Cork County Council announces inaugural Historian in Residence

The Historian in Residence, in consultation with Library, Arts and Heritage services, will create a research and engagement programme that will account for various aspects of social life, history and heritage in County Cork. The programme will be delivered through online and in-person activities.

Anthony ‘Tony’ Harpur, from Midleton, volunteered at the Hunt Museum, Limerick where he conducted guided tours of the permanent collection and of the summer exhibitions. He facilitated museum workshops for primary and secondary schools. Tony also lectured to the public and his fellow docents. The Hunt Museum provided him with research opportunities which opened new doors, including studying for an MA in the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Limerick where he graduated in 2011.

In 2014 Tony worked with Midleton Library to produce a programme of events for Heritage Week.  He has continued to produce events for Heritage Week, including tours of Midleton, until the pandemic struck in 2020. He has also conducted tours of Midleton for visitors and locals alike and has developed a Midleton Great Famine Tour.

A life-long member of Midleton Library, Tony’s interests are history (especially local history), archaeology, art history, genealogy, hurling, rugby, sightseeing, architectural history, gardening, natural history and environment.

Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley commented, “Cork County Council is delighted to welcome Tony Harpur to the role of Historian in Residence. This role will go a long way towards ensuring that everyone in our community can engage with our shared cultural heritage and history, and Tony brings a wealth of experience to the residency. This is a great opportunity for Cork communities to work with someone with such a wealth of experience and knowledge and an exciting prospect to celebrate and promote the local history of Cork County.”

Chuir Comhairle Contae Chorcaí tús leis an gclár tionscnaimh Staire Cónaithe le ceapadh Tony Harpur. Cuirfidh an chónaitheacht nua, arna maoiniú ag Éire Ildánach, ar chumas speisialtóirí staire nasc cruthaitheach a dhéanamh le pobail i gContae Chorcaí trí thaighde comh-chruthaithe, díospóireachtaí, imeachtaí, gníomhaíochtaí agus cruinnithe fíorúla.

Cruthóidh an Staraí Cónaithe, i gcomhairle le seirbhísí Leabharlainne, Ealaíon agus Oidhreachta, clár taighde agus rannpháirtíochta a thabharfaidh cuntas ar ghnéithe éagsúla den saol sóisialta, den stair agus den oidhreacht i gContae Chorcaí. Seachadfar an clár seo trí ghníomhaíochtaí ar líne agus go pearsanta araon.

Roimhe seo d'obair  Anthony ‘Tony’ Harpur, fear as Mainistir na Corann, go deonach in Iarsmalann Hunt i Luimneach, áit ar thug sé turais threoraithe ar an mbailiúchán buan agus ar thaispeántais samhraidh. D'éascaigh sé ceardlanna iarsmalainne do bhunscoileanna agus do mheánscoileanna. Thug Tony léachtaí don phobal agus dá chomhghleacaithe chomh maith. Chuir Iarsmalann Hunt deiseanna taighde ar fáil a d’oscail doirse nua dó, lena n-áirítear staidéar a dhéanamh ar MA i Stair na hEalaíne agus na hAiltireachta in Ollscoil Luimnigh áit ar bhain sé céim amach in 2011.

In 2014 d’oibrigh Tony le Leabharlann Mhainistir na Corann chun clár imeachtaí a tháirgeadh don tSeachtain Oidhreachta. Ina dhiaidh sin lean sé ar aghaidh ag eagrú imeachtaí do Sheachtain Oidhreachta gach bliain, lena n-áirítear turais ar Mhainistir na Corann, go dtí gur bhuail an phaindéim in 2020. Chomh maith leis sin d'eagraigh sé turais timpeall ar Mhainistir na Corann do chuairteoirí agus do mhuintir na háite araon agus d’fhorbair sé Turas Gorta Mór Mhainistir na Corann.

Is ball fadtéarmach de Leabharlann Mhainistir na Corann é Tony agus tá spéis mhór aige sa stair (stair áitiúil ach go háirithe), seandálaíocht, stair na healaíne, ginealas, iománaíocht, rugbaí, fámaireachta, stair ailtireachta, garraíodóireacht, stair an dúlra agus an timpeallacht.

Ag fáiltiú roimh an bhfógra, dúirt Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Mary Linehan Foley,

“Tá ríméad ar Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí fáilte a chur roimh Tony Harpur chuig a ról mar Staraí Cónaithe. Déanfaidh an ról seo dul chun cinn i dtaca le féidearthacht gach duine inár bpobal  teagmháil a dhéanamh lenár n-oidhreacht chultúrtha chomhroinnte agus lenár stair, agus tugann Tony neart taithí leis chuig an ról seo. Is deis iontach é seo do phobail Chorcaí oibriú le duine a bhfuil an oiread sin taithí agus eolais aige agus ionchas iontach chun stair áitiúil Chontae Chorcaí a cheiliúradh agus a chur chun cinn. "