The National Monument in Cork was erected at the junction of the South Mall and the Grand Parade (Sráid an Chapaill Bhuí)” Yellow Horse Street in 1906. It replaced the statue of King George II on horse-back, which lasted one hundred years in locations around the Grand Parade until it was finally removed in 1862. Cork’s citizens “gratitude for the many blessings that they enjoyed during his auspicious reign” had seemingly lost its ardour.
The Cork Young Ireland Society then raised the finances for a national monument and the foundation stone was eventually laid on 2nd October 1898. Almost eight years later on St Patrick’s Day 1906, the present impressive monument, designed by Dominick Coakley with figures sculptured by John Francis Davis of College Road was finally unveiled. It lists the names of some who took part in the Risings of 1798, 1803, 1848 and Fenian rebellions over the strident poses of Wolfe Tone, Michael Dwyer, Thomas Davis and Peter O’Neill Crowley on each of the corners.
A “Mother Erin” sculpture facing north takes the central position in this very imposing edifice. Over the years it has become an assembly area for political and social gatherings especially during the War of independence and election campaigns. Recently the 2016 commemoration of the 1916 Rising was held there and currently the weekly Palestinian support groups gather nearby on the Grand Parade.
One hundred and thirty three names of individuals appear on three sides of the monument, some recognisable and some not. Other important patriots such as John Swiney, the draper of Goul Na Spurra near Shandon Street and the Cork leader of the United Irishmen along with Roger O’Connor, Tadhg O’Donovan (Tadhg an Astna), and John Griffith are not there.
However the almost total lack of women listed or referred to on the National Monument is a glaring omission. Just two women are named on the side plaques, Anne Devlin and the Marchioness of Queensberry.
Anne Devlin was extremely active in the plans for the 1803 Emmet rebellion. A very close confidant of Robert Emmet and sister-in-law of Michael Dwyer, Anne suffered in prison as she refused to testify against Emmet. She died in poverty.
Caroline Margaret Douglas (1821-1904) was born and spent time as an infant in Bantry. Later she aided the Manchester Martyrs and contributed financially to nationalist and radical causes and corresponded with James Connolly re his Workers’ Republic newspaper. One of her sons, John, was responsible for the adoption of the Queensberry rules in boxing while a grandson was Lord Alfred Douglas. Catherine is buried in Scotland.
The men listed on the National Monument are all quite laudable no doubt for their patriotic contributions to Irish freedom and each worthy of remembrance. It was erected to “perpetuate the memory of the gallant men of 1798, 1803, 1848 and 1867 who fought and died in the wars of Ireland to recover her sovereign Independence”. And it concludes with the wish that “righteous men will make our land A Nation Once Again”.
Metal plaques representing the Cork Coat of Arms and the four provinces have been added to the surrounding metal guard rails. Curiously, two oval metal plaques with the eagle and flag of the United States with the words ‘Hail Columbia’ and 1776 is attached to the northern and southern metal guards. ‘Hail Columbia’ dates from the inauguration of George Washington and was the national anthem of the USA until 1931. Today it remains the official anthem of the Vice President of the United States.
The monument also predates the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence as well as the establishment of the Republic? Recently a plaque has been added to the monument to commemorate all who served the cause of Independence 1916-1923. The recent plaque is slightly obscured by the Hail Columbia plaque.
Yet how representative is it of the real history or indeed of the complete Irish story if just over one percent of those listed on this Mother Erin or Erin monument are women and references to the contribution of women are overlooked almost entirely?
Is it time to create an additional memorial in the heart of Cork City which is more representative of Cork and the entire nation, inclusive of all women and men who contributed in any way to achieving our sovereign independence, to those who built our community and to the emigrants who impacted positively on the wider world?.
What a good, succinct review of the history of this monument. It is striking how it is still a focus for demonstration and protest today.
You are quite right to point out the poor gender balance on the names on the memorial. I would however suggest that the central figure is just plain ‘Erin’; I’m not familiar with the idea of a ‘Mother Erin’ being portrayed in this way. The figure is very similar to that on the Skibbereen 1798 monument.
The personification of Erin overlaps with the stories of the ‘Shan Van Vocht’ and of ‘Cathlin ni Houlihan’, but it’s usually her status as a forlorn or abandoned woman in need of male help to return to her youth/birthright that is central to her story. I’m sure that you would agree that this is more representative of how women were perceived in 1906 than today.
In terms of a truly representative memorial, we should acknowledge that beyond its sidelining of women, the National Monument is purely dedicated to the strand of Irish nationalism dedicated to armed violence, and hence not representative of the Grattan/O’Connell/Parnell/Redmond tradition which is also a significant part of the story of national self-determination.
yes