New entrance to Prince's-Street Market....
The entrance to the new Prince's-street market... will henceforth rank amongst the principal buildings in our city. It is certainly as handsome a structure as exists in the three kingdoms having the same object, and reflects the greatest credit on our city Architect who designed it, and superintended its construction, and on Mr Walsh, the builder, who carried out the design. The only fault that can be suggested, not in the immediate work itself, but in connection with it, is the difficulty of getting a good view of the front in its position, in a narrow street, which is also one of the busiest thoroughfares in Cork....
The front is a well-designed and graceful structure which under any disadvantages of position must look well. In the centre is a lofty entrance or gateway, twenty feet high and ten feet broad. This being the main purpose of the erection is of course the part to which everything else is subservient. Use and profit, however, are not neglected in the accessories, which consist of two exceedingly handsome houses, especially designed for shops, one at either side of this entrance, the whole forming a large building designed artistically, and erected in a workmanlike manner. There is no particular style adhered to in the design, but in it a general resemblance to buildings built in brickwork after the Lombardo-Italian school, prevails. The front is chiefly constructed of red brick, tastefully varied however in several parts by other colours. For instance, the large arch over the entrance is in black and white brickwork, and the mouldings are of the limestone of this district. The whole building stands on a base of two feet and a half of handsomely cut limestone. The houses on each side are divided vertically on the lower storey into three divisions by two pillars, one division acting as a doorway, and the other two serving as windows. The second storey of each house is in four divisions created by three handsome pillars, and the top storey in five divided by pillars. Over the central arch is a large semi-circular light very ornamentally finished, and a little above this is a circular space for a clock, should it ever be deemed advisable to put one there. The whole is surmounted by a capping of limestone, consisted of a series of corbals, each carrying a semi-circular arch over it, the spaces under the arches being deeply cut, so as to throw a deep and effective shadow - an arrangement that must be noticed and admired by anyone looking at the front from Princes-street. The keystone of the large arch is of limestone. On the whole the front is one of striking beauty.
Passing in through the archway, the visitor stands in a corridor thirty feet deep, the shape of the arch, at each end of which there will be exceedingly handsome gates; inside the outer one will be an entrance from this long archway or corridor into the houses at either side. Inside the corridor lies the market. As is well known, the orginal object of the change in the market was to provide protection for the dealers carrying on their sales there of vegetables, fowl, fruit, fish, etc. That this object has been realised with the utmost regard to utility, and yet in the most perfect compliance with the rules of good taste and effect, will be evidenced to the most casual visitor to the market.
The roof is supported on two rows of cast iron pillars, and is constructed in the usual angular form, being supported, however, on wooden girders. In it is a continuous light from one end of the market to the other, consisting of fluted glass. Round the building are large and commodious galleries, the right oone of which, being very spacious, has also a fluted glass light along the top. This gallery is destined for the lighter description of sales - such as fruit, flowers, some species of fowl, etc. In the large space under the galleries below, the large proportion of the traffic will be carried on. The front of the gallery is protected with ornamental iron work. The tops of the pillars are also also decorated with iron spandrils. The centre of the roof is nearly forty feet from the ground; the length of the market is 179 feet; the breadth between the pillars is 35 feet; and the greatest breadth underneath the galleries is 75 feet. The pillars themselves are 25 feet high, resting on an octagonal cut limestone base. In the centre of the market a fountain will stand, serving both for the use of the market and an additional ornament to the building, already so handsome.
Cork Examiner, 1 November 1862