MEMBERS OF the public are to be given the opportunity to tour some of Cork’s most historic buildings for free as part of Cork Heritage Day, which will take place later this month.
Among the historic buildings open to the public on Saturday, August 27th, are the Masonic Hall on Tuckey Street, which has been the home of Freemasonry in Cork since 1844, and Princes Street Unitarian church which is the oldest documented surviving building in Cork.
The heritage day, organised by Cork City Council, means more than 38 historic and cultural buildings will open their doors to the public for free for one day only.
The city’s heritage day was officially launched yesterday at Cork City Hall.
Bishop Lucey Park will host medieval re-enactments and displays of weaponry, Cork Active Pulse Theatre Group will perform Stories by the Lee: Growing Up in Cork in the central library and language organisation Gael Taca will deliver a talk on place names and proverbs.
Local song, music, poetry and literature will be celebrated in the inaugural Cork Coal Quay Festival, while historian Gerry White will give a lecture on tales of sacrifice and courage during the first World War by Cork’s Victoria Crosses.
Local historian Liam Ó hUigín has organised a historical walking tour around the old walls of the city, conservationist Tom Spalding will deliver a walking tour on Cork’s 20th-century architecture, while the Blackpool Historical Photographic Society will mount a photographic exhibition of local schools.
The city’s central library will put on an exhibition of the work of photographer Colman Doyle, while a display of the history of scouting from 1910 will take place in the 37th scout hall in Togher.
UCC Boole Library, the Cork Circuit Courthouse, the South Presentation Convent, Triskel Christchurch, St Finbarre’s Cathedral, Port of Cork, Crawford Art Gallery, CIT Crawford College of Art and Design and the Lewis Glucksman Gallery are some of the venues which are offering free guided tours to the public.
Guided tours will also take place in Fota House and in Blackrock Castle Telescope Tower and Dungeons.
There will also be behind-the-scenes tours of the Everyman Palace Theatre and the Cork Opera House, while a tour of city hall will be given by city councillor Kieran McCarthy.
There is a wide range of children’s events, including a special water open day in the Lifetime Lab, a Nature Hunt in Fitzgerald’s Park, a history and storytelling tour in the Crawford Art Gallery and a treasure hunt for children in various historic buildings around the city.
For further information see corkheritageopenday.ie