Eibhlín Gleeson: Cork Opera House, Athenaeum, Theatre,
Title
Eibhlín Gleeson: Cork Opera House, Athenaeum, Theatre,
Subject
Cork's Built Heritage
Description
Eibhlín talks about Cork Opera House, its history and its role in the life of the city.
The building was established in 1855 as the Athenaeum, a rebuild of an earlier exhibition hall, and remodelled as the Munster Hall in 1872 and again in 1877.
She talks about the fire which destroyed the building in 1955, about the impact of that event on Cork people and about their efforts to raise funds for a new structure. She describes the functions and programming of the current theatre and conveys her enthusiasm for her role in it.
Note: This interview was carried out for the DVD film “If the Walls Could Talk”.
The building was established in 1855 as the Athenaeum, a rebuild of an earlier exhibition hall, and remodelled as the Munster Hall in 1872 and again in 1877.
She talks about the fire which destroyed the building in 1955, about the impact of that event on Cork people and about their efforts to raise funds for a new structure. She describes the functions and programming of the current theatre and conveys her enthusiasm for her role in it.
Note: This interview was carried out for the DVD film “If the Walls Could Talk”.
Date
24 July 2013
Identifier
CFP_SR00506_gleeson_2013
Coverage
Cork City; Ireland; Built Heritage; 1770s-200Os;
Relation
If the Wall Could Talk: Stories Of Cork's Heritage Catalogue Numbers:
CFP_SR00492_herlihy_2013;
CFP_SR00493_walsh_2013;
CFP_SR00494_butler_2013;
CFP_SR00495_faris_2013;
CFP_SR00496_osullivan_2013;
CFP_SR00497_ryan_2013;
CFP_SR00498_holland_2013;
CFP_SR00499_hartnett&osullivan_2013;
CFP_SR00500_mccarthy_2013;
CFP_SR00505_healy_2013;
CFP_SR00507_miller_2013;
CFP_SR00492_herlihy_2013;
CFP_SR00493_walsh_2013;
CFP_SR00494_butler_2013;
CFP_SR00495_faris_2013;
CFP_SR00496_osullivan_2013;
CFP_SR00497_ryan_2013;
CFP_SR00498_holland_2013;
CFP_SR00499_hartnett&osullivan_2013;
CFP_SR00500_mccarthy_2013;
CFP_SR00505_healy_2013;
CFP_SR00507_miller_2013;
Published Material:
If the Wall Could Talk: Stories Of Cork's Heritage (2013) DVD
If the Stones Could Speak: More stories from Cork's heritage (2015) DVD
Source
Cork Folklore Project Audio Archive
Rights
Cork Folklore Project
Language
English
Type
Sound
Format
1 .wav File
Interviewee
Interviewer
Duration
18m 56s
Location
Cork Opera House, Cork City, Cork, Ireland
Original Format
.wav
Bit Rate/Frequency
24bit / 48kHz
Transcription
The following is a short extract from the interview transcript, copyright of the Cork Folklore Project. If you wish to access further archival material please contact CFP, folklorearchive@gmail.com
EG Em so the Opera House, I suppose current Opera House began its existence in 1855 when it when the Athenaeum was built. At that time, it was built as a lecture hall, a concert hall and an assembly hall and it was built here on Emmet Place. Em it was designed by Sir John Benson and the building was actually a rebuild of the main exhibition hall at the 1852 National Exhibition in Cork. Em so it was kind of the design I suppose was moved from the National Exhibition and up on to Emmet Place and it was completed in 1855. Now it opened with a series of, actually funny -- funnily enough it unofficially opened with a series of local artists and musicians performing on the stage and em that was in the first number of months.
EG Em so the Opera House, I suppose current Opera House began its existence in 1855 when it when the Athenaeum was built. At that time, it was built as a lecture hall, a concert hall and an assembly hall and it was built here on Emmet Place. Em it was designed by Sir John Benson and the building was actually a rebuild of the main exhibition hall at the 1852 National Exhibition in Cork. Em so it was kind of the design I suppose was moved from the National Exhibition and up on to Emmet Place and it was completed in 1855. Now it opened with a series of, actually funny -- funnily enough it unofficially opened with a series of local artists and musicians performing on the stage and em that was in the first number of months.
Citation
Cork Folklore Project, “Eibhlín Gleeson: Cork Opera House, Athenaeum, Theatre,,” accessed April 20, 2024, https://corkfolklore.org/archivecatalolgue/document/16.