Cork County Older Peoples Council AGM 4th November

 

Cultural Companions Creative Season SAMHAIN Workshops 2025

As part of our Creative Seasons 2025 series of seasonal workshops for Cultural Companions, we invite you to join us in celebrating Samhain, the Celtic quarter festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. Traditionally a time of reflection, remembrance, and storytelling, Samhain invites us to pause, honour memory, and welcome new beginnings.

This third and final series of Cultural Companions Creative Seasons workshops for 2025, offers opportunities to gather, create, and reflect together through working with clay, writing, and shared story. Whether you’re drawn to creativity, heritage, or simply the warmth of company, there’s something here for you.

Highlights of our Samhain Programme:

🌀 Ceramic Journeys: The Labyrinth & Samhain

Wednesday 12 November, 2pm in Blackpool Community Centre

Come and create with clay in a reflective, hands-on workshop that explores the themes of Samhain: memory, journey, and renewal, through the tactile process of making with facilitator artist Susan.

🔥 Cuardíocht: Ancestral Storytelling Ceremony

Friday 14 November, 2pm at Civic Trust House, Cork City

Join Paddy Doyle for an afternoon of story, song, and remembrance inspired by ancestral tradition and the turning of the year.

🖋️ Life Writing Workshop: Reflections of Samhain

Tuesday 18 November, 1.30–3.30pm in Cork City Library

Explore memory, change, and reflection through life writing in this gentle workshop inviting participants to capture their own stories of life’s seasons and transition.

All workshops are free, but spaces are limited so early booking is advised.

Supported by Cork City Council Creative Communities funding.

📧 Email: culture@muintircork.com 📞 Call: 021-4500688

SEE FULL PROGRAMME HERE

Midleton Cultural Companions Christmas: “Down Memory Lane” Concert

 

A Midleton Cultural Companions Christmas Celebration: Free “Down Memory Lane” Concert
Monday 17 November, 2pm GAA Clubhouse, Midleton
Free Event Booking Essential Email: culture@muintircork.com | Tel: 021 450 0688

Cultural Companions in East Cork invites everyone to a free festive concert celebrating the Christmas season and community connection on Monday, 17 November at 2pm in the GAA Clubhouse, Midleton.

The highlight of the afternoon will be a special “Down Memory Lane” performance, combining live music, storytelling, humour, and audience singalong. The show features acclaimed performers:

• Linda Kenny – singer, actress, and producer of Down Memory Lane, guiding audiences through a journey of shared music and memories.

• Conor O’Shea (The Loungeman) – renowned for smooth vocals and timeless classics.

• Pakie O’Callaghan – Cork’s beloved comedian and raconteur, delighting audiences with wit and warmth.

• Maurice Healy – accomplished pianist providing the perfect musical backdrop to the afternoon.

Admission is free, all are welcome, and booking is essential. A raffle will be held to help defray event expenses, and refreshments will be provided.

Mallow Cultural Companions Christmas Celebration: Step ‘Down Memory Lane’ 24th November

Monday 24 November, 2pm in The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow

Free Event — Booking Essential
Email: culture@muintircork.com | Tel: 021 450 0688

Mallow Cultural Companions, an Age & Opportunity Arts programme from Muintir na Tíre, warmly invites everyone to a festive afternoon celebrating 3 wonderful years of cultural companionship in Mallow. Join us on Monday, 24 November at 2pm in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow for an afternoon of music, memories, and Christmas cheer.

This year’s celebration features a special “Down Memory Lane” performance, bringing the much-loved Music Café experience to Mallow. The immersive show combines music, storytelling, humour, and audience singalong, offering a heart-warming way to relive songs and memories from days gone by.

Down Memory Lane features a talented line-up of entertainers:

Conor O’Shea (aka The Loungeman) – renowned for his smooth vocals and timeless renditions of Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and other crooning legends.

Pakie O’Callaghan – Cork’s beloved comedian, impersonator, and raconteur, whose wit and warmth never fail to delight.

Maurice Healy – accomplished pianist and entertainer providing the perfect musical backdrop to a nostalgic afternoon.

Linda Kenny – singer, actress, and producer of Down Memory Lane, guiding audiences through a shared journey of stories and song.

A raffle will be held to help defray event expenses, and refreshments will be provided to make the afternoon even more enjoyable.

Booking ESSENTIAL

Down Memory Lane for Fermoy Friendship Week in Kilworth Village Arts Centre

 

Step “Down Memory Lane”: an Afternoon of Music, Memories & Fun for Fermoy Friendship Week

Monday 10 November, 2pm  The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth
Free Event.  Booking Required
Email: culture@muintircork.com | Tel: 021 450 0688

Cork Cultural Companions, an Age and Opportunity Arts programme from Muintir na Tíre, is delighted to invite everyone to a very special afternoon of memories, music, and laughter as part of Fermoy Friendship Week.

