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Welcome! Kinsale is the place to be this weekend with the Arts Weekend kicking off tomorrow. Many of those events have a ‘low ticket warning’, so check their website to see what’s still available. The 1926 Census exhibition tour is in St Peter’s for the next few weeks, for anyone who wants a look at what Ireland was actually like 100 years ago.
There’s also a fireworks celebration on Spike Island on July 18 that could be something to plan ahead for.
For the two Hot Box Sauna passes last week, well done to Heather. We’ll reach out with those shortly.
• Follow Cork Circle on Instagram for updates during the week.
Discounts & Deals
Cork Circle Exclusive: 10% off Mahers Coffee products with our code CIRCLE10
Shop Mahers Coffee
✈️ Cork Airport Flight Deals Found This Week
Valencia - €155 (usually €225+)* | 📅 Sept 18–21 | View fare →
Pisa - €90 (usually €197+)* | 📅 Aug 24–31 | View fare →
*Usually = the average return price from Ryanair’s month-view fares.
Exhibitions
📜 1926 Census Exhibition | St Peter’s Cork | Wed 8 –27 July | 🎟 Free |
Free exhibition exploring life in newly independent Ireland through the 1926 Census, with documents, images, audio-visual displays and census records covering work, culture, religion, language and everyday life.
What’s On This Week
Across The Week
📚 West Cork Literary Festival | Bantry | Fri 10 – Fri 17 Jul, times vary | 🎟 See programme |
Eight-day literary festival with readings, workshops, book launches and panel discussions.
🎨 Kinsale Arts Weekend | Kinsale | Thurs 9 – Sun 12 Jul, times vary | 🎟 See programme |
Arts festival with music, poetry, exhibitions, talks and performances across Kinsale.
🎬 Bastille Day Film Festival | Alliance Française, Cork City Library & UCC | Sat 11 – Wed 15 Jul, times vary | 🎟 Free |
French film festival with four subtitled screenings celebrating Bastille Day.
Wednesday July 8
📅 Cork City Sports - Continental Tour 2026 | Munster Technological University | 5:30pm | 🎟 Free |
European athletics permit meeting featuring world and Olympic medallists competing.
🎭 Broby Laundry Basket (Model 7800) | Cork Arts Theatre | Wed 8 – Sat 11 Jul, times vary | 🎟 €18 |
Comedy-drama about a long marriage disrupted by a secret from the summer of 1986.
🎬 The Stranger | Triskel Arts Centre | 8pm | 🎟 €11 |
François Ozon’s French film adaptation of Albert Camus’ classic novel, set in 1930s Algeria.
Thursday July 9
🎭 Franciscan Well Summer Party | Franciscan Well | 6pm | 🎟 Free |
Musical bingo competition where song clips replace numbers as calls.
🎸 Na Mothúcháin | Kino Events House | 6:30pm | 🎟 €10.62 |
Irish indie and alternative rock bands perform across multiple sets.
🍷 South of France Wine Dinner | The Metropole Hotel Cork | 7pm | 🎟 €85.49 |
Wine dinner featuring Southern French cuisine and wines.
🥃 The Best of Cork Spirits - From Collapse to Comeback | Blarney Castle Hotel | 7pm | 🎟 €11.70 |
Whiskey tasting and storytelling from the founders of the Cork Whiskey Fest.
🎵 Aidan Duffy | Prim's Bookshop, Kinsale | 8pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Singer-songwriter performs music from his new album.
🎤 Tom Grennan | Live at the Marquee | 8pm | 🎟 From €49 |
Chart-topping singer Tom Grennan performs pop hits at the Marquee.
Friday July 10
🎶 Rí Rá Mná: Live Podcast | The Post House, Kinsale | 12:30pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Live podcast recording featuring conversation with cold-water swimmer and author, Gilly McArthur plus choir performance.
📚 Endurance and the Edge of Survival with Olivia Keating | Kinsale Yacht Club | 3pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Talk on endurance racing following recovery from a life-altering accident.
