Saints & Scholars
Cork Opera House
22
Emmett Place, Cork Guided tour at 11am Full wheelchair access
The Saints and Scholars route lies to the South side of the city and takes in the Backwater Studios/ Cork Printmakers and the peaceful tranquillity of the Quaker burial ground. The route encompasses places of learning and places of worship finishing up at the South Gate bridge with magnificent views of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
Cork Opera House has a long and glorious history of culture and architecture. This Cork institution began its life as The Athenaeum when it was first built on Anglesea Street to house the National Exhibition. Designed by the much-celebrated architect Sir John Benson, the structure was deconstructed brick by brick to be rehoused on Emmet Place. The Athenaeum later became known as The Munster Hall and in 1877 it was renamed the Opera House after extensive reconstruction. CJ Phipps of London (who was responsible for around 20 theatres including the Gaiety in Dublin) was commissioned to redesign the Opera House and to re-equip it as a theatre proper. Having survived the terrible Burning of Cork in 1920, the old Cork Opera House would later succumb to a similar fate when it burned down as a result of an electrical fault. On the evening of the 12th of December 1955, there had been a rehearsal for the panto of that year - Sleeping Beauty. The devastating fire saw the building and the people of Cork be brought to their knees through the pain of losing this much-loved house. What followed in the weeks, months and years following the fire was a huge fundraising effort by the people of Cork who dug deep to rebuild their beloved Opera House. In 1965, a modern theatre designed by Scott Tallon Walker was rebuilt on the same site. In 1993, a new front of house was designed by Murray ÓLaoire Architects for “a vision of the building which takes the architecture of Cork City into the 21st century”. Today Cork Opera House is southern Ireland’s premier venue for the best concerts, comedy, drama, dance, family fare, and, of course, opera. A guided tour of the Cork Opera House will take place at 11am. Booking essential on www.corkoperahouse.ie
Quaker Meeting House
p36
Nano Nagle Place
p37
Elizabeth Fort
p38
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
p39
Backwater Studios, Cork Printmakers, Lavit Gallery
p40
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35
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