On Monday, 10 November at 2pm, audiences at The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth will be treated to “Down Memory Lane”, an immersive reminiscence experience that has captured hearts across Cork and beyond.

Produced and performed by the multi-talented Linda Kenny, Down Memory Lane blends live music, storytelling, good humour and audience singalong into an uplifting celebration of shared memories from days gone by. The show has been specially designed to appeal to older audiences and has been presented with great success in public libraries, community health settings, residential care homes and theatres across the county.

Joining Linda for this special edition are an outstanding line-up of Cork’s favourite entertainers:

• Conor O’Shea (aka The Loungeman) – velvet-voiced crooner performing timeless classics from Nat King Cole, Sinatra and the legends of swing.
  
  

• Pakie O’Callaghan – comedian, impersonator and master storyteller whose wit and charm lights up every stage.
  
  

• Maurice Healy – gifted pianist and musical entertainer who sets the perfect tone for an afternoon of nostalgia and joy.
  
  

This event is presented by Cork Cultural Companions, a programme that connects older people interested in arts and culture, encouraging them to attend events together and make new friends along the way. Delivered in Cork by Muintir na Tíre, with support from Cork County Council, and the HSE, the initiative aims to promote inclusion, wellbeing, and community connection through shared cultural experiences.

As part of Fermoy Friendship Week, Down Memory Lane celebrates exactly what the week stands for - friendship, connection, and community spirit.

“This show is about connection, laughter, and that spark of joy that comes from remembering good times together,” said producer and performer Linda Kenny.

Event Details

Date: Monday 10 November, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Venue: The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth
Admission: Free — but booking is essential
Booking: Email culture@muintircork.com or call 021 450 0688

Places are limited — early booking is advised. Book your place HERE

A Cultural Companions Christmas: Step “Down Memory Lane” in Mayfield!

 

Wednesday 26 November, 2pm in
Mayfield Library, Cork
Free Event! Booking Required HERE
Email: culture@muintircork.com | Tel: 021 450 0688

Cork Cultural Companions, is delighted to invite everyone to a festive afternoon of nostalgia, laughter, and live music with “Down Memory Lane” on Wednesday, 26 November at 2pm in Mayfield Library, Cork.

This heart-warming event brings the much-loved Down Memory Lane Music Café experience to Mayfield for a special Christmas edition, an immersive reminiscence performance that combines music, storytelling, humour, and audience singalong. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season in good company, reliving songs and memories from days gone by.

Produced and performed by acclaimed Cork singer Linda Kenny, the show features a talented line-up of entertainers who bring sparkle, soul and smiles to every performance:

• Conor O’Shea (aka The Loungeman) – renowned for his smooth vocals and timeless renditions of Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and other crooning legends.
  
  

• Pakie O’Callaghan – Cork’s beloved comedian, impersonator and raconteur whose wit and warmth never fail to delight.
  
  

• Maurice Healy – accomplished pianist and entertainer providing the perfect musical backdrop to a nostalgic afternoon.
  
  

• Linda Kenny – singer, actress and producer of Down Memory Lane, who guides audiences through a shared journey of stories and song.
  
  

The Down Memory Lane Music Café series has proven hugely popular with audiences across Cork and beyond. Presented by Cork Cultural Companions, this Christmas Celebration embodies the spirit of community and connection that defines the programme. Cork Cultural Companions, delivered by Muintir na Tíre and supported by Cork City & County Councils, and the HSE, works to bring people together through shared cultural experiences, encouraging friendship, inclusion, and participation in the arts.

Event Details

Event: Down Memory Lane – A Christmas Celebration
Date: Wednesday 26 November, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Mayfield Library, Cork
Admission: Free — but booking is essential BOOK HERE
More info: Email culture@muintircork.com or call 021 450 0688

All are welcome — join us for a festive afternoon of music, memories and good company.

Ethnodrama Explores Realities of Ageing, At Your Age?!, in Bantry

 A Unique Ethnodrama Exploring Realities of Ageing, At Your Age?!, in Bantry

Cork Cultural Companions invites you to a special live read-through of At Your Age?!, a unique play that brings real lived experiences of ageing to the stage.

Date: Saturday, 22nd November
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Bantry Library
Free admission | Refreshments provided

Co-written by Cork Cultural Companions members with Dr. Elaine Desmond of UCC, At Your Age?! Is a script that draws directly from the lives of six women, capturing humour, resilience, and the challenges of ageing. 

Directed by Karen Minihan of PlayActing Theatre and performed by the excellent Schull Drama Group, this rehearsed reading offers a rare opportunity to experience theatre that is authentic, thought-provoking, and full of heart.

