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.
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