Fresh new uses sought for major part of our industrial history - the Sunbeam Wolsey textile plant

New uses, or even owners, for what was once Cork city’s largest employment base, the Dwyer family’s Sunbeam Wolsey textile plant are being sought.

The Sunbeam clothing and hosiery company employed as many as 4,000 at peak production times in the early to mid-1900s at Blackpool in Cork, though production wound down by 1995 and, eventually, receivers were appointed.

New ownership came in the 1990s, and linen and cotton garments continued to be produced for several more years, with a much smaller workforce.

But then, fire struck in September 2003.

The fire spread rapidly through the original tall brick and stone mill buildings, gutting them, and obliterating half a century of industrial heritage, and social history.

Much of the site was cleared, and some new uses were found for some of the remaining art deco-ish office buildings and warehouses.

In the meantime, the main offices of the old Sunbeam management found a range of new uses, as offices of the Cork City Partnership, as a bingo hall, and even as a super-size creche for more than 130 children.

Other buildings were taken on by the HSE, and another hosts a veterinary practice.

Now, estate agent Dominic Daly is looking to waken up new uses at the old Sunbeam, for its owner Robert McGrattan.

A niche selling point of visual, and artistic interest, is a carved limestone wall plaque by sculptor Seamus Murphy who worked most of his career in Blackpool, and whose book Stone Mad deftly recalls an industrialised Cork, with wry humour and insight.

It’s one of two plaques that Murphy carved for the Dwyers (there’s another in Youghal). Dating from 1948, it depicts two women, one spinning and one weaving.

There’s more than 23,000 sq ft remaining now on the c three-acre old plant owned by Mr McGrattan, and it’s in surprisingly good condition, well provisioned with office suites, classrooms, WCs and foyers. Still intact are the old boardroom and Dwyer family’s main offices, complete with fireplaces.

“Someone with an immediate space need could move straight in,” ventures auctioneer Dominic Daly, who says he’s open to approaches to let, or purchase space here. Key points are space, parking, easy access both from the new and old Mallow Road, and proximity to the city centre.

By coincidence of timing, in what’s billed as one of the largest northside Cork office deals of recent times, local company Teamwork last month took 16,000 sq ft of offices nearby at Park House by the Atrium Business Park, Blackpool.

Details: Dominic Daly & Co 021-4277399