Each week, we look back at what was “in the news” the same week 100 years ago – as reported in the Cork Examiner in 1916.

By Nicola Stathers

Tuesday, October 3, 1916

• Meetings, Fairs and Fixtures

Do your bit to keep alive the spirit of the nation, its language, songs, music and dances, by patronising the Brian Boru Pipers Club Concert, at the City Hall, to-morrow evening October 4th, commencing at 8pm.

 ^{A female piper performing at a Feis at the Mardyke, Cork in July 1926 Picture: Irish Examiner Archive}

Wednesday, October 4, 1916

• Fisheries

Of the many industrial anomalies that glaringly stand out in this country, and the origin of which may be traced to inequitable treatment in the past, the Irish Deep Sea Fisheries occupy a prominent place. It appears to be true that much of the fish that is consumed in the South of Ireland reaches its destination via Grimsby, though large quantities of various kinds of fish are caught off the Southern Coast.

If the Irish deep sea fisheries were properly organised and adequate facilities afforded for the transit of the fish inland, it is calculated that the value of the Irish fisheries should equal that of England. As it is, the value of Irish fisheries is computed to be about a twentieth of that of England, and probably a tenth of that of Scotland.

Possibly very few, if any, Irish inland towns receive a regular supply of fresh fish, though no part of Ireland is more than sixty miles from the sea. The reason of that extraordinary position of affairs is attributed to the desire that exists to hurry off by train for England any fish that is taken off the Irish Coast, or to cure it for export abroad.

Thursday, October 5, 1916 

• The Renewed Conscription Cry

The letter that Sir Edward Carson has addressed to the London Times, in which he states that he “is well aware that Ireland is not bearing her fair share in the supply of man power” for the fighting line, has obviously been written with an eye on the opening of parliament, and may be regarded as part of the renewed campaign to impose conscription on Ireland.

Friday, October 6, 1916 

• The Submarine Campaign

Various articles in the German Press presage a resumption of the unrestricted U-boat campaign. The Tageszuitung argues that the British tonnage available for food-transport and other economic purposes has sunk from 10.75 to 4.38 millions, which constitutes a grave danger to England. The writer’s argument of course, is that the submarine could make that danger greater still.

Another article in the same number tabulates German submarine successes in the Mediterranean, especially against Italian ships. The writer maintains that German submarine control in the Mediterranean will become doubly valuable during the approaching months, as England, in consequence of the failure of the American and Canadian harvests, will have to rely to a great extent on supplies from Australia and India.

Sunday, October 7, 1916 

• Ireland’s Duty to Herself

Yesterday, at Waterford, the Irish Leader expounded with lucidity and breadth of view the duty of Irish Nationalists to themselves and to their country… Part of Mr. Redmond’s address was necessarily retrospective, and with the candour of a statesman who has devoted his life to his country’s interests, he told his constituents that a bad blow had been struck at the hopes of Ireland by the rising- that it was engineered by men who were the open enemies of the constitutional movement for Home Rule – and that their act had endangered the whole Irish situation. Such a pronouncement may not be acceptable to dreamers and enthusiasts imbued with Republican ideas, or by the political adventurers who are endeavouring to utilise these individuals as a fulcrum to throw the National Party out of gear: but as the overwhelming majority of Irishmen are Home Rulers and not Republicans, Mr. Redmond’s words will appeal to reasonable Irishmen who believe in constitutional efforts and who are not to be diverted from their goal by any set-back that the Irish Cause has received. While stating what has been the practical effect of the rising, Mr. Redmond placed the responsibility for it on the British Government.

Monday, October 9, 1916

• Police and Easter Week Songs

For the past day or two the police in the city visited a number of newsagents shops, and in at least one case took possession of a number of song books containing songs of Easter Week.