered a short presentation to the audience on the work carried out by staff and students at the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. He spoke personally of the richness to be gained from studying an Arts degree in UCC: “Arts graduates - many of whom contributed to this great publication – are trained to be highly accomplished critical thinkers. Their skills are being sought these days by some of the largest companies in the world, including Google and Accenture. Schull Community School is a key feeder school for UCC and we hope that this new initiative will further strengthen the relationship”.
The Atlas of the Great Irish Famine recently won the International Education Services Best Irish-published Book of the Year. The award was announced at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards on 22 November.
It is available in hardback from Cork University Press and New York University Press, and bookshops nationwide, including Whyte Books Schull.