This project is generously supported by Cork County Council Arts Office and Age Friendly Office.

Join us for an afternoon of storytelling, laughter, and insight into the realities and joys of growing older. Refreshments provided.
Email culture@muintircork.com for more information

Book HERE

Listing of Concerts Cork City in November

From one of our members here is a listing of Concerts Cork City month of November that might of interest to Cultural Companions in November;

UCC Fuaim Lunchtime concerts (Free).

All events below in Aula Maxima.

Vanbrugh & Friends Friday 14/11/25 1.10pm.Special Guests Olympia Quartet.

Nomadic Piano Project Friday 21/11/25 1.10pm.

Duo Lyrica music for flute and piano Friday 28/11/25 1.10pm.

Details www.ucc.ie/events/music

Honan Chapel UCC:

Carols by Candlelight :3 nights Christmas Concerts by the UCC Choral Society November 29th-Dec 1st 2025 8pm.

Note: Check to ensure Candlelight Concert dates are correct & if event is free to attend.

Triskel Arts Centre Lunchtime Concerts:

Solas Quartet Saturday 22nd November 1pm.

Tickets can be booked on Triskel Website. 

Spotlight III Saturday 29th November 1pm.

Tickets can be booked on Triskel website. https://triskelartscentre.ie/whats-on/

City Hall Cork;

Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra conducted by Keith Pascoe with Fidelio Trio Saturday 22nd November 19.30pm.

Compere: Evelyn Grant.

They will be performing Beethhoven 'Triple Concerto'.

Tickets can be booked through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cork-fleischmann-symphony-orchestra-with-the-fidelio-trio-tickets-1801685131729

Note: Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra will also be performing Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit Dennehys Cross Sunday  7th December  7pm.

Booking  for Dennehys Cross event through corkorchestralsociety.ie or bought @ door on night.

Cork School of Music, Union Quay Cork.

All events below in Curtis Auditorium .

Tickets for  events CSM, Union Quay below can be online corkorchestralsociety.ie or 

at the door night of events.

Marman Quarter Thursday 6th November 19.30pm.

 Irish Chamber Orchestra Saturday 15 November 19.30pm.

Emmanuel Ceysson and Sarah Shine Thursday 27th November 19.30pm.

Ireland’s Dinosaurs Roar to Life at UCC

For the first time, Ireland’s own dinosaurs are going on public display and it’s happening at the Glucksman Gallery, University College Cork.

The exhibition, “The Domain of the Dinosaurs”, opens 18 November and runs until 12 April, showcasing Ireland’s only known dinosaur species: a fearsome Megalosaurus and an armoured Scelidosaurus. Alongside them are fossilised eggs, footprints, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and over 250 other real specimens; a prehistoric smorgasbord stretching back millions of years.

More than just bones, the exhibition blends science, art, and imagination. Interactive displays and creative installations bring ancient Ireland vividly to life, offering a playful yet profound journey into our island’s distant past.

This exhibition is a rare chance to step into a time when dinosaurs ruled the land, sky, and sea.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of events, including special tours led by UCC palaeontologists, panel discussions featuring international fossil experts and artists, public lectures and creative workshops for all ages and abilities.

 

Join Us for a Community Learning Afternoon in Mitchelstown

Cultural Companions North Cork members are warmly invited to a special Community Learning Afternoon at Mitchelstown Library on Wednesday 15th October, 2.30–5.00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain practical tips, access local support, and connect with your community.

The afternoon is part of the Libraries For Literacy Project, funded by Solas and run in partnership with Ballyhoura Development, Cork and Limerick Education and Training Boards, local libraries, MABS, Fighting Words, and more. Libraries are at the heart of this initiative, empowering communities and supporting literacy across the region.

Highlights include:

• Financial literacy tips from AIB, the Community Garda, and MABS

• Understanding your electricity bill with Ballyhoura Development

• Digital literacy courses overview from the ETB

• Community services insights from SVP, Alone, and Cultural Companions

Cultural Companions will present during the afternoon,. There will also be time for questions, refreshments, and networking from 4.20pm.

Come along, meet fellow Companions, and discover the wealth of local support and learning opportunities in your community.

Where: Mitchelstown Library
When: Wednesday 15th October, 2.30–5.00pm 
Admission: Free

Artist Talk with Fiona Hayes’ Archiving Hope Exhibition at County Hall

Join Fiona Hayes for an Artist Talk at Archiving Hope

Cultural Companions are invited to a special event at Cork County Hall: an artist talk by West Cork artist Fiona Hayes, part of her solo exhibition Archiving Hope. This takes place on 24th October at 1pm in the Foyer on the Ground Floor.

