Most Beautiful Building in Cork?

Holy Trinity Church?
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/holytrinity_lge.html

St Finn Barre’s for being a complete work of art inside and out?
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/st_finn_barres.html

Holy Trinity by faaaaaaar…

For me it is either Kent Railway Station, with that amazing curved wall, or The Christ the King Church:

turnerscross.com/…/ ctk_cork_full_front_view

St. Marys on Pope’s Quay deserves a mention for its beautiful neo-classical columns.

Originally posted by phil
For me it is either Kent Railway Station, with that amazing curved wall, or The Christ the King Church:

turnerscross.com/…/ ctk_cork_full_front_view

Marble & Lemon building at Emmet Place – rarely mentioned, small but beautiful.

There are are number of buildings along South Mall that stand-out. City Hall has its moments. Plus those old department store buildings like Burtons, what is now Brown Thomas, Roches Stores and the former Grant Building all along Patrick’s Street (most designed by Foster & Grant) are all noteworthy. But St. Finbarr’s is by far the biggest eye-catcher.

New entries I think are noteworthy are the UCC Student Centre extension, No.5 Lapps Quay, RCI Building in Mahon, Estuary Court at Rochestown and Mercy University Hospital on Grenville Place. Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC – Coppinger Court and Tony Macken’s small but stand-out apartment building on Henry Street.

for those who don’t know Cork boy

St. Marys on Pope’s Quay
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/st_marys_popesquay.html

Former Burtons
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/burtons.html

Former Grants
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/store.html

Brown Thomas
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/brown_thomas.html

nuff said

Haha! I was waiting for it to pop up!!!

Crawford extension is v.interesting (excuse quality – compressed for web smallness)

Holy Trinity from side

BT’s on Pat St

Originally posted by Nick

What does everyone honestly think of the Crawford Extension?

I’m not impressed by it – it looks like an angry spot thats about to burst!

i think the van egeraat extension was very clever and works quite well. i personally am fond of it, particularly the flow and bulging of brickwork to half moon street

Brown Thomas is on Patrick Street, and that was mentioned. As a whole Patrick street has very fine buildings. All of the sruff that Paul Clerkin mentioned, except St Mary’s, is on Patricks Street, afaik.

Originally posted by Nick
surely we can do better than some pretty awfull churches and a gallery no one seems to agree on.

The Churches of Cork are one of its greatest assetts architecturally speaking. Some might not be regarded in as high esteem as others, and I am willing to accept that the one I put forward would probably not be to everyones taste. I also think that it is good that there is some difference of opinion on the gallery. That is what discussion is meant to be about.

The High Court,

I’ve always loved simple classical statements

“pretty awful churches” – WTF?!?

St Marys is drool-worthy – it’s always so nice to see a departure from boring old Doric.
Weird to see Herself up there in place of classical statuary, bit like St Andrews up in Dublin.

Nick. I am not sure that I get your approach to this thread. Originally you entitled the thread “Most Beautiful Building in Cork”. Then you altered the question to enquire about decent public spaces in Cork. I think that your public space question probably needs a separate thread, because when people see the original title of this thread they will automatically answer the original question. These issues are both very different and need to be treated separately. Anyway, in answer to your second question, I think that the area on front of the Opera house has a lot of potential.

As far as I know you cannot close a thread (but you were probably joking about that anyway) Also, I thought the original question you asked was really interesting. I am suprised it has not generated any more replies or more discussion, paricularly from the people who regularly discuss other aspects of Cork.

what do people think of the boole library?

saw it recently in night time, for the first time in a few years, and i think its definitely up there with cork’s best buildings- a real classic in my opinion. it a strong and commanding structure, but manages to avoid undermining the particular quality of the quad. it has also aged very well (so far) and is as ‘fresh’ as it was when first opened. in addition, it functions very well and is a very effective library space. anyone?

I remember seeing this from the outside and quite liking it.

