Diarmaid Fawsitt Archive Launch 16 November 2022

A truly wonderful and very enjoyable event with many grandchildren (and great grandchildren) in attendance. Cork City councillors, UCC historians, representatives of various bodies (including the Army) also came. 

There was an exhibition of photographs, mementos ephemera, alongside copies of the very impressive Descriptive List of the Diarmaid Fawsitt Papers (in hardback), there was a musical interval provided by Kate O’Shea who played ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ on Violin, refreshments, and several speeches from the Cork Archivist Brian McGee, Cllr. Shane O'Callaghan, historian Gabriel Doherty and Julitta Clancy.

Regarding the collection itself, Cork City Council were very appreciative that such a large and diverse collection of original papers from 1904-1967 were donated by the surviving children of Judge Seán Mac Diarmada and Patience Fawsitt of Laurel Mount Dunmanway, to their Archives. 

The Diarmaid Fawsitt papers were sorted and arranged for the Fawsitt family by Julitta Clancy,  archivist and grand daughter, prior to their deposit in Cork Archives in 2019.  

There are 2 sections to the archive: the Public Life Section is now open to the public and it is envisaged that portions of the Personal and Family Life Section,  particularly extensive correspondence with friends and colleagues in the USA,  Ireland and Australia, will be opened in due course.

Hopefully it will lead to new research, including around the struggle for independence, the Treaty and Civil War periods and the early years of the State, but also throwing light on other key aspects in which he was involved such as industrial and economic development, the IDA, the Bar and the Judiciary.

Related Links

https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/news-room/latest-news/diarmaid-l-fawsitts-archive-now-accessible-to-public.html

https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/news-room/latest-news/cork-city-county-archives-receive-major-donation-from-fawsitt-family.html