🎧 Common Ground | Plugd records | Fri 10 - Sat 11 July, 6pm | 🎟 €22.42 (for 2 nights) |
DJ weekender featuring electronic and house music across two nights.
🎬 Jet Lag in Summer with Q&A | Triskel Arts Centre | 6pm | 🎟 See venue |
Chinese drama about a young couple separated by travel bans, followed by Q&A with director Kunao Yan.
📅 Suite Dreams | St Anne's Church | 6pm | 🎟 €11.70 |
Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra performs Baroque concertos and orchestral works.
🎸 Anthony Gomes | Cyprus Avenue | 7pm | 🎟 €33 |
Blues guitarist and singer performs original material and covers.
🧛 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Quiz | An Spailpín Fánach | 7:30pm | 🎟 €10 |
Buffy quiz with specialist rounds on Slayer knowledge.
🎬 CineSalon: OHK After Dark | O'Herlihys Kinsale | 8pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Experimental cinema screening featuring three short films exploring unconscious realms, omens, and nature.
🎭 The Many Lives of Amy Dillwyn | Temperance Hall Kinsale | 8pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
One-woman play about the remarkable life of Welsh writer and campaigner Amy Dillwyn.
🎸 Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen Tribute | Sea Church, Ballycotton | 8:30pm | 🎟 €20 |
Tribute show recreating the energy and atmosphere of The Boss live.
Saturday July 11
📅 Clothes Swap at Test Site | TEST SITE Project Kyrl's Quay | 11am | 🎟 €5 |
Clothes swap event where participants exchange up to five items each.
🌍 Marina Market World Fair | Marina Market | Sat 11 Jul, 11am–6pm | 🎟 Free |
Charity market for Pieta House with 40+ stalls, kids’ activities, music, raffles and giveaways.
📜 Finding Your Ancestors in Census Records | St Peter’s Cork | 1pm | 🎟 Free |
Workshop on using Irish census records to research Cork family history.
🎬 Peig: Screening and Conversation | Carmelite Friary, Kinsale | 2pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Documentary screening exploring the life and legacy of Peig Sayers with discussion.
💃 Hip Hop Commercial Workshop | Marina Market | Sat 11 Jul, 2pm–4pm | 🎟 €30 |
Beginner-friendly hip hop and commercial dance workshop with Laura Keane.
🎤 Comedy Cavern: Roger O’Sullivan | Coughlan’s | 5:30pm | 🎟 €10 |
Work-in-progress comedy from award-winning Irish comic Roger O’Sullivan.
🕯️ The Music of Westlife by Candlelight | Cork City Hall | Sat 11 Jul, 7:30pm | 🎟 €30–€50 |
Westlife tribute concert with live vocalists and band performing hits by candlelight.
🎸 The Wellermen | Live at St Luke's | 8pm | 🎟 €31.07 |
Folk group performing sea shanties and traditional maritime songs.
🎶 Donovan – The Tale of the Gael | The Everyman | 8pm | 🎟 €36 |
Influential singer-songwriter Donovan reflects on his Gaelic roots through songs and stories.
🎶 This is How We Fly | Triskel Arts Centre | 8pm | 🎟 €35 |
Traditional Irish music, Swedish folk, jazz and percussive dance from four-piece ensemble.
🎉 Taboo present WHITE JULY w/ Stevie G • Grillz • Chedder | Seventy Seven | 8pm | 🎟 €11.70 |
Hip-hop, R&B, Latin, dancehall, pop, and afrobeat party with DJs.
Sunday July 12
🏋️ Steps & Sweat | The Sauna Snugg | 9:45am | 🎟 €27.79 |
Morning fitness and wellness event featuring walking, sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge.
🎬 Trína Suíle: Screening and Conversation | Carmelite Friary | 1pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Screening of Irish-language short film about Irish women's histories, followed by conversation.
