Cork Chamber of Commerce Descriptive List

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference:

B619

Title:

Cork Chamber of Commerce

Level of description:

fonds

Date:

1819 - 2005

Extent:

44 boxes plus 3 loose volumes.

CONTEXT Creator:

Cork Chamber of Commerce

Biographical/Administrative History: Trade association representing commercial interests in Cork. Precusors include: Tholsel and Exchange, Paradise Place (pre 1710); The Cork Exchange, Castle Street/Main Stret (1710); the Committee of Merchants (estd. 1769); Cork Commercial Buildings Company, Incorporated by Royal Charter (1808), its building erected by Sir Thomas Deane in 1811. A one shilling Cocket Tax on merchandise entering or leaving Cork was levied from 1814 to maintain the commercial buildings and library as well as for harbour improvements. In about 1819-1824, the Committee of Directors made a rule bearing on political or religious matters, possibly Catholic Emancipation, which displeased many of the subscribers who seceded and formed a Chamber of Commerce, building a reading room and hotel at Patrick Street in 1836 under a Trust Deed lead by James Daly, Thomas Lyons, Charles Sugrue and various shareholders. Charles Stewart Parnell MP was elected President of the Patrick Street Chamber from 1881 until 1890, and this, possibly together with the introduction of Land League politics to proceedings, lead to a number of members leaving and rejoining the Commercial Buildings, South Mall, where they established the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping in 1882. From the 1920s, the amalgamation of the 2 Chambers was under consideration, but this was not completed until 1951 when the present Chamber was established. The aim of the Chamber is to encourage and enhance industry, commerce and agriculture in Cork.

Archival History: Deposited in 2012.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE Scope and Content: Cork Chamber of Commerce (Patrick Street) records 1819-1951, including; minute books, lists of