The 50Plus Show The Lifestyle Event for Older People Radisson Blu Cork Sept 8th and 9th

 

Poetry Workshops at West Cork Literary Festival 10-17July

 

Hello Hearing poetry read aloud is one of the most joyous parts of a literary festival and we can't wait to share all of these fabulous poets with you. Come along and open your ears to the magic. If you are an emerging poet pick up your pens and join our sessions with tutors Jessica Traynor and Victoria Kennefick. And don't forget that we have open mic nights throughout the week if you would like to share your own work. Thank you to our programming partners Doire Press, Gallery Press, Irish Writers Centre and Poetry Ireland/Éigse Éireann for supporting our poetry strand. Best Wishes, Eimear and the West Cork Literary Festival team Please click on the individual photos to read more and book your tickets.  Order a Brochure for Home Delivery Our printed brochure is now available in bookshops, cafés, libraries and tourist offices throughout Cork city and county. For environmental and economic reasons we will only post printed programmes to those who order them and we will ask you to cover the cost of postage. You may now order a copy for home delivery via our website. If you are one of our Festival Friends you will automatically receive a copy of our brochure in the post. Please note that the full festival line-up is published online and already available to book so, if you don’t want to miss out on popular events, we recommend that you book before you get the physical brochure. Become our Friend Our Festival Friends are at the heart of our growth, directly funding our work, supporting artists, and sustaining the festival. In particular, you support our free events for children and our outreach programmes to allow the festival to be accessible to everyone. Friends can also avail of priority booking as well as enjoying benefits like reserved seating, invitations and discounted tickets. Find out more about our Friends here. Digital Delivery of Tickets We are delighted to announce that this year all WCLF events will have digital tickets only. So no more waiting for your tickets to arrive by post or queueing to collect your pre-booked tickets at our venues. Instead you will be able to add your digital ticket to your Apple or Google Wallet or to print at home or simply bring your confirmation email with you on your phone. When an event is not sold out, remaining tickets will still be available for purchase on the door.

 

🎶 Cultural Companions at Bealtaine – Music Making in Bantry Library

As part of the Bealtaine Festival, celebrating creativity as we age, Cork County Council Libraries are hosting a fantastic programme of free events across the county this May.

This year, Cultural Companions will be meeting up in Bantry Library to take part in a relaxed and welcoming music-making workshop led by musician and facilitator Dr. Kevin McNally.

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🎵 Party Piece – Music Making Workshop

📅 Wednesday 13 May
🕝 2:30pm – 4:30pm
📍 Bantry Library

This is a friendly, informal session where everyone is welcome—whether you sing, play an instrument, or simply enjoy listening.

The workshop is all about playing music that’s meaningful to you, in a relaxed group setting where there’s no pressure and no need for prior experience. It’s about enjoyment, participation, and sharing the experience together.

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🌿 A relaxed Cultural Companions meet-up

Cultural Companions will gather before the session to enjoy the event together, with time to chat, connect, and take part in the workshop as a group.

It’s a great opportunity to:

• Enjoy live, participatory music in a welcoming space
• Meet others in a friendly, social setting
• Take part at your own pace—sing, play, or simply listen

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🎶 Join us

If you would like to join Cultural Companions for this Bealtaine event in Bantry Library, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

📧 culture@muintircork.com

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🎭 Cultural Companions at Midleton Arts Festival

The Midleton Arts Festival returns this May, bringing a lively programme of theatre, literature, visual art, music, and creative workshops into the heart of the town. It’s a brilliant celebration of community creativity, with events taking place across Midleton from 15–24 May.

This year’s theme, “Eco-Web”, explores connection—between people, place, and nature—through a wide range of artistic events and shared experiences.

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📖 Literary Reading with Paudrig Lee

As part of the festival, Cultural Companions will be attending a special literary reading at Midleton Library featuring Paudrig Lee and other writers.

📅 Saturday 17 May
🕛 12:00pm – 1:30pm
📍 Midleton Library

This relaxed reading offers a great opportunity to enjoy new writing in a welcoming setting and connect with others through a shared love of storytelling.

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🚶‍♀️ Followed by a Creative Stroll & Clay Faces Workshop

After the reading, the group will take a gentle stroll through Midleton town, pausing along the way to enjoy public art and the creative atmosphere of the festival.

The outing will finish at Midleton Arts Centre, where participants will take part in a hands-on clay faces workshop—a fun and expressive creative session inspired by imagination, identity, and play.

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🌿 Join Cultural Companions

This is a relaxed, social cultural outing combining literature, walking, and making—perfect for anyone who enjoys creativity and conversation in good company.

If you are interested in joining this Cultural Companions event, please get in touch:

📧 culture@muintircork.com

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We’d love to hear from you and have you join us for a creative day out at the Midleton Arts Festival.

Cork Cultural Companions Bealtaine Programme 2026

Cultural Companions Art & Soul at Castlemartyr 17th June

Art & Soul is back this June at the beautiful Castlemartyr Estate, and after two really popular years with our members attending in big numbers, it’s set to be another fantastic outing.

It’s a brilliant mix of contemporary sculpture and art, spread across the stunning grounds and inside the estate, with something new to see at every turn. It’s easy to see why so many people have made it a favourite over the past couple of summers.

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🗓 Guided Tour – Wednesday 17th June at 12 noon

One of the best ways to experience the exhibition is the guided sculpture tour, where we will get background on the artists and the stories behind the work.

📍 Castlemartyr Estate
🕛 Wednesday 17th June | 12:00pm

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⚠️ Don’t leave it too late

This is a really popular event with our members, and places on the guided tours fill up quickly every year. If you’re thinking of going, it’s best to book early to avoid disappointment.

👉 Book your place here and select the 12noon tour:
https://calendly.com/gormleysfa/art-and-soul-guided-tour-castlemartyr-2026?month=2026-06

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🌿 A great summer day out

It’s a relaxed, enjoyable way to spend a day surrounded by art in a really special setting—and definitely one of those events that people tend to book again once they’ve been. Cultural Companions meet at 11.30am at reception 

Digital Literacy Classes in Bishopstown