Cork Public Museum facts for kids
| Músaem Poiblí Chorcaí | |
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| Established | 1910 |
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| Location | Mardyke walk, Cork, Ireland |
| Type | City museum |
| Accreditation | Designated county museum (NMI) |
| Owner | Cork City Council |
The Cork Public Museum (which is Músaem Poiblí Chorcaí in Irish) is a museum in Cork, Ireland. It's a special place where you can discover the history of Cork city. The museum is located inside Fitzgerald's Park, a beautiful park in the Mardyke area. Its exhibits mainly focus on the history and old discoveries (archaeology) from around Cork.
Contents
The Museum Building's Story
The building where the museum is located has a long history itself! It was built in 1845 as a grand house. A famous brewing family called Beamish owned it. Later, the city of Cork bought the house and its gardens.
A Special Exhibition
In 1902, Cork hosted a very big event called the Cork International Exhibition. It was like a huge fair where people showed off new ideas and products. During this exhibition, the house was used to welcome important visitors. Even King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra came to visit!
From House to Museum
After the big exhibition, most of the land became a public park. Then, in 1910, the house officially opened its doors as the Cork Public Museum.
During World War II, which was known as "The Emergency" in Ireland, the museum was partly used as a shelter. It closed for a while but reopened in 1945. For some years, University College Cork helped manage the museum. In the 1960s, the city council took over its management again.
Modern Updates
Before Cork became the European City of Culture in 2005, a new part was added to the museum. This extension gave the museum more space for exhibits and even a café.
What You Can See Inside
The Cork Public Museum is a "designated county museum" by the National Museum of Ireland. This means it's allowed to keep important historical items for the country. It can also borrow items from the National Museum.
Exploring Cork's Past
The museum's exhibits show off many archaeological finds from the Cork area. You can see items found during digs around the city's old medieval walls. There are also displays about Cork's economy and how the city was run. You might see special items like "civic regalia," which are official symbols of the city. There are also artifacts that tell the story of Cork's trading history through the Port of Cork.
Ancient Treasures
Other cool displays include old tools from the Bronze Age. These tools were used in copper mines in West Cork. You can also see ancient Iron Age helmet horns, which are known as the Cork horns. The museum even has some ancient Greek and Egyptian artifacts!
Changing Exhibits
Sometimes, the museum has special temporary exhibits. These have covered interesting topics like what it was like for Irish people during World War I. They have also explored the culture of Irish Travellers.
