National String Quartet Foundation Upcoming events

 

Dear Subscribers, PIROSMANI QUARTET TENDERNESS AND TURMOIL TOUR THIS WEEK From Tuesday, acclaimed Cork violinist Mairéad Hickey brings together colleagues from Brazil, Ukraine and the USA for a third tour by the Pirosmani Quartet, presenting music by Schumann, Schubert and Jane O'Leary in Rosscarbery, Listowel, Cork, Sligo, Navan and Dublin Pirosmani Quartet Mairéad Hickey & William Hagen, violins Natanael Ferreira, viola Oleksey Shadrin, cello You can read about the quartet members here: https://nsqf.ie/pirosmani2026 You can watch their incredible 2024 performance of Dvorak's G major quartet at MTU Cork School of Music on youtube - click here Click on your venue for bookings: ROSSCARBERY - Tuesday 3rd November at 8pm - St. Fachtna’s Cathedral - presented by Barrahane Music LISTOWEL - Wednesday 4th November at 8pm - St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre CORK - Thursday 5th November at 7.30pm - MTU Cork School of Music - presented by Cork Orchestral Society SLIGO - Friday 6th November at 7.30pm - The Model - presented by Con Brio NAVAN - Saturday 7th November at 8pm - Solstice Arts Centre DUBLIN - Sunday 8th November at 3pm - National Concert Hall The concert programme is available for download here. ABOUT THE MUSIC Schumann - String Quartet in F major Op.41 No.2 [1842] Jane O’Leary - ebb and flow of endless motion [2026] † Schubert - String Quartet in G major D.887 [2026] † First performances They open with the second of the three vividly expressive string quartets that Schumann wrote in a frenzy of creativity in the early summer of 1842. The previous September, his wife Clara - apart from Liszt, the most famous pianist of their time - had given birth to their first child, and perhaps that is the inspiration behind the disarming lullaby themes of the first two movements and the mischievous scampering of the scherzo and finale. Galway-based composer Jane O’Leary has written a new quartet for the Pirosmani Quartet to present on this tour. She writes: This quartet movement is inspired by the gentle, undulating motion of the sea and reflects the recurring surges of movement, the sparkling of the sun on the surface, the mysterious depths of the ocean, the foam rising with the waves and falling again against the shore, the endless motion of the sea.  The title is a fragment from the poetry of American writer Walt Whitman and can be taken to represent the nature of life itself, as well as music - never standing still. Schubert’s vast G major quartet D.887 is a work of symphonic scale and emotional extremity. Like much of Schubert’s music in the last years of his short life it revolves around conflict between grief and joy, darkness and light, restless angst and sublime lyricism, often expressed through abrupt switching from major to minor or by the juxtaposition of music of near brutality with moments of great tenderness. This wonderful work is one of the greats, highly recommended! COMING UP November 13-15 -  Vanbrugh & Friends play Brahms and Dvořák in Cork, Wexford and Bantry November 19-24 - Gealán Quartet plays in Carrick-on-Shannon, Birr, Cork, Dublin and Castleconnell See NSQF.ie for details WHATSAPP COMMUNITY Update... there's a steady stream of signups to our community so we expect to start using it in the coming weeks. If you are a member of a Whatsapp group focussed on chamber music, and if you have the agreement of its members, it is also an option to propose that group for addition to our community. Click here for signup page NSQF exists to bring great music to you wherever you are in Ireland and to that end we would like to be able to reach out to you all in the most convenient and effective way to let you know about upcoming concerts This email list works quite well, but we are all swamped by emails and they can sometimes disappear into other folders and not get read at all. So we would like to see if our new Whatsapp Community might help, alongside the emails. Its not a chat forum, it only exists to bring you announcements of upcoming NSQF concerts, and possibly other closely related chamber music news. Your details will not be visible to other members of the community, unless you already know them. Please consider trying it out by clicking the link here, it is easy to leave if it doesn’t suit you. We won't start using it unless there are substantial numbers signed up. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks and sincere appreciation to our funders, sponsors and co-presenters, the Arts Council, RTÉ Lyric FM, the National Concert Hall, University College, Cork, MTU Cork School of Music, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, many private donors, and all the venues and promoters we work with around the country.  with best wishes, Chris

November at the Glucksman

 

November at the Glucksman   This month brings our annual Craft + Design Fair which takes place from 6 - 8 November. It is a magical moment in the gallery calendar and a wonderful occasion to browse original designs by Ireland’s leading makers under one roof. Over 50 participants will showcase their imaginative work in textiles, jewellery, print, ceramics, stationary, furniture, glass and woodturning across the three floors of the gallery. November also sees the official start of our three year Creative Ireland project Cultureways in three city neighbourhoods: Mahon, Ballincollig and Mayfield. Read more about this groundbreaking creative climate action initiative below.  Please note our opening hours for November below as we are closed for the first half of the month as we get the Craft Fair and our next exhibitions ready.  There is plenty to discover on our website while our spaces are in changeover, and our Little Interview this month is with our own Curatorial Assistant Mazie Smallidge. We hope to welcome you to the gallery soon. The GLUCKSMAN team November Opening Hours Our opening hours look a little different this month as we move into install period ahead of our upcoming exhibitions and our Craft + Design Fair. We will be open for the following days: November 6th - 8th for Craft + Design Fair. Gallery 1 and the Glucksman shop will be open from November 16th, 11am - 5pm Tuesday to Sundays.  Our new exhibitions will be available to view from 28 November, 11am - 5pm Tuesday to Sundays. Glucksman Craft + Design Fair 2026 The Glucksman Craft + Design Fair showcases high quality Irish craft and design in the beautiful setting of the gallery’s award-winning exhibition spaces. The annual extravaganza of Irish makers returns to the gallery from Friday 6 November to Sunday 8 November. Over the weekend, the gallery will be brimming with beautiful gifts and a seasonal opportunity to meet designers and craft artists, and buy and give Irish this Christmas. Entry to the Craft + Design Fair is €8 or €5 with an official Craft + Design Fair flyer. This charge helps fund the Glucksman’s access programmes for marginalised communities. We greatly value your support for this event and would appreciate it if you would let your friends and colleagues know about the event. Tickets can be bought at the door or ahead of time here. "This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the quality and beauty of handmade Irish Craft in an exceptional location." - Rosemary Steen, former CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland    “Most of the products on show are made by hand and produced in small enough quantities that they also offer something more exclusive, without stressing your budget.” - Irish Examiner        "The champagne of Craft Fairs." - Sonya Lennon, Designer   Cultureways Cultureways is a project using creativity and behavioural science to explore our everyday travel choices and encourage more sustainable ways of making journeys under 2km. Transport accounts for approximately 30% of Cork City's greenhouse gas emissions, with many short journeys representing a significant opportunity for change. Building on the growing public appetite for active and sustainable travel, Cultureways aims to help transform intention into action, supporting healthier lifestyles, improved air quality and reduced emissions. The Gluckman is working In partnership with Cork City Council, Cork Midsummer and UCC's Sustainability Institute on a creative consultation with local residents in Mahon, Ballincollig and Mayfield. Throughout November, we will be inviting communities to take part in workshops with artists to imagine ways to encourage more walking, cycling and other sustainable travel choices.  As part of Cork's commitment to becoming a climate-neutral city by 2030, Cultureways will demonstrate the important role that creativity, culture and community participation can play in addressing climate challenges and creating positive, long-term environmental change. The Creative Ireland Climate Action Fund is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Department of the Taoiseach, and EirGrid. Find out more at www.corkcity.ie/cultureways or by contacting Cultureways@corkcity.ie Follow along on Instagram @culturewayscork Visitor Voices on Drawing for Wellbeing  As this season's Drawing for Wellbeing classes led by Inma Pavon wrap up, we wanted to share some of the lovely feedback from the participants of the workshops this season!   “I really enjoyed it and looked forward to the classes. The meditation at the start of the session focusing on a work of art in the gallery set a calm relaxed atmosphere.  I am very new to drawing but didn't feel out of place. We all worked with both our dominant and non-dominant hand at times, which was very freeing, there was no judgement and some laughter. It was very relaxing sitting in a warm  sunny spot in the gallery, with natural light listening to classical music and being creative.  I became more observant when on my daily walk with the family dog, I live in the countryside so there is a lot to notice with the changing seasons. I purchased a small sketch book and have begun to draw a little.” Anne “These 5 classes that I’ve attended have been absolutely amazing. Inma relaxes me at the beginning of each week with a mediation – magic. The first week I was very emotional towards the end of class and when I left. It brought out what’s seemingly buried. Pure mindfulness. No judging. Beautiful setting. Thank you so much.” Helen. “This was a very enjoyable session. Very interesting class structure of observing art in the gallery (which was an ideal location for the class). Fabulous light and location great, imaginative teacher. I’d definitely do one of Inma’s classes again – or more. Excellent – a wonderful experience.” Maureen “I enjoyed the structure of the session. The art viewing first. Lovely location to be upstairs. It was relaxing and social. I would love to do it again. Inma is fun, enthusiastic, professional, and encouraging. Please run it again.” Marie Little Interview This month's Little Interview is with Mazie Smallidge, the Curatorial Assistant here at the Glucksman Gallery.

The Glucksman is generously supported by our audiences, University College Cork, the Arts Council of Ireland and private philanthropy through Cork University Foundation. Opening Hours  Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm. Closed Mondays Admission Free. €5 Suggested donation.  Plan your visit We look forward to welcoming you

Toormore Rehearsed Staged Reading Dance Firkin Crane

Toormore Brendan Griffin and Patrick Talbot Fri 27 November, 8pm Patrick Talbot Productions and Featherbowl Theatre Company present TOORMORE: A rehearsed staged reading of a new play inspired by true events, written by Brendan Griffin and Patrick Talbot, followed by a post-show discussion with the co-authors.