Have to agree with you about The Boole Library. Before the GLuckman Gallery was built, the library was my favourite building. Although it is dated on the inside it will undergo substantial refurbishment in the near future. It has some of the best views in Cork. Especially on Q+3, in the south west corner, there is a fantastic vista of the city.

does anyone know anything about which side of the boole library is being extended. Tommy Barker, in today’s examiner, seems to suggest it will be extended on the north side – facing the quad- is this the case? it would be a shame. surely the south side to the quarry would be preferable.

other favourite buildings

-old Cork & Limerick Savings Bank, Lapps Quay/Parnell Place
-old Lord Mayors House near Grenville Place (Mercy Hosp)
-Crawford & its extension to half moon st
-St Marys, Popes Quay
-Turners X Church
-Warehouses, Custom House Point
-College of Commerce Building (even better with its rooftop extension)
-firkin crane butter market

The now-to-go ahead extension of the boole you mentioned is to be developed to the east of the current building, not in front of it , if that’s what you feared. There really isnt a whole lot of room where it is to be built, i saw the drawing on the examiner, from outside the o rahilly building towards the library. From what i could make out it seems as if it’s to be built over the avenue towards the gates on college road, which would be a real pity if im right, as in my opinion this is the nicest entrance to the college, affording great views of the quad on the way in.the design looks pretty good, fits in well with the surroundings, the same firm has designed libraries for harvard and yale among others in the us, so we can rest assured it’ll be a quality job.should be complete around early 2007 sometime i believe. i agree with whoever complained about the “blue-grey” building next to it, thats the o rahilly building, doesnt fit in well at all, shouldnt be so bad when all those new trees mature though. That’s what the whole area from the boole to the student centre is lacking, some tree-cover, very open as it is, can be bleak on a wet day.all we can do is wait, but the signs are good for ucc!

One of the finest and most overlooked buildings in Cork is the Old County Jail near UCC.( not the one in Sundays Well)

Only the south entrance wall with a severe Doric portico survives. Designed by the Pain Bros in the early 19th. C. it is a superb use of the Classical idion to create boldness and severity.

It is one of the very few works in Ireland to reflect the pared down style of Soane or Ledoux

That last post (above) was by Ian L. of An Taisce (not Devin) – he grabbed my computer while I wasn’t looking!

Me, I love the green vitrolite shoeshop shopfront on Oliver Plunkett Street. In fact my mother’s from Cork & remembers this shop opening as a kid in the ’50s. 🙂

Originally posted by Devin
One of the finest and most overlooked buildings in Cork is the Old County Jail near UCC.( not the one in Sundays Well)

Only the south entrance wall with a severe Doric portico survives. Designed by the Pain Bros in the early 19th. C. it is a superb use of the Classical idion to create boldness and severity.

It is one of the very few works in Ireland to reflect the pared down style of Soane or Ledoux

Very topical,

I had a feeling that wasn’t you Devin

Surprised no-body mentioned ‘Bishop Lucey Park’ – the “Peace Park” as a good example of open public space – small, but an important break in the rows of buildings that dominate the city centre. Cork as a whole suffers from insufficient public space. New parks will hopefully be realised at Horgan’s Quay and a significant 27-acre park along the Carrigrohane Straight. The Kinsale Road Landfill is being converted to a new public park – with sporting grounds, a wildlife park, forestry and green-spaces. I have high hopes for this endeavour.

As for squares, plazas etc – the docklands represents the best opportunity to considerately create such spaces.

One of my favourite of Cork buildings is UCC. But also the building that is presently occupied by Brown Thomas. Some of Cork’s newly built buildings are also on the favourite list. Maybe even the airport when it is built. It’s simple, but the roof makes it look elegant. And I realise that the last post to this forum (before lexington’s) was late last year, but I wasn’t registered then, so I’ll have my say now. 🙂

@lexington wrote:

Surprised no-body mentioned ‘Bishop Lucey Park’ – the “Peace Park” as a good example of open public space – small, but an important break in the rows of buildings that dominate the city centre.

Agreed, it’s a lovely spot.
Just to be pedantic about it however- Bishop Lucey Park is that park stretching from South Main Street to Grand Parade, the one which I believe you are referring to Lex. It is not and has never been officially called the Peace Park.
The peace park is that small green area at the corner of Grand Parade and South Mall which contains the Hiroshima/Nagasaki memorial and the WW2 memorial.

Its just a small thing, but it really bugs me and the confusion seems to be spreading.

Maybe so – but Bishop L Park is known as as the Peace Park …for reasons best left untouched…

Funny but the Church of Ireland gave that land to Cork Corp and the Corpo named it after the most conservative catholic bishop of the last century

@d_d_dallas wrote:

Maybe so – but Bishop L Park is known as as the Peace Park …for reasons best left untouched…

:p Yeah, the less said the better…the spirit of the sixties still seems prevailent in many of the facility’s patrons! 😀 Hmmmm.

Apologises RM – those misunderstandings can be irritating I know – but I’ll take your word for it.

anto – that is indeed an interesting fact. The park is an important element of the city centre – it breaks up the cluster of city centre structures and provides an petite but important escape from the concrete and car-fumes. The CoI are to be thanked for facilitating this.

