This sub-committee was formed in 1990 by Conna Community Council. It was decided to do this to raise the awareness of Conna's rich heritage and to record local history events, making them accessible to young and old alike.
The History Committee has succeeded in achieving this goal and the constant stream of books produced since it's inception is proof of this.
Conna district is a small rural community in North East Cork but it is steeped in history and tradition with a wealth of folklore. Its castles, church ruins, old burial grounds and other ancient sites and monuments are a clear indication of all this.
With links to such major historical figures as Cromwell and Sir Walter Raleigh, the events that took place in Conna down through the centuries are a microcosm of what happened in Ireland as a whole.
The following are some of the publications of Conna History Committee:
Conna In History and Tradition
St Catherine's Parish A Christian Heritage
1995 was the Golden Jubilee of the opening of the community hall in Conna. To mark this occasion and to salute the tireless work done by Muintir na Tire (the local voluntary organization) a booklet was produced detailing the achievements of those 50 years in the locality. This publication, of over 70 pages is called" Muintir na Tire Hall Conna Golden Jubilee 1945-1995".
To commemorate the same event in 1995 a pictorial book called " Conna by the Bride""
was produced. Consisting of 108 pages it has views of all aspects of parish life stretching back over 100 years.In November 1998 years of hard work finally came to fruition when "Conna in History & Tradition", was published. This is a 412 page volume with well over 100 pictures maps and ilustrations. It contains 25 chapters covering ancient sites and monuments and giving detailed accounts of events from the Anglo-Norman invasion to the present day.
The United Irishmen, the Famine, the War of Independence, the changing face of agriculture, life in the early years, Conna creamery, rural electrification ecclesiastical matters, schools, historic families and houses and memories and folklore are but some of the topics described in detail.
One reviewer states :"The mix of the book offers the reader intrigue , interest and information and unlike many history books this holds the readers attention without effort and offers hours of enjoyable reading to both serious student and casual browser alike".
To celebrate Jubilee 2000 or the Millenium Canon Goold P.P. felt it was appropriate to tell the story of Christianity in Conna parish over the past 1000 years. A publication was duly compiled called St Catherine's Parish A Christian Heritage . Conna History Committee had a big involvement in the work.The book contains 116 pages and traces the unfolding story of Christianity through the centuries. It deals with the upheaval of the Reformation and penal times and the amalgamation of five different parishes to form the present parish of Conna. Mentioned also are the parish priests and curates of the parish, holy wells, mass paths, burial grounds and much more.
Work is well advanced at present on a graveyard inscriptions book. The graveyards in question are Knockmourne, Mogeely, Templevalley, Curraglass, St. Luke's and the three St. Catherine's churchyards. A name index is also being added to make it easier for genealogists to locate a particular name.
A very hardworking committee under the chairmanship of Tom Finn are dedicated to recording Conna's past and making it available for all of us now, and indeed for generations to come.