170 years of standing ovations
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Katherine Fitzpatrick, Hon. Consul, British Embassy with Seamus Heaney, Visit Cork.Image 2 of 11
Tim Healy, Chairman, Cork Opera House; Valerie O'Sullivian, Chief Executive, Cork City Council; Rob Horgan, President, Cork Chamber of Commerce and Prof. John O'Halloran, President, UCC.Image 3 of 11
Cllr Ian Doyle, Deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork; Lt Col. Peadar Ó Catháin, 1 Southern Brigade, Collins Baracks and Cllr Tony Fitzgerald.Image 4 of 11
Ingrid Seim, Hon. Colsul, Norway; Katherine Fitzpatrick, Hon. Consul, British Embassy; Joselin Le Gall, Hon. Consul, France and Anne Kristin Kjelsen, Hon. Consul Norway.Image 5 of 11
Ineke Lavers and Daniel Fleming, Cork Opera House.Image 6 of 11
Ash Keating, The Frank & Walters with Jim Walsh, Cork Trad Festival.Image 7 of 11
Katherine Fitzpatrick, Hon. Consul, British Embassy; Alistair Payne, MTU and Gabriella Caponi, Hon. Consul of Italy.Image 8 of 11
Cllr Tony Fitizgerald; Cdr. Bernard Heffernan, Irish Navy; Cllr Mary Rose Desmond; Cllr John Sheehan and Cllr Sean Martin.Image 9 of 11
Cllr Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork with Ruth Lynch, Cork City Council.Image 10 of 11
Fiona Clarke, Michelle Power and Jools Gleeson.Image 11 of 11
Prof. John O'Halloran, President of UCC; Michelle Power, UCC and Cllr Des Cahill.The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy recently hosted a special civic reception at Cork City Hall last week to celebrate the 170th anniversary of Cork Opera House — one of Ireland’s most iconic and best-loved cultural landmarks.
Cork Opera House has long been a stage where world-class talent meets local creativity, and where generations of Corkonians have come together to be inspired.
More than 200,000 people visit the Opera House each year to enjoy more than 270 performances.
Through the decades, the venue has hosted legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Ian McKellen, as well as homegrown stars including Cillian Murphy. Today, it continues to nurture emerging artists while welcoming audiences of all ages to share in the magic of live performance.
The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy, honoured the Opera House’s legacy and its ongoing contribution to the city’s creative spirit.
“Cork Opera House is more than just a building, it is a symbol of our city’s creativity, resilience, and community spirit,” said Lord Mayor Dennehy. “For 170 years, it has been a place where stories are told, music is shared, and generations of Corkonians have come together to celebrate the arts. As we mark this milestone, we also look forward to the next chapter in its extraordinary story.”
The Lord Mayor highlighted the Opera House’s remarkable journey — from its beginnings as The Athenaeum in 1855, to its rebirth after the devastating fire of 1955, and its transformation into a modern, dynamic home for the arts.
He also praised the Opera House’s partnership with University College Cork, which established Ireland’s first “learning theatre” in 2018. The collaboration gives young people the chance to gain real experience in the industry and helps shape the next generation of creative talent.
As the celebrations wrapped up, the message was clear: Cork Opera House is not just celebrating its past — it’s stepping boldly into the future, ready to inspire, entertain, and connect for another 170 years.
This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.