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 special museum in Cork, Ireland. It's located inside Fitzgerald's Park, a lovely green space in the Mardyke area of the city. The museum is in an old building from the mid-1800s. Its main goal is to show off the history and amazing old finds from the Cork area.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The main museum building used to be a fancy house built in 1845. It was owned by the Beamish family, who were famous for brewing beer. Later, the Cork City Council bought the house and its gardens. This was to make room for the big Cork International Exhibition in 1902. This exhibition was a bit like a "world's fair" for its time!
A Royal Visit
During the 1902 exhibition, the house was used to host important guests. Even King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited! After the exhibition, most of the area became a public park. In 1910, the house officially opened its doors as a museum.
Through the Years
The museum had to close partly during "The Emergency," which was Ireland's name for World War II. It was even used as an air-raid shelter for a while! It fully reopened in 1945. For some years, University College Cork helped manage the museum. But by the 1960s, the city council took over again. Before Cork became the European City of Culture in 2005, a new part was added to the museum. This new section gave them more space for exhibits and even a café!
What Can You See Inside?
The Cork Public Museum is very important. The National Museum of Ireland has given it "designated county museum" status. This means the museum can keep important historical items for the country. It can also borrow items from the National Museum.
Exploring Cork's Past
The exhibits mostly focus on the old things found in the Cork area. You can see items from digs around the city's old medieval walls. There are also displays about Cork's economy and city life. You might see special items like "civic regalia," which are ceremonial objects used by city officials. There are also artifacts that tell the story of Cork's merchant history and its busy Port of Cork.
Ancient Treasures
Other cool things on display include old mining tools from the Bronze Age. These were found in copper mines in West Cork. You can also see unique Iron Age helmet horns that were discovered nearby. Sometimes, the museum even has ancient Greek and Egyptian artifacts! They also have temporary exhibits. These have covered interesting topics like what it was like for Irish people during World War I and the culture of Irish Travellers.