The City Hall has to get a mention too. I think it’s most beautiful at dusk, while it is still bright outside but the lights eluminate it and it’s refelection can be seen in the Lee.
City Hall at Night.

No more opinions on Cork’s Most Beautiful Building. I thought they’re would be loads of people giving their input. Ye gotta have some favs.

No.3 Paul Street – one of the most overlooked, and most distinctive buildings in the Cork skyline. Built I believe to compliment nearby St. Peter’s & Paul’s Church, the building is an invaluable contributor to the city’s viewscape. It’s use of Cork Limestone and red-brick blend elegantly, topped by a slated, skyline punctuating tower which peaks in a perfect V-shaped point, topped with spoked railings. I could well be wrong but I believe it peaks at just over 29m, perhaps 30m. If anyone has better info than me on that building, please share it. Would love to see some images of it up on this thread. I believe th building serves a number of functions nowadays, not least among them acting as a Cura Centre.

It’s not this building I presume given your description, but I think I know the one you mean – very fine.

And perhaps not what you’d exactly describe as beautiful, and one of the oldest ones in the book I know, but Roches is a fine block of a building to quote ctesiphon 😉 – and probably the only building I know of where white aluminum works reasonably well in places 😮

Some wonderful 20th century department stores along Partick’s Street – the former Grant’s:

@A-ha wrote:

The City Hall has to get a mention too. I think it’s most beautiful at dusk, while it is still bright outside but the lights eluminate it and it’s refelection can be seen in the Lee.
City Hall at Night.

There’s a touch of Gandon about that building..

@Graham Hickey wrote:

It’s not this building I presume given your description, but I think I know the one you mean – very fine.

That’s St. Peter’s & Paul’s, which externally and internally is quite spectacular – must get some inside shots some day. The detail is jaw-dropping. No.3 Paul Street is the building further north along that street at the ‘T-junction’ with Paul Street – quite inspiring. Thanks for the images Graham. I agree about Roches Stores – it just works well.

---

Devin – both the former Burtons and Grants Department Stores on Patrick’s Street are beautiful pieces. I posted something of them in the LADSOCL thread many moons ago and for a long while I had been investigating their re-usage. The upper floors are predominantly for storage in both buildings, with tacky ground floor signage (shudder!). Though the Grant Store has some usage on the upper floors, it is hardly appropriate for such a fine building. My intentions were to rearrange the internal order of the building’s floor usage to allow them open up into multi-tenant facilities whilst restoring their former glory. The Grant building would have had a complete elevation overhaul/refurbishment – much of the Patrick’s Street facade has become grotty and ill maintained – the revamp would have rectified that. Existing tenants could be maintained, but would require realteration. For example, Burger King would have maintained its location, only it would be reorganised over 2-floors (equating to the same floor space), so as to free up access and usage to other tenants. The English Market entrance would provide main access to the building with a restructured interior to accommodate a dome-like ceiling-based light access feature, looped balconies and new tenant space. Current interiors are somewhat lacking.

I feel much of the same could be achieved with the Burton’s store also, but on a smaller scale. It’s a shame to see such magnificent buildings go to waste when they possess so much potential – even from the proprietor’s stance, their renewal offers a source of increased revenue in the long-run.

Burtons

Grants

Any house with alm as a prefix just screams chocolate box appeal 🙂

Yes the Washington St Court House is spectacular – are there only two octastyles in Ireland?! I knew there was less than 5 or so, but 2? What’s the other ctesiphon?
I was very impressed with the stone used in the portico which has a wonderful grain to it:

Ah modrin technology 🙂

Interesting info about Grant’s Lexington, here’s a wider view including that terrible Burger King shopfront.

The upper facade could look great if properly restored. At least the windows are all intact.

Burton’s condition is also disappointing – especially that clunky Oasis sign. Can’t get over how that was permitted by Cork CC, especially given how recent it is.

@Graham Hickey wrote:

Yes the Washington St Court House is spectacular – are there only two octastyles in Ireland?! I knew there was less than 5 or so, but 2? What’s the other ctesiphon?

Is that Graham doing his contemporary ‘little match girl’ routine on the steps? “Spare the price of a blank cd, guv?”

I think there are only two, but I could be wrong. (If so, I’d be grateful to be corrected.)
Re the second one- I’m tempted to make this into a quiz, but I can’t think what prize to offer.
It’s Carlow Court House by W.V. Morrison.

