The Firkin Crane & Butter Mart, Cork CIty Ireland Poster

The Firkin Crane is an unique circular plan building located on the site of the original McCarthy Clan castle which overlooked the old walled city, and is just next to where Saint Mary's Church was (Now where Saint Mary's Shandon stands.) The name comes from Firkin which mean means small barrel (in this case referring to 56 pounds of butter), and Crane which refers to a scales measuring weight. The building was originally used for the manufacture of butter for export. It was designed by Sir John Benson who also designed Saint Patricks Bridge, The Butter Mart (opposite), and St. Mary's (North) Cathedral nearby amongst other Cork buildings. The Butter Mart. The austere but striking portico of the old Butter Mart was designed by Sir John Benson, completed in 1850. This served as the entrance to a warehouse that operated 24 hours a day, receiving deposits of butter from local farmers. Here butter casks were marked, stored and examined for quality before being packed into small barrels at the Firkin Crane building opposite. This was a hive of industry for 50 years but sales started to dwindle as competition from European continental suppliers intensified. The butter mart function ceased in 1924 and the building became a hat factory at one stage before becoming a craft centre which eventually closed.