THE WAR MEMORIAL IN CORK CITY CENTRE
THE WAR MEMORIAL IN CORK [AND AN UNPLEASANT ENCOUNTER]
An Unpleasant Encounter at Cork's War Memorial
Street photography, by its nature, occupies a grey area of social norms. As a photographer, one sees oneself as a neutral observer capturing a moment in a public space. To some people within that space, however, a camera pointed in their direction can feel like an intrusion. Their reaction is often based not on your intent, but on their own fears, history, and prejudices.
I recently experienced this first-hand while attempting to photograph the war memorial in Cork. My efforts were cut short by a drunk and aggressive individual who accused me of being a "foreign photographer promoting the British Empire." He repeatedly shouted, "go home you big fat Yank," an insult I've now heard twice in Cork, despite having a Dublin accent and not being large.
Why "Yank"? In the mind of an aggressor, the "outsider with a camera" often defaults to the stereotype of an American tourist. My Dublin accent was irrelevant to someone who wasn't listening and was simply looking for a target. Engaging with an intoxicated and hostile person is pointless and potentially dangerous, so I walked away—the only sensible course of action. This unpleasant encounter, however, serves as a stark reminder that some historical monuments remain focal points for unresolved tensions.
A Monument with a Complex Past
Cork's most prominent war memorial, located in the Peace Park on the South Mall, has a history marked by controversy. Initially conceived to honour the thousands of Cork residents who died in the First World War, it now also commemorates the fallen of the Second World War.
A Contested Beginning
The genesis of the Great War Memorial was fraught with political tension. When the Cork Legion of Ex-Servicemen proposed the idea, it was met with opposition. In a city that had suffered greatly at the hands of Crown forces during the Irish War of Independence, memorialising Irish soldiers who fought for the British was a contentious issue. The burning of the city centre and the deaths of two of its Lord Mayors were fresh wounds, leading some on the Cork Corporation to view the memorial as a symbol of British ascendancy.
Despite these objections,the memorial was approved and unveiled on St Patrick's Day in 1925, drawing a crowd of tens of thousands in a procession of ex-servicemen, widows, and orphans.
Design and Symbolism
The erection of war memorials in the nascent Irish Free State was politically sensitive. Many from this period adopted conservative designs, often incorporating Celtic Revival motifs to emphasise a distinct "Irishness" and avoid antagonising nationalist sentiments.
The Cork memorial, a limestone obelisk, is a noteworthy exception as it depicts a soldier figure. The sculptor, Denis Sharkey, created a design that was unique for its time in Ireland, making it a significant piece of public art.
Commemoration in a Broader Context
While the main memorial on the South Mall initially honoured the casualties of WWI, it has since been updated to include the names of those from Cork killed or missing in WWII. This reflects a broader, albeit slow, shift in how Ireland reconciles with its complex military history.
It is important to note that other, smaller war memorials exist throughout Cork City, many located within churches like the one at St Nicholas' Church, which is dedicated to the 20 men from its parish who died in the Great War. The continuing sensitivity surrounding these commemorations is highlighted by occasional acts of vandalism, such as damage to a plaque in Kinsale dedicated to men who died serving in British forces during WWII. These incidents underscore how the past remains a powerful and sometimes volatile force in the present.
An Unpleasant Encounter at Cork's War Memorial
Street photography, by its nature, occupies a grey area of social norms. As a photographer, one sees oneself as a neutral observer capturing a moment in a public space. To some people within that space, however, a camera pointed in their direction can feel like an intrusion. Their reaction is often based not on your intent, but on their own fears, history, and prejudices.
I recently experienced this first-hand while attempting to photograph the war memorial in Cork. My efforts were cut short by a drunk and aggressive individual who accused me of being a "foreign photographer promoting the British Empire." He repeatedly shouted, "go home you big fat Yank," an insult I've now heard twice in Cork, despite having a Dublin accent and not being large.
Why "Yank"? In the mind of an aggressor, the "outsider with a camera" often defaults to the stereotype of an American tourist. My Dublin accent was irrelevant to someone who wasn't listening and was simply looking for a target. Engaging with an intoxicated and hostile person is pointless and potentially dangerous, so I walked away—the only sensible course of action. This unpleasant encounter, however, serves as a stark reminder that some historical monuments remain focal points for unresolved tensions.
A Monument with a Complex Past
Cork's most prominent war memorial, located in the Peace Park on the South Mall, has a history marked by controversy. Initially conceived to honour the thousands of Cork residents who died in the First World War, it now also commemorates the fallen of the Second World War.
A Contested Beginning
The genesis of the Great War Memorial was fraught with political tension. When the Cork Legion of Ex-Servicemen proposed the idea, it was met with opposition. In a city that had suffered greatly at the hands of Crown forces during the Irish War of Independence, memorialising Irish soldiers who fought for the British was a contentious issue. The burning of the city centre and the deaths of two of its Lord Mayors were fresh wounds, leading some on the Cork Corporation to view the memorial as a symbol of British ascendancy.
Despite these objections,the memorial was approved and unveiled on St Patrick's Day in 1925, drawing a crowd of tens of thousands in a procession of ex-servicemen, widows, and orphans.
Design and Symbolism
The erection of war memorials in the nascent Irish Free State was politically sensitive. Many from this period adopted conservative designs, often incorporating Celtic Revival motifs to emphasise a distinct "Irishness" and avoid antagonising nationalist sentiments.
The Cork memorial, a limestone obelisk, is a noteworthy exception as it depicts a soldier figure. The sculptor, Denis Sharkey, created a design that was unique for its time in Ireland, making it a significant piece of public art.
Commemoration in a Broader Context
While the main memorial on the South Mall initially honoured the casualties of WWI, it has since been updated to include the names of those from Cork killed or missing in WWII. This reflects a broader, albeit slow, shift in how Ireland reconciles with its complex military history.
It is important to note that other, smaller war memorials exist throughout Cork City, many located within churches like the one at St Nicholas' Church, which is dedicated to the 20 men from its parish who died in the Great War. The continuing sensitivity surrounding these commemorations is highlighted by occasional acts of vandalism, such as damage to a plaque in Kinsale dedicated to men who died serving in British forces during WWII. These incidents underscore how the past remains a powerful and sometimes volatile force in the present.