Criminal Courts of Justice Cork

Criminal Courts of Justice Cork (former Cork Model National School)

Anglesea Street

Guided tour at 11am and 12pm

Full wheelchair access

Cork Model National School, Anglesea Street was first opened on 11th September 1865 and at its peak the school had more than 450 young pupils from all social backgrounds and denominations.

The Cork Model School was in the parish of St Nicholas and was one of the last of 24 Model Schools to be built by The Board of Public Works during the period 1840 to 1870. It was designed in 1862 by Architect Enoch Trevor Owen.

Construction work carried out by local contractor Mr James Delvin, commenced in 1864 completed in 1865, there was a male and female infant schools and a Maritime school, for which the 60ft high tower was intended as an observatory. Other facilities provided included a cloakroom, cap-room and bonnet room.

The school finally closed in 1990 and became the District Court with the first Court Hearings taking place, 130 years after the original opening as a school, on 1st September 1995.

The Courthouse closed in 2015 for extensive renovations and reopened in 2018 as a dedicated Criminal Court. The Courthouse was extensively redeveloped under a public-private partnership with the construction company BAM appointed to, build, finance and maintain the buildings for 25 years. It has six courtrooms as well as custody facilities and court offices equipped with separate internal circulation routes for the public, judges, jurors and those in custody and has more modernised facilities for vulnerable witnesses, victim support and other court users.

The redevelopment included a sympathetic restoration of the former model school building, which is currently used to accommodate some office and other support functions.

Guided tours of the Criminal Courts of Justice Cork will take place at 11am and 12pm.

Booking essential. Click here to book tickets for 11am.

Booking essential. Click here to book tickets for 12pm.