Who we are

Cork Cultural Companions is an Age & Opportunity Arts initiative, delivered by Muintir Cork and supported by the HSE and Cork City and County Councils. Cork Cultural Companions has local networks of members who attend events together regularly in Cork City, Mallow, Bantry and East Cork.

Thursday, 12 November 2026

LHQ Winter Exhibition Invitation

 

Invitation with Text and Image

 

Cork County Council’s LHQ Gallery presents the now annual LHQ Winter Show which will run from 20th November to 18th December this year. In this year’s show 88 works from 87 Cork-based artists are presented in Cork County Council’s LHQ Gallery in the County Library. You are warmly invited to join us to celebrate the opening of the exhibiton at 6pm on Friday 20th of November.

Cork County Council’s 2026 LHQ Winter Show presents works from artists at all stages of their careers from emerging or self-professed amateur artists to established professional artists. The exhibition is an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work in a professional gallery. It’s also an opportunity for people to buy art directly from the artist, with many of the works at attainable prices. This is the fourth year LHQ Gallery will host the winter show. To date, 290 artists have presented work at the LHQ Winter Show. 

In this year’s LHQ Winter Show, traditional arts including paintings, etchings, ceramics, weaving are presented alongside film works, photo books, and digital art.

The 87 artists selected from an open call to present works include: Áine Farrell, Leslie Allen Spillane, Patsy Atkinson, Judit Bakos, Colleen Blackard, Fiona Boniwell, James Bourke, Rebecca Bradley, Sarah Buckley, Katie Burgess, Aisling Campbell, Narumi Campbell, Aoife Casey, Michelle Casey, Catherine Coakley, Ann Collins, Ellen Collins, Paul Connell, Denise Cronin, Shea Dalton, Gerard Daly, Stefanie Dinkelbach, Megan Fahy, Angela Fewer, Anita Geaney, Siobhán Gillies, Éadaoin Glynn, Olivia Golden, Hilda Goold, Eidin Griffin, Joseph Heffernan, Amal Hope, Michelle Jones, David Kavanagh, Emer Kelleher, Silvia Laguna-López, Frances Leach, Oksana Lebedieva, Claire Lee, Raphael Llewellyn, Aissa Lopez, Claire J. Loy, Sabina Lucas, Michelle Lynch, Danny McCarthy, Ina McCarthy, Hannah McGrenera, John McHarg, Rachel McIntyre, Emma McNulty, Ann Mechelinck, Rob Meehan, Etaoin Melville, Grace Mitchell, Bríd Moynahan, Kieran Murphy, Leah Murphy, Íde Ní Shúilleabháin, Pat Nolan, Robert Nugent, Tadhg O'Connell, Miriam O'Connor, Lynn O'Donovan, Orla O'Regan, Mairéad O'Reilly, Tadhg O'Tuama, Ellen O'Connor, Dorothy O'Riordan, Aisling O'Shea Gaffney, Ioana Petcu-Colan, Marjolein Poortvliet, Michael Ray, Liz Rinn, Sarah Ruttle, Thomas Scerri, Silvio Severino, Marie Sexton, Gareth Shiels, Diana Skalkos, Geoff Spiers, Patsy Tyrrell, Bryan Wall, Rachel Walsh, Ursula Walsh, Emma Woodhouse, and Julia Yakovleva.

The exhibition will open on Friday 20th November and run until the 18th of December. LHQ Gallery is open Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm, except for public holidays. LHQ Gallery is managed by the Library and Arts Service at Cork County Council, supported by the Arts Council.

LHQ Gallery is located in the County Library, Carrigrohane Road, Cork, T12K335

Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Special Offer: The Piano Men by Candlelight in Bantry – €20 Tickets


A wonderful musical evening taking place in Bantry on Saturday, 21 November at 9.00pm.




The Piano Men by Candlelight is a beautiful candlelit concert celebrating the music of Elton John and Billy Joel, performed by pianist Frank McNamara and the Bridgerton String Quartet at the Westlodge Hotel, Bantry.

The programme features instrumental arrangements of much-loved classics including Your Song, Piano Man, I'm Still Standing, Rocket Man and Just the Way You Are.

Two of the best songwriters of the 20th Century - Elton John and Billy Joel get the Frank McNamara candlelight treatment!

Frank McNamara and the Bridgerton String Quartet return to The Westlodge Hotel Bantry, with Candlelight Classics' brand new original show featuring the music of Elton John and Billy Joel - The Piano Men surrounded by a thousand Candles. Not just one "candle in the wind" there will be thousands! Beautiful reimagined instrumentals arrangements of all their greatest hits. We didn't start the fire but we'll keep the music going! Celebrate this great music with us in the idyllic surroundings of The Westlodge Hotel.

