Great Industrial Exhibition held in Dublin

Background. The Great Industrial Exhibition in 1853 was held in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish Industrial Exhibition Building, located on the grounds of Leinster House, housed the entire fair. The building featured spacious galleries running the length of the structure, providing increased exhibition space and serving as a promenade from which the three halls could be viewed.

Opening and Recognition. The exhibition opened on 12 May 1853. On this date, the architect John Benson, who had also designed the industrial exhibition in Cork the previous year, was granted a knighthood. A contemporary quotation cited in the source described the Dublin exhibition as a larger contribution to the wealth of the kingdoms than the 1851 London exhibition, and expressed the expectation that Prince Albert would visit the Irish capital; the quotation is prospective and does not establish a patronage role.

Public Access. During the exhibition's last month, Dargan convinced the railways to offer inexpensive excursion rates combined with admission tickets. This arrangement allowed some of the general Irish public to see the crystal palace in Dublin, which had previously been inaccessible to many due to cost.