Ulster Hall, Belfast

Brian — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:29:14 +0000

Built in 1862 to serve as a ballroom, Ulster Hall is currently known as the home of the Ulster Orchestra. This performance venue also maintains a rich tradition of hosting historically significant events.
In March of 1971, the classic Led Zeppelin song, “Stairway to Heaven” was first performed onstage here.
Earlier on in Irish history, Ulster Hall witnessed many Nationalist political rallies that featured speakers such as Charles Stewart Parnell and Patrick H. Pearse. These rallies occurred during the years preceding the dawn of the Irish Republic in 1921.
The hall features a huge Victorian Mullholland organ. Visitors are welcome during non-performance hours.

Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork City

Brian — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 13:55:08 +0000

The building that houses the gallery dates back to 1724, when it functioned as a custom house and Emmet Street was known as the King’s Dock. It is an historic composite of three different phases of construction. First, as the port operations expanded, need for more space spurred on the erection of a new custom house, and functions were moved. In 1850, the building became a Government School of Design. An addition was constructed in 1884 due to the need to accommodate expanding enrollments.
The patron for this project was William Horatio Crawford, so the institute was renamed the Crawford Municipal School of Art. Early in the 19th century, it became an art school and gallery, and in 1979, it became The Crawford Municipal Art Gallery when the art school moved into another building.
Recent renovations and the addition of more than 10,000 square feet of gallery have created space for visiting exhibitions that include modern works such as video depictions, like the one by Charles Lamb RHA, portraits – such as the Victoria Russell painting of the actress Fiona Shaw, and iconic representations of Irish history and culture such as Going to Mass, by James Humbert Craig and Men of the South by Sean Keating.
The permanent collection features landscapes of the Cork area from the 18th and 19th centuries by artists such as William Leech, James Barry, Daniel Maclise and Nathaniel Grogan.
In addition to paintings, the gallery showcases a variety of sculptures, glass and silver pieces. There is a well-stocked bookstore and a café located on the premises.
Next door is the Cork Opera house, rebuilt in 1965 as a replacement for the original beloved building. It has been described as a bit more functional and not as ornate as the original, and hosts capacity audiences for its schedule of performances.

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Ulster Hall, Belfast

Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork City