100 years of Cork University Press: 15 books through the decades
Titles published by Cork University Press include the Atlas of Irish Revolution, Urban Milk Supply, and the Cork Anthology.
Cork University Press was founded in 1925 by Alfred O’Rahilly, its mission to enrich Irish intellectual life and make scholarship accessible to all. An exhibition celebrating the centenary runs at the Boole Library, UCC, until the end of December.
Not the most enticing title, perhaps, but this pamphlet by a member of the dairy science faculty is notable as the first publication by the press. It is also indicative of how the press initially focused on disseminating research by UCC academics that might not otherwise be published due to lack of commercial appeal. The subject matter is also an apt one given that UCC would go on to become highly regarded for its contribution to the field of food science.
The Waterford-born priest was a traditional musician and his field recordings of Irish music on cylinder are believed to be earliest of their type. He was appointed chair of old and modern Irish at UCC when the National University of Ireland was established in 1909. The handbook, regarded as one of the earliest works of ethnomusicology, was reissued in 1952.
Daniel Corkery, from Gardiner’s Hill in Cork, was a hugely influential figure in the development of Irish cultural nationalism and philosophy. This reappraisal of Synge was published on his appointment as Professor of English at UCC, seven years after his most famous work, The Hidden Ireland. A close friend of Terence MacSwiney, he also taught Frank O’Connor and sculptor Seamus Murphy in St Patrick’s school on the northside of Cork.
This survey was highly praised on publication, especially as it was carried out under the constraints of lack of records due to the burning of Cork City Hall in 1920. According to one reviewer at the time: “it provokes the reflection that similar studies of other Irish cities are still needed… in this respect, Cork has given a lead to its sister cities and colleges.”
Described as the first attempted survey of the general position of music in Ireland, this publication comprised a series of articles by eminent Irish musicians and other authorities, compiled by Aloys Fleischmann, the UCC music professor and a significant figure in Cork’s cultural history.
Dunne, a poet and former literary editor of the did his adopted city considerable service with this outstanding collection of writing. The Waterford native assembled a dazzling variety of contributions in poetry, prose and song to illustrate what he termed the 'inner geography' of the place he called home. The line-up includes evergreen Cork stars from Frank O'Connor to Theo Dorgan and all points in between, in a volume that succeeds in achieving Dunne’s stated aim and a great addition to any book shelf — in Cork and beyond.
This was the first in the award-winning ‘Atlas’ series, followed by (2005); (2012); (2017); (2021) and (2024). Atlas of the Irish Revolution in particular captured the public imagination, becoming a bestseller with over 40,000 copies sold to date, a remarkable achievement for a publication of its type and size. Copies of the Irish Revolution and Civil War volumes were distributed to every school in the State.
Drawing on the expertise of hundreds of musicians, researchers and teachers, this encyclopaedic survey of Irish traditional music also uniquely includes county by county analysis of all 70 years of All-Ireland Fleadh prizewinners. It is now in its third edition, published in 2024, covering technological changes and other transformations, such as online teaching and performance during Covid.
In 1997, CUP acquired the pioneering feminist publishing house Attic Press. This book, a searing and unprecedented insight into the exploitation of women, originally published by Attic in 1987, was reprinted by CUP in 2000.
Aiming to address the lack of representation of female writers in its earlier iterations, these two new volumes were a hugely ambitious undertaking, showcasing a wealth of previously unpublished material from fiction and poetry to feminist critique and journalism.
An informative and engaging publication from the Cork University Press imprint Atrium, this is a perfect blend of social history and food culture, while also showing off the array of produce available from the legendary Cork emporium, established in 1788. The featured recipes also serve as a potted history of each stall holder.
This extensively revised edition of An Irish Flora was renamed in honour of the late botanical scholar and Trinity College Dublin Professor DA Webb who was involved in all of the previous seven editions. Illustrated with hand-coloured drawings, it is an invaluable reference book for botanists, gardeners and nature lovers, and a key text in enhancing our knowledge of biodiversity.
This book gives a fascinating overview of Gaelic games on screen, from Ireland's first feature film production Knocknagow, made in 1918, to newsreels and more recent films such as and The author examines issues of cultural identity as well as the reinforcement of regressive stereotypes in international productions.
A meticulously researched and award-winning book covering every aspect of the craft of furniture making in Ireland through the generations. Not just for the scholar, its accessible style should appeal to anyone with an interest in Irish craft and design or rural life.
Another beautifully produced publication, this time shining a spotlight on the dramatic islands off the coast of Kerry’s Iveragh peninsula that have entranced monks, naturalists, storytellers and even Hollywood stars down the centuries. It combines history, archaeology, cultural geography, oral tradition, literature and natural science to deepen our understanding of these remarkable outposts.
