Good morning, Cork! Today’s newsletter is packed with festivals & events for your weekend plans, some big investments, and even a very handsome pup.

Best of luck to everyone’s kids opening Leaving Cert results tomorrow! (and solidarity with the parents pacing the kitchen all morning)

In today’s Cork Current:

Let’s get to it!

Looking for something fun (and free!) to do this weekend? The Blackrock Village Festival is back on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd August, with a packed programme of music, parades, and activities for the little ones!

Kicking off on Friday at 5:30pm with a free concert by the Cork Light Orchestra in St. Michael’s Church, the village truly comes alive on Saturday from 1pm onwards. Prepare for a grand parade from Holland Park, led by a traditional bagpiper and welcomed by the Lord Mayor. The rest of the day is packed with events, including: live music from Hank Wedel, Down in the City, Lee Sessions and more, salsa dancing, a coastal rowing regatta, boat trips, a funky bike ride, kids’ activities, and even a historical photo exhibition.

Plenty for the whole family, or just a great excuse to hang out in Blackrock for the day. Full details for the weekend are up on their Instagram.

Good news for anyone who loves a dip, a walk, or a cycle - over €350,000 has just been announced for outdoor recreation projects across Cork.

Highlights include new sea swimming slipways and shelters at Ballynamona, Whitegate, and Great Island; design works for the Marsh in Skibbereen; upgrades to Abbey Pier on Sherkin Island; and improvements to Belgooley Walkway with new fencing and benches. There’s even funding for Seefin Car Park on the Duhallow Way and Ballyhoura Development to expand their brilliant trail and biking networks.

Plenty reasons to get outside, enjoy what we’ve got in Cork, and maybe try something new this year! Learn More

A massive €7.3 million investment is being pumped into the Killeens wastewater treatment plant, a welcome upgrade for thousands of residents on Cork City's northside. Uisce Éireann has announced that works will commence this month and continue until early 2027, promising reduced risk of sewer flooding, improved water quality in the River Blarney and the capacity for future housing and economic growth.

Some traffic disruption is expected with stop-go systems between Gleann Iris and North Point Business Park, however local access will be maintained. Learn More.

We’re halfway through National Heritage Week and there’s still so much to enjoy before it wraps up on Sunday!

Across Cork you’ll find heritage walks, music in libraries, family-friendly tours, and hands-on workshops that bring history to life. It’s a brilliant excuse to dip into the stories and traditions that shaped our city and county. The full programme of events and activities is on heritageweek.ie if you’d like to plan a day out before the week is over.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a big softie when it comes to animals (you might have spotted a few Fota stories sneaking in here lately!). So starting this week, every Thursday you’ll see a brand new section in the newsletter: Dog of the Week.

Each week, I’ll be sharing one of the adorable pups looking for a home through the amazing team at the CSPCA. The hope? To get more of these good boys and girls into great homes. At the very least, you’ll get a dose of cuteness in your inbox! And if you know someone on the hunt for a four-legged friend, feel free to pass it along.

So without further ado, meet our first dog of the week, Buffalo Bill!

Buffalo Bill may sound like a cowboy, but this gent is all heart - and long legs!

This handsome lurcher was surrendered through no fault of his own and is now settling in at the CSPCA. At first glance, he might look like a big boy, but he’s a total softie. Buffalo Bill is loving the attention he’s getting from staff, but kennel life isn’t where this boy belongs. What he needs is a warm sofa, a secure garden, and someone who doesn’t mind a few extra cuddles.

If you’re interested in adopting Buffalo Bill, please email [email protected] for an application form, or you can apply via the adoption application form on their website at the end of Bill’s profile.

A new gym just opened in Douglas Court Shopping Centre - and it’s not your typical setup. New Levl is run by Josh and Lauren, who moved home from London to create something a bit different: a space that combines structured, science-backed training with a strong sense of community.

Classes are coach-led and run in 12-week blocks, with strength, cardio, and Saturday social sessions all on the timetable. They even host Sunday sessions that vary from gym sessions to sea swims and social 5km runs! If you're curious, they offer a 2-week trial for €25. You can learn more at newlevl.ie or find them on Instagram.

Early risers, take note - SOMA Coffee is opening its brand-new Wilton café this Friday at 6am. You’ll find it on Cardinal Way, right beside Wilton Shopping Centre, designed with a unique minimal, industrial German aesthetic.

It’s the perfect spot for a quick caffeine break, especially if you’re working over at CUH. They’ll be serving until 7pm daily (6pm on Sundays). And even if you haven’t set foot in a SOMA café before, chances are you’ve tasted their beans - they supply plenty of Cork’s best cafés and restaurants from their roastery in The Black Market. This will be SOMA’s fifth location, with number six already on the horizon later this year. You can get a glimpse at the new cafe on their Instagram.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things I thought you should know. I'll always let you know if something's sponsored.

