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.

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Cultural Companions Members: Enjoy 20% Off Aiteall in Bantry

 

We have some news for Cultural Companions members in and around Bantry — you can now enjoy 20% off tickets for Aiteall, the new West Cork Music festival taking place in Bantry from 23–25 October 2026.

Aiteall, the Irish word for sunshine between showers, brings a weekend of live music to West Cork, celebrating local, emerging and established singer-songwriters across a wide range of styles. The programme includes eight concerts, free pop-up gigs, workshops and musical appreciation events.

A weekend of music in Bantry: There’s plenty to choose from across the three days.

Friday evening features Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and John Francis Flynn, both performing at St Brendan’s Church.

Saturday brings The Vernon Spring and Amano to Marino Church, followed by Lemoncello at St Brendan’s Church and Ae Mak & d_abdu at Ma Murphy’s. There’s also a lilting workshop with Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin during the day.

Sunday continues with an Irish Song Workshop with Amano, a panel discussion on emerging music featuring RTÉ 2FM's Beta Da Silva and others, followed by performances from Leevy, Sorcha Richardson and d_abdu & Isaac Jones.

There are also Friday, Saturday and Sunday Day Passes for anyone who wants to make a full day or evening of it.

How to claim your Cultural Companions discount

Cultural Companions members can receive 20% off their Aiteall tickets.

There is one important thing to note: the discount cannot currently be applied when booking online.

To receive your 20% discount, you need to book your tickets by phone or in person and mention that you are a Cultural Companions member.

So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to enjoy some live music in Bantry this autumn, Aiteall could be just the ticket!

Aiteall | 23–25 October 2026 | Bantry

See the full Aiteall programme and ticket information on West Cork Music

From Lovesong to Othello: Shakespeare Comes to The Everyman

 From Lovesong to Othello: Shakespeare Comes to The Everyman

If you joined us for Lovesong earlier this year, you may remember the work of Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company and, in particular, the creative talents of Jenny Fennessy and Dylan Kennedy.

We’re delighted to highlight their latest production, Shakespeare’s Othello, coming to The Everyman in Cork on Thursday 24 September at 7.30pm.

A familiar creative team, a very different story

Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company has built a reputation for bringing classic plays to life with energy and clarity. Founded by husband-and-wife team Dylan Kennedy and Jenny Fennessy, the company’s previous productions include Lovesong, The Flags, Taboo and Macbeth.

Their new production of Othello offers a traditional telling of Shakespeare’s tragedy, remaining faithful to the original story and setting.



At its heart is the destructive power of manipulation. As Iago’s influence over Othello grows, love gives way to jealousy and trust to suspicion, with devastating consequences.

For those who enjoyed Lovesong, Othello provides a chance to see the same company tackle one of Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies — with Jenny Fennessy herself appearing as Emilia, alongside Dylan Kennedy as Iago. The cast also includes Benjamin Lafayette as Othello and Keziah Keenan O’Shea as Desdemona.

A great opportunity for Shakespeare fans

The production is particularly relevant for students studying Shakespeare, with school performances running from Tuesday 22 to Friday 25 September. There is also a public performance on Thursday 24 September at 7.30pm, giving general audiences the opportunity to experience the production at The Everyman.

The performance runs for approximately two hours including an interval and is recommended for audiences aged 16+. The Everyman also advises that the production contains themes of domestic violence.

Othello at The Everyman

Tuesday 22 – Friday 25 September 2026
Public performance: Thursday 24 September, 7.30pm
Venue: The Everyman, 15 MacCurtain Street, Cork
Tickets: €23
Age recommendation: 16+

Book tickets and find full details at The Everyman

If Lovesong was one of your highlights earlier this year, Othello is a chance to reconnect with the same company and experience their take on one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies.

Together at the Castle returns for its 5th successful year



"Together at the Castle" mental health and wellbeing event takes place on Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Mallow Castle.