The Savoy is a really great building in Cork aswell. It’s a really good example of art deco in Ireland, and it has to be the finest art deco building in the city.

A fine understated piece – nice set of windows there too.

Thanks for Carlow ctesiphon – wow!

Is this Washington or Carlow town?!
The site the picture is linked from says Cork’s courthouse was originally planned for Carlow but they go mixed up. Sounds credible considering their similarities in the portico department.

Is that Graham doing his contemporary ‘little match girl’ routine on the steps?

The photographer stays behind the camera ctesiphon, behind – to press the button like.
And I do not appreciate being compared to Stephen Gately in appearance thanks very much 😀

The famous Three of course have to feature:

– utterly depressing to see the derelict Georgian being used as an access point to a car park, and especially standing in such a prominent position. It ought to be compulsorily acquired if not secured immediately by the owner and plans put forward for a full restoration.
The state-hung houses next door though look just fantastic in real life 🙂

@Graham Hickey wrote:

The site the picture is linked from says Cork’s courthouse was originally planned for Carlow but they go mixed up. Sounds credible considering their similarities in the portico department.

Though the Cork building occupies a city block, whereas Carlow has a much more ‘in the round’ feel befitting its prominent corner site in the town.

@Graham Hickey wrote:

The famous Three of course have to feature:

[swoon]

I’ve been very happy to see a number of houses, buildings around Cork are being carefully restored and reformed to their old glory. the corner house at North Main st and Paradise Place is a greate example and some of the buildings along washington street west. They have had those awful awful paint coatings stripped, the original brick work reexposed and refurbished. Such work gives an important look back at the past and how this buildings were intended to be seen and they are so much more beautiful for their efforts. Careful attention has been applied to shopfronts and such with many classical wooden frames being delicately restored.

These Georgians here altuistic near the Court House?

Some lovely stuff, and a bizarrely large roof to boot!

You can just make out the swirls of crown glass in some of the panes – really fantastic that these most unusual pane-arranged sashes were preserved. Saying that, they could do with another lick of paint at this stage…

(Suffice to say they also feature in that Roche/IGS book)

That’s a lovely group on Sheare’s Street. They recently won a conservation award, didn’t they?

I love this unified terrace on Washington Street – they’re as good as anything by the Wide Streets Commissioners in Dublin (& same mezzanine shopfront concept). But they’re in a bad way – lots of unsympathetic alterations. I would love to see them receive some attention:

(sorry about blurry-ness; shrinking images down a lot loses sharpness)

@Graham Hickey wrote:

These Georgians here altuistic near the Court House?
Some lovely stuff, and a bizarrely large roof to boot!

You can just make out the swirls of crown glass in some of the panes – really fantastic that these most unusual pane-arranged sashes were preserved. Saying that, they could do with another lick of paint at this stage…

That’s Fenn’s Quay (which is what I meant when I said Lapp’s Quay in an earlier post above 😮 – I’m sure the natives were scratching their heads). Lovely job, it’s true. And yes, Devin, it won an RIAI medal for conservation.

They’re on Sheare’s Street. Fenn’s Quay was an old name from when the street was a water course. It was resurrected as the restored terrace were originally quay-houses.

What I’m wondering is why they only received the conservation medal this year when the restoration was completed at least 7 years ago…

What was the original name given to the building that is occupied by Vero Moda. It’s stunning, but could do with a clean.

Originally was Egans, a jewellers afaik

@Devin wrote:

They’re on Sheare’s Street. Fenn’s Quay was an old name from when the street was a water course. It was resurrected as the restored terrace were originally quay-houses.

What I’m wondering is why they only received the conservation medal this year when the restoration was completed at least 7 years ago…

Not sure it was 7 years ago – but indeed you are right, Jack Coughlan & Associates were responsible for overseeing their restoration. The interior (especially the upper floors) are just as, if not, more eye-catching than the exterior elevations. If it was 7 years ago – I’m feeling very old. :p

Fenn’s Quay is a beautiful row indeed. Another most interesting row of houses – only recently granted Protected Structure status – are the Wilton Villas along the Glasheen Road (just before the Wilton Roundabout). These most unusual style houses comprise of Munster Limestone blocks, blood-red brick edging and originally (although I do believe the years have seen changes to this) locally sourced slate tiling on the roof-tops. Lovely little row.

@Devin wrote:

They’re on Sheare’s Street. Fenn’s Quay was an old name from when the street was a water course. It was resurrected as the restored terrace were originally quay-houses.

