Designs for New Building, The Assessor’s Award

At Friday night’s meeting of the Cork Corporation, M. W. Ellis. T.C. (Deputy Lord Mayor) presiding, a letter was read from Mr. Lucius O’Callaghan, R.I.A.I. Assessor, enclosing his award in connection with the competition for the proposed Municipal Buildings and City Hall for Cork City.

Mr. J. Horgan said before the communication was opened it might be as well if they were informed if all the conditions laid down in connection with the designs had been observed by all competitors. The reason he raised the matter was that it had been suggested to him that some of the competitors might not have kept their designs within the cost laid down for the building of the Municipal Buildings and City Hall, though it was laid down that the designs, if carried out, should be within such cost…Mr. D. Horgan said the award of the assessor should be announced.

The Town Clerk said the communication received from the assessor was in the following terms: “Crawford Municipal School of Art, Cork, 14^th June 1923. Dear Sir – I have to report that thirteen designs were submitted in the competition for the proposed Municipal Buildings and Town Hall….After a careful examination of the whole of the designs I selected Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 8 as being the best of those submitted.

On comparing the relative merits of these I found that No. 5 exhibits in a far greater degree than any of the others that simplicity and directness of planning which characterises all good design, and in addition, has the merit that the external treatment is dignified, suited to the site, and at the same time economical.”

‘ “…Mr. D. Horgan – Are we tied down by the award of the assessor?” The Deputy Lord Mayor said the Council was bound by it…
The Deputy Lord Mayor – Will we get the name now of the first? There can be no objection, as he is given as No. 5
Mr. Kelleher said it might not be fair to disclose it, as that candidate might be over-marked with regard to the conditions.
Mr. D. Horgan moved and Mr. W.F. O’Connor seconded that the name be disclosed.
The City Solicitor – I don’t see any objection to disclosing the name.
Sir J. Scott – I hope it is a Corkman, sir.
Mr. J. Horgan – Hear, hear.
The Town Clerk then announced that No.5 design, which had been placed first, was from Messrs. Jones and Kelly, Architects, 17 South Frederick Street, Dublin. (Numbers 3, 4 and 8 were all from Dublin based architects)
Mr. J. Allen – It is a case of “Up Dublin.”
Sir J. Scott – Were there any designs sent in by Cork architects?
The Town Clerk – I could not tell you, Sir John

The matter ended.’ [source: Cork Examiner, Monday 25 June 1923]

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