The Friday View 17/06
The Echo turns 130, the whole world comes to St Coleman's Cathedral and the Cork summer show returns this weekend.
It’s been a celebratory week for The Echo, formerly The Evening Echo and now part of the Irish Times Group, as it marked its 130th anniversary this past Tuesday. That’s some achievement - publishing a newspaper over that length of time, and to mark the occasion staffers at The Echo, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and writer Cónal Creedon to name a few, have all been memorialising growing up with the paper which is very much a part of the social fabric of Cork. (There’s probably a Cork/Echo version of the Kevin Bacon six degrees of separation game where everybody in Cork can be linked back to someone else who’s been in The Echo in six steps. Or two).
The youth of today - to use a tired phrase - are on the whole not likely to know the paper, that is the the one that The Echo boys sold and which still sells in shops. Rather, it’s the digital version they tune into, or will, when local news becomes more important to them.
While The Echo is the only local daily newspaper in Cork, online it’s a different story. The fact that you’re reading this editorial on Tripe+Drisheen proves that point. Competition is a good thing, especially in the news business. I’m biased, but more journalism, and more journalists is a good thing for democracy. There are as many stories as there are people in this city and county, but the problem is though, what’s being covered, and not covered. (We’ve written about those problems specifically when it comes to local news before here, so I won’t bore you, or me, by repeating them.)
It was encouraging then to read the Taoiseach in The Echo just this week when he had this to say:
The funding for media is important and will be examined by The Future of Media Commission, set up by Government. The key issues are the funding, but also how we retain that independence between government and media.
Media needs to be independent. It is the critical factor in democracy, that politicians are held to account, I think that is very important.
As an independent local journalism publication, we couldn’t agree more: Funding is vital for journalism as is the independence of our media.
-JJ
News in brief
Park and go: From July 1, the resumption of paying to park on the street as well as in car parks managed by Cork County Council in Bandon, Kinsale and Mallow will commence. For a period of more than two years, beginning in March 2020 charges had been dropped. In Bandon and Kinsale, the first half hour of parking will be free and there is no need to display a parking disc of ticket. Charges will commence there afterwards. In Mallow, the first hour is free with charges kicking in afterwards. The council said they would be issuing information about Youghal shortly.
Also this week
A grenade and the River Lee found in Douglas: There was some disruption this week in the centre of Douglas when the Army’s bomb squad were summoned to remove an unexploded grenade. Who knows how long it has been in situ, but once again it shows that the past, indeed our violent past is never far away. What was amusing was comments from Garda PR sources said that grenade was found near the River Lee in Douglas. Those comments found their way into the local media, before they were corrected in some cases. The Lee has not yet made it to Douglas.
Up and up: The Cost of Living Coalition will hold a national day of action with protests planned for across the country this Saturday, June 18 to bring pressure on the government to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis. In Cork, the protest will meet outside Brown Thomas on St. Patrick’s Street at 2 pm. Speakers at the Cork rally include Caitríona Twomey of Penny Dinners.
Out + About
🎭 Midsummer: The summer solstice is nearly upon us which means it’s time for Cork Midsummer festival which opened this week and runs until June 26. There is a huge program of events including music, theatre and exhibitions. Where to begin? Probably at this page on the Midsummer site which will tell you what’s sold out and what’s not. One of the highlights will definitely be the installation of Gaia (see above) in the beautiful setting of St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh. The floating sculpture measuring seven meters in diameter dominate the cathedral and is the creation of Luke Jerram. On Tuesday, June 21 the Midsummer Parade will converge on Oliver Plunkett Street and parade through the city. Make sure you check the Midsummer website for the full list of what’s and what’s not sold out yet.
Time, date, place: June 15-26, various venues across Cork. Full details here.
🗣 Unsafe harbour: As part of the Treaty exhibition currently on at St. Peter’s on North Main Street, Aodh Quinlivan, an author and lecturer in UCC, will be presenting a talk on Cork Corporation - the forerunner to Cork City Council - during the civil war years. Aodh has written a number of books, most recently Forgotten Lord Mayor: Donal Óg O’Callaghan, 1920-1924, who no doubt will feature in his Friday talk. Register for the free talk here.
Time, date, place: 7-8:30 pm, Friday, 17 June as St. Peter’s on North Main Street
🚜The summer show is back: After a two year hiatus - yes, we all know why, the Cork Summer show is fully back. There’ll be ponies, tractors, music, dog shows, classic cars, gardening, pig agility demonstrations and the list goes on. Kids under 12 go free and there will be free shuttle buses running from the Greyhound Track, Ballincollig Shopping Centre, and Black Ask Park&Ride. Also the no 208 will be serving the Showgrounds.
Time, date, place: 18 & 19 June, Cork Showgrounds, Curaheen (just off the N40/South Ring Road)
🍷Cork in ten glasses: Man about town Ronan Leonard is back on his walking tours - his tag line is great “I'm not a Tour Guide, I'm Your Guide…”;) - this one’s a bit different, but nonetheless appealing. In fact, maybe even more appealing. It’s not a pub crawl per se, but there will be drink and plenty of walking, as Ronan delves into: medieval history, modern history, microbrewing and independent distilling, northside vs southside divide, sport and much else. Full details here of what sounds like a great day out.
Time, date, place: 3:30 pm, Tuesday, 21 June, meeting at Paul Street in city centre
🗣Sos Líon: If you’re in the city centre on a Tuesday, you’re always welcome to drop by The Roundy pub where a group of Gaeilgeoirs meet to chat in Irish. It’s an informal gathering and all ages and abilities are welcome. More information here.
Time, date, place: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm, every Tuesday, The Roundy, Castle Street
This week on T +D
On Thursday Ellie wrote about the Cork County Development Plan, in the second part of her examination of the mammoth plan for the county while guest writer Ciarán Meers of Cork Commuter Coalition analysed the transport plan for the county. You can read that here.
That’s it for this week’s Friday View. Watch out for tomorrow’s instalment of our Arts+ Culture newsletter from JJ.
Any tips, news or events you’d like to share with Tripe+Drisheen, you can contact either of us at jj.odonoghue@gmail.com or emailellieobyrne@gmail.com. We are always happy to speak to people off the record in the first instance, and we will treat your information with confidence and sensitivity. Get in touch.
