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
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