By Con Kelleher
Local history is alive and well in Ireland, with many societies spread throughout the island. One list had 139 societies but just four from the greater West Cork area were mentioned. In fact, the West Cork History Societies Association (WCHSA) has seventeen affiliated societies, and even that figure does not include all local history/heritage societies in the area. By that metric, there are probably many hundreds of local history societies in Ireland. While the Federation of Local History is a national organisation, West Cork history groups set up a locally based association, the WCHSA, in 2022 to further their efforts. The philosophy is the meitheal (mutual help) and the instrument is the WCHSA.
The survey asked societies basic details—length in existence, membership numbers, officers, activities, what they did well and ‘problem’ areas. Many societies report high interest, good attendances at talks, walks and trips, and good sales for publications. All societies hold lectures; many publish journals and arrange outings and trips, local and farther afield, erect signage and conduct walks. Thereafter, paths diverge greatly. The disparate activities include running museums (Kilmurry, Bantry, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (‘virtual’) and Dunmanway (‘outdoor’)), book-publishing (Beara), monument/site care (Coppeen), genealogy services (Dunmanway and Beara) and a secondary schools’ exhibition history (Macroom), while Castlehaven/Myross has a superb FaceBook page. ‘The wisdom of crowds’ emerged as, collectively, the group has expertise in fund-raising and grant application, membership recruitment, lecture presentation, setting up QR-coded tours, oral history, IT skills, museum curation, trip knowledge, digital skills (William Casey, Skibbereen), photography skills (Colum Cronin, Coppeen) and journalism (Kinsale Cultural and Historic Society). In summary, the WCHSA has a deep reservoir of knowledge and skills. Crucially, societies are willing to share these.
West Cork has many fine attributes but is not perfect. The major issue to emerge was membership recruitment. Even those with big memberships found it challenging to get people to take on committee or officer roles, and the age profile was high—anyone under 40 was a rarity. The advent and advances of IT are challenging for some older folk, the dominant cadres in societies. Young people can fill this gap, as there is both a need and an opportunity for IT-savvy members. Finances are generally fine—only one ‘needs improvement’. For the most part, members use banks, some credit unions or An Post, and some used all three. Credit unions offer charge-free services. Another possible area to save money is in insurance costs; for broadly similar cover, the survey revealed that annual charges ranged from €250 to €600.
Apart from membership challenges, societies mostly ‘get on with it’. Difficulties with lecture presentations and sourcing topics also featured. Avoiding clashing times of meetings with nearby societies and arranging joint trips were identified as areas of possible greater cooperation.
Two societies have offered advice to another that has bother servicing a rent. The Southern Star has published an article on the WCHSA and J.J. Hurley is checking group insurance rates. Castlehaven/Myross held a local Famine conference this year. Some societies have big numbers and provide a possible template for recruitment; facilitating history courses, either locally or in UCC, should be a fruitful source of future general/committee members. West Cork Oral History, a close sister group, invited Dr Tomás Mac Con Mara to conduct oral workshops in June/July this year. There is funding procured for more oral history activity. Those interested, we hope, will join societies.
The survey also identified ‘helpers’, a group of knowledgeable people willing to share; a list of contacts with details attached will be available to member societies. By activating the meitheal principle, the WCHSA is using a ‘match-making’ or ‘buddy’ system. Contact should be direct, easy and helpful. There will be problems and there will be more work for some, but it should be worthwhile.
If similar groups exist ‘out there’, the WCHSA would be delighted to make contact, to air and share ideas. Engaging with fellow societies increases enjoyment and facilitates access to deep sources of knowledge, skills, human experiences and kindness. An meitheal abú!
Con Kelleher MD is one of the founders and a committee member of the West Cork History Societies Association.