CORK:"HOLY MOLY! So that's how Cork city ended up where it did!" So whispered the little boy as he sat entranced, watching Dowcha Puppets tell the story of how St Finbarr founded his monastery at the mouth of the River Lee in their play, Janey Mac.
"Holy Moly" was a much favoured saying of St Finbarr in Janey Macwhere, after his fellow monk Dunbar dropped stone after stone to sink gurgling into the marsh, he listened to a young girl's advice and built his monastery on a hill. So Cork was created.
Janey Macdrew more than 100 children and adults to the Millennium Hall at Cork City Hall and was just one of 150 or so events organised around the city and suburbs to mark Culture Night on Leeside.
Among the many walking tours was "A City of Fish" where boat builder Pádraig Ó Duinnín of TG4's Muintir na Maraheld about 30 people enthralled with his leisurely recounting of the history and tradition of fishing along the channels of the Lee.
He began at Cork City Hall with displays of old photographs by Fr Browne and others of fishermen in Blackrock mending their nets and sailing ships at anchor right in the heart of the city at Lapp’s Quay and George’s Quay.
Then he led the group to the very spots where the photos had been taken, regaling the group with stories of fishing families like the Grants and the Reidys who mended their nets on George’s Quay and straightened their ropes on the bollards of Sullivan’s Quay.
Across the river on the Grand Parade, food historian Regina Sexton could be seen leading a similar sized group on an expedition to explore the gastronomic history of Cork.
Culture Night spokeswoman Eimear O’Brien was delighted with the response. “We had lots of people on the streets and all the venues were really well supported so we’re very pleased.”