Vintage collection to be displayed 121 years after first being commissioned
Blue Touser, tied in 1902.
A 121-year old display of Irish salmon flies, which was commissioned for the Cork International Exhibition in 1902, is to be exhibited once again in the Cork Public Museum, the same site in which it was originally displayed.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), custodians of the vintage collection, released an online picture book featuring the rare fishing flies last year, and has now collaborated with the museum to bring this exhibition to the public.
The digital display was well received last year, attracting visits from all over the world.
Shane O’Reilly, Angling Advisor with IFI said: “The Cork Collection of Salmon Flies represents a rich and colourful legacy from our Irish angling heritage. These traditional flies, created with feathers, fur, tinsel and floss, are considered as masterpieces of the craft.
“We are making these flies accessible to new audiences, by bringing them back to the site of the original exhibition – in Cork’s Fitzgerald’s Park – where they were first viewed 121 years ago.
“We are delighted to join forces with the Cork Public Museum on this project and hope the general public will be hooked!
The exhibition will include antique fishing equipment, loaned by Rory O’Hanlon, digitised angling records from the Cork Trout Anglers Club, and a display with information and historic photos of the 1902 exhibition and fishing on the River Lee.
It was opened by Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy on October 26.
The collection will be hosted in the museum for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024.
Grey & Lemon (Miss Hackett).
Blue, Orange, Green, Grey & Brown (J O Harold)
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