Irish music fans will delight as the Cork Folk Festival happily returns for it's 42nd year from Wednesday, September 29th to Sunday, October 3rd.

“The festival will celebrate the music of Cork with a strong emphasis on live music. We are indebted to the Cork City Council and Arts Office who grant aided the festival this year," explained Festival Co-Organiser William Hammond.

"Throughout the year myself and Festival Chairman Jim Walsh have gone through different variations of how the festival could happen in 2021 and scrubbed plans many times as the Covid situation deteriorated. But with the health concerns improving we have settled on a programme that will entice Cork lovers of live acoustic music.”

The festival promises four show-stopping headliners this year at the Triskel Arts Centre: Freddie White (Sold Out), Steve Cooney, Tara Breen and Fiona Kennedy.

The programming of this festival continues to excite with promises of an open-air concert titled 'Folk Fest in the Park', a celebration of legendary traditional singer Margaret Barry and her grandfather, and a film showing of Ceol na bhFánaithe featuring Margaret Barry.

Other sessions throughout the festival include many of Ireland's favourite Folk and Trad musicians like Dermot Byrne, Pádraig Rynne, Mary Greene, Anna Mitchell, Eoin O Riabhaigh, Johnny McCarthy, Tim O’Riordan and Marty Barry, Cathal Ó Curráin, Maire Ni Chéileachair, Matt Cranitch, and Nesbitt.

The festival has gone hybrid this year, with many sessions being broadcasted on Cork Community TV and live on Facebook for digital listeners.

Tickets for the Cork Folk Festival can be purchased here. A listing of programming can be seen below.

Wednesday 29^th September

Cork Singers Club on ZOOM: 8.30pm Singing Session on Zoom with guest singer Eugene McEldowney. To participate send your email address to [email protected]

Thursday 30^th September

St Peters Church: 7.30pm Launch of ‘Cork 1920, A City In Flames’ CD with John Murphy & friends.  By invite.

Triskel Christchurch: 8pm Freddie White in Concert Tickets €25/ €23.50 Conc.  SOLD OUT

Friday 1^st October

Triskel Christchurch: 8pm Steve Cooney & Dermot Byrne in Concert €25/ €23.50 Conc. BOOK HERE

Saturday 2^nd October

Music Workshops on Zoom Classes are free, to book send your email to [email protected] / [email protected]

10.30am -12pm Traditional Song: Máire Ní Chéileachair, Flute & Whistle: Karl Nesbitt

12-1.30pm Sliabh Luachra Tunes: Matt Cranitch, Uilleann Pipes: Leonard Barry

2pm Rebels of Cork Walking Tour led by John Murphy, meet at 1.30pm at the Monument in Blackpool. FREE

Triskel Christchurch: 8pm Tara Breen, Padraig Rynne & Jim Murray in Concert Tickets €25/ €23.50 Conc. BOOK HERE

An Spailpin Fanach 9pm Trad Session. FREE

Sunday 3^rd October

St Peters Church:1pm A Celebration of legendary traditional singer Margaret Barry and her grandfather, piper Robert Thompson. With Eoin O Riabhaigh, Johnny McCarthy & Tim O’Riordan and Marty Barry & Cathal Ó Curráin..     Tickets €10 BOOK HERE

Fitzgerald Park:2pm Folk fest in the Park, Seán Ó Sé, Máire Ní Chéileachair & The Abbey Céilí Band, Douglas Comhaltas. FREE

Triskel Christchurch: 8pm Triskel Christchurch ‘Gals at Play’ Mary Greene, Anna Mitchell & Fiona Kennedy

Tickets €25/ €23.50 Conc.    BOOK HERE

An Spailpin Fanach 9pm Trad Session. FREE

All Weekend

Hedge School Sessions – a series of secret sessions organised to coincide with the folk fest at , St Peters Church.

Folk Festival Online, selected concerts will be broadcast on Cork Community TV and Live on Facebook.

St Peters Church Film Showing Margaret Barry Ceol na bhFánaithe. FREE