Diocesan News17 Dec 08

Understanding our History: A Conference for people from the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

This conference, entitled Protestants, the War of Independence and the Civil War in County Cork, was held in December and was attended by nearly 150 people from Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The conference was funded by Continuing Ministerial Education and the Hard Gospel Project. The day began with a welcome from The Right Revd Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne & Ross.

The first speaker was Dr David Butler, an historical geographer of religions, who lectures in history at the University of Limerick and is a visiting lecturer in church history at St. Patrick’s College of Education, Thurles and in historical geography at University College Cork (UCC). Dr Butler has conducted ethnographic and historical research into inter-church relations in West Cork and North Monaghan which resulted in a number of co-authored articles including Southern Irish Protestants: an example of de-ethnicisation? (Nations & Nationalism 2007) and Difference, Identity and Community in Southern Irish Protestantism: The Protestants of West Cork (National Identities 2008). Dr Butler gave a lecture entitled ‘West Cork Protestants: Origin, Settlement and Composition c.1590 – c.1920.’

 The second topic was ‘Protestant emigration from the south of Ireland 1911 – 1926; some statistical evidence.’ This was presented by Dr Andy Bielenberg who is a lecturer in Irish economic and social history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries at the Department of History, UCC. His research interests include Irish emigration in the nineteenth and twentieth century and modern Irish economic development. Industry in Ireland during industrial revolution (Routledge 2009), his latest book, will be available early in the new year.

Following a coffee break Prof Peter Hart continued with ‘Cork Protestants and the Irish Revolution.’ Peter Hart is a professor of history and the Canada Research Chairman in Irish Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He holds a PhD from Trinity College, Dublin and has taught at Queen’s University, Belfast. He is the author of a number of books and articles on Irish history including The IRA and Its Enemies: Violence and Community in Cork, 1916-1923 (Oxford 1998).

The final speaker before lunch was Mr John Borgonovo, who spoke about ‘Sectarianism, Republicanism and the Revolution in the City and County of Cork, 1920-1922.’ He is the author of ‘Spies Informers and the “Anti-Sinn Fein Society”, The Intelligence War in Cork City, 1920-1921’ (Irish Academic Press 2007). Mr. Borogonovo is currently in the final year of a PhD at UCC, where he is conducting a local study of Cork City during the Irish Revolution.

There were two speakers in the afternoon, the first being Senator Eoghan Harris whose subject was ‘Keeping the Head Down: Reflections on enigmatic encounters with Southern Protestants.’ Senator Harris writes a column in the Sunday Independent and between 1993 and 2000 wrote extensively about the peace process for the Sunday Times. He has worked as a political advisor for Mary Robinson, John Bruton and David Trimble and is the author of two plays, which deal sympathetically with the position of Protestants in the Republic. In August 2008 he was appointed to Seanad Éireann by the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Finally Prof Joe Ruane, who is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at UCC, covered the subject of ‘Reconciling memories in the Irish context.’ He has directed two projects: one between Northern Ireland and the Republic and the other between Ireland and France and his recent publications include Southern Irish Protestants: from an ethnic to a religious minority? (with D. Butler) and Majority-minority conflicts and their resolution: Protestant minorities in France and in Ireland.

The day closed with thanks and acknowledgement from the Bishop of the hard work of The Ven Robin Bantry-White in securing all speakers, except for Senator Harris, who was invited by Philip McKinnley of the Hard Gospel Project. The Bishop also thanked the Diocesan Office Staff for making all the arrangements and Dr. Kenneth Milne and Dr Raymond Refaussé from the RCB Library, who have provided many resources for researchers over the years.