🔴Cork Picks: Spike Fireworks, Kevin Bridges + Castlelyons’ Weekend Party

Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more.

Welcome back! Some of the standouts this week are the fireworks celebration on Spike Island, the Love Is a Stranger festival in Castlelyons, and the Cork Cycling Festival rides around the city and county.

For something different, check out the ‘Improvisational Electric Sound’ session on Friday in My Goodness Cafè.

There are also still tickets left for Kevin Bridges in the Marquee on Friday and Saturday.

• Follow Cork Circle on Instagram for updates during the week.

We’ve got a family footgolf session for 2 adults and 2 children (aged 16 or under), plus two pizzas to share, at FootGolf Cork in Belgooly. To be considered, just reply to this email with: Footgolf

For another entry, head to our Instagram post, follow @corkcircle.ie and @footgolfcork, like the post, and tag who you’d bring.

If you enter on Instagram, include your handle in your reply to get the extra entry. Entries close next Wednesday, July 22nd at 9am, and the selected reader will be named in next week’s newsletter.

✈️ Cork Airport Flight Deals Found This Week

Lanzarote - €111 (usually €214+)* | 📅 Sept 14–17 | View fare →  
Palma - €59 (usually €197+)* | 📅 Aug 11–18 | View fare →

*Usually = the average return price from Ryanair’s month-view fares.

Running a deal in Cork, online or in-store? Tell us here to be featured on Cork Circle. Free to submit.

Wednesday July 15

🎭 The Komodo Heart | Cork Arts Theatre | Wed 15– Sat 18 Jul, 8pm | 🎟 €18 |
Dark fantasy satire about a reclusive children’s author, his agent and the nightmares behind his story.

🎬 Taxi Driver 50th Anniversary | Triskel Arts Centre | 8pm | 🎟 €11 |
Anniversary screening of Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic starring Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster.

Thursday July 16

🗣️ Pause Space Community Circle | The Haven Café | 7pm | 🎟 Free |
Small community circle with guided sharing, quiet reflection and space to connect.

🎲 Board Game Night for Remote and Hybrid Employees | The Bodega | 7pm | 🎟 Free |
Board games night for remote workers, with party games, classics and snacks.

😂 Comedy in Kinsale | The White House Kinsale | 7:45pm | 🎟 €11.70 |
An improvisational comedy show where performers create sketches based on audience suggestions.

📅 BEATLES NIGHT DALI! | Dali | 8:30pm | 🎟 €11.70 |
Beatles tribute act performs the band’s best-known songs.

Friday July 17

🤝 Female Founders Breakfast | 2 Connell St | 9:30am | 🎟 €15 |
Breakfast networking event for female founders to share experiences and connect.

🚲 Cork Cycling Festival Rides | Cork City Library & Kent Station | 17–19 Jul, times vary | 🎟 Free |
Free group cycling weekend with guided rides to St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Monard Glen, Blarney and East Cork castles. 

💕 Cork Singles Social (Ages 35–55) | The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega | 6:30pm | 🎟 €22.42 |
Singles mixer with speed dating and games.

🎵 Ozzy Osbourne tribute: Ozzified + Craic Sabbath | Cyprus Avenue | 7pm | 🎟 €19.26 |
Two tribute bands perform Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne solo material.

🎧 LOVE IS A STRANGER | Ballyvolane House, Castlelyons | Fri 17- Sun 19 July | 🎟 From €95 |
Day and overnight music festival with Irish and international artists in north east Cork.

📅 Improvisational Electronic Sound | My Goodness Cafe | 7pm | 🎟 Donation |
Three electronic artists improvise with field recordings, feedback, and tape machines.

🎵 Seán Keane 2026 | Ballymaloe Grainstore | 8pm | 🎟 €40.12 |
The traditional Irish fiddle musician performs with guitarists Fergus Feely and Fergal Scahill.

🎤 Kevin Bridges & Friends | Live at the Marquee | Fri 17 - Sat 18 Jul, 8pm | 🎟 From €65.70 |
Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges returns with a lineup of special guest comics.

🎶 Mark Lyndon | Coughlan’s | Fri 17 Jul, 8:30pm | 🎟 €20 |
Irish folk artist Mark Lyndon launches Silhouettes, a Blackwater Valley-inspired album. 

🎵 Gwenno | Savoy | 8:30pm | 🎟 €25.14 |
Psychedelic pop concert sung in Welsh, Cornish and English.

🎵 Michael Jackson: King of Pop Party | The Pav | 10:30pm | 🎟 €6.34 |
Pop music dance party featuring Michael Jackson's hits.

Saturday July 18

🧘 TWO MORE X EOS PILATES X HOTBOX SAUNA | The Hot Box Sauna | 10am | 🎟 €33.15 |
Pilates class, café refreshments, and sauna session combined in a wellness experience.

🌿 Summertime Wellness Retreat | Ballymaloe Grainstore | 10am–4:30pm | 🎟 €145 |
Women’s wellness retreat with yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, aromatherapy, garden time and lunch included. 

🎨 Women DIY Skills Confidence Day | Carrigtwohill Community Centre | 10am | 🎟 €100 |
DIY skills workshop for participants learning practical home improvement techniques.

🎷 Rory McCarthy and Hugh Dillon | Triskel Christchurch | 1pm | 🎟 €16–€18 |
Original jazz and contemporary pieces with Davie Ryan and Mikey O’Connell. 

📚 Making Their Mark | Cork City Library | 1pm | 🎟 Free |
Talk on four Cork women who helped shape women’s role in local government. 

🎨 Art & Mindfulness Circles: A Letter to your Inner Child & Watercolours | Tribe Flow Studio | 3pm | 🎟 €27.79 |
Creative mindfulness workshop with letter writing and watercolours focused on reconnecting with your inner child. 

🎤 Comedy Cavern: Julie Jay | Coughlan’s | 3pm | 🎟 €10 |
Work-in-progress comedy from Irish comedian Julie Jay, with doors from 2:30pm. 

🧺 Picnic in the Páirc | Atlantic Pond, Marina Park | 3pm–6pm | 🎟 Free |
Casual picnic for Cork women aged 30+, with snacks and chats. 

🎧 BBQ & Bubbles | Talbot Hotel Midleton | 4pm | 🎟 €42.80 |
Afternoon party with BBQ, prosecco, R&B and a 2000s throwback DJ set.

🎆 Spike Fireworks Celebration | Spike Island | 5pm | 🎟 €25–€30 |
Family evening with ferry trip, island tours, music, circus performers, kids’ activities and fireworks over Cork Harbour. 

🎨 Summer Paint and Sip at SIRIUS | Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh | 6pm | 🎟 €33.15 |
Painting workshop with local artist covering techniques, landscape subjects, and socialising.

🎸 Mercury Rev | Cyprus Avenue | 7pm | 🎟 €38.50 |
Experimental rock band performs selections from their catalogue spanning multiple decades.

🎧 Ecstatic Dance Cork Presents Dj Réalta | Nano Nagle Theatre | 7pm | 🎟 €27.79 |
Ecstatic dance session with DJ creating soundscapes for conscious movement.

🎨 Wine & Paint Night | The Hideout Cafe | 7pm | 🎟 €43.87 |
Painting workshop with wine; all materials and instruction provided for all levels.

🎧 Suffragettes: FENSKA+ SAINT LUCIANA, 2FASTKEEPUP, BRNK | Savoy | 8pm | 🎟 €11.64 |
Techno DJ and producers perform with industrial, acid, and rave influences.

🎸 The Frank and Walters Acoustic | Sea Church, Ballycotton | 8pm | 🎟 €35 |
Acoustic show from Cork indie-pop band The Frank and Walters. 

📅 RCN at The Pav | The Pav | 8pm | 🎟 €9.55 |
Local artists from the Rebel City Network play a mix of rock, folk and electronic.

🎵 AFTER DARK PARTY CORK | Wavelength Rooftop Bar | 10:30pm | 🎟 €17.07 | Masked secret society party with cocktails, games, and dance music.

