Irish International Exhibition
Pavilion and bandstand in Herbert Park, Dublin 4
Overview
BIE-classUnrecognized exposition
NameIrish International Exhibition
Area52 acres
Visitors2.75 million
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
CityDublin
VenueHerbert Park
Coordinates53°19′37″N 6°14′06″W / 53.3268619°N 6.2349343°W / 53.3268619; -6.2349343
Timeline
Opening4 May 1907
Closure9 November 1907

The Irish International Exhibition (sometimes Dublin International) was a world's fair held in Dublin in 1907, when all of Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom.

Summary

People waiting to board a train at Limerick Station to the Exhibition
Pottery exhibit at the Exhibition

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 the eventual secession of the Irish Free State from the United Kingdom.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Papers Past — New Zealand Tablet — 9 April 1903 — Irish News". Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  2. ^ "CORK INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION - 1902". Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b Pelle, Kimberley D (2008). "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.
  4. ^ a b Pelle, Kimberley D (2008). "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.,
  5. ^ a b Pelle, Kimberley D (2008). "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.
  6. ^ a b "DUBLIN - 1907". Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  7. ^ Hely's (1907).
  8. ^ "Upper Leeson Street Area Residents Association, Dublin - Ireland". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2011.

Sources

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