Introduction
In an exciting collaboration and through essential support from its American members, the Irish Georgian Society is working with the Sirius Arts Centre in restoring the former clubhouse of the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cobh with the goal of reinstating significant lost architectural elements and revitalising and enhancing its role as a vibrant centre of cultural activity. If you wish to donate to support this project, click on the links at the bottom of the page.
About the clubhouse
The clubhouse was built from 1852-54 by the Royal Cork Yacht Club to the designs of the architect Anthony Salvin (1799-1881) on a site donated by its Commodore, James Smith Barry (1816-1856) of nearby Fota House. It was positioned on the western end of a quay built at the start of the century thereby allowing easy access to the sea for its members. Salvin’s design was for an Italianate-style building which was in keeping with the character of the town which has developed rapidly in preceding decades. This stands today a single-storey over basement structure with a wide hipped roof, a seven-bay façade to the street and a handsome three-bay loggia to the rear that faces out over Cork harbour. Wings to allow more space were added to the east and west in 1866 to the designs of Sir John Benson (1812-1874).
In the 1960s the Royal Cork Yacht Club moved from Cobh to Crosshaven on the other side of Cork harbour and subsequently sold their old clubhouse to University College Cork which had an unrealised plan to develop it as a marine research centre. Over the following two decades the building fell into a derelict state from which it was rescued by a local organisation called Sirius Commemoration Ltd. Its members wished to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first steam-powered crossing of the Atlantic by the SS Sirius, which left Cobh for New York in 1837. Following an extensive programme of works, they re-opened the building as the Sirius Arts Centre in 1995.
While the future of the old clubhouse was secured in the 1990s, it was not possible to fully restore the building at the time. Through essential support from its US members, the Irish Georgian Society and the Sirius Arts Centre have embarked on a collaborative project to complete these works and in doing so to further enhance the building.
The restoration project
There has been a hive of activity since the restoration project was first adopted in June 2023 with successful fundraising events held in New York, Chicago, Boston and Palm Beach; the commissioning of a Feasibility Study which set out a phased programme to fully restore the building; planning permission was sought and approved for the first phase of the project; and most recently works have started on site. These have entailed the reconstruction of tall chimney stacks that were once a key feature of the building, and the reinstatement of a roof lantern that will provide lighting to the central gallery space.
Further funds have been raised for a project to underpin the loggia to the rear of the building that include a significant grant from the Historic Structures Fund operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.
To complete the first phase of works in the restoration of the building, more funding is required to complete essential roof repairs. All contributions are welcome with donation options available through the following links:
For donors in Ireland:
For donors in the USA