Let's get this year going!
With every new year comes a spotless new calendar just waiting to be filled in with concerts, plays, exhibitions, festivals, and all the other artistic things that go on here in Cork.
As Leeside catches its breath after Christmas, we’ve put together just a handful of things to ease you into 2026 and get the artistic juices flowing in what is already looking like an amazing year for the arts in Cork.
Starting with the Firkin Crane, tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, award-winning choreographer Fiona Quilligan will present ‘Crystal Cloud’ a compelling dance work combining stunning films with live performance. The production’s features performers Olwen Grindley, Yves Lorrhan, and Eoin Mac Donncha alongside Quilligan herself. ‘Crystal Cloud’ is a visually rich and emotionally resonant work that explores themes of self-expression, reflection, and freedom. Drawing on imagery from the natural world and human experience, the piece moves between moments of intensity and lightness, revealing fractured light, shifting perspectives, and a vibrant spectrum of colour. Sometimes dark, the work remains impassioned and ultimately joyous. ‘Crystal Cloud’ will be performed on 16 and 17 January at Dance Cork Firkin Crane in Shandon, Cork city. Doors open at 7.30pm on both nights.
From 20-24 and 26-31 January, Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company presents ‘Lovesong’ by Abi Morgan at Cork Arts Theatre. ‘Lovesong’ is a story of one couple, told from two different points in their lives: as young lovers in their thirties, and as worldly companions looking back on their relationship. Their past and present selves collide in this beautiful tale of togetherness. All relationships have their ups and downs; the optimism of youth becomes the wisdom of experience. Love is a leap of faith. This highly acclaimed play comes to Cork after a string of sold out performances up the country.
Stepping out of the city for a moment, Strive Theatre and Cork band MacBóchra will present the premiere of their new bilingual theatrical collaboration, ‘Goll’, in The Briery Gap in Macroom on 6 and 7 February. An experimental theatre work fusing music, poetry, film, dance, storytelling, and spectacle, ‘Goll’, explores the stories associated with the salmon of knowledge and Goll Essa Ruadh, the oldest seanchaí and shapeshifter known also as Fintan. Medieval literature depicts Mac Bóchra as the sole survivor of the biblical flood, living on in different forms as sole witness to the various migrations to Ireland throughout the millennia. ‘Goll’ adapts six medieval narratives associated with Fintan Mac Bóchra into six episodes of contemporary theatre.
Staying in the county, Music Network has recently announced a nationwide tour for a new super group collaboration between Kevin Burke, Dermot Byrne, Noriana Kennedy, and Jim Murray. The show will be coming to Ionad Cultúrtha in Ballyvourney, West Cork, on 13 February. This unmissable new collaboration features four extraordinary artists who have shared their music with audiences over four decades of Music Network's National Touring Programme. Joining them is Jim Murray, one of the world’s leading acoustic guitar players. The programme will feature performances of traditional and contemporary material from four artists whose collective experience and creativity have carved a deep impression on the landscape of traditional Irish music.
One of Ireland's most distinctive and creative independent artists, John Blek, will play three shows in Cork in the coming weeks. He plays Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale, on 8 February; Coughlan’s in Cork city on 15 February; and DeBarra’s, Clonakilty on 29 March. The shows are part of an Irish, Europe, and UK tour in support of his forthcoming album ‘The Midnight Ache’ which drops tomorrow, Friday. Blek has just released ‘Better’ the third single to come from the album, following earlier releases ‘747’ and ‘With You’.
The song is the artist's effort to convince a loved one of his ability to be a better person despite what he sees as his past shortcomings. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s album release, Blek said: “This album took me by surprise. I was slowly writing and using the songs to try to get to know the new studio space. Sonically feeling my way around and seeing what I could achieve when all of a sudden, I realised I was looking at a new record.”
Finishing our list is the always amazing Ortús Chamber Music Festival which is set to deliver yet another world class programme from 21 February to 1 March in venues across Cork city and county. Co-Founders cellist Sinéad O’Halloran, and violinist Mairéad Hickey have once again has assembled a world class programme for the 11th Ortús Chamber Music Festival. Venues include the Aula Maxima in UCC, MTU Cork School of Music, and St Peter’s Cork, as well as Cork county concerts and events in Bantry, Tracton Arts Centre, and Dripsey Castle Estate. This year, Mairéad will perform with international musicians from David Moreau (violin), Pierre Antoine Cordon (viola), Jérémie Moreau (piano), Alexander Warenberg (cello), double bassist Luis Cabrera, Sergio Bucheli (lute) together with Irish musicians Marja Gaynor (violin, viola), Aoife NicAthlaoich (cello) and Miriam Kaczor (flute).