It was the Friday of the Jazz Weekend, October 25 last, when Cork’s well known Richard T Cooke departed from this earthly world and went to his eternal rest.
The city was buzzing with music, which would certainly have put a smile on his face.
It was also a most fitting weekend for Richard to bid his final farewell, as years previously the World Ghost Convention, which he founded in 2001, would often be held on the Friday night of that weekend.
Since he was a young boy, Richard had experienced on numerous occasions things he couldn’t explain and also during his years of research and study, which led him to many historic monuments such as castles, mansions, and graveyards, he further encountered unusual happenings.
These were mirrored in many of the interviews he conducted with people of all ages and from all walks of life who related to him their own profound supernatural experiences and the apparitions that they had witnessed. This led him to establish the World Ghost Convention, an annual event held in Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, which ran for 15 years, the aim of which was to explore the spiritual and supernatural, raise public awareness and provide practical guidance.
It is in the area of heritage, however, that Richard was best known. He was one of the most distinguished, contemporary, historical writers in the field of local studies.
Born on the Mardyke in Erinville Hospital, he grew up in a very historic part of the city, the North Mall. As a child, the River Lee, Hayes’ Marsh and the Mardyke Walk were his favourite playgrounds. Growing up beside the River Lee offered endless opportunities for adventure. Just like Huckleberry Finn and his friends, Richard and his pals would happily spend their days fishing along the North Mall.
An award-winning best-selling author, his passion and love for his native smiling city of Cork with its rich, colourful heritage, tradition and culture was nurtured from a very young age by his parents, family, and extended family, as well as neighbours and friends and manifested itself in many forms over his long and varied career.
Educated at CBS Blarney Street, Richard furthered his studies on the history of Cork at the School of Commerce, now Cork College of FET and University College Cork. Highly researched primary source material, distilled to its essence and transformed into an easy flowing entertaining read, was the hallmark of his animated style.
Since the early 1980s his large body of work has appeared locally and nationally in newspapers, magazines and books (including Guide to the History of Cork which became a school text) and used in guided heritage tours as well as broadcast on radio and television.
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As the author, scriptwriter and researcher of the ground-breaking, award-winning educational heritage documentary series: On the Banks and My Home by the Lee, produced by Cork Multichannel TV, Richard became a household name in Cork.
What is the World Ghost Convention, and what was its purpose?
## Remembering Richard T Cooke: Historian and Ghost Hunter
**Host**: Thank you for joining us today. Cork recently lost a notable figure, Richard T. Cooke, who was known for his work in both local history and the paranormal. Could you tell us a little about his life and achievements?
**Alex Reed**: Absolutely. Richard T. Cooke was a true Corkonian, born and raised in a historic part of the city. He had a lifelong passion for history and channeled that into becoming a distinguished local historian. He was particularly renowned for his work on “The Mardyke,” a book exploring Cork’s famed historical walkway. [[1](https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41532107.html)]
But Richard wasn’t just interested in the past; he also delved into the world of the supernatural. Fascinated by unexplained occurrences, he spent years researching and interviewing people about their paranormal experiences, which led him to establish the World Ghost Convention in 2001.
**Host**: That’s fascinating! The World Ghost Convention sounds like a unique event. Can you tell us more about it?
**Alex Reed**: The convention, held annually at the Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre for 15 years, aimed to explore the spiritual and supernatural, raise public awareness, and provide guidance to those interested in these topics. It was a testament to Richard’s dedication to understanding both the known and the unknown.
**Host**: It’s clear that Richard had a very multifaceted career and was deeply passionate about his work. Sadly, he passed away recently on the Friday of the Cork Jazz Weekend.
**Alex Reed**: Yes, he passed away on October 25th. It was almost poetic, as the city was alive with music, something that Richard always enjoyed. It was especially fitting considering his World Ghost Convention often took place during the same weekend.
