Irish International Exhibition
The Irish International Exhibition (sometimes Dublin International) was a world's fair held in Dublin, Ireland, in 1907, when the country was still part of the United Kingdom.
Irish International Exhibition | |
---|---|
People at the fair | |
Overview | |
BIE-class | Unrecognized exposition |
Name | Irish International Exhibition |
Area | 52 acres |
Visitors | 2.75 million |
Location | |
Country | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
City | Dublin |
Venue | Herbert Park |
Coordinates | 53°19′37″N 6°14′06″W |
Timeline | |
Opening | 4 May 1907 |
Closure | 9 November 1907 |
Summary
The decision to hold the exhibition was taken at the Irish Industrial Conference in April 1903,[1] and inspired by a small exhibition in Cork (the Cork International Exhibition) 5 years earlier.[2] The 1907 exhibition was intended to improve the trade of Irish goods.[3] The leading force behind the project was William Martin Murphy, a businessman and owner of the Irish Independent, Clerys department store (Clery & Co.), the Dublin United Transport Company and several other Irish and overseas ventures. Other organisers included the Irish journalist William Francis Dennehy.
The exposition ran from 4 May to 9 November 1907,[4] received 2.75 million visitors[5] covered 52 acres[4] and made a loss of about £100 000 sterling, although this was underwritten by guarantors.[3]
As well as contributions from countries including Canada, France and New Zealand there were displays of motor cars, electric and gas lighting and machinery;[6] fine art displays including work by Eva Henrietta Hamilton; funfair amusements;[6] a display depicting life in British Somaliland, the 'Somali village', was the exhibition's most popular attraction.[5][7]
Legacy
The land used for the exhibition became Herbert Park, where remaining artifacts include a bandstand and pond.[8]
Notables
There was a separation of Irish and British pavilions at a time when desire for Home Rule for Ireland was becoming more vocal, and some years before a declaration of independence and secession of the Irish Free State from the United Kingdom.
References
- "Papers Past — New Zealand Tablet — 9 April 1903 — Irish News". Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- "CORK INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION - 1902". Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- Pelle, Kimberley D. "Dublin 1907". In Findling, John E (ed.). Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-7864-3416-9.
- Pelle, Kimberley D. "Dublin 1907". In Findling, John E (ed.). Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7864-3416-9.,
- Pelle, Kimberley D. "Dublin 1907". In Findling, John E (ed.). Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-7864-3416-9.
- "DUBLIN - 1907". Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- "Upper Leeson Street Area Residents Association, Dublin - Ireland". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2011.