9 Best Performing Arts in County Cork, Ireland

In the second week of November, this nine-day festival puts on a lively program of world cinema at several city venues, and includes feature films, documentaries, shorts, and other events.

Readings, author interviews, workshops, and award presentations are highlights of this four-day literary event in September.

The city's major hall for touring productions also presents dance, theater, comedy, and music events.

Modest-size theatrical productions are staged at this theater, which has an ornate Victorian interior.

The highlight of Cork's festival calendar arrives in late October, which brings an international lineup of jazz and soul musicians to the city, for four days of concerts in the big venues—Opera House, Everyman, Triskel Auditorium, and Triskel Christchurch. You can also hear music in pubs and hotels, on the street, and at various fringe events.

One very good reason to visit County Cork at any time is to hear authentic traditional music, but time your trip to coincide with this mid-August five-day festival in Bantry and you'll hear some of the finest.

The popular venue presents live music, classic and contemporary films, and readings in the former Christchurch (dating from 1717), and hosts art exhibitions.

This massive €3.4 million corten steel–clad building, dating from 2015, exhibits the works of local artists and distinguished visiting artists.

Internationally renowned musicians perform in the library of Bantry House for nine days in late June–early July.