Exhibition exploring the building and development of Cork's new City Hall in 1936
Created by Cork City and County Archives
From the Ashes The complete destruction of the City Hall during the Burning of Cork on the night of 11 – 12 December 1920 was a grievous blow to the City and to Cork City Council in particular. The old City Hall, a fine stone structure originally built in 1830 as the Corn Exchange, had only been purchased as municipal buildings in the 1890s, and fully adapted in 1906. Prior to that, despite being one of the most ancient city Corporations in Ireland, the Council met in various locations including the City Grand Jury rooms in the Courthouse on Washington Street, and previously at the Exchange building on Castle Street/South Main Street (now the site of the old Cork Catholic Young Men’s Society Hall). The Courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1891, including most of the City’s ancient records.
Almost immediately following the Burning of Cork, the Corporation set about ensuring that the urgent task of reconstructing the City was carried out as soon as possible. Resurrecting the commercial and economic life of the City, badly hit following years of war, was of paramount importance and a City Reconstruction Committee was established in February 1921 by the Corporation to assess requirements and secure funding from the Free State Government and further afield. 4 months after the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, in March 1922, a special Corporation committee was set up to look into the rebuilding of City Hall and Municipal Buildings. In mid 1923 an open competition was issued for the design of a new City Hall and the successful applicant was Messrs. Jones and Kelly Architects, Dublin. Major funding was secured that helped in the rebuilding of the city, but it was later decided that additional monies that might have been used for a new City Hall were to be spent instead elsewhere, mainly on extensive public housing projects in the City. In the event, it was to be 13 years before a new City Hall was completed. The 1920s and 1930s were a time of critical change and transformation for Local Government in Ireland. The dissolution of the first republican-majority Cork Corporation by the Minister for Local Government in November 1924 and its replacement by Commissioner Philip Monahan until March 1929 was major event which may have reduced the urgency of building a new City Hall, as the democratic and ceremonial aspect to Corporation activities was largely suspended in the absence of a Council, Lord Mayor, or elected representatives. Following the re-establishment of the elected Corporation Council in March 1929, and with the former Commissioner now serving as the first City Manager in Ireland, Cork Courthouse was used for major civic events, and meetings were held in a number of locations, including the School of Art, UCC, the Public Health Offices, 18 Parnell Place, and the Cork County Council Chamber which was also situated at the Courthouse.
Old City Hall prior to destruction c.1900.
Site of the old City Hall, c.1934. Showing the empty site that faced Corkonians following the demolition of the old City Hall.
Freedom Ceremony held at Cork Courthouse, 1930.
Site of the old City Hall, OS Map from 1901. Showing Corn Exchange, the main building of which was occupied by Cork Corporation
Old City Hall, destroyed in Burning of Cork, December 1920
Photo. of Philip Monahan, City Commissioner appointed November 1924.
Extract from Minute Book of the Council re. establishment of City Hall Rebuilding Committee, March 1922.
Drawing showing parts of Patrick’s Street being considered for rebuilding (1922)
Page from the City Reconstruction Committee Minute Book, 1921.
Extract from Council Minute Book, 1710 – 1732. At this time the Corporation would often have met at the Exchange Building on Castle Street/South Main Street
Ministerial Order abolishing Cork Corporation, Oct. 1924
The pre – 1891 Courthouse, where the Corporation met at the City Grand Jury rooms. It was destroyed by fire in 1891, including most of the Corporation’s ancient charters and records. (1843)
The Exchange building, Castle Street where the
Corporation held many of its meetings up to the mid 19th Century. Now the site of the old CCYMS Hall.
Letter from city Treasurer concerning Cork Reconstruction Fund (3 Nov 1922)
Membership of the City’s Reconstruction Committee established February 1921
Decision, Design & Competition The absence of a City Hall was felt keenly by the newly elected 1929 Council and shared by many Corkonians. Given the historic connections of the City Hall with the national war of independence, particularly the ultimate sacrifice made by the City’s first republican Lord Mayors, Tomás MacCurtain and Terence MacSwiney, it was felt that the second city of the Republic deserved a proper civic building befitting its proud traditions.
