The Irish Industrial Exhibition was a world's fair held in Cork in 1852,[1][2] the first to be held in Ireland (then part of the United Kingdom). It was opened on 10 June by the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Eglinton.
| Irish Industrial Exhibition | |
|---|---|
 Cork Exhibition, 1852 | |
| Overview | |
| BIE-class | Unrecognized exposition |
| Name | Irish Industrial Exhibition |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| City | Cork |
| Coordinates | 51°53′50″N 8°27′55″W / 51.8971°N 8.4654°W |
| Timeline | |
| Opening | 10 June 1852 |
Taking place two years after the Great Famine ended,[3] and following a significant increase in Cork's population due to an influx of people fleeing the countryside[4] the fair stemmed partly from attempts to revive local industries.[4]
It was housed in the Albert Quay area in a cruciform building designed by John Benson with three wings given over to industrial exhibits such as whiskey, projectile shells, hydraulic presses, Valentia slate and gingham[5] and a fourth to fine arts.[5]
Fine arts
editThere was a fine arts hall which included canvas and glass paintings, sculpture and Irish antiquities.[6] Work on display included items by sculptures Thomas Kirk, John Edward Jones, Patrick MacDowell, Joseph Robinson Kirk and John Henry Foley.[6] John Hogan had works both in the main art section, but additionally his The Dead Christ was in a separate darkened room.[5]
Aftermath
editBenson achieved success with his design for the exhibition building and this acted as a template for the opera house to be built in Cork.[7] He was also asked to be the architect for the world's fair in Dublin the next year. However, the aim of reviving industries was largely unsuccessful and census returns showed a decrease in males employed in manufacturing.[4]
References
edit- ^ Pelle, Kimberley D. (2008). "Appendix D: Fairs Not Included". In Findling, John E.; Pelle, Kimberley D. (eds.). Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions (revised ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 414. ISBN 9780786434169.
- ^ National and State Industrial Exhibitions. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Historical Register of the Centennial Exposition, 1876. Edited by Frank Norton. Frank Leslie's Publishing House, New York, 1877. Pg. 4
- ^ Ross, David (2002) Ireland: History of a Nation; p. 313
- ^ a b c "Cork in the 19th Century: Cork Past and Present". Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "Crawford Art Gallery, Cork City, Ireland". Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ a b "The National Exhibition, Cork, 1852 - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951". Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ "Opera House". Retrieved 17 March 2012.
External links
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