CorkDFAS organises visits by members to museums, private and public collections, and significant buildings, possibly in conjunction and cooperation with other local bodies. These events are sometimes open to non-members.
2023
22 April: Historical tour of St. Colmans Cathedral, Cobh & Sirius Gallery, Cobh. Combined Guided Tours: April 22, led by Dr Ann Wilson and Dr tom Spalding
25 March: Cultural tour of Fota House with Karen Cassidy, Fota House Art Collection expert and Martina Madden, Fota House Museum & Property Coordinator and expert on its architecture and furnishings.
17 February: Tour of Collins Barracks Cork with Mr. Gerry White and Sgt. Denis McGarry.
2022
23 November: Guided Tours Riverstown House, Glanmire, Co.Cork and Glenville House & Gardens, Glenville, Co. Cork
DFAS members enjoying the beauties of Glenville House
DFAS members in gorgeous Riverstown House, with its amazing plasterwork
14 September: free public lecture at Cork City Library, Grand Parade, Cork
Mr Gerry White, Military Historian: ‘The Architecture, Art & History of Collins Barracks, Cork’
In 1922 The Victoria Military Barracks was handed over to the Irish Free State army, the barracks was renamed Collins Barracks. Marking the centenary of this handover CorkDFAS presented a public lecture by military historian Gerry White, in association with Cork City Library. The lecture was supported by Cork City Council’s Heritage Office and Morgan O’Driscoll, Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers, Skibbereen, Co Cork, with generous assistance from Cork City Heritage Plan Grant Scheme
17 August, 2022 National Heritage Week,
Cork DFAS Chairman Brendan Doyle presented ‘Seamus Murphy and the Church of the Annunciation , Blackpool, Cork’ at the Church of the Annunciation itself, followed by a walk to the site of Seamus Murphy’s studio.
Sunday, 19th June: CorkDFAS at the Crawford Art Gallery: a special viewing of the Port of Cork collection and the Zurich Portrait exhibition with special thanks to Chloe @CrawfordArtGall
Saturday, 21 May : Guided tour by Tom Spalding of Christ the King Church, Turners Cross
Saturday 22 January: Virtual Tour of The Mauritshuis presented by Jane Choy
2021
Wednesday, 22nd September : Free Public Talk at The Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork at 19:00
Conor English, Architect and lecturer: Frank Murphy, Cork’s Modern Architect
Cork Distillers Bottling plant (1964), North Mall, Cork City
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2018-19
Friday, 6th November: Tour of Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne ( the North Cathedral), Cork including an introduction to the Cork Folklore Project in the cathedral visitors centre from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Excursion to Doneraile Court: from 14:00 to 15:00
Saturday, 18th May: Tour of The Everyman Theatre: A new tour that took us behind the scenes of The Everyman theatre on MacCurtain Street, a unique chance to experience the history of the Victorian building.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Made in Cork Contemporary
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Made in Cork Contemporary 23 November 2018– 17 February 2019 From ancient processes to new (machine) technologies, the exhibition Earth, Wind and Fire: Made in Cork Contemporary will showcase the work of Nuala O’Donovan, Eoin Turner, Alex Pentek, Mary Palmer / Anne Kiely and Joseph Walsh. 6 Cork-based contemporary artists whose artistic practice exemplifies excellence …
Saturday, 24th November: Trip to Youghal
A combined tour of Youghal Clock Gate Tower (meet at at 11 a.m.) and St Mary’s Collegiate Church.
Saturday, 13th October: Guided tour to the Crawford Art Gallery’s Naked Truth exhibition
Dr Michael Waldron lead members and guests on a tour of the Naked Truth exhibition
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2017-18
Wednesday, 21st March
CorkDFAS Volunteering Secretary, Tom Spalding lead a walking tour as part of the Lifelong Learning Festival (Monday, 19th-Sunday, 25th March).
Saturday, 16th December: Guided tour by Committee Member Tom Spalding of Under The Goldie Fish Exhibition
Saturday, 4th November: Guided tour of Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street, Cork
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2016-17
Saturday, 19th August 2017 at 2.30 p.m: A talk on the CorkDFAS Church Recording Project in St Anne’s, Shandon by Committee Members, Tom Spalding and David Ryan, as part of Heritage Open Day.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017: Tour of Fota House
A tour of some previously hidden features in the library of the house which were uncovered during recent renovation work and the rest of the house.
Saturday, 13th May 2017 at 11.30 a.m.CorkDFAS guided tour of the current exhibition in the UCC Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Set In Time: Drawings from the Serge Lifar Collection.
Tuesday, 29th November 2016 at 10 a.m.CorkDFAS guided tour of the National Sculpture Factory facilities and working studios.
21st September 2016: free public lecture was given at The Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork, at 7 p.m: Aspects of the Arts & Crafts of The Honan Chapel in its Centenary Year by Virginia Teehan (then Director of Cultural Projects, UCC) and James Cronin (Lecturer in Teaching & Learning (Enhancement), UCC)
Saturday, 20th August 2016, Walking tour with Tom Spalding: 20th Century Architecture: Guide to Cork Architectural Heritage
Wednesday, 6th July 2016: Fota House Lunch and Tours
Tour of UCC Art Collection
Saturday, 11th June 2016, Tour of UCC Art Collection, Glucksman Gallery.
