Malboro Street
11am to 4pm
Cork Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was established in September 1886. Not long after, in March 194, our building officially opened in Marlboro Street. Modern at that time, it contained a large lecture hall, reading rooms, the gymnasium, student and staff rooms where a variety of clubs were offered throughout the week, including cycling, chess, cricket, camera, and tennis clubs.
We are proud to say that the Marlboro Street building continues to serve the YMCA to this day, forming an important part of Cork City’s social history. We are the only youth centre based in the city centre, working with hundreds of young people aged 16–25 and their families through various day and evening projects. It also serves as the headquarters of YMCA Ireland.
On Cork Heritage Day, we will open our doors to the public, offering individual guided tours of the entire 3 floor building, sharing stories, and presenting both our past and current work. We will showcase our impressive heritage collection, which includes approximately 20 books (from 1886 to the 1980s) documenting various YMCA departments—such as the Youth Gymnasium, Junior Department, and Reading Rooms—as well as organisational minute books (1890s). Our collection also features early photographs of students and staff from the 1900s, original building plans, and newspaper clippings dating back to the 1890s. All visitors are most welcome to explore our iconic building. No booking is necessary.
