Winthrop Arcade Marks 100 Years at the Heart of Cork City
Cork's Winthrop Arcade has been unveiled with a commemorative plaque marking 100 years since the iconic retail landmark first opened its doors in 1926.
The Lord Mayor of Cork has unveiled a commemorative plaque at Winthrop Arcade to mark the centenary of one of Cork city's most beloved retail landmarks.
Cllr Fergal Dennehy unveiled the plaque at the arcade on Friday, 5 June 2026, marking 100 years since the arcade officially opened in March 1926. Widely regarded as a jewel in the city's retail crown, Winthrop Arcade is celebrated as the first purpose-built retail arcade in the Irish Free State.
The Lord Mayor said:
"I am delighted to be here today to commemorate the anniversary of the reopening of the Winthrop Arcade.
Cork city has had a long and proud tradition of independent retailers operating in the city centre, and this arcade is a prime example of this.
Since 1926 the Winthrop Arcade has been an example of local business right in the heart of the city centre.
No doubt there are lots of people who have fond memories of visiting this arcade in the past and Cork City Council is confident that this will continue to be the case for the next century of the Winthrop Arcade."
Cormac Ó Súilleabháin, Director of Services, City Centre Development and Operations, said:
"The erection of this plaque commemorates the rebuilding of part of the city centre that was destroyed during the War of Independence. This premises is testament to the resilience of the people of Cork, and the vision of designers at the time who designed and crafted a wonderful arcade in the heart of the city."
The plaque was funded by the Department of Culture, Communication and Sport.
The arcade's origins are rooted in one of the darkest chapters of Cork's history. Work on the development followed the Burning of Cork in December 1920, which devastated a significant portion of the city centre. Despite receiving only limited compensation for the destruction of his property, promoter Patrick Crowley chose to invest in rebuilding the area between Winthrop Street and Oliver Plunkett Street.
Construction began in December 1924, with the arcade designed by notable Cork architects Levie and Chillingworth, whose other works include the Beamish and Crawford brewery, the Odlums building on Kennedy Quay, and the St Patrick's Street premises formerly home to Roches Stores and Debenhams. Built by John Delany and Son, the arcade officially opened in March 1926.
When it opened, the arcade created a covered pedestrian passage linking two major commercial streets, something relatively novel in Cork at the time, and originally housed 12 individual shops specialising in boutique and niche goods. It retains most of its original architectural features, including the glass dome, mahogany shop fronts, and bronze display windows.
