Taoiseach backs expanded €93m Crawford Art Gallery project

The redevelopment of Crawford Art Gallery in Cork is “a much more exciting project” than the one originally conceived, the Taoiseach has said, adding that costs, which have already tripled, would only increase further if the investment wasn’t made now.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, minister for culture, communications and sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and minister of state with responsibility for the OPW Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, attended the commencement of the construction project yesterday afternoon.

The full cost of the project is now estimated at €93m, including Vat and provision for contingency, over three times the original 2020 estimate of €28m. €6.5m has already been spent on investigative surveys, design costs, the costs of decanting the art works and getting the art works into storage. The gallery closed in September 2024, and it was said at the time that it would re-open in 2027, but the projected completion date is now mid-2028.

Speaking to The Echo at the launch, Mr Martin said: “Given the architectural sensitivity of the building, to build an extension of this scale is going to be a feat of both construction and sensitivity to the surroundings. It will create an iconic feature for Cork for the next 200 years.”

Plan ‘reflects a broader commitment to the arts’

“It’s a tribute to all involved… it’s wonderful to witness, and it reflects a broader Government commitment to the arts,” Mr Martin added.

Queried about the completion date being pushed back and the costs tripling, the Taoiseach said the project was “of a different scale from what originally conceived”.

“Construction inflation has gone up significantly, in my own view that’s when decisions are required. We’ve taken the right decision to get on with this, get it done, because if we postpone or delay, one thing is inevitable, the cost will go up to even higher.

“This is essential artistic infrastructure in the city of Cork, we can’t leave it as an empty shell, that would be unthinkable. We can’t leave it there for years underutilised.”

He concluded that compared to the original plans: “It’s much more exciting”.

“I didn’t realise it was going to go higher than the Opera House, so that’s going to be exciting, and how they knit it into the current configuration will be fascinating to watch.

“I think it will be a distinctive, iconic landmark for Cork into the future in heart of city. Getting it done in 2028 will be worth it.”

Designed by Grafton Architects, the redevelopment is a major project under the National Development Plan.

The project will expand and modernise Crawford in line with international museum standards, providing new exhibition spaces and a Learn and Explore facility to engage new audiences, as well as a new public gallery providing panoramic views of Cork city.

The redevelopment will also address long-standing challenges with the fabric of the historic building, providing fit-for-purpose storage spaces for the National Collection, and will significantly enhance the sustainability of the building.

Additionally, the project will create a new entrance onto Emmett Place, opening Crawford onto a new urban plaza at the heart of the cultural life of the city.

Speaking at the commencement event in the Crawford Art Gallery, minister Patrick O’Donovan said: “I am delighted that as the only National Cultural Institution located entirely outside of Dublin, implementation of the Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment can now commence.

“My department, along with the OPW and the Crawford Art Gallery have been working towards this day for many years, so it was with great satisfaction that I recently approved the awarding of the contracts. Following the tricentenary of the building in 2024, it is timely that this historic site once again reinvents itself.”

Beginning life as a Custom House in 1724, the Crawford has operated as a School of Art, a municipal art gallery and a National Cultural Institution. It has always grown and adapted, and the redevelopment marks another important moment in the history of the building.

The contractor, PJ Hegarty and Sons, is expected to start on site in early 2026 with the project due to be completed in mid-2028. The gallery fit-out, commissioning and re-occupation will then follow prior to the opening.

Rose McHugh, the chair of Crawford Art Gallery, said: “This is a very significant moment in the history of Crawford Art Gallery. The ambitious and well considered redevelopment will ensure that the Gallery remains at the heart of the cultural life of Cork and Ireland for generations to come.”

Mary McCarthy, the gallery’s director, added: “This is an exciting moment for everyone who loves Crawford Art Gallery.

“The actual start on site of this redevelopment marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter — one that will deliver renewed and expanded spaces for visitors, artists, and future generations to enjoy and be inspired by. We are ambitious for Cork, the region, and the impact that culture can contribute to city centre and regional vibrancy.”

She thanked the government and project team, saying: “Their expertise will shape a gallery that will stand as a vibrant cultural landmark for the people of Cork and for all who come to experience its magic in the years ahead.”