Aah come now, Devin. I never disputed that they were on Sheare’s Street. But the group is known as Fenn’s Quay, particularly since the completion of the conservation job. Maybe if I’d written: ‘That’s “Fenn’s Quay”…’
The reason I mentioned the name in my previous post was to correct my previous error- not to correct your post.

Am I forgiven? ]was[/I] seven years ago that they were finished, despite what the RIAI site says. I have memories of seeing the work ongoing in 2000(ish?).

Is anyone able to post a picture or painting or anything of the old City Hall, I have no idea what it looks like.

http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/cork/cork/cityhall_lge.html

Thanks Paul, but I’m on about the old City Hall, lol.

@A-ha wrote:

The Savoy is a really great building in Cork aswell. It’s a really good example of art deco in Ireland, and it has to be the finest art deco building in the city.

What about the Christ the King church. Or is that art nouveau?

I don’t think it’s art deco…. it’s too “modern”, but it seems to be in the same sort of style. I’ve never been in the church so don’t know what the interior is like, but I’ve never seen a church like it anywhere in Ireland.

http://www.irish-architecture.com/tesserae/000016.html

Thanks Paul, first time I’ve ever seen the inside of the church.

As we’re on the subject of churches, I’m doing a little research on Blackpool Church which was designed by noted Cork Sculptor Seamus Murphy. Any information, drawings, plans etc. about the same would be very welcome.

Can’t help you there, but I’m still looking for a picture of the old City Hall, anyone got one?

Is there some sort of council dedicated to clean up old buildings? I noticed a few days back that the Queens Old Caste looked absolutley rotten. For such a beautiful building, they make it look awful. Surely some organisation can force Argos or Virgin to paint it or do something to it anyway. It spoils the area!

Don’t know the building, but if it’s a Protected Structure (as seems possible from the name) then the planning Authority (Cork CC?) has powers under the P&D Act 2000 to compel the owner (and/or occupier) to act, though if the matter is (ahem) only cosmetic then I’m not sure if those powers are all that applicable.
If it is in an Architectural Conservation Area or an Area of Special Planning Control, then similar provisions exist regardless of whether the building itself is a Protected Structure.

Perhaps shame is the best weapon? (i.e. if the other buildings on the street show this one up in a bad light.)

This is Queens Old Caslte, just so you have a rough idea of what it looks like, can’t find a better picture just yet. It looks fine in that picture ‘cos it’s dark, but the paint job looks scruffy in the last few weeks. I wouldn’t imagine it to be a listed building (not the grade whatever number it is that restricts you from doing fu*k all to it anyway) but I would imagine that a paint job would do no harm, who ever it is that is in authority

@A-ha wrote:

I noticed a few days back that the Queens Old Caste looked absolutley rotten. For such a beautiful building, they make it look awful. Surely some organisation can force Argos or Virgin to paint it or do something to it anyway. It spoils the area!

I don’t know what you’re talking about. The building is painted white and looks clean and well-maintained.

The problem with the building is that you have to blot out the ground floor when you look at it because some idiot (either Virgin or a tenant before them) decided to put short Greek Doric columns with plain Doric capitals at their bases ( 😀 ) in the shop entrance, to “follow” the well-executed pedimented Greek Doric feature in the 1st floor. The result is disastrous – no proportional logic between the upper & lower part of the building.

See here for a daytime pic: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO&regno=20512635

When did you last see it? Either that or it was just the bottom area of the building I saw as I was going into Virgin (which really did look grubby). Thanks for the picture, if I was looking till now, I still wouldn’t be able to find one.

@A-ha wrote:

When did you last see it?

A few days ago.

@A-ha wrote:

Thanks for the picture

If you click ‘Additional Images’ in the top right of the link, there are a few more pics of it.
Or just click here: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=images&county=CO&regno=20512635

@A-ha wrote:

When did you last see it? Either that or it was just the bottom area of the building I saw as I was going into Virgin (which really did look grubby). Thanks for the picture, if I was looking till now, I still wouldn’t be able to find one.

The Queens Old Castle has recently been given a new fresh paint of coat and cleaned. Virgin have erected new signage – a little classier (black) than it’s bile yellow predecessor.

Also, I was delighted to see NorthGate House has finally been repainted after months of flaking and chipped paintwork. It looked dreadful across NorthGate Bridge. Now if they could only weed the moss from the drains we’d be set – and maybe the Gate & GardenView apartments could take a hinter. 😉

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. After all, a big job like weeding out the moss takes alot of consideration, not to mention going to the city council, the planning authorities and what have you. Yeah right! I’d be quicker if I went and did it myself.

