Christchurch, known also as the Holy Trinity, sits discreetly in the background of Bishop Lucey Park on Grand Parade. The entrance to Christchurch is located on South Main Street, once the main street of medieval Cork. Christchurch ceased to function as a place of worship in 1978 due to dwindling congregation numbers and the building was purchased by Cork City Council in 1979 for the sum of £20,000. The Cork Archives Institute resided in Christchurch from 1979 until its relocation to a new purpose-built building in Blackpool in 2005.
In 2008 Cork City Council committed to a €4.8m project to restore and develop the historically significant building and they were successful in obtaining €2.18m of funding from EU Structural Funds 2007-2013, the European Regional Development Fund and the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly.
The refurbishment of Christchurch includes the integration of the Triskel Arts Centre building located next door on Tobin Street. The two buildings are joined to the Church via an extensive glazed link creating a beautiful new venue within the city to house creative performances and visual art.
The project design team for the refurbishment consisted of Architects Murray Ó Laoire, Consulting Engineers John O’Donovan & Associates and Quantity Surveyors Bruce Shaw Partnership. Phase 1 of the works was carried out by O’Shea’s Builders Cork in 2008. Phase 2 of the works began in November 2009 and was undertaken by Joseph Lane & Sons Ltd. The project involved restoration work on the building’s stained-glass windows, bell tower, roof, pews, organ, flooring and ceiling.
Triskel Christchurch opened its doors in April 2011 and is managed as an arts centre on behalf of Cork City Council. The new building provides an exceptional atmosphere and unique platform for live performances, events and exhibitions. With the addition of the Christchurch building, Triskel has become an important venue for Cork’s many festival programmes such as the Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork Film Festival, Cork Choral Festival and Cork Jazz Festival. In June 2012 we also hosted our first Civil Wedding Ceremony.