Pictures: Port of Cork's donated art collection estimated to be worth €900k

Semi-State company was able to obtain a credit against tax liability

The donation of art included Naval Steam Frigate Moored Off Queenstown, by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson. Pictures courtesy of the Crawford Art Gallery

The donation by the Port of Cork of its art collection and historical pieces to the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork last year has been estimated to be worth almost €900,000.

Figures published by Revenue show that the tax authorities valued the donation of the company’s maritime artworks and other artefacts at €891,000.

A panoramic view of Queenstown (Cobh), 1877. Collection Crawford Art Gallery, Cork. By Robert Lowe Stopford

The Port of Cork Company was able to avail of a tax break under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for parties that make donations of heritage items.

The legislation provides for the semi-State commercial company to obtain a credit against a tax liability.

Paddle Steamer Entering the Port of Cork, by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson, is already part of the Crawford Art Museum's collection.

As well as 17 paintings of the Port of Cork, the collection also included a ship’s register from the Cork Harbour Commissioners, which recorded the visit of Titanic to Cork in 1912 on its fateful maiden voyage.

A Steamship Preussischer Adler, c.1856, by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson

The Port of Cork made the donation at a time when the building that historically housed the collection on Custom House Quay was earmarked for a major development, including the construction of a 34-storey tower which will include a five-star, 240-bedroom hotel.

A majority of the paintings in the collection are by the 19th century, Cobh-born, marine painter, George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson whose iconic Paddle Steamer Entering the Port of Cork already forms part of the Crawford’s collection.

The Port of Cork collection also contains extremely rare and historic artefacts including a silver Court of Admiralty Oar of Cork Harbour which dates from 1686.

View of Passage West on the River Lee, 1849. Collection Crawford Art Gallery, Cork..

The Crawford Art Gallery was also the beneficiary of State funding of €400,000 in 2020 which it has used to acquire artworks of contemporary Irish artists.

The gallery announced last year that it had acquired 225 works by 39 artists ranging from paintings, photographs, prints and drawings to sculptures, installations, digital film and sound works, textile and embroideries.

Last July, the Government confirmed a €29m investment in the redevelopment of the 200-year-old gallery on Emmet Place in Cork. 

The gallery, which attracts over 260,000 visitors per year, has a collection of over 3,000 works.

The SS Ibis Built in Cork 1860, Lost Ballycroneen Bay, 1865. Collection Crawford Art Gallery, Cork.