Date: Saturday November 21st

Time: 9pm

Venue: The Westlodge Hotel, Bantry


As a special offer for our members, tickets are available for €20 (normally €35) using the discount code BANTRYGROUP.

You can book directly here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/2000190108458?discount=BANTRYGROUP

This promises to be a relaxed and enjoyable evening in a beautiful candlelit setting and would make a lovely night out with friends or family.

If you need any assistance with booking, please email culture@muintircork.com and we will be happy to help.

Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Irish premiere of Whiddy at The Everyman on Friday, 20 November at 5.30pm

Cultural Companions: Fancy a film at the Cork Film Festival?

The Irish premiere of Whiddy will take place at The Everyman on Friday, 20 November at 5.30pm as part of the Cork International Film Festival.

Directed by West Cork filmmaker Adrian McCarthy, Whiddy explores the story of Whiddy Island and the lasting impact of the oil industry on the local community. Featuring stunning cinematography by Richard Kendrick and an atmospheric score by Paul Hartnoll of Orbital, the documentary connects a deeply local West Cork story with wider themes of industry, power and global change.

Event Details 

📍 The Everyman, Cork City
📅 Friday, 20 November
🕠 5.30pm
🎟️ Tickets: €13 full price / €11 concession

You can find out more and book tickets here: https://corkfilmfest.org/events/whiddy-6ac4e696ee9c94df1f5bdb6c/

This could be a lovely opportunity for Cultural Companions members to experience a Cork Film Festival screening together and perhaps enjoy a chat over a cup of tea/glass of wine afterwards.

Would you like to come?

Get in touch if you'd like to join us for Whiddy or indeed if you have another event in mind that fellow Cultural Companions members might enjoy.

We look forward to hearing from you! 🎬☕🍂



A Night at the Musicals Mallow

All welcome to A Night At The Musicals on Nov 20th and 21st in the Hibernian Hotel with Mallow Musical Society. Tickets available from the Hibernian reception and we would love to see you all there! (Tickets €17.50 with a discount for groups of 8 or more).






Cosmic Cartography on Saturday 7 November at 6pm at Marina Market, Cork.

 


SpaceFest warmly invites you to the opening of Cosmic Cartography on Saturday 7 November at 6pm at Marina Market, Cork.


The centrepiece of our 2026 Science Week festival, Cosmic Cartography brings together artists exploring how we map, interpret and imagine the universe. The exhibition features Cork’s own art and geology collective, The Fold, alongside other artists responding to our invitation to explore mapping and outer space.


Join us for light refreshments and an informal conversation with some of the artists, who will share insights into their ideas, processes and approaches to the work. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the artists and their work, connect with others across the arts and science communities, and mark the opening of a festival bringing 20 events to 12 venues across Cork.


If you’re planning to join us, please RSVP to hello@greywoodarts.org.  We’d love to see you there!


SpaceFest is presented by Greywood Arts and made possible with funding from the stars at Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland.


Warmest regards,


Jessica Bonenfant
Artistic Director
SpaceFest & Greywood Arts



cosmic-cartography-VAIsm.jpg

COSMIC CARTOGRAPHY

How do we map a universe too vast to fully comprehend? How have people across cultures made sense of the stars, and how do we find our place in the cosmos? From marking time, tracking the seasons and crossing the seas, the night sky has been a source of scientific observation and artistic inspiration. Cosmic Cartography invites you to look up, look closer and get curious about our universe.


The Fold: Cosmic Cartographies

An artist-led, cross-disciplinary research group founded by Jess Franklin, The Fold brings artists and geologists together to explore the natural world through creative practice, dialogue and shared enquiry. For Cosmic Cartographies, artists explored ideas of mapping, movement, time, distance and our changing relationship with the cosmos through collage, drawing, painting, photography, textiles and sound. Informed by diverse forms of research, from scientific knowledge, geological observation and field research to historical, cultural and imaginative sources, each artist developed their work independently, then came together throughout the process to share ideas, discuss works in progress and offer feedback, allowing artistic and geological perspectives to inform one another.


Impact – Kerry Guinan 

Created through our Cosmic Debris residency at the National Space Centre in 2024, this levitating sculpture represents a meteoroid that has been impacted by a shard of artificial space debris in the high speeds of Earth’s orbit. The work asks us to reflect upon the profound impact that humanity has on nature, on and beyond the Earth.


Space Studio Inc.

