Cork City Council Fitzgerald's Park Committee
TitleCork City Council Fitzgerald's Park Committee
ReferenceCP/CO/FZ/M
Date
1907-1929
Production date 1907 - 1929
Scope and ContentFitzgerald’s Park near Western Road, Cork, was created to host the Cork Industrial Exhibition in 1902 and 1903, partly on private, partly on Corporation land. It was originally under the ownership of the Cork International Exhibition Association (also known as the Fitzgerald’s Park Association), headed by Alderman Sir Edward Fitzgerald, Lord Mayor of Cork from 1901 to 1903. The Park was to be formally assigned to Corporation ownership on 4 March 1907, but final assignment appears not to have taken place until sometime between April and July of that year. (See, eg, Law and Finance Committee minutes, 22 October 1906; present minutes, 9 April and 9 July 1907). The transfer was proceeded by an Order of Council of 11 May 1906, establishing this committee:
‘That the Council appoint a committee of 14 members, two to be nominated by the representatives of each of the wards, to undertake the future care and manangement of the Fitzgerald Park, submitting the minutes of their proceedings to the Council for confirmation’.
Minutes of the Corporation’s Park Committee are contained in General Committee minutes, 1867-1889, referring to the Central Park near the Marina, and park ground and baths near Western Road and the Mardyke. This committee was also known as the Mardyke and Park Committee for a period. (See CP/CO/GC/M).
It was resolved at the first meeting that the Committee would meet twice monthly, at Fitzgerald’s Park. Alderman Sir Edward Fitzgerald was appointed its first chairman. The committee later met monthly, with the City Secretary in attendance, the City Engineer also often attending. Minutes generally include a statement of accounts and the treasurer’s return of income and expenditure.
From its early meetings, the committee sought to establish a public museum in the Park’s Shrubberies building. In April 1908 a sub-committee was formed to work with a deputation which had waited on the Corporation regarding the museum. This deputation shared many members with the late raw materials committee of the Cork Industrial Exhibition, including John P Dalton and several UCC professors. In a circular of 27 May 1908 appealing for donations, hope was expressed that ‘a very presentable loan exhibition’ might be in place by the Autumn. Dalton was appointed honourary curator on 5 November 1909. Donations were received throughout this time, and from April 1910 arrangements were made for the transfer of hundreds of objects as a deposit loan from the National Museum in Dublin. The museum was officially opened to the public on 20 December 1910. The committee and its museum sub committee continued to play a role in supervising the operations of the museum, as well as the upkeep of its premises.
Care and management of the Park included ordering of supplies and supervision of labour, repairs, upkeep of fences, paths, ponds, shrubs plants, and trees. The City Engineer reported regularly on conditions, requirements, and staff issues. In addition, the committee considered applications for use of the park by charitable, musical, cultural, and other organisations. They also discussed complaints regarding picking of flowers, loose dogs, or misconduct by staff.
From November 1924 to March 1929, while the Corporation was dissolved, committee meetings were attended by the City Commissioner (later City Manager), with other officers sometimes attending. City Manager Monahan continued to attend meetings, without Councillors present, up to 10 October 1929, when the present series ends.
The series documents the development of Fitzgerald’s Park as a civic amenity, and the creation and growth of Cork Public Museum, making it an important resource for the study of the social and cultural development of Cork city.
‘That the Council appoint a committee of 14 members, two to be nominated by the representatives of each of the wards, to undertake the future care and manangement of the Fitzgerald Park, submitting the minutes of their proceedings to the Council for confirmation’.
Minutes of the Corporation’s Park Committee are contained in General Committee minutes, 1867-1889, referring to the Central Park near the Marina, and park ground and baths near Western Road and the Mardyke. This committee was also known as the Mardyke and Park Committee for a period. (See CP/CO/GC/M).
It was resolved at the first meeting that the Committee would meet twice monthly, at Fitzgerald’s Park. Alderman Sir Edward Fitzgerald was appointed its first chairman. The committee later met monthly, with the City Secretary in attendance, the City Engineer also often attending. Minutes generally include a statement of accounts and the treasurer’s return of income and expenditure.
From its early meetings, the committee sought to establish a public museum in the Park’s Shrubberies building. In April 1908 a sub-committee was formed to work with a deputation which had waited on the Corporation regarding the museum. This deputation shared many members with the late raw materials committee of the Cork Industrial Exhibition, including John P Dalton and several UCC professors. In a circular of 27 May 1908 appealing for donations, hope was expressed that ‘a very presentable loan exhibition’ might be in place by the Autumn. Dalton was appointed honourary curator on 5 November 1909. Donations were received throughout this time, and from April 1910 arrangements were made for the transfer of hundreds of objects as a deposit loan from the National Museum in Dublin. The museum was officially opened to the public on 20 December 1910. The committee and its museum sub committee continued to play a role in supervising the operations of the museum, as well as the upkeep of its premises.
Care and management of the Park included ordering of supplies and supervision of labour, repairs, upkeep of fences, paths, ponds, shrubs plants, and trees. The City Engineer reported regularly on conditions, requirements, and staff issues. In addition, the committee considered applications for use of the park by charitable, musical, cultural, and other organisations. They also discussed complaints regarding picking of flowers, loose dogs, or misconduct by staff.
From November 1924 to March 1929, while the Corporation was dissolved, committee meetings were attended by the City Commissioner (later City Manager), with other officers sometimes attending. City Manager Monahan continued to attend meetings, without Councillors present, up to 10 October 1929, when the present series ends.
The series documents the development of Fitzgerald’s Park as a civic amenity, and the creation and growth of Cork Public Museum, making it an important resource for the study of the social and cultural development of Cork city.
Extent3 volumes
LanguageEnglish
Persons keywordCork City Council, Cork Corporation, Cork Public Museum
AccessOpen by appointment to those holding a current readers ticket
RightsSubject to Rules Governing Reproduction of Records
Levelseries
RepositoryCork City and County Archives