Taking place two years after the Great Famine ended,[3] and following a significant increase in Cork's population due to an influx of people fleeing the countryside[4] the fair stemmed partly from attempts to revive local industries.[4]
It was housed in the Albert Quay area in a cruciform building designed by John Benson with three wings given over to industrial exhibits such as whiskey, projectile shells, hydraulic presses, Valentiaslate and gingham[5] and a fourth to fine arts.[5]
Benson achieved success with his design for the exhibition building and this acted as a template for the opera house to be built in Cork.[7] He was also asked to be the architect for the world's fair in Dublin the next year. However, the aim of reviving industries was largely unsuccessful and census returns showed a decrease in males employed in manufacturing.[4]
References
^Pelle, Kimberley D. (2008). "Appendix D: Fairs Not Included". In Findling, John E.; Pelle, Kimberley D. (eds.). Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions (revised ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 414. ISBN9780786434169.
^National and State Industrial Exhibitions. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Historical Register of the Centennial Exposition, 1876. Edited by Frank Norton. Frank Leslie's Publishing House, New York, 1877. Pg. 4
^Ross, David (2002) Ireland: History of a Nation; p. 313