The Cork Mother Jones Committee extends our sincere sympathy to Catherine and the Cooke family and friends, on the sad passing of Richard T Cooke on Friday 25th October 2024.
Richard was a founding member of the Cork Mother Jones Committee in 2011 and an active participant each year in the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. Quintessentially a Cork man with a grá for Kerry, he loved this city, its people, its history and its heritage and he cycled everywhere on his bike. His writings in articles, books, songs and music, radio and TV reflected the past, and present of this city and its many colourful inhabitants by the River Lee, in the heartland of the marsh where he was born and reared.
Growing up near the North Mall, Richard lived in the Rock Terrace and was educated nearby at CBS Blarney Street, later at the School of Commerce and later still at University College Cork. He also worked in the then Cork Corporation’s Archives Institute and became prolific in researching and publishing books on the history of his beloved city. Cooke and Scanlon’s Guide to the History of Cork (with Marion Scanlon) became a school textbook. In the foreword, historian CJF MacCarthy, whom Richard admired as a mentor and a friend, described it as “a compact volume of Cork lore, compiled in a wise, careful and dedicated manner by the authors”.
He played a huge role in researching and writing the very successful heritage television series My Home by the Lee screened by Irish Multichannel TV, Cork in the mid 80s. Irish Millennium Publications later published My Home by the Lee by Richard T Cooke in 1990 which is described as “the people’s history of Cork”. Dedicated to CJF MacCarthy, it contains many of Richard’s own photographs and drawings by Catherine M. Courtney, and remains a fitting memorial to Richard’s painstaking research and lively text. His classic book on “The Mardyke – Cork City’s Country Walk in History” echoes the loss of this once magnificent amenity.
Richard’s versatile contribution to the community life of Cork over almost five decades is inestimable. From his work in the Middle Parish, as editor of the Middle Parish Chronicle and the Parish Development Committee to his community heritage organiser of festivals such as the Coal Quay Family Festival and multiple heritage events in the City and County, Richard was the driving force behind so many gatherings.
He was also President and Chairperson of the Cork Adult Education Council. He wrote many songs and told stories as Muddy Lee and his band which are remembered at events throughout the city. He interviewed Echo boy Michael O’Reagan, musician Mick Murphy and sang songs with the Cork Shawlies and so many other Corkonians who create the unique atmosphere in the city.
Richard helped organise the very first Mother Jones Festival in Shandon in 2012 to which he brought a sense of enthusiasm and his energy and his concerts will live long in the memory. His dedicated work for the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival each year and his affection for this “great woman”, his positivity and encouragement to the committee was appreciated by everyone involved.
A highlight for Richard took place in 2016, when his dear friend, historian Dr. Séan Pettit agreed to speak at the festival. Introduced by a proud Richard, the “Master” gave a mighty performance before a capacity audience. Sadly Séan passed away a few months later and Richard gave a memorable funeral oration in St Patrick’s Catholic Church for Séan. Our visit to the Stardust Memorial Wall in 2023 left a lasting impression on Richard as he often spoke about it. His online YouTube video reflects the powerful emotion of that day.
Prior to the 2019 festival, Richard in an interview on the Examiner, when asked what he would do if he was king for a day;
“I’d give everybody in the land a day off to enjoy a holiday and a voucher for a 99 cone and sprinkles and Leo can pick up the tab”
Codladh sámh a chara agus suaimhneas síoraí do anam