Sunday July 19

🎷 Jazz Brunch with Fire Tides | Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega | 2pm–4pm | 🎟 Free |
Monthly jazz brunch with quintet Fire Tides, food and drinks. 

💕 Speed Dating Cork Ages 30-45 | Counihans Bar | 3pm | 🎟 €36.14 |
Speed dating event for single people aged thirty to forty-five.

😂 Sounds Queer to Me | Quay Co-op, My Goodness Cafe, Upstairs | 6pm | 🎟 Free |
Musical theatre and stand-up comedy hybrid about queer love, loss, and self-discovery.

📅 Elephant Moon // D. OTU | plugd records | 7pm | 🎟 €9.55 |
Solo electronica and drone performance exploring Irish psychogeography through sampled soundscapes.

🎵 Katie Archer presents ~ Rush of Song ~ with special guest Roisín Gowen | The Roundy | 7:30pm | 🎟 €14.92 |
Singer-songwriter performs new material with full band and support act.

🎶 Gina and The Champions | Sea Church, Ballycotton | 8pm | 🎟 €30 |
Live show from Gina and The Champions, one of Ireland’s best-known showbands. 

Monday July 20

🧘 Breathwork | The Hot Box Sauna | 7:15pm | 🎟 €27.79 |
Guided breathwork session teaching relaxation techniques for daily life.

🎸 Ailbhe Reddy / Noun / Basciville, Book’d @ Prim’s | Prim’s Bookshop | 7:30pm | 🎟 €20 |
Alt-folk songwriter performs with art rock band and solo guitar artist.

🎶 Stories & Songs | The Roundy | Mon 20 Jul, 7:30pm | 🎟 Free |
Donation-based acoustic songwriter night with featured acts, mystery guest and open mic. 

Tuesday July 21

🎨 Pasta workshop | Don Gregorio | 6pm | 🎟 €54.60 |
Pasta-making workshop where participants prepare fresh pasta by hand.

🎩 Secret Show | Kino Events House | 7pm | 🎟 €33.15 |
Magic show featuring a rotating lineup of magicians performing illusion and sleight-of-hand acts.

🎤 Comedy Cavern: Test Tube Babies | Coughlan’s | 9pm | 🎟 Free |
Weekly comedy night at Coughlan’s, with pay-what-you-think entry after the show. 

Kids Events

👨‍👩‍👧 Forest Bathing for Families | Glenbower Wood, Killeagh | Sun 19 Jul, 10am | 🎟 €11.70 |
Guided forest bathing session for children over five with accompanying adults.

🏊 Kinsale Kidathlon | Dock Beach, Kinsale | Sun 19 Jul, 11am | 🎟 €15 |
Kids’ swim, bike, and run event for ages 6–15 at Dock Beach.

🎤 SummerSING! | St John’s Central College | Mon 20–Fri 24 Jul, 10am–2pm | 🎟 See organiser |
Five-day children’s music camp with singing, dancing, music production and recording. 

🎨 Summer Art Club | Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh | Tue 21–Fri 24 Jul, 10:30am–2pm | 🎟 €65.33 |
Four-day children’s art club for ages 5–9, exploring creativity, stories, water, movement and nature. 

Planning Ahead

🎭 The Sound of Music | Cork Opera House | 23 Jul–23 Aug, times vary | 🎟 From €35 |
New Cork Opera House production of the classic musical.

🍕 Getting Saucy: Pizza & Punchlines | Callanan’s Bar | Sat 15 Aug, 5pm–7:30pm | 🎟 €43.87 |
Cork on a Fork night with Oak Fire pizza, SAGE dips, Blarney beer and comedy. 

👑 The Princess Proms | Cork City Hall | Tue 18 Aug, 2pm–3:40pm | 🎟 From €20.46 |
Family concert with songs from Frozen, Wicked, Moana, Aladdin and more. 

🎶 The 502s | Cyprus Avenue | Mon 31 Aug, 7pm–10:30pm | 🎟 €33 |
Orlando folk-pop band The 502s bring their upbeat beach-folk sound to Cyprus Avenue. 

The view looking down St. Patrick's Hill in the late 1960s.

Image attribution: Anthony Barry Photographic Archive