sub-series 1 - County Cork

Identity area

Reference code

IE 2135 P43/1/1/6/1

Title

County Cork

Date(s)

  • c. 1700-c. 1899 (Creation)

Level of description

sub-series

Extent and medium

2 files and 13 items

Context area

Name of creator

(1914-1990)

Biographical history

Timothy Looney, a native of Cahir, county Tipperary, was born in 1914. A well-known local historian, he could regularly be found exploring local castles, churches, graveyards and sites of archaeological interest. He was known to challenge established beliefs and traditions and to use the evidence of cross-disciplinary elements such as documents and landscapes to offer alternative interpretations. His house on Pearse Street, a treasure trove of maps, books, documents and photographs, was a popular port of call for genealogists tracing their ancestors and for scholars researching historical topics. Looney’s collecting activities culminated in a remarkable salvage operation to recover papers from Shanbally Castle, county Tipperary prior to its destruction by a controlled explosion in March 1960.

In addition to his historical pursuits, Looney was an active member of his local community. He had a lifelong interest in the GAA, and was influential in the development of Gaelic games in Cahir. He was a tireless charity worker and fundraiser. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he organised volunteers to travel around the country to collect money for the Central Remedial Clinic, known as the Little Willie Fund, to aid the plight of polio victims. A supporter of the trade union movement, he was also active in the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. He had a great fondness for Cahir, and campaigned prominently to save its historical railway station. Timothy Looney died in his native town in 1990.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This sub-series contains map surveys of holdings in county Cork and maps relating to the Great Southern and Western Railway line in Banteer village.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The material is arranged chronologically by date.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to all items.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

    Script of material

      Language and script notes

      Physical characteristics and technical requirements

      Paper documents, mostly in good or reasonable condition.

      Finding aids

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

      Related units of description

      Related descriptions

      Notes area

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Subject access points

      Place access points

      Name access points

      Genre access points

      Description control area

      Description identifier

      Rules and/or conventions used

      Status

      Level of detail

      Language(s)

        Script(s)

          Sources

          Accession area