Fiona’s work explores the self-healing power of nature through the re-wilding of an abandoned 40-acre post-industrial gravel pit in West Cork. Once a barren, man-made landscape, it has become a thriving accidental nature reserve, filled with wild plants, insects, small mammals, and birds.

During the artist talk, Fiona will share insights into her creative process, her deep-mapping investigation of this extraordinary landscape, and the stories behind her paintings, printed images, and projections that document this magical transformation. This is a wonderful chance to engage directly with the artist, ask questions, and explore the themes of resilience, creativity, and the natural world.

Event Details:

• Event: Artist Talk by Fiona Hayes

• Date & Time: 24th October, 1pm

• Location: Foyer, Cork County Hall, Ground Floor

• Accessibility: County Hall is open Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm. Parking and access details available on arrival.

• Exhibition: Archiving Hope runs 9th–25th October, open to the public.

Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley, highlighted the importance of Fiona’s work:

“Much of our natural heritage is found in expected places like bogs, wetlands, and grasslands, but Fiona’s work encourages us to look deeply into post-industrial sites and see the resilience of nature emerge. It is wonderful to see this transformation documented through art.”

This artist talk is a perfect occasion to explore art and nature, spark conversation, and share insights with fellow participants. Don’t miss this engaging and inspiring event!

Let us know if you are coming - drop a text to 0858670744 or email culture@muintircork.com

Cultural Companions Special Cork Folklore Workshop 7th October

 

Exploring Stories, Building Connections: Join Us for a Special Folklore Workshop

We are delighted to invite all Cultural Companions members with an interest in folklore, local history, and storytelling to a special workshop event on Tuesday, 7 October at 2:00 pm (city-centre venue, details on registration).

As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Cork Folklore Project, we’ll be joined by Tomas MacConmara, who will guide us in exploring the next steps of this exciting partnership.

---

About the Workshop

This session will:

• Provide an overview of opportunities for collaboration between the Cork Folklore Project and Cultural Companions.

• Build on earlier workshops and training sessions that some of our members attended as part of the Cork Listeners Collective, a community-led initiative focused on gathering and connecting stories.

• Focus on Cultural Companions-specific opportunities, ensuring the project reflects the voices, interests, and creative spirit of our members.

There is no obligation to share personal stories at this event. Instead, it’s about exploring how we, as a group, can help advance the project and create meaningful ways to preserve and celebrate local voices.

---

Why this matters

• A growing collaboration: The Cork Folklore Project has built a rich archive of over 700 interviews, capturing everyday lives, traditions, and community changes across Cork. Their work is rooted in listening, reciprocity, and community involvement.

• Momentum from Heritage Week: Our recent Heritage Week event drew a fantastic turnout, listening to recordings and sharing some of our own memories, showed how many great stories were in the room that afternoon alone. That energy showed us the potential for Cultural Companions to play a role in shaping this work.

• Your chance to shape the future: This workshop is about finding the best ways for our members to connect, contribute, and help develop a shared vision for the collaboration.

---

Event Details

• Date & Time: Tuesday, 7 October, 2:00 pm

• Venue: City-centre (full details provided after registration)

• Who should attend: Any Cultural Companion interested in local history, folklore, oral traditions, or simply exploring new creative opportunities.

• Registration: Required – please RSVP by Wednesday 6th October 3pm.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning. With your input, we hope to shape a project that highlights the richness of Cultural Companions’ experiences, strengthens our partnership with the Cork Folklore Project, and ensures that voices from our community are heard, celebrated, and remembered.

🎭 Way Down Underground – A Night of Theatre, Music & History in Culturlann Newmarket

 

On Saturday, October 18th at 8:30 PM, An Chultúrlann in Newmarket (P51 D854) will host Way Down Underground, a powerful performance inspired by the coal mining heritage of Duhallow.

This immersive show blends live music, original songs, and evocative storytelling to bring to life the experiences of miners and their families in the early 1900s. With a full band providing a heartbeat to the music, the performance includes classics like Working Man and Schooldays Over, alongside original compositions that pay tribute to the resilience and spirit of the mining community.

The event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the rich cultural history of Duhallow and celebrate the lives of those who laboured underground. It's a night of reflection, music, and community—a must-see for anyone interested in local heritage and the power of storytelling through performance.

Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 18th

• Time: Doors open at 7:30 PM; performance starts at 8:30 PM

• Location: An Chultúrlann, Newmarket, Co. Cork (P51 D854)

• Tickets: €15 (plus online booking fee)

• Booking: Reserve via Facebook Event or text 086 196 0157

Whether you're a long-time resident or new to the area, this performance is a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of Duhallow's coal mining past. Don't miss this chance to experience a night of heartfelt music and compelling storytelling.