The building
Exterior view c. 1900
This magnificent Italianate building was designed by award winning architect, Anthony Salvin in 1854 and was built by James Smith Barry of Fota for the Royal Cork Yacht Club. The Royal Cork was founded in 1720 on Haulbowline Island and possibly the oldest yacht club in the world.
Anthony Salvin (1799-1881) was a distinguished English architect and an expert in fortified architecture. He was involved in the restoration of many castles including the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Salvin was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1836, became vice-president in 1839 and in 1863 the Institute conferred its gold medal on him.
Salvin’s practice included designing the clubhouse at Cowes. The Yacht Club in Cobh is the only example of his work in Ireland, giving it a unique significance in our heritage.
The building was the home to the Royal Cork Yacht Club for over a century until they moved to Crosshaven for better moorings. It was sold to University College Cork in 1969. UCC intended to establish a marine research centre, but this plan was never realised and over the following twenty years the building fell into disrepair and became derelict.
In 1988 the Old Yacht Club was purchased by Sirius Commemoration Ltd., a voluntary group of concerned local people, formed to buy, restore and develop activities suitable to the building. Fundraising commenced at once and within two years enough had been raised for restoration works to begin. These initial funds were exhausted in 1995, but by then enough work had been carried out for the centre to open and the artist’s residency programme could begin.
In 2004 an engineering assessment of the state of the building showed it to be in urgent need of emergency works to the foundation. Extensive underpinning works were carried out at the end of 2004 with the support of the Heritage Council, Cork County Council, the Department of Environment (through the National Development Plan), Cobh Urban District Council and fundraising by through programmed events. Additional works to restore the mosaic on the balcony of the building (with the Royal Cork Yacht Club Symbol at its centre) and the Artist’s residence were completed in 2006. The building’s foundation is now stabilized for the first time in its history. But there is still a lot of work to be done for this building to be fully functional and revitalized for future generations.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! - If you’d like to contribute funds to Sirius Arts Centre to aid in the continued restoration of this important part of Ireland’s architectural heritage please contact the our offices at +353 21 481 3790 or via email at: cobharts@iol.ie
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Sirius Arts Centre, The Old Yacht Club, Cobh, Co.
Cork, Ireland | Phone/Fax +353 21 481 3790 | email: cobharts@iol.ie
Gallery Hours Wednesday - Friday - 11AM - 5PM Saturday &
Sunday - 2PM - 5PM Monday & Tuesday - closed