New exhibition hall planned for the Cork Showgrounds in Curraheen

The Munster Agricultural Society has lodged a planning application for the development of a multi-purpose sports, exhibition and education facility at its 48-acre showgrounds site at Curraheen. 

It follows the recent summer show event at the site which attracted thousands of visitors. 

The purpose of the facility is to support the Cork Summer Show and local education initiatives, along with a certain number of shows and exhibitions being held annually by the Munster Agricultural Society.

The development will be located to the south of the confluence of the Curraheen and Maglin rivers close to the Clash Road and overlooking the existing show fields.

It will be multifunctional and suitable for a wide variety of uses, including trade shows, animal shows, educational and community uses. 

The development consists of a main multifunctional building, a storage building to the west and a marshalling yard between. 

The Society said the development will be energy-efficient with a low carbon footprint. Parking will be provided together with electric car charging points and bicycle parking.

The main building with a gross floor area of 6,489 square metres over two levels, consists of a large open flexible hall space separated from the general facilities area by a five-metre-wide internal ‘street’ running in an east-west direction to align with the spring Equinox. 

The open hall space is located to the north side of the internal street. The overall space can be separated into three individual halls with independent access from both the ‘street’ and externally.

Founded in 1806 under the name County of Cork Farming Society, the Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) has been a voluntary organisation since its establishment. The Society currently has approximately 1,000 members.

The annual Summer Show has been running in one form or another for over 200 years, since 1806. It is Cork’s oldest and largest agricultural, gardening, food and family event which takes place every June in Curraheen. 

The MAS's previous showgrounds were located in the Marina in Cork and the area is due to be redeveloped into a public park.