History & Folklore - West Cork People

The return of the Swallow

Eugene Daly April, 2021

Skimming low over our fields and lakes in pursuit of insects, the swallow is a familiar and welcome sight. Its confiding nature and its habit of building a nest so close to our homes endears it to everybody. We eagerly await the return of the swallow each spring and its […]

‘The Young Fella’ documentary uncovers the deeper story of Michael Collins

WCP Staff April, 2021

Much has been said about Michael Collins’ life but the focus is nearly always on his later years. Biographies of ‘The Big Fella’ tend to dwell very little on the first two thirds of his life and focus heavily on the revolutionary activity that dominated his final decade. But what […]

The legend of Clíona

Eugene Daly March, 2021

Clíona is a supernatural lady in literary and oral tradition. Her name probably meant ‘the territorial one’ and represented a function of the patron goddess. She is associated mostly with Glandore Harbour, but also Rosscarbery Bay and with Mallow. According to legend, she was the daughter of Mannanán Mac Lir, […]

Politics and unions

Kieran Doyle March, 2021

‘The great appear great, because we are on our knees: Let us rise.’ – Jim Larkin, Union leader, and Founder of the Irish Labour Party. When any union goes on strike, be they nurses, rail workers, teachers, retail employees, the media usually likes to take to the streets to get a […]

Casualties of Crossbarry

WCP Staff March, 2021

As the main base for the famed West Cork Flying Column, the area around Crossbarry was a hotbed of Republican activity in 1921. To deal with this, the British decided to converge on this small village near Innishannon and wipe out the Column. They hadn’t bargained on meeting with the […]

Remembering the victims of the Upton Ambush 100 years on

WCP Staff February, 2021

Shortly after 9am on February 15, 1921, a train heading westwards from Cork City, pulled in to Upton railway station, midway between Crossbarry and Innishannon. One of its carriages was carrying members of the dreaded Essex Regiment and IRA Brigade Commander Charlie Hurley was lying in wait with an ambush […]

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