Wooden models believed to have secured win to build Cork's St Fin Barre’s Cathedral go on display

The design models were brought to Cork by renowned English architect William Burges

The Dean’s Vicar, Rev Martin Steele, views one of the original wooden models crafted by architect William Burges. These historic models, which were crucial in securing the commission to design St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in 1862, are currently on display. Picture: Dan Linehan

Intricate wooden models which it’s believed helped win the design competition for Cork’s landmark St Fin Barre’s Cathedral 163 years ago have been restored for public display for the first time.

The models were brought to Cork by renowned English architect William Burges to help him compete in the prestigious 1862 international architectural competition to design and build a new cathedral to replace the existing cathedral which many felt was plain and featureless.

Burges, who was 35 at the time, and known for his unique and sometimes unconventional style, was the unanimous choice out of over 60 entrants from Ireland, Britain, and the continent, with his design inscribed Non Mortuus Sed Virescrit — he is not dead but flourishing — a compact yet impressive French Gothic-style cathedral, narrow inside but soaring to a great height, with three spires.

It’s believed the wooden models, which showcased in physical form his ambitious vision for the new cathedral, help wow the selection committee.

Burges went on to pour his heart and soul into the cathedral project, with meticulous attention to detail extended to every corner of the building, from the sculpture and mosaics to the furniture and metalwork.

The foundation stone was laid in 1865 by Bishop John Gregg, and the cathedral was consecrated on St Andrew’s Day, 1870.

And while the winner's design was specified not to exceed £15,000, the final cost exceeded £100,000.

A complete model of the exterior, which is now on display inside its custom shipping case.

Burges acknowledged the cost overruns but told diocesan authorities that within 50 years, no-one would remember the price tag, and would instead be wowed by its beauty.

He also gifted to the city the famous ‘Resurrection Angel’, made of copper and covered with gold leaf.

With its soaring Cork limestone towers and spires, the cathedral is today one of the city’s architectural wonders.

Burges’s wooden models have been in storage since — with some pieces in a cathedral strongroom and other pieces in the attic of a diocese property nearby.

Three models

Diocesan authorities believed they had two separate models until they sent the pieces to Conservation Letterfrack for restoration, thanks to a grant from the Community Heritage Grants Scheme, administered by The Heritage Council, where experts discovered there are actually three separate models.

One is a complete model of the cathedral exterior, which is now on display inside its custom shipping case, the second focuses on specific architectural features of the western facade and north west tower, with the third a model of the cathedral's ambulatory area.

The restored models were unveiled for public display on Tuesday by Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle, with the help of pupils from St Fin Barre's National School and St Maries of the Isle National School.

'Quality craftsmanship'

The Dean of Cork, the Very Rev Nigel Dunne, said The Burges Wooden Model Exhibition is a wonderful addition to the many historic cultural artefacts that are on display at the cathedral.

“As custodians of a large and internationally significant architectural archive, much of which remains in storage, I am delighted that we can now at last reveal these models to the public on permanent display in the Ambulatory of the cathedral,” he said.

“They have been described as being of the highest quality craftsmanship of the time and reveal more of the story of William Burges' deep commitment to bringing the highest quality design and materials to the construction of our beautiful place of worship.” 

St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork.

The Lord Mayor also cut a ribbon to officially open a newly installed bike rack on the cathedral site to mark Bike Week Cork 2025.

And he was told that the cathedral’s breeding pair of Peregrine falcons, Solomon and Makeda, who have nested in the east tower, are due to hatch two eggs within the next two weeks.