Memories

Sometimes the perfect gift isn’t a physical thing, but an experience, and in a city like Cork with all of its wonderful theatres and venues, why not gift someone you love the perfect memory this Christmas?

Starting with music, tickets are already on sale for Live at the Marquee 2026. Now, we know June is ages away, but with such an amazing line-up announced, including the likes of David Gray, Christy Moore, and Paul Weller, those tickets will go fast. What better gift on a cold Christmas morning than the promise of a warm summer’s day out with some amazing music?

Another stand-out concert on Leeside, and one coming much sooner, is that of celebrated Irish pianist Fiachra Garvey. On 24 January at Triskel Arts Centre, he will present two masterworks of the solo piano: Beethoven’s late E major sonata Op. 109, and Rachmaninov’s Sonata No 1 in D minor. Garvey is a prize winning and internationally acclaimed pianist, making tickets for this show the perfect stocking filler for the true music connoisseur(s) in your life. Tickets cost €15 and €12 for concession.

Also in January, eccentric and genre defying French musician and composer Yann Tiersen is coming to town. This is a great chance to see one of the most interesting and creative musicians in Europe up close and personal in an intimate live setting. He plays Live at St Luke’s on 28 January at 8pm.

In theatre, the bold and heartfelt new production ‘Tribes and Tribulations’ will run at the Cork Arts Theatre from 14-17 January. Presented by LINQ drama, the play brings queer women’s stories to centre stage — stories of love, laughter, friendship, and the sometimes messy, always beautiful journey toward self-acceptance. Told through a collection of powerful, funny, and deeply human short plays, ‘Tribes and Tribulations’ invites audiences into the many worlds of queer experience.

On 22 January, back by overwhelming demand to Cork Opera House is the hilarious ‘It’s Wine o’ Clock’ with Norma Sheahan. Norma is newly divorced and is convinced that 50 is the new 30 as she invites the audience on her journey as she gives a blow by blow account of her Tinder escapades. Tickets start at €28 and are on sale now at corkoperahouse.ie.

Staying with the performing arts, Dance Firkin Crane has an astounding line-up for the new year starting with ‘Crystal Cloud’ by award winning choreographer Fiona Quilligan. The production treats audiences to a handful of glorious films accompanied by live performance with a superb cast of dancers. It will run on 16 and 17 January and tickets cost €15 and €12 concession.

For the film lovers in your life, why not pick up a cinema gift card so they can go and see whatever they like in the new year? Both Cork city centre’s major cinemas, the Arc Cinema and the Omniplex in Mahon Point, offer gift cards which can be used either online or in person at the cinema.

The Triskel Arts Centre also does vouchers that can be used for the venue’s amazing cinema offerings, as well its live music performances.