A rehearsed staged reading of a new play inspired by true events

Patrick Talbot Productions and Featherbowl Theatre Company present TOORMORE: A rehearsed staged reading of a new play inspired by true events, written by Brendan Griffin and Patrick Talbot, followed by a post-show discussion with the co-authors.

A French documentary film-maker travels to her holiday cottage in West Cork in the days before Christmas 1996. It is a journey she has made many times before. She has come, once again, to immerse herself in the world of Toormore and to be rejuvenated by its unique magic and energy. But this December trip is colder, bleaker, and more profound.

Toormore is a portrait of French documentary filmmaker and writer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, during her final visit to West Cork. Marking the 30th Anniversary of the death of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, Toormore presents a formidable woman and artist for whom the ruggedness and beauty of West Cork were a vital antidote to the urban intensity of her life in Paris. It imagines her last visit from her perspective.

She would not return home.

Casting to be announced

Brendan Griffin's previous plays include The Silver Case, Broby Laundry Basket, Curvy Figures and A Thousand Moments of Extraordinary Pleasure.

Patrick Talbot's writing credits include A Great Arrangement, God Bless the Child (adapted from the stories of Frank O'Connor), Two Lord Mayors (co-written with James McKeon), and Intimacies and Elephants (adapted from the stories of Raymond Carver).

Chit Chat Café The Hub Fermoy 11th November

Fermoy Friendship Week event being hosted by The Hub Fermoy, 3 Brian Boru Square, Fermoy. 

Wednesday, 11th November Chit Chat Café - Call for a Cup of Kindness: The door will be open, and the kettle will be on from 11.00am to 1.00pm at The Hub Fermoy.  Everyone is welcome to attend the very first Chit Chat Café hosted by The Hub. The theme for this inaugural café is Friendship and Kindness to Self, encouraging people to take some time out, connect with others and reflect on the importance of self-care and wellbeing.

You are invited to drop in for a cuppa, enjoy a friendly chat, make new connections and create a Friendship Week Kindness Bag filled with positive messages and reminders of the importance of self-kindness. The Hub hopes this first café will be the beginning of a regular series of themed monthly gatherings, providing a welcoming space for people to connect, share experiences and build friendships within the community.

Cork County Council Stay Connected Arts News

 

Applications Open for Cork County Council Emerging Visual Artist Award 

Cork County Council’s Arts Office is delighted to announce an open call for applications to the Emerging Visual Artist Award, supporting County Cork artists at a pivotal stage in their professional development. Now in its third year, the award is designed to help an emerging visual artist take the next step in their career through financial, curatorial and professional support. Please contact arts@corkcoco.ie for queries, full guidelines or application forms. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 6th November 2026.

READ MORE

 

Cultural Companions in Youghal – Developing Local Connections

Youghal Active Retirement Association Social Subgroup is looking at how Cultural Companions could potentially be developed locally in Youghal. The aim is to create more opportunities for people to connect through arts, culture, heritage and community activities, while making it easier for local members to find out about activities and get together.

A local group could help with coordination in Youghal, allowing members to share ideas, suggest activities and organise opportunities that reflect local interests. This might include visits to exhibitions, music and performances, heritage events, creative activities, walks, talks or simply meeting up and enjoying good company.

We're at an early stage and would really like to hear from people who might be interested in being involved.

Interested in joining a Youghal group?

If you'd like to be added to a specific Youghal Cultural Companions group so that you can hear about local activities and opportunities as they develop, please let us know.

You don't need to have any particular experience or role. Whether you're interested in arts, music, history, local heritage, creative activities or simply meeting other people and getting out and about, we'd love to hear from you.

The idea is to develop something local, welcoming and shaped by the people who take part.

If you're interested in being added to the Youghal group, please contact the Cultural Companions coordinator and let us know at culture@muintircork.com

Celebrate Women in Jazz with Cultural Companions 22nd October 🎷🎷🎷

 

Cork City Cultural Companions 🎷🎶

For our October Cork City get-together,🎷 we're heading to Cork City Library on Grand Parade for an afternoon of free live music and conversation.

We'll start with Women in Jazz, presented by Cork-based jazz vocalist Ivy Favier.

From the 1940s to the present day, women in jazz have often been overlooked. Ivy will bring their stories, achievements and contribution to the world of jazz into the spotlight.

🎷 Women in Jazz with Ivy Favier
📅 Thursday 22 October
🕚 11:00am–12:00 noon
📍 City Library, Grand Parade
🎟️ Free

We'll then have a break for lunch or coffee together before returning to the library for:

🎶 Timeless Jazz Standards with Neasa
🕐 1:00–2:00pm
📍 City Library, Grand Parade
🎟️ Free

This is a lovely opportunity to enjoy some live music together in the city, with both events taking place in the library.

We're looking for one member to volunteer as a meet-and-greeter and welcome people as they arrive. If you'd be happy to do this, please let the Cultural Companions coordinator.

There is no charge for either event.

If you'd like to come along, please let the coordinator know so we have an idea of who is attending.

We hope you can join us for an enjoyable afternoon of jazz! 🎷