@A-ha wrote:

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. After all, a big job like weeding out the moss takes alot of consideration, not to mention going to the city council, the planning authorities and what have you. Yeah right! I’d be quicker if I went and did it myself.

Believe it or not, they did weed the moss from the drains! Fair play! 😉 The building looks remarkable better for it too – now if we can only do something about the unsight tarmac paving fronting NorthGate Bridge (a grass divide with granite pathway and trees???) and tidy up the damp stains and poor paint along the Gate Multiplex and adjoining apartments, we’ll be set! 😮

I know everyone slags them off now and again, including me, but I think it is a credit to the council that they are keeping our pavements so clean. I don’t think other city councils put as much effort into taking chewing gum off the pavements then they do in Cork. I know it’s only something small, but it’s always something I notice not just in Cork but in Dublin or Limerick aswell. I believe getting rid of chewing gum is one of the most expensive areas in keeping an area clean and it’s good to see so much effort being put into the small little things that most people don’t even care about. God, I am such a loser, I just spent the last five minutes writing a post about chewing gum. And remember…. chewing gum is a priviliage, dispose of it properly. It is banned in Singapore!

Anyone able to tell me anything about the building that houses Meadows and Byrne in Academy Street??? It’s really nice, but don’t know anything about it.

A-ha,
Type Central Hall+Academy Street into Google Ireland and you will get your answer

Thanks lawyer, I didn’t even know the name of the building. It’s got quite an impressive history to it aswell. 🙂

Converting this into a City-centre pad is my fantasy project. Gorgeously simple architecture, practically next door to Idaho café. . .

You’re right redabbey. I mentioned this building way back. There was a cork2005 event held there and i managed to get a good look round. Its empty inside and has huge rooms just crying out to be converted into art gallery, restaurant, etc.
Top floor has some really interesting remnants of Corks old tram system too.
The building is owned by ESB.

Where were the trams kept at night time? There must have been some type of yard where they kept them? I love looking at all the pictures of them. Good exhibition on a few months back in one of the art galleries showing old photos and paintings. Shame they’re gone.

@A-ha wrote:

Where were the trams kept at night time? There must have been some type of yard where they kept them? I love looking at all the pictures of them. Good exhibition on a few months back in one of the art galleries showing old photos and paintings. Shame they’re gone.

There was a tram garage on Albert Road – top end, near the traffic lights.
It later became a depot for the ESB and is now used for various things including the Cork Sculpture Factory.
Trams ran to various places such as Blackrock, St. Lukes and the Western Road.

If you are really interested in the trams and their history, try the City Library for a book called ‘Tram Tracks through Cork’ by Walter McGrath and published in 1981.

http://www.irish-architecture.com/news/2005/000181.html

Thanks lawer. I’m not just interested in the trams in Cork, i’m interested in everything to do with transportation. The city was better served by public transport back then, then it is now… it’s such a pity. Did Galway or Waterford ever have trams? I presume Limerick’s tram system went about the same time as Corks. I’m sure they’re equally annoyed that the lost their tram network too. Stupid Irish Government… they can’t get anything right, lol. Thanks again.

I know Galway had trams in the nineteenth to early twentith centuries.

Most beautiful building in Cork is obviously Finbars cathedral, the best neo-gothic on the island.

A surprisingly and unfortunately overlooked building in my view is the magnificent St. Vincent’s Church in Sunday’s Well. Built between 1851 and 1854, the church and monastery officially opened on 24th October 1854.

“The building is a remarkably successful use of a difficult site. The southern aisle of the church (1851) is prolonged into a residential range, three floors high, that turns a right angle before abruptly terminating at the street, making up two sides of a piazza in front of the church. A floor below the level of the piazza a vaulted hall opens directly on to a garden terrace to the south. Above, a pivotal corner turret is corbelled out on a stunted column. Similar stunted columns hold up the arches that divide the flights of the principal staircase.”
– Jeremy Williams, ” A Companion Guide to Architecture in Ireland, 1837-1921″
(Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 1994).

It enjoys a wonderful perspective overlooking the city, notably Fitzgerald’s Park and surrounds, from the sharply steep Northern slopes of the city. It reminds one of some sort of Central European palace bracing Cork’s unique and interesting topography.

Very nice!

It looks very similar to areas of Prague or Budapest. That gothic type of architecture is very prominant throughout the building.

I think it would be fair to say that it is simply an Eastern European influence as I have seen similar styles as far east as Latvia