Lord Mayor Sean French stated at a meeting of the Council that ‘It was a disgrace to Cork that their city should be without a suitable hall…and that the Government of their country ought to appreciate the services of men in Cork when fighting had to be done for their country…and that they should erect a City Hall that would be worthy of them…’
Back in 1923, following detailed specifications compiled by the City Engineer with the approval of the Corporation, a competition was held for the rebuilding the City Hall. In all 13 designs were received. The successful design adopted by the Council on 11 July 1923 was by Messrs. Jones and Kelly, Architects, Dublin. That was where the matter lay until the newly re-established Council, in March 1929, in one of its first major decisions, re-established the special committee for rebuilding a new City Hall. On 23 April 1929, this committee reported back its decisions and recommendations to Council that the erection of the building should commence at once, and that the design by the original prize winners of the 1923 competition, Jones and Kelly Architects, would be used. Philip Monahan, now in position as the first City Manager, used his considerable influence and abilities to insure proper funding for the building, while maintaining funding for various other capital projects in the City, such as massive investment in public housing, a new School of Commerce, and the new swimming baths at Victoria Cross. ‘…The arrangements of the various departments has been carefully studied…The Council Chamber, of good proportions, is admirably situated….the whole of the rooms, stairs and corridors, are splendidly lit… The elevations, of good classical character- though simple and relatively inexpensive- are of good proportion and detail, and should make an imposing and dignified building, eminently suited to the site and the surroundings…’ (Report to Council by Lucius O’Callaghan, Assessor on the design by Jones and Kelly Architects, 1923)
Council Minute Book. City Engineer’s report to Council with recommendations concerning the rebuilding of City Hall (1923)
Extracts of design drawings submitted by Jones and Kelly Architects, 1923.
Notice of Competition for Design of new City Hall, June 1923.
Council Minutes, October 1924, recording borrowing towards a new City Hall and other projects
Design Specifications and Conditions, approved by Council, 1923
Council Minutes, 23 April 1929, recording recommendations of the Special Committee for rebuilding City Hall.
Competition Assessor’s Report to Council, 1924, recommending design by Jones and Kelly Architects.
Newsclipping, Feb. 1931- Cork Workers’ Council calling for early start to building of City Hall in order to provide much needed employment.
Design Jones and Kelly Architects, Dublin were the winning design ahead of 12 other entries. Their Architectural partnership was formed between Alfred Edwin Jones and Stephen Stanislaus Kelly in 1919. In 1920 they won the competition for Ballymena Town Hall. The partnership lasted until Kelly's death in 1951. Jones & Kelly had a large and varied practice. Their work was primarily ecclesiastical and educational but also included public housing, cinemas, theatres, commercial and industrial buildings. They carried on the traditional apprenticeship system until the 1940s, and well over a hundred pupils were indentured to the firm in the period up to and including the Second World War. The building is designed on classic lines to harmonise with the examples of 18th and 19th Century architecture and other modern buildings, that so richly endow Cork City. The building design consists of 3 sections, with 2 wings comprising the Municipal Offices, and an Assembly Hall in Between. An imposing and dignified structure, with a long main front dominating the river, immediately attracts attention by reason of the excellence of its proportion and the simplicity of its treatment. The facades are of dressed limestone from the Little Island quarries.
The main entrance to City Hall is through a marble paved vestibule to the main staircase hall, the stairs are of polished marble and the balustrading of ornamental hammered wrought iron.
The Council Chamber is approached through a lobby and is lofty and spacious, and is naturally lighted from an ornamental dome. Galleries are provided for distinguished visitors and the public.
The assembly hall can seat over 2,000 persons.
Various design drawings created by Jones and Kelly Architects, 1923-1932
Foundation & Construction In March 1932, the tender of Messrs. John Sisk and Son Builders was accepted by Cork Corporation for the building of City Hall for the estimated sum of £139,870. The eventual total cost of the building, including fittings, furniture, electrical and heating installations, and painting and decoration was roughly £200,000. The foundation stone of the City Hall was laid on 9 July 1932, by Eamon De Valera, President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State (the precursor to the office of the Taoiseach).
The main part of the construction was to take 3 years. First occupation of the building took place in March 1935, when the staff from a number of departments moved into the western wing.
The first meeting of the City Council held in the new building took place on 23 April 1935.
Photo. Laying of Foundation Stone of City Hall, by President Eamon De Valera, 9 July 1932. This stone is still visible at the entrance to City Hall. (Courtesy of the Irish Examiner)
Letter from Senator JC Dowdall, concerning purchase of furniture for the City Hall, formewrly belonging to William O’Brien MP, 1933
Photo of City Hall under construction,1934 – 1935. Note the clock tower is not yet in place.
Lord Mayor Cllr. Frank Daly and Eamon De Valera in procession with elected members of the Corporation, 9 July 1932
Letter from Fitzgerald & Co. who supplied electrical equipment, 1934
Letter from Jones and Kelly Architects, to City Manager, signed personally by Alfred E. Jones, 1933
Letter from Sisk and Co., the main building contractor for City Hall, to Philip Monahan City Manager, 1936.
Photo from newspaper showing City Hall under construction, c.1934
Estimates for furniture from John Sisk and Sons and from The Munster Arcade, 1934
Blessing of the Foundation Stone by Dean of Cork, 9 July 1932
Letter from City Manager Philip Monahan to Engineers McAteer and MacEntee, Engineers, 1933
Photo of interior of City Hall talen in March 1935
Newspaper description of the foundation ceremony, 1932.
