Cork Opera House facts for kids
Cork Opera House in 2017
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| Former names | Athenaeum (1855–1875) The Munster Hall (1875–1877) |
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| Address | Emmett Place Cork Ireland |
| Coordinates | 51°54′01″N 8°28′21″W / 51.9003°N 8.4726°W |
| Capacity | ~1,000 (main auditorium) |
| Current use | Theatre, music, film and comedy venue |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1855 |
| Rebuilt | 1965 |
| Years active | 1855–1955, 1965–present |
| Architect | Scott Tallon Walker (1963 Building) Murray Ó Laoire (2000 Facade) |
The Cork Opera House is a famous theatre and opera house located in Cork, Ireland. It's a place where people go to watch amazing shows.
The very first building opened its doors in 1855. It was built on Emmet Place, which was then called Nelson's Place. This original building was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1955. But don't worry, a brand new building opened in its place in 1965. Today, after some updates, this theatre can hold about 1,000 people. It hosts many different events, like plays, concerts, operas, and comedy shows.
Contents
A Look Back: Cork Opera House History
The First Opera House: 1855-1955
The first Cork Opera House was built in the 1850s. It was designed by an architect named John Benson. The idea was to create a place for learning and enjoying arts. The building's design was similar to other exhibition buildings Benson had created.
When it first opened in 1855, it was called "The Athenaeum." Later, in 1875, its name changed to "The Munster Hall." After some big changes and updates, it was finally renamed the "Opera House" in 1877.
The building got more updates in 1908, designed by Arthur Hill. Even though it survived a big fire in Cork in 1920, it burned down many years later. This happened in 1955, exactly 100 years after it first opened. The fire started on December 12, 1955, because of an electrical problem.
A New Beginning: 1963 to Today
After the fire, the site where the old Opera House stood was empty for a few years. In 1963, the remains of the old building were cleared away. Work then began on building a brand new theatre. This new Cork Opera House opened on the same spot in 1965.
The building you see today was designed by a company called Scott Tallon Walker. The President of Ireland at the time, Éamon de Valera, officially opened it in October 1965.
In the year 2000, the Opera House got a big makeover. The outside of the building and the area around it were updated. Since then, more improvements have been made. These include a new café, better sound systems, and comfier seats for the audience.
What Happens at the Opera House?
The Cork Opera House is not just for opera! It has always been a place for all kinds of performances. You can enjoy theatre plays, live music, dance shows, and hilarious comedy acts.
In 2015, the main auditorium, which seats 1,000 people, hosted 276 performances. These included 108 different events. There's also a smaller venue called the Half Moon Theatre. It's behind the main Opera House and seats about 100 people. In the same year, the Half Moon Theatre held 77 performances of 29 different events.
See also
In Spanish: Cork Opera House para niños