Event Details
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Mallow Castle, County Cork
Cost: Free admission


What to Expect
Live Music & Entertainment: Performances from local acts like The Outdated and headliners Hell For Leather

Family Activities: Children's games, fun activities, and entertainment in a relaxed setting.

Support Services: Up to 50 local and regional community groups, wellbeing workshops, and informational stands connecting people with mental health resources.
Food & Drink: Various local food trucks and drink options available on-site

Mallow Scribes Culture Night Spotlight

 Mallow Scribes are having an event in Mallow Library on Culture Night, Friday 18th September, 2.30pm.

“A Sense of Place” (impressions and memories of Mallow)

Local readers and musicians

Open Mic

Free Event

String Quartet Concerts Coming to Cork This September

 

Cork will welcome two acclaimed string quartets this September as part of the National String Quartet Foundation’s (NSQF) autumn season.

The ConTempo Quartet visits Cork on its September tour, followed later in the month by the Lir Quartet, bringing two very different programmes of classical and contemporary string music to the city.

ConTempo Quartet – September 12

Formed in Bucharest in 1995 and based in Ireland since 2003, the ConTempo Quartet has established a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting and vibrant chamber ensembles.

The quartet features Bogdan Sofei and Ingrid Nicola on violin, Andreea Banciu on viola, and Adrian Mantu on cello.

Their September tour travels from Newbridge and Dundalk to Birr, Cork and Dublin, with the Cork performance taking place on September 12.

The programme includes works by composers including Judith Ring, Haydn, Beethoven, Janáček, Dvořák and Caroline Shaw, offering audiences a broad programme spanning different periods and musical styles.

Lir Quartet – September 25

Cork will also feature on the September tour by the Lir Quartet, which visits the city on September 25.

The quartet brings together Siobhan Doyle and Sophie Williams on violin, Séamus Hickey on viola, and Killian White on cello. Scottish violinist Sophie Williams joins three of Ireland’s finest musicians for a programme combining established masterpieces with new Irish composition.

The concert includes music by an elderly Haydn and a young Mendelssohn, alongside Bullens Bay, a new string quartet by award-winning Cork composer Linda Buckley. The work was newly commissioned by the National String Quartet Foundation with funding from the Arts Council.

For Cork audiences, the inclusion of Buckley’s new work adds a particularly local connection to the programme, placing contemporary Cork composition alongside some of the great works of the string quartet repertoire.

A September of String Quartets in Cork

With performances by both the ConTempo Quartet and Lir Quartet, Cork is one of the stops included in NSQF’s nationwide autumn season, which brings three string quartets to 15 venues across Ireland during September.

The series is supported by the Arts Council, RTÉ Lyric FM, the National Concert Hall, University College Cork, MTU Cork School of Music, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

Full details of the Cork concerts and the wider NSQF autumn programme are available at NSQF.ie.

Silver Screen Movies in Midleton

The Arc Cinema in Midleton are running "Silver screens" every Friday, these are specifically for people over 60 where we show a different movie every week, tickets only 7 euro each and we serve tea/coffee and biscuits. 

4th September - power ballad 3pm
11th September - one night only 3pm
18th September - practical magic 2 3pm
25th September - the death of robin hood 3pm 📽

Chatty Hands Creative Sessions at Greywood Killeagh

 Chatty Hands is back this autumn. And while we do make things, that's only part of it!

It's a Thursday morning away from the phone, the jobs that need doing and the endless list in your head. For 90 minutes, we sit around a table together. We try something creative. We drink tea. We chat. We laugh. Sometimes what we make turns out brilliantly. Sometimes... less so 

Nobody minds.

You don't need any experience and you definitely don't need to think of yourself as "creative".



Just come as you are.

🍂 Six Thursday mornings
📅 17 & 24 Sept | 1, 8, 15 & 22 Oct
⏰ 10.30am to 12pm
🎨 All materials provided
☕ Refreshments included
💶 €60

Contact hello@greywoodarts.org to book.