History of the Firkin Crane
Dominating the streetscape is St Anne's Church, whose lime- and sandstone (two walls built of each) clock tower can be seen from all over the city. It is colloquially known as “The Four-faced Liar”, as each of its faces may tell a different time. One can climb the tower to ring the famous Shandon Bells and savour spectacular views from the top.
At the foot of "the bells" is the Firkin Crane, next to the intriguing Butter Museum and its 19th century neighbour, site of the original Butter Market, from whence the product of the rich lands of Munster was sent all over the world.
The Firkin Crane building was opened in August 1855, designed by Sir John Benson to meet the needs of the Butter Exchange. "Firkin" is a Danish word meaning quarter barrel, which represented 9 gallons or 80Ibs of butter. In former times the tarred firkins or casks were weighed on a balance known as a “Crane”, hence the name.
In 1784 a Dominican chapel had been constructed on the remains of the 16th century Shandon Castle, which was, for a time, the seat of Tudor power in Munster. Local tradition has it that stone from this castle was used in building the nearby church of St Anne’s.
A contemporary account from the Cork Examiner explains the unusual shape:
"It is completely circular, and has a diameter of about a hundred feet. By a most ingenious arrangement the entire rafters of the immense roof converge upon one large center pillar, like the ribs of an umbrella upon the handle, and thus instead of having the space, the great object, interfered with by numerous pillars, the whole support does not occupy the room of more than three or four feet. The roof meets in a circular ridge, and the rain falling on the inside descends into the center pillar, which is hollowed, and conveys it to the reservoir. Around the outer edge of the roof a chute runs, which conveys the water by several pipes into the same receptacle, and so preserves for the purposes of cleaning firkins, and the many other uses for which it was required. Amongst the many advantages of this ingenious arrangement, one not the least important is the saving of the walls from damp. The entire cost of the building has been about £1,500."
After the Butter Market closed in 1924, James Daly & Sons manufactured margarine in the building until the 1970’s, when they transferred to new premises.
The deserted building was completely destroyed by fire on 6th July 1980. Thanks to the efforts of a group of businessmen under the Chairmanship of former Taoiseach Jack Lynch, it was restored as a home for the Cork-based Irish National Ballet, and this unique building was restored, preserving a building of architectural interest in what is probably the most historic part of Cork city.
In 1984, the plans to refurbish the Firkin Crane building received the E.E.C. Architectual Award for Ireland.
The Firkin Crane today remains a centre dedicated to dance, serving Cork’s growing dance community.
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