We welcome queries from all members of the public. If you would like to find out more information about your local townland, village, or town, or if you have a general enquiry about local history, please contact us with your question. We particularly welcome any primary, post-primary and third level students who are researching a project or assignment on their local area.
In addition, we can also provide guidance on family history matters and are available to answer any queries you may have by phone or email.
If you are looking for information from newspaper articles, we also have an extensive collection of newspapers in microfilm and bound format and access for library patrons to the digital newspaper database Irish Newspaper Archives. We also have back issues of local Cork newspapers such as The Avondhu, Vale Star, The Corkman and The Carrigdhoun.
Our facilities include study spaces, Wifi, PCs with scanner facilities for library members, microfilm machines and photocopying facilities.
We stock an extensive range of books on numerous topics in our Cork and Irish Collections, as well as an extensive range of historical journals, periodicals and newspapers.
We can also assist you with your genealogy and family history queries. All materials are for consultation in the library and are not for general lending. Copyright rules apply.
Our Local Studies Digital Archive is a large repository that explores the fascinating history and heritage of the county. The digital archive consists of items such as photographs, postcards, maps, pamphlets and notebooks.
Our vision is to bring resources relating to the history of Cork to a wide audience, by making these resources easily accessible online. The digital archive is constantly growing and expanding as new material is digitised.
The topics covered in our archive are quite varied, some subject areas include Cork’s railway history, photographs of Youghal and Bandon, the history of castles across the county, the War of Independence, nineteenth century estate maps and the Irish Tourist Association Topographical and General Survey files from the 1940s.
The Local Studies Library is open for everyone: historians, students, and general members of the public. If you have a query regarding local history or family history, please visit us.
In addition, you can contact us via phone 021 4285640 or email localstudieslibrary@corkcoco.ie
Kieran
It has been a very fulfilling post for me in the Local Studies Library, allowing me to go deeper into subjects which with I was already familiar and to learn about ones I knew little or nothing about. I am now addicted to so many subjects it is not easy to single out any, but my personal favourites are Irish history and politics, placenames of County Cork and the streets of Cork city, and general maritime history. I continue to enjoy spreading this knowledge by entertaining individual and group visits to the library and through my involvement in displays, exhibitions and of late, podcasts.
Marie
I have a keen interest in local history particularly finding out information about historic buildings such as castles and big houses. I am also fascinated by archaeology and we have very useful archaeological inventories for Cork county in our collections. I also digitise material and resources for our growing online collections. Family history is another area of interest and I enjoy helping people with any genealogical queries they may have.
