'We have a world-class collection': Orla O’Byrne on curating and conserving at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral 

The curator and conservator at the Cork cathedral explains how her new role involves everything from restoring old maquettes to making the collection accessible to art students 

Orla O’Byrne, curator and conservator at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, holds the plaster face of a Burges maquette that she found in pieces in the spire room. Picture: Chani Anderson

Last May, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork opened its distinctive doors to thousands of visitors who came to see the art installation Helios, a huge representation of the sun sculpted by artist Luke Jerram, which hung to awe-inspiring effect in the nave of the church.

The event was staged as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival but it was also a giant calling card for St Fin Barre’s pioneering music and arts programme, which is being overseen by Orla O’Byrne. Helios represented a key element of what the Cork artist wants to achieve in her newly created role as curator at St Fin Barre’s, the diocesan cathedral of the Church of Ireland.