Cut Stone Buildings in Cork

[KerryBog2]

The M A Ryan at Blackthorn House was the grandfather of the Arbutus Lodge Ryans.
On the other side of the street I remember a chemist named McSweeney that developed my photos before I saved enough pocket-money to buy my own developing tank! (B & W of course, in those days colour required 23 chemicals and numerous washes!)
Woolworths ran into difficulties worldwide - the Irish operations were among the first to be wound down; by the 1970s the shops were very tired and even by the standard of the day were outmoded and incapable of moving with the times. Their HQ in Downtown Manhattan is a beautiful old building. In the mid 1990s they had changed into a weird cross between food, hardware and toy retailer. In about 1998/9 they sold off the remaining Manhattan retail properties, FootLocker bought most of them.
Corcaighboy -la, the comparisons between Singapore and Ireland (people, economy and attitude) were much closer and more real in the 1990s, remember they had Orchard Rd long before we had Dundrum! Bugis Street was real and not a covered shopping centre, a place to go if you could put up with the smell from the durian vendors. The Asian Tiger back then was called a 12345 economy, (one wife, two kids, 3 roomed house, 4 good wheels and a high 5-figure salary to maintain it all.)
KB

[Praxiteles]

Here is another one for the list of stone cut building in Cork: William Murray's Provincial Bank (now the headquarters of the quondam Cork Examiner.

For further information see here: http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/aib.html

[A-ha]

Its great to have the local stores thriving in Cork but the neglect of the upper storys of their buildings all over the city is adding to their unnattractivness as a shop as one thing that the UK stores do is at least re-paint the facades.

Agreed, but at least the old stone buildings have been cleaned up enormously. Thinking back even just five years, I remember the dirt that was on some of the buildings from traffic and the like, but they must have cleaned them all for Cork 2005, because the majority of them are clean(ish) at this stage.

[corcaighboy]

Here is a shot of the Old Albert Quay railway terminus building (the West Cork line). Behind was the station platform...which was recently demolished and re-developed into enterprise units for Enterprise Ireland. The terminus building was extensively refurbished and looks quite well. Given its prominent position next to City Hall and its complimentary style, I always thought it would have made a good 'Mansion House' equivalent for the Mayor of Cork.


And this is a shot looking at the building from behind. The new Enterprise Ireland building is very much a Scott Tallon Walker design. A bit too gray for some, and I still can't decide whether I like it or not. The Eglinton Street tower (The Elysian!) is being constructed behind the EI building.

[Praxiteles]

What is going to happen if someone decides that it would be a good thing to re-open the West Cork line?

[Paul Clerkin]

Here is a shot of the Old Albert Quay railway terminus building (the West Cork line). Behind was the station platform...which was recently demolished and re-developed into enterprise units for Enterprise Ireland. The terminus building was extensively refurbished and looks quite well. Given its prominent position next to City Hall and its complimentary style, I always thought it would have made a good 'Mansion House' equivalent for the Mayor of Cork.

A beautiful little building indeed - a pity it doesn't have some sort of civic function.

[corcaighboy]

What is going to happen if someone decides that it would be a good thing to re-open the West Cork line?

Well, there is unfortunately no possibility of them using the old rail allignment, which was converted and widened into what is now known as the South Link Road in 1984 (all the way to the 'magic' Kinsale roundabout). In fact, just to the west of the 'magic roundabout' one could until recently still view the old stone railway bridge. It was demolished during construction of the roundabout flyover.

[Praxiteles]

This is what you have with the "quality" planning that leads to the Kinsale roundabout. The new northern approach road into the city was built with no shunts to the left or to the right: result - chaos as people turning right just had no other option but to hold up the entire place. Plenty of "quality" planning in Cork!!

[kite]

What is going to happen if someone decides that it would be a good thing to re-open the West Cork line?

you will never get a job with Cork City Council Praxiteles, not with that type of forward thinking.

[Praxiteles]

Just as a matter of interest, is the cut-stone pier on the extreme left of the picture still there? The gate appears to have been widened. Should it not be still in position, I am afraid the symmetry of the composition will have been displaced. And, I am not sure that the gate on the far left of the picture is symmetrical with the one on the right of the picture.

[jungle]

Well, there is unfortunately no possibility of them using the old rail allignment, which was converted and widened into what is now known as the South Link Road in 1984 (all the way to the 'magic' Kinsale roundabout). In fact, just to the west of the 'magic roundabout' one could until recently still view the old stone railway bridge. It was demolished during construction of the roundabout flyover.

I should probably put this in the Cork Transport thread, but...

Technically, it wouldn't be too difficult to cut and cover along the South Link road. Of course, it would cause major disruption during construction and cost-wise should have been done when the road was built, but on a technical level, it's definitely feasible.

[Praxiteles]

I should probably put this in the Cork Transport thread, but...

Technically, it wouldn't be too difficult to cut and cover along the South Link road. Of course, it would cause major disruption during construction and cost-wise should have been done when the road was built, but on a technical level, it's definitely feasible.

I cannot imagine the disruption being any more noticeable than it is at present on the way to the merry-go-round that is the Kinsale roundabout.

[corcaighboy]

Ok, not too sure these buildings qualify as 'cut-stone' but they are impressive regardless. First up are these two on Emmet Place (opposite the Crawford Gallery).

