Taking place two years after the Great Famine ended,[3] and following a significant increase in Cork's population due to an influx of people fleeing the countryside[4] the fair stemmed partly from attempts to revive local industries.

[4] It was housed in the Albert Quay area in a cruciform building designed by John Benson with three wings given over to industrial exhibits such as whiskey, projectile shells, hydraulic presses, Valentia slate and gingham[5] and a fourth to fine arts.

[6] John Hogan had works both in the main art section, but additionally his The Dead Christ was in a separate darkened room.

[5] Benson achieved success with his design for the exhibition building and this acted as a template for the opera house to be built in Cork.

However, the aim of reviving industries was largely unsuccessful and census returns showed a decrease in males employed in manufacturing.