Cork Heritage Open Day will return in its online form this year, taking place later this month on August 14th.

The open day will feature free tours of 45 historic Cork sites, including: Riverstown House in Glanmire, the Quaker Meeting House and Graveyard, The Maryborough Hotel, Cork Opera House, The Courthouse on Washington Street, Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills, Blarney Castle, Cork City Hall, Cork Savings Bank, St Luke’s Church and Military Museum, Collins Barracks.

Other interviews and video features will be available on the website for those who want to explore specific elements of Cork’s history. They include:

• Memories of a Cork Jewish Childhood- which has been produced by Ruti Lachs sees former Cork residents remember their childhoods in Ireland: their Jewish upbringing, the synagogue, the characters, the sea. Interspersed with photos from the last hundred years of life in Jewish Cork, these stories paint a picture of a time and community gone by.
• Anne Twomey from the Shandon Area History Group speaks about Emma Hourigan, an extraordinary woman from the Maddens Buildings in Cork who played a central role in the Irish Revolution 1916-1923
• Biddy McDonagh and Jean O’Donovan from the Traveller Visibility Group discuss their language Gammon and Cant and the tradition of the Beady Pockets in the Traveller Community
• Jim Fahy speaks about the language of the Stone Mason’s: “Bearlager na Saor”
• Valerie Power, Breda Scanlon and Suzanne Dineen pay tribute to the Shawlies in Cork
• Historian Michael Lenihan uses historic postcards to show how Cork has changed in the past 100 years

Lord Mayor, Cllr. Colm Kelleher said: “As Lord Mayor I am delighted to launch Cork Heritage Open Day this year.  The event will be taking place on line and includes several videos showcasing buildings projects, documentaries and events from around the city.

“The event highlights the breath-taking built heritage of the city and tells the story of its fascinating past which has shaped the city we live in today.”

The site is currently inactive, but www.corkheritageopenday.ie will be up and running on August 14th for those who want to step back in time enjoy any and all of the above.