Members and friends of Cork Decorative & Fine Arts Society enjoyed an informative and fun tour in sunny weather of the UCC Art Collection last Saturday under the expert guidance of Sarah McCauliffe of the Glucksman Art Gallery.
Saturday, 7th May 2016, 10:30 a.m., UCC: Workshop “Identification of Cultural Objects”
CorkDFAS held a very successful Workshop at UCC on the proper Identification of Cultural Objects led with great good humour and bountiful experience by Philip Sheppard, Director of Sheppard’s Fine Art Auctioneers, Kilkenny, ably assisted by Donal Robinson-Ryan of Sheppard’s. A detailed talk was followed by the attendees handling a wide range of objects separated by time and type with instruction from Philip and Donal.
Elizabeth Fort Tour
Sunday, 17th April 2016, noon
Members & guests enjoyed an interesting and informative guided tour of Elizabeth Fort today under Sean’s amusing tutelage as part of the 13th Cork Lifelong Learning Festival.
The Fort is a fascinating place and Sean gave a neat overview of Cork history in just one hour from the battlements of the site, and for many centuries the building, around which that history swirled in all its political, dynastic and religious complexity.
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Cork Printmakers Studio Tour
Saturday, 14th November 2015, 11 a.m.
CorkDFAS members thoroughly enjoyed a guided tour on Saturday morning, 14th November, to Cork Printmakers Studio, Wandesford Quay, in Cork.
The studio provides resources to Cork artists to work through the medium of printmaking.
The extensive tour was given by Frances O’Connor, Assistant Director, and was superbly done and much enjoyed by the members, who were introduced not just to the workshops and exhibition centre but also to the varied techniques and skills offered by and practised at the Printmakers Studio.
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HERITAGE WEEK 2015 PROGRAMME
“Cork’s Shortest Walking Tour”
Saturday, 22nd August 2015, 2:30 p.m. (start of Heritage Week)
commenced from the Vision Centre at St Peter’s Church on North Main Street
This tour packed 250 years of Cork’s history into 900 yards, in the vicinity of Grand Parade, making it the shortest, most cram-packed, walking tour of Cork!
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“Words on the Street”
Saturday, 22nd August 2015, 10:30 a.m., also as part of Heritage Week
Many people joined Design Historian Tom Spalding (our Volunteering Coordinator) in an exploration through the city of Cork and its signs, lettering and place-names. This walk was ideal for all lovers of local history, typography and graphic design. Whether one already knew an Egyptian ligature from a sans serif, or were just as curious about this aspect of our built environment, this was the walk for everyone and was full of surprises which interested young and old. There was time available afterwards for questions and an opportunity to purchase Tom’s books.
Supported by Cork Civic Trust.
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Outing to Rockrohan House, Cork
Tuesday, July 14th 2015, 2:30 p.m.
followed by afternoon tea in the dining room
€5 per person
CorkDFAS members and guests were cordially received on Bastille Day at his home in Cork by Richard Wood, the well-known and much respected connoisseur and art lover.
Richard led the members and guests an enthralling tour of the gardens and house and its art collection and provided informative and entertaining guidance.
This delightful tour was followed by a convivial tea together in the delightful Dining Room.
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Tour of Bells and Tower at St Anne’s Church, Shandon
Tuesday, June 16th 2015, 11 a.m.
with tea/coffee and scones afterwards
at the nearby Maldron Hotel
€8 per person
Tuesday, 16th June was the CorkDFAS Tour for members and guests beginning at 11 a.m. of the Bells and Tower at St Anne’s Church, Shandon one of Cork’s oldest buildings at almost 300 years old and the oldest church in continuous use in the city. The visit provided members with an opportunity to tour the church, ring the Shandon bells, view the internal workings of the “Four-Faced Liar” and enjoy 360° spectacular views of the city from the balcony of the Shandon Bells tower.
The tour was introduced with a sparkling introduction by Shandon volunteer guide, Cliff Wedgbury, and included a personally sung rendition of his own tribute to the church and bells, sung to the tune of “Three Score and Ten”, which received a well-deserved appreciation from the members and other visitors to the church.
The tour also included tea/coffee and scones afterwards at the nearby Maldron Hotel.
A great trip out to one of Cork’s finest monuments.
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Walk “The Design of Cork’s Street Furniture”
26th April 2015
Members of CorkDFAS and a couple of lucky non-members thoroughly enjoyed a history walk in Cork City on 26th April 2015, and in glorious sunshine, under the expert guidance of the Society’s Volunteering Coordinator, Tom Spalding, who pointed out things that even 30-year residents of this fair city were unaware of. Everyone was much impressed.
This walk was a continuation of Tom’s excellent CorkDFAS lecture on 1st April on “The Design of Cork’s Street Furniture” at the Clarion Hotel.
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For Members only: Workshop on 27th September 2014
For all information on this Workshop please go to MENU, CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERING, Best Practice Workshop