🍽️ Wimbledon Summer Afternoon Brunch | The Montenotte Hotel | 2pm | 🎟 €89 |
Wimbledon-inspired brunch with sparkling wine, Pimm’s and a live screening of the Men’s Final.
💘 Cork Speed Dating 45–55 | Counihans Bar | 3pm | 🎟 €36.14 |
Speed dating event for singles aged 45–55, with limited male places remaining.
👨👩👧 Lighthouses and Life at Sea with Gerald Butler | Kinsale Yacht Club | 3pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Former lighthouse keeper shares stories from generations of family tradition along Ireland's coast.
🎯 The Marquee Masters | Live at the Marquee | 6pm | 🎟 From €35 |
Darts showcase with top players and special host Phil “The Power” Taylor.
🎵 Jo Blonde, CEREAL MILK and Essence of Blue | Dali | 7pm | 🎟 €12.77 |
Three acts perform indie and alternative music in chill evening format.
🎵 Mario Kart Live: The Summer Cup! Race 2 | The Pav | 7:30pm | 🎟 €15.46 |
Mario Kart 8 racing competition with live band performing throughout.
Monday July 13
🍷 The Art of Wine Tasting: A 2-Hour Wine & Pairing Masterclass | Franciscan Well Brewery & Brewpub | 6pm | 🎟 €50 |
Wine tasting masterclass covering four wines paired with cheese and charcuterie.
📚 The Banshee in Irish Folklore | Cyprus Avenue | 7pm | 🎟 €16 |
Talk examining the Banshee's role in Irish folklore, history, women's lives, and grief beliefs.
📝 Ó Bhéal Poetry Night | The Hayloft, Long Valley Bar | 7:30pm | 🎟 Free |
Poetry night with film screenings, five-word challenge, guest poet Cassandra Moss and open mic.
Tuesday July 14
🍽️ Costigan's Cut X Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin Tasting | Costigan's Pub | 6:30pm | 🎟 €17.07 |
Gin and vodka tasting featuring Drumshanbo Gunpowder and Sausage Tree spirits.
🎤 Comedy Cavern: Aidan Greene WIP | Coughlan’s | 8:30pm | 🎟 Free |
Work-in-progress comedy night with Aidan Greene.
Kids Events
🌊 The Sea and Me | Kinsale Town | All weekend | 🎟 Free |
Self-guided kids’ trail around Kinsale with clues, sea-themed discoveries and a prize.
🌸 What Flower Are You? | Creative Hub, Temperance Hall | Sat 11 Jul, 11:30am–1:30pm | 🎟 €10 |
Kids’ paper flower workshop for ages 6–16, making wearable masks with paper and wire.
📅 Finger puppets & story time | Arts at Civic Trust House | Sat 11 July, 2pm | 🎟 €25 |
Puppet-making craft activity for all ages with materials provided.
Planning Ahead
🎆 Spike Fireworks Celebration | Spike Island | Sat 18 Jul, from 5pm | 🎟 €25–€30 |
Family evening with ferry trip, island tours, music, circus performers, kids’ activities and fireworks over Cork Harbour.
🎶 Cork Ska & Reggae Festival | Crane Lane & The Pav | 23–26 Jul, times vary | 🎟 Free |
Four-day festival with local and international ska and reggae acts across Cork venues.
🍴 English Market Taste Trail | English Market | Fri 14 Aug, 12pm–3pm | 🎟 €44.52 |
Six-stop Cork on a Fork tasting trail with small plates from English Market traders.
🎤 Thomas Green – Brainstorm | Cyprus Avenue | Fri 25 Sep, 7pm–10:30pm | 🎟 €22 |
Australian comedian Thomas Green brings his new stand-up show to Cork.
Old Cork
This 1966 photo shows the Savoy Cinema on Patrick Street during a screening of the Western Last Train from Gun Hill. The ad outside is for upcoming showband nights with The Miami, Kelley and The Nevada at the Majorca Ballroom in Crosshaven.
Image attribution: Anthony Barry Photographic Archive
