In the news in Cork recently, an old Fender Stratocaster guitar belonging to Rory Gallagher, the famous musician raised in Cork, is set to be auctioned at Bonhams in London in October by his brother Donal.
This famous guitar and local treasure is likely to be lost to Cork forever.
Let's take a look at some other treasures lost to the 'Rebel County' down the years, and what they tell us about Cork Rebel history ...
Sliabh na mBan - Michael Collins' armored car
The Rolls Royce Collins traveled in after invading Cork as the head of the Free State Army in 1922.
Collins, the Director of Intelligence for the IRA during the Irish struggle for freedom, had been invited to West Cork for truce negotiations with his former IRA comrades after taking the city of Cork with his Army. He traveled to the negotiations in this armored car.
Collins met his end on August 22, 1922, in Béal na mBláth in West Cork. The armored car he was traveling in now lies in the Curragh Military Museum in County Kildare.
#OTD 1922 — A thread
Sliabh na mBan formed part of General Michael Collins' convoy when it was ambushed on 22nd August 1922 at Béal na mBláth. The ambush resulted in the death of Michael Collins, who was then Commander in Chief of the National Army pic.twitter.com/ylf8qqgvfA
— Curragh Military Museum (@CurraghMuseum) August 22, 2020
The Mount Keefe Chalice
This famous Cork chalice was ripped from the hands of two Irish priests in the late 17th century in Newmarket, County Cork.
During the period of the Penal Laws in Ireland, the priests were murdered and the chalice, dating to 1590, was spirited out of the country, eventually winding up in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where it sits today.
Calls to return this Cork treasure to the Rebel county have so far been ignored by the British government.
The Mount Keefe Chalice, this silver vessel, which was made in Ireland, dates from 1590 (via http://t.co/Xi49OLianW) pic.twitter.com/6sbg8WlMbs
— Irish Archaeology (@irarchaeology) March 31, 2014
Collins’ Grave
Born in Cork. Raised in Cork. Killed in the end by Corkmen during the Irish Civil War after invading the city at the head of a Free State Army.
Collins is a Cork hero and is still loved and fondly remembered in the city.
Many Corkonians feel Collins, whose body is interred in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, should be brought home and buried closer to his birthplace in County Cork.
On this day in 1922, our most famous resident Michael Collins aka The Big Fellow died. Even to this day his grave is rarely seen without an array of fresh flowers adorning it. #OTD #history pic.twitter.com/S3zAqSeyXF
— Experience Glasnevin - Ireland's National Cemetery (@ExpGlasnevin) August 22, 2018
Sandstone Ogham 5th Century Slab
The Sandstone slab with Ogham script, Ireland's earliest form of writing, is originally from Roovesmore Rath, Aglish, County Cork.
It's now housed in the British Museum in London after being seized by the British during their occupation of Ireland.
The standing stone with ogham letters from Cork at the British Museum. (© The Trustees of the British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
The City Hall and Carnegie Library
The night of December 11, 1920, is one that has gone down in infamy in Cork City history. British troops, including the Black and Tans, burned down much of the city.
After blowing up the City Hall at around 4 am on the morning of December 12, Carnegie Library, the building situated adjacent to the City Hall, Cork's main library, went up in flames alongside the building headquarters of local government.
When Carnegie Library was destroyed, the blaze destroyed many of Cork city's Public Records - lost forever in the inferno.
St Patrick's Street in Cork on (or around) December 14, 1920.
It would appear that Cork has had many treasured artifacts and possessions lifted away down the years. The loss of Rory Gallagher’s famous guitar would be another blow to the city.
The Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald’s Park would be an ideal location for this guitar, alongside slain Lord Mayor Tomás MacCurtain’s Luger from the War of Independence, and other treasures.
Now, I wonder whether Cillian Murphy has any plans for his golden statue after winning his Oscar for Best Actor?
*Dara Burke is a local storyteller and true Cork rebel. When he’s not helping guests experience the real ‘Rebel City’ on his Rebel City Tour of Cork, featuring local food, local drink, and exciting Rebel tales, he’s creating guides of things to do in Cork. Join him on his exciting Cork walking tour to immerse yourself in real Cork culture and make the most of your time in the city.
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