Cork Opera House

th culture and architecture dating back to its inception in 1852 when it was first built onAnglesea Street to house the National Exhibition. As it was designed by the much celebrated architect Sir John Benson, the structure was deconstructed brick by brick to be rehoused on Emmet Place or as it was known then, Nelson Place. When first built this beautiful structure was known as the Athenaeum, after which it went through a number of name changes including the Munster Hall, The Great & Royal Opera House Company and, finally became known as Cork City’s beloved Cork Opera House in 1877. The building continued to entertain the masses until the devastation of a fire in December 1955, which saw the building and the people of Cork be brought to their knees through the pain of losing this much loved house. Following a ten-year fundraising campaign, a modern theatre designed by Scott Tallon Walker was rebuilt on the same site in 1965, due much to the hard work of the people of Cork who dug deep to help rebuild this building. 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”. Through recent years the management team has worked tirelessly to upgrade and consistently improve the building even further including new seating, a new café area, new acoustics, sightlines and of course state of the art equipment along with countless other upgrades, with the needs of the people of Cork as the impetus for all change. Today Cork Opera House is southern Ireland’s premiere venue for the best concerts, comedy, drama, dance, family fare, and, of course, opera. Located in the heart of Cork City, the Opera House has been a Cork cultural institution for nearly 160 years and will continue to strive to present and produce both indigenous and international top class acts for the people of Cork and further afield. This is a building to be proud of and a building which is proud to be pure Cork.