Old Town Hall, Cobh

The Old Town Hall is a 19th century building in Cobh, Ireland. Situated slightly east of the town center, in what is referred to as Lynch's Quay or East Beach,^[2] it faces Cork Harbour. It is included in the Record of Protected Structures maintained by Cork County Council.^[3]

Old Town Hall
Aerial view of the building from ocean side
Interactive map of Old Town Hall
Location	Cobh, Ireland
Coordinates	51.8502°N 8.2910°W / 51.8502; -8.2910
Built	1874[1]

Design

The single-floor building is based on square plan, with slanted roof covered with slates.^[1] Two distinct chimneys dominate the center of the roof. A clock tower is situated in the south-west corner of the building, and has three stages. The building is rendered in peach color and replacement PVC windows and doors have been installed. As of 2025, none of the clocks were in operation.^[4]

History

Constructed c. 1870, the building originally served as the Cork Harbour Commissioners' Office, and later used as the Urban District Council Office.^[1] It has also been referred to as the Old Cobh Town Hall and Clock Tower Gallery.^[5] Since 2010, a Chinese restaurant has been operating in the building, with a 21-year lease. In 2015 the property, including the waterfront jetty, was put up for sale with the guiding price of EUR 350,000.^[2]

A monument outside of the building commemorates the "Irish Poplar tragedy", a marine incident which resulted in the death of five people in Cork Harbour during December 1942.^[6] A further memorial, which incorporates an anchor, is dedicated to "all Irish seafarers who have served this island nation".^[7]

Restoration

In April 2025, an agreement was made by the co-owners, the Port of Cork and Cork County Council, regarding restoration works. The plan was met with criticism claiming the works planned were too superficial.^[4]