<img src="http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/7582/picturesfrompanasonic472rs0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Next up is the Bridewell Garda Station on the Coal Quay (Cornmarket Street). The 'four faced liar' (Shandon) is on the hill behind. No matter where you go in Cork City, Shandon is visible from almost everywhere. A pretty impressive structure!
<img src="http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/271/picturesfrompanasonic468xm7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

And lastly, these three shots are of the old Cork Model School (opposite City Hall). Restored several years ago and now used as a courthouse.
<img src="http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3839/picturesfrompanasonic483hn0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

and nice detail in the entrance

and the tower

[anto]

Ok, not too sure these buildings qualify as 'cut-stone' but they are impressive regardless. First up are these two on Daunt Square (opposite the Crawford Gallery).

<img src="http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/7582/picturesfrompanasonic472rs0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Next up is the Bridewell Garda Station on the Coal Quay (Cornmarket Street). The 'four faced liar' (Shandon) is on the hill behind. No matter where you go in Cork City, Shandon is visible from almost everywhere. A pretty impressive structure!
<img src="http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/271/picturesfrompanasonic468xm7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

And lastly, these three shots are of the old Cork Model School (opposite City Hall). Restored several years ago and now used as a courthouse.
<img src="http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3839/picturesfrompanasonic483hn0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

and nice detail in the entrance

and the tower

Yes, you're right they don't qualify as cut stone buildings, brick I'm sure you will agree. Another thing that's not Daunt Square, it's Emmet Place. Daunt Square is the area near the Former Woodford Bourne Store (McDonald's now). Correct me if I'm wrong.


Funny how directions in Cork are always qualified with Opposite such and such, near the GPO etc. Street signage down there is hopeless!

Nice Pictures though!

[corcaighboy]

anto - You are right, they are not cut stone, but they were the last of the pictures I took and they probably seemed more relevant to this thread than some of the others such as Developments in Cork, etc. And you are spot on re signage and my knowledge of place names....have been out of Cork too long that I have forgotten all the names of the secondary streets and squares, hence the 'opposite to', etc. If anything else, it gives any non-local some idea of where things are. You are also correct re the name of the square....have changed it to Emmet Place. And speaking of Woodford Bourne, I have some nice shots of that building, but it is one that certainly does not qualify as cut stone or red-brick:o Cheers, CB

[Praxiteles]

And just in case we overlook the obvious: St Anne's, Shandon, built in 1750:

[Praxiteles]

Speaking of St. Anne's in Shandon, does anybody know what happened to the classical urns that used to grace the corners of each level of the tower? Who took them off?

[anto]

Just as a matter of interest, is the cut-stone pier on the extreme left of the picture still there? The gate appears to have been widened. Should it not be still in position, I am afraid the symmetry of the composition will have been displaced. And, I am not sure that the gate on the far left of the picture is symmetrical with the one on the right of the picture.

That's some extension! Farly overwhelms the original building!

[Praxiteles]

I agree...and I would love to get my hands on the clowns that left that go through. At the very least, it should not have obscured the roof line of the original building, nor projected beyond its sides. But, is the pier there?

[kite]

I agree...and I would love to get my hands on the clowns that left that go through. At the very least, it should not have obscured the roof line of the original building, nor projected beyond its sides. But, is the pier there?

City Manager, Joe Gavin put a proposel before CCC to Dispose of this house and the site behind for 2.5 million euro. Councillors refused to allow the sale but agreed a compromise to dispose of the site now built on for 2.25 million.
Joe Gavin value on Albert Quay house therefore seems to be 250,000 euro, any takers???
See CCC minutes item 4 below
http://www.corkcorp.ie/citycouncil/minutes/290305.pdf

[Praxiteles]

:mad: City Manager, Joe Gavin put a proposel before CCC to Dispose of this house and the site behind for 2.5 million euro. Councillors refused to allow the sale but agreed a compromise to dispose of the site now built on for 2.25 million.
Joe Gavin value on Albert Quay house therefore seems to be 250,000 euro, any takers???
See CCC minutes item 4 below
http://www.corkcorp.ie/citycouncil/minutes/290305.pdf

Joe Gavin, obviously, is working himself up to a few neat stitches on his Bayeux Tapestery, aka The knitted Map of Cork, on this one. The forward palnning here has been a tour de force -first, disactivate the railway line, then disactivate the railway station, then sell-off the raiway platforms, then devalue the price of the railway station building by ensuring that it does not even have a back yard and then note everything in the Corporation minutes!!

[Praxiteles]

And here is what must be the last cut-stone church built in Cork: St. Augustine's in Washington Street. The building is not yet finished. the facade was supposed to have been built onto the Grand Parade but progress seem to be rather slow:

[Spinal Tap]

Speaking of St. Anne's in Shandon, does anybody know what happened to the classical urns that used to grace the corners of each level of the tower? Who took them off?

The "Pineapples" that graced the corners are back in position for over a year now as they wer removed during restoration works.

[Radioactiveman]

Correct, all of the pineapples were removed a few years ago for restoration and 8 new concrete replicas have been put in position in the last year or so. The four at the viewing platform have yet to be replaced. I don't understand why.

[Praxiteles]

Were the originals concrete or cut-stone?