Cork Opera House gets €170k refurbishment grant from County Council

Cork Opera House is to get a grant of €170,000 from Cork County Council despite objections from some councillors who felt it should not receive any more handouts as it is in profit.

Nearly 10 years ago, the Opera House was in dire financial trouble and in danger of closing. The city and county council stepped in with grant aid to keep it afloat.

Over the past five years, the County Council has provided the opera house with €250,000.

Councillors were asked to rubberstamp a further grant of €170,000 for what council CEO Tim Lucey described as “significant upgrade needed at the back of the house” which in total will cost €540,000 to complete.

The request for aid was made by the board of the Opera House, but Sinn Féin councillors said it should be rejected.

Sinn Féin leader on the council, Des O’Grady, said that the cash-strapped local authority had made generous donations to it in recent years.

“I have an objection to this,” said Mr O’Grady. “It made a profit in last three years of something approaching three-quarters of a million euro. Why are they not going to the banks?”

His party colleagues agreed, but Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Rose Desmond argued that it is important to ensure the Opera House stays afloat “for all of the people of Cork”.

Kevin Murphy, the Fine Gael leader on the council, said approval should be given for the grant.

He also asked if there is provision for two seats on the Opera House board to be allocated to county councillors.

Mr Lucey said one councillor could sit on the board and he would look into ensuring that happens.

Tim Lucey

He said that he had seen at first hand what work needs to be done in the Opera House.

“I’m satisfied after looking at their financial statement that they need this support,” Mr Lucey said.

Eventually councillors agreed to pay the €170,000 grant.

Work will get underway shortly on the back-of-house area.

This will include the development of a multi-functional room that can be used for rehearsals for major shows, refurbishment of the back bar, improvements to public bathrooms, plumbing, and general works.

Mr Lucey said that the works will bring the entire facility up to modern standards and will allow for the reopening of the back bar area which has been closed on health and safety grounds for some time.