Artists from Crawford Supported Studios present artworks inspired by stargazing, created through workshops with artist Ed Kuczaj, bringing their individual perspectives and creative practices to the exploration of the cosmos.


We Are Terraformers — St. Fergal’s NS, Inch NS, Midleton Educate Together NS and Scoil Mhuire Naofa

Working with artist Chris Finnegan, 170 young people from East Cork schools explored how scientists map the universe before creating their own planetary sectors. Their individual works come together in a large-scale collaborative installation.


Reach for the Stars

Discover the winning images from the annual astrophotography competition organised by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). Selected from more than 140 entries submitted by photographers across Ireland, these remarkable images reveal the beauty and wonder of the night sky.


Asterisms

Explore how cultures around the world have mapped the stars and poke holes in the universe with your own constellation contribution to this interactive artwork. A giant octagonal sky installation will offer a view of thousands of years of animal constellations from six different cultures, ranging from the Sami people of Northern Europe to Hawaiian navigators. Visitors will be invited to poke these constellations (or their own!) into the illuminated exhibit. 


Space Cadets Reading Corner

Cozy up to the stars in our space-focused reading area featuring a selection of stellar books curated by Cork City Libraries. Titles include books for early readers, teen and YA readers, and adults, with both fiction and non-fiction selections.


  • Date: Saturday 07 November – Wednesday 11 November
  • Time: Saturday and Sunday, 11 – 7; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11 – 6.
  • Opening Reception: Saturday 07 November 6pm - 7:30pm 
  • Cost: FREE
  • Location: Marina Market, Centre Park Rd, Cork, T12 YX76
  • Parking: Free parking
  • Transport: Buses 202, 212


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First Take Acting Classes for 55+

 

Fancy Trying Something New? Acting 55+ Comes to Cork

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to step onto a stage, bring a character to life, or simply try something completely different?

First Take: Acting 55+ is a friendly four-week daytime acting course designed specifically for adults aged 55 and over. Whether you've never acted before, dabbled years ago, or are simply looking for a new creative challenge, this welcoming course offers the perfect opportunity to give it a go. 

Led in a supportive environment with small group numbers, participants will explore acting through practical exercises, improvisation, character development and scene work. The course starts gently, helping everyone build confidence before progressing towards working on scenes with fellow participants. No previous experience is required. 

November Course Details

📅 Tuesdays, 17 November - 8 December
🕚 11.00am - 1.00pm
📍 Go On So Studio, Donnybrook Commercial Centre, Cork
💶 €90 for the four-week course [tickettailor.com]

The organisers describe it as real acting training for beginners, covering skills such as listening and responding, working with a script, making creative choices and understanding character motivation. 

For Cultural Companions members, this could be a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, try something creative, build confidence and perhaps discover a hidden talent along the way.

If there is sufficient interest from members, we could explore arranging a meet-up before the first session so participants can get to know each other in advance.

To find out more or book a place, visit the course booking page. [tickettailor.com]


Glucksman Craft + Design Fair this weekend. Wanna come?

 

More Than a Browse: Join Us at the Glucksman Craft + Design Fair

The annual Craft + Design Fair at the Glucksman is back this weekend, offering a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a relaxed afternoon out while discovering some of Ireland’s finest makers and designers.

The fair showcases over 50 selected craft artists and designers from across the country, with work ranging from jewellery, ceramics and textiles to printmaking, glass, furniture and woodturning. The event is known for its focus on high-quality Irish craft and sustainably made products, all displayed throughout the Glucksman's award-winning gallery spaces.

A handy tip for anyone planning to attend: if you pick up one of the promotional flyers currently available around Cork city centre, admission is reduced from €8 to €5. The admission fee helps support the Glucksman's access programmes for marginalised communities. 

Opening Hours

  • Friday 6 November: 1pm - 7pm
  • Saturday 7 November: 10am - 6pm
  • Sunday 8 November: 11am - 5pm


Cultural Companions Meet-Up?

A few Cultural Companions members are considering a visit on Saturday afternoon, and we'd love to hear if others might like to join them.

If there is enough interest, we could arrange an informal meet-up at the Glucksman, giving members the chance to enjoy the fair together, stop for a tea or coffee, and share the experience in good company. As always, we'd need a volunteer meet-and-greeter to help welcome people and facilitate the group.

If you'd be interested in attending, please let us know. If there's sufficient interest, we'll confirm a meeting time and details later this week.

The Craft + Design Fair is one of Cork's most enjoyable pre-Christmas cultural events, combining creativity, conversation and the opportunity to support talented Irish makers. It could make for a lovely social afternoon with fellow Cultural Companions. ✨