20 Cork Opera House Emmett Place, Cork Guided tour at 9am. Full wheelchair access This Cork institution began its life as The Athenaeum when it was first built on Anglesea Street by the much-celebrated architect Sir John Benson. This structure was later deconstructed brick by brick and rebuilt on Emmett Place where it stands today. After some time, The Athenaeum became known as The Munster Hall and in 1877 it was renamed Cork Opera House after extensive reconstruction. CJ Phipps of London (who was responsible for the design of many theatres, including the Gaiety in Dublin) was commissioned to redesign Cork Opera House. Having survived the Burning of Cork in 1920, Cork Opera House would later tragically 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, a fire broke out during rehearsals for that year’s panto, Sleeping Beauty. To the horror of the people of Cork, the building was destroyed and what followed in the weeks, months, and years after the fire was an incredible fundraising effort coupled with government lobbying to rebuild the beloved Cork Opera House. Through community support and dedication, in 1965, a modern theatre designed by Scott Tallon Walker was opened on the original site. In 1993, a new front of house was designed by Murray Ó Laoire 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 theatre, well known for producing and presenting a wide variety work, from music, comedy, drama, dance, musical theatre, pantomime, family fare, and, of course, opera. A guided tour of Cork Opera House will take place at 9am. ¶ Limited capacity so booking is essential at www.corkoperahouse.ie
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