Firkin Crane

Open 10am to 5pm

Dance Cork Firkin Crane is located at the foot of Shandon Bells, in Cork’s North City Centre. This heritage building, which was part of the Butter Market was opened in 1855. “Firkin” is a Danish word meaning quarter barrel, the firkins, or casks, were weighed on a balance known as a “Crane”, hence the building’s unusual name.

After the Butter Market closed in 1924, the building was deserted for many decades. It was put up for sale in 1979, and Joan Denise Moriarty, then Director of Irish National Ballet, successfully applied to the Arts Council to have the building bought and refurbished as a home for the Cork-based professional dance company.

This unique building was opened by then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds in April 1992, preserving a building of architectural interest in one of the most historic areas of Cork City. In 2005, the organisation changed its name to the Institute of Choreography and Dance (ICD). The organisation began to offer residencies of many kinds, professional dance classes and workshops, and began commissioning, co-producing, and presenting new dance works. Now renamed Dance Cork Firkin Crane, and proud of our history as Ireland’s first dance house and a founding member of the DanceHouse Network in 2004, we remain an organisation and a centre dedicated to dance and to serving Cork and Ireland’s growing dance community.

Guided Tours of Dance Cork Firkin Crane will take place at 11am, 12pm and 1pm. Booking essential.

Click here to book tickets for the 11am Guided Tour Dance Cork Firkin Crane 11am Guided Tour

Click here to book tickets for the 12pm Guided Tour Dance Cork Firkin Crane 12pm Guided Tour

Click here to book tickets for the 1pm Guided Tour Dance Cork Firkin Crane 1pm Guided Tour