Letter from Barry M. Egan concerning crucifix for Council Chamber, 1937
Official Opening President De Valera, accompanied by Frank Aiken, Minister for Defence arrived in Cork on 8 September and were ceremonially welcomed at the City boundary at Tivoli by the Lord Mayor Sean French and other civic representatives. The party was escorted by Cavalry guard through the densely lined streets in horse-drawn carriages. Amongst a distinguished gathering at the Victoria Hotel for lunch were WT Cosgrave, senior Dáil representative of Cork City and the Mayors of Clonmel, Drogheda, Waterford and Limerick. At City Hall, with over 20,000 people looking on, De Valera was met by Philip Monahan City Manager, and introduced to J.Sisk, Builder, who presented De Valera with a gold key with which he opened the main door of the building. 8 Sept.1936
With the No.1 Army Band playing the National Anthem, the tricolour was immediately flown from the top of City Hall together with the civic flag of Cork, and a salute of guns was fired from artillery based on Lapp’s Quay. The parties then proceeded to the concert hall where speeches were delivered by De Valera, the Lord Mayor, WT Cosgrave and others. ‘This noble building, raised in a spot made sacred to to Ireland by the devotion and sacrifices of the great public men who laboured here, cannot fail to be an
inspiration to the young people of Cork…. In declaring this hall opened I do so in the belief that it is a symbol of the resurrection of the Irish nation and that it will mark a new era of progress for Cork and its people…’ (De Valera’s Speech, 8 Sept 1936)
Invitation to the official opening to Seamus Fitzgerald of the Harbour Commissioners
‘…To its architects…and builders...I pay a well-merited tribute. It will long stand as a monument to their genius and competence. It is a standing proof that the City of Cork has lost none of its courage and foresight, and that its business men, its professions, and its workers have lost none of their industry, genius and skill…’ (Speech by WT Cosgrave, TD)
Souvenir booklet for the official opening
Newsclipping concerning the official opening
Newsclipping concerning first meeting in the new City Hall, 1935
Lord Mayor Sean French and President of the Executive Council of the Free State, Eamon De Valera, and other dignitaries proceed along Patrick’s Street escorted with full military honours by a mounted Cavalry detachment (8 Sept. 1936) (Photos. courtesy of The Examiner)
Final cost of the building of City Hall, compiled by the main contractors Sisk and Co. (Not including fittings, electrical and heating equipment, etc.) (1936)
Photo of Lord Mayor Sean French, 1936
Photo showing crowds of people thronging the area around City Hall for the official opening (8 Sep 1936) (Photo. courtesy of The Examiner)
Page from the Council Minute Book recording the first meeting of the Corporation at the new City Hall, 23 April 1935.
Various newspaper clipping s of the Official Opening
Did you know...? …interesting facts about
Cork’s City Hall
•Cork City is one of the oldest city municipalities in Ireland. Its first local government Charter dates from the year 1185. •Cork City Hall has been located on this present site since 1892, when the Council bought the Corn Exchange building. •The old City Hall was destroyed by Crown Forces during in the Burning of Cork on 11-12 December 1920. •Construction of the new City Hall began in July 1932 and took 4 years to complete. •The first meeting of the Council held at the new City Hall was on 23 April 1935... the
City Council has been meeting there continually since that time. •City Hall was formally opened on 8 Sept. 1936 by President of the Executive Council (Taoiseach) Eamon De Valera. •It was the first purpose built municipal headquarters building in the Republic. •It was the last building of classical design to be built in Ireland. •It was the last building to be constructed of stone in Cork. •The building is 76.6 meters (250ft) long at MacSwiney Quay and 49 meters (160ft) long at Anglesea Street. •The height of the building including the clock tower is 27.5 meters (90 ft). •The 1936 City Hall covers an footprint area of 4,111 square meters (44,250 ft) •The main Concert Hall can seat over 2,000 people. •Many distinguished public figures have received the Freedom of the City at City Hall, the most prominent being U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on 28 June 1963. •In 2000, the Millenium Hall was opened at the East (Eglinton Street) side of City Hall to mark the new millenium. •In June 2007 a modern extension was opened at Anglesea Street that now houses many of the Council’s service departments.
John Francis Maguire, Mayor of Cork (1853, 1862–4). He established the Cork Examiner newspaper in 1841
Resolution by Cork City Council declaring allegiance to Dáil Éireann, 1920.
Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, March – October 1920. Died duing the War of Independence.
Lord Mayor, Cllr.Terry Shannon (2011-12)
Tomás MacCurtain, the first republican Lord Mayor of Cork, January – March 1920. Died during the War of Independence.
City Hall, 2011
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