Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,
Cork Independent, 12 December 2024
Making an Irish Free State City – Thomas O’Gorman and the Shandon Brand
A few weeks ago, this column highlighted the initial growth of Sunbeam Knitwear Company at the historic Butter Exchange Building in 1928. After Sunbeam moved to Millfield in 1933, Thomas O’Gorman made the exchange building space into a factory manufacturing caps and accessories.
Thomas O’Gorman was well known for his business activities. The founder of the firm of T O’Gorman and Son, manufacturers of the “Shandon” brand of hats, caps and braces, An obituary for on 13 August 1947 in the Cork Examiner notes that Thomas was born near Thurles, County Tipperary. He served his apprenticeship time with a Galway drapery firm. On coming to Cork in 1904 he opened a drapery shop in MacCurtain Street, which was damaged during the War of Independence. Circa 1920-1921 he started the manufacture of caps and braces at premises on Pope’s Quay and later moved to a larger premises at the historic Butter Exchange. At the time of his death in 1947, Thomas lived at 4 Landscape Terrace, Sunday’s Well.
The Cork Examiner also reveals that in his younger days Thomas O’Gorman was an enthusiastic member of the Gaelic League and was an ardent supporter of everything Irish. He was an all-round sportsman and took a particular interest in swimming. A popular member of the Cork Catholic Young Men’s Society, he was highly respected by the members for his attention to and work for the Society.
Only a handful of stories exist in the public realm that can be used to assemble the story of Thomas O’Gorman’s factory through the decades. There is no shortage of advertisements for the company in newspapers such as the Cork Examiner throughout the company’s existence. The son of the original founder Thomas was also called Thomas. He was educated at Christian College, Cork and at Clongowes Wood in Dublin. Shortly after finishing his schooling Thomas (Junior) joined his father’s business. He was a keen rowing man, a member of the Cork Boat Club and was also very active in sailing circles, being a member of the Royal Munster Yacht Club.
An interesting note in the Evening Echo on 17 January 1961 highlights that Messrs T O Gorman and Son Ltd had associated with Messrs Christy and Company, London. At that point the factory was one of the oldest hat-making firm in Ireland, with at least sixty years’ experience behind them. The famous Christy firm was 189 years old. The association of the two firms was pursued in order to promote the sale of hats in Ireland. The British firm was one of the biggest hat and cap units in the world. The Cork Examiner reveals that part of the manufacturing process would be carried out in England while the finishing stages would be undertaken at O’Gorman’s in Shandon. The Associated British Hat (Christy) products were manufactured under licence at the Cork factory.
As the 1960s and 1970s progressed the firm began successfully manufacturing hats and caps for tourists and golfers. The traditional styles have been selling very well abroad. Following their participation in the Imbrex International Menswear Show at Earls Court in London, T O’Gorman & Son Ltd. negotiated a major deal with a Japanese market.
By 1976 T O’Gorman & Son manufactured men’s hats, caps, belts and braces. It employed about 80 people during the peak production months. The grandsons of the original founder, Tony, John and Gregory O’Gorman were now running the business.
Tragedy struck on 30 December 1976 when an early morning fire broke out. The Evening Echo describes the destruction of the Shandon factory. Three units of Cork Fire Brigade fought to contain a fire, which was discovered shortly after 7.30am when the factory caretaker arrived to open up. Employees who reported in for work after the Christmas holidays watched as firemen hosed down the wreckage inside.
Chief Fire Officer Captain C Garvey, described the blaze as “massive” and said that the inside of the building was completely gutted. Firemen kept crowds back because of the flying glass and explosions inside as the fire swept through the factory. The job of bringing the blaze under control was made more difficult because of the age of the building and the combustible material inside.
The Evening Echo also describes that as the early days of January 1977 progressed, the factory premises was a blackened ruin with steel girders buckled and twisted by the fierce fire. Arrangements were made to keep valued employees on full pay during the re-organisation period. Temporary offices were set up at Bradbury House, 38/39 Washington Street.
Warm-hearted offers of help continued to be received by the stricken makers of hats, caps, braces and belts. From the other end of the country came an offer of all possible help in getting the Cork firm into production again. Mr Howard Temple, owner and managing director of the famous Magee firm in Donegal, got through by phone to offer a full range of samples of his famous Donegal tweed. Mr Temple instructed his factory manager to list all surplus machinery not in use and to offer it to Messrs T O’Gorman & Son for as long as the Cork firm needed it, all without charge. Needless to say the offer was been accepted gratefully.
T O’Gorman & Son eventually got up and running again at a new premises in Churchfield. Today it exists online in the hands of Gregory O’Gorman.
As for the historic Butter Market Exchange in the late 1970s Cork Corporation published a plan designed to revitalise the Shandon area of the city. This plan identified the historic Butter Exchange building as a possible centre for craft retail and production. In 1984 the IDA decided to act on this proposal and it took over the building, which it refurbished and converted into self-contained craft units with the aim of fostering the growth and prosperity of the wide craft base in the Cork region.
The new centre, which opened its doors in 1986, had 18 units, including a restaurant, and it enjoyed a close 90% occupancy rate when it opened. Today, the historic Butter Exchange awaits development as the Enterprise Exchange that will offer a space for young companies involved in technology and innovation.
Caption:
1283a. Historic Cork Butter Exchange, c.1900 (source: Cork Public Museum)