Today: ☀️ 23°/16°
Friday: ☁️ 21°/14°
Saturday: ☁️ 19°/16°
Sunday: ☁️ 20°/15°

🎉 Blackrock Village Festival
Blackrock
Friday & Saturday, August 22nd & 23rd | More Info


🏛️ Heritage Week
Multiple Dates
There’s so much going on (over 300 events!), so I’ll just link the full calendar of events here: More Info


🎉 Bandon Walled Town Festival
Bandon
Multiple Dates | More Info


🎨 Cork Craft Month
Cork Craft & Design, 27a St Patrick's Woolen Mills, Douglas
Multiple Dates | More Info


🤣 Stand-up Comedy Club: Cork's Funniest Feens
The Roundy, Castle St.
Every Friday | 8:30 PM | More Info


🤣 Comedy Cavern: Iain Stirling
Coughlan's, Cork City
Fri 22nd Aug | 7:00 pm & 9:00 pm | More Info


😂 Stand-up Comedy Club: Chris Kent and Guests
The Roundy
Saturday, August 23rd | 8:30 PM | More Info


😂 The Best Of Cork: August Summer Series
City Limits, Coburg St.
Saturday, August 23rd | 8:00 PM | More Info


🎬 New York! Action! Sleaze! (NC) [James Glickenhaus Double Feature]
Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin St.
Friday, August 22nd | 6:00 PM | More Info


🎬 Jacob’s Ladder (18): Little Pieces Of Humanity - The Films Of Adrian Lyne
Triskel Arts Centre
Saturday, August 23rd | 7:00 PM | More Info


🎭 Cork Opera House presents Hänsel und Gretel
Cork Opera House
Sunday, August 24th | 7pm | More Info


😂 Conor Moore - Me, Myself and Them!
Cork Opera House
Friday, August 22nd | 8:00 pm | More Info


🎭 The Girl On The Train
The Everyman
Saturday, August 23rd | 8:00 pm | More Info


🚜 Douglas Farmers Market
Douglas Village Shopping Centre
Every Saturday | 10AM - 2PM | More Info


👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Blackpool Block Party
Great William O'Brien Street
Sunday, August 24th | 1:00 pm | More Info


🎸 Rory Gallagher: 'The Continental Op' - The Global Musician
Cork Public Museum, Fitzgeralds Park
Multiple Dates | More Info


🎶 Lyrics, Vinyl & Visuals: Rory Gallagher, The Man and His Interests
Cork Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork
Multiple Dates (ending this week) | More Info

🎵 The Lee Sessions Trad Trail
Multiple Locations
Multiple Dates | 6:30 pm | More Info


🎸 The Lemonheads
Cyprus Avenue
Thursday, August 21st | 7:00 pm | More Info


🎷 115 Jazz Jam Sessions
Cyprus Avenue
Thu 21 Aug | 9:00 pm | More Info


🎻 The Turfmen Trad
The Woodford, Cork City
Thu 21st Aug | 8:00 pm | More Info


🎤 Bexband live in KINO
KINO, Cork
Friday, August 22nd | 9:00 PM | More Info


🎤 Roy Buckley
Cantys
Friday, August 22nd | 6:00 pm | More Info


🎸 The Brightsides
Dwyers Of Cork, Cork City
Fri 22nd Aug | 10:00 pm | More Info


🎶 Last Call
Seventy Seven, Cork City
Fri 22nd Aug | 11:00 pm | More Info


🎵 Cathal Fitz
Arty's Bar, Cork City
Fri 22nd Aug | 10:00 pm | More Info


🎙️ Carrie Mac
The Blue Haven, Kinsale
Fri 22nd Aug | 8:30 pm | More Info


💃 Swingcopation: Live Music with Swing
Cork County Cricket Grounds, Mardyke
Friday, August 22nd | 8:00 pm | More Info


💃 Son Solar - Ireland's Hottest Latin Band!
Cyprus Avenue
Sat 23 Aug | 7:00 pm doors | More Info


🎤 John Spillane At Bandon Folk Club
Bandon Town Hall, Bandon
Sat 23rd Aug | 8:00 pm | More Info


🎶 The Off Beats
Dwyers Of Cork, Cork City
Sat 23rd Aug | 10:00 pm | More Info


🎸 Mafia Cats
The Woodford, Cork City
Sat 23rd Aug | 9:30 pm | More Info


🎵 The Tan Jackets
Coughlan's, Cork City
Sat 23rd Aug | 10:00 pm | More Info


🎙️ Jack Ahern
Cantys, Cork City
Sat 23rd Aug | 6:00 pm | More Info


🎙️ Joe Mac
Cantys, Cork City
Sun 24th Aug | 6:00 pm | More Info


🎻 Trad Session
Old Oak, Cork City
Sun 24th Aug | 8:00 pm | More Info


🎸 Mick Grace
Seventy Seven, Cork City
Sun 24th Aug | 6:00 pm | More Info


🎷 Brewhouse Jazz
Franciscan Well Brew Pub, Cork City
Sun 24th Aug | 6:30 pm | More Info

That's it for today Cork, thanks for reading! Let’s chat again on Tuesday!

Thanks!

- Ben