BlindBoy Podcast, John Spillane & West Cork Drama

This week in Cork, there's barely a gap in the calendar from St Patrick's Day through to the end of the month.

Triskel is running a Jane Campion film season, the West Cork Drama Festival is mid-run in Clonakilty, John Spillane takes over Coughlan's for the weekend, and the BlindBoy Podcast comes to the Opera House to close out the week.

Throw in Paddy's Day parades, trad sessions from Kinsale to the Wilton Bar, and live music every night at Dwyers, and you have absolutely no excuse for being bored!

Let's dive in 👇

Cork Podcast Festival: The BlindBoy Podcast Thursday, 26 March | 20:00 Cork Opera House

BlindBoy Boatclub brings his live podcast show to the Opera House as part of the Cork Podcast Festival 2026, presented by The Good Room. If you've been listening to BlindBoy for years and never caught him live, this is the one; expect the usual blend of Irish history, philosophy, psychedelics, and whatever else is on his mind that week. Get tickets

John Spillane Weekend Saturday 21 March | Songwriting Workshop (SOLD OUT) 14:00 & Son of Crazy Chester 20:00 Sunday 22 March | Afternoon Show 14:00 & Evening Show 20:00 Coughlan's

One of Cork's finest singer-songwriters takes over Coughlan's for the weekend. Saturday's songwriting workshop is sold out but the evening show is wide open; Sunday offers two separate sessions - afternoon and evening - if you want the full Spillane experience. Get tickets

West Cork Drama Festival Tuesday 17 to Sunday 22 March | 20:00 nightly Rossmore Theatre, Clonakilty

Six nights of competitive amateur drama at one of West Cork's great theatre venues. This week's programme: Sive by Holycross Ballycahill Drama Group (Tue), Da by Brideview Drama Group (Wed), Ballyturk by Kilmeen Drama Group (Thu), A Living Will by Gaggin Drama Group (Fri), Gut by Gorey Little Theatre (Sat), and The Salvage Shop by Nenagh Players (Sun). Six different casts, six different plays, one great festival. Get tickets

DMAC Burns & Mango Moon Today, Monday 16 March | 20:00 Connolly's of Leap

A Monday night gig at one of West Cork's most beloved music venues. Connolly's of Leap is the kind of place that makes people move to West Cork — and staying open on a Monday is exactly the kind of thing they do. Details

Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta Today, Monday 16 March | 20:00 St. Peters, Cork

Traditional music from two performers rooted in the sean-nós tradition at St. Peters. Details

The Hightown Crows Today, Monday 16 March | 21:30 The Woodford Details

Smithwicks Sessions: Trad and Folk Monday 16 & Monday 23 March | 20:00 Coughlan's

Coughlan's weekly trad and folk session; reliable, warm, and a good Monday evening in any week. Details

Lee Sessions Trad Trail Monday 16 March | 19:00 (The Wilton Bar) | Wednesday 25 March | 21:30 (The Rock Bar, Gillabbey St.) Various Cork City venues

Cork's excellent Lee Sessions Trad Trail runs across the fortnight at two venues. The Monday session is at the Wilton Bar; the Wednesday session is at The Rock Bar on Gillabbey Street late in the month. Details

Shane Keane Tuesday, 17 March | 20:00 Arty's Bar, Ballincollig

Irish folk singer and songwriter Shane Keane at Arty's Bar for a free Paddy's Day gig. Details

St Patrick's Day Music Marathon at Crane Lane Tuesday, 17 March | from 14:00 Crane Lane Theatre

Acts scheduled throughout the day at Crane Lane for the Music Marathon - one of the more reliably good Paddy's Day options in the city. Details

The Vicarstown All Day Reggae Session Tuesday, 17 March | from 14:00 The Vicarstown

A free all-day reggae session at The Vicarstown on Paddy's Day. An unusual and genuinely enjoyable option. Details

Flake the Gander Tuesday 17 March | 19:00 & Wednesday 18 March Dwyers of Cork

Flake the Gander bring their trad-to-hits energy to Dwyers for the Paddy's Day stretch. Details

LF System Tuesday, 17 March | 21:00 Cyprus Avenue

UK dance act LF System at Cyprus Avenue for a Paddy's Day party. Details

The Turfmen Tuesday, 17 March | 18:30 The Woodford Details

MTU Battle of the Bands - Final Wednesday, 18 March | 19:00 Cyprus Avenue

The MTU Battle of the Bands final at Cyprus Avenue; always a great night for catching emerging Cork talent in a competitive setting. Details

Fireside Folk Wednesday 18 & Wednesday 25 March | 20:00 The Welcome Inn

Weekly folk sessions by the fireside at The Welcome Inn — one of those recurring nights that earns its reputation. Details

Tony O'Donovan Wednesday, 18 March | 21:30 Dwyers of Cork Details

Ben Reel Band Thursday, 19 March | 23:30 Crane Lane Theatre

The Ben Reel Band playing a late rock set of originals and covers at Crane Lane. Details

Ballads and Banjos Thursday 19 & Thursday 26 March | 20:00 The Welcome Inn

The Welcome Inn's ballads and banjos night runs twice across the fortnight. Details

Mick Grace Thursday, 19 March | 21:30 Dwyers of Cork Traditional and contemporary solo act at Dwyers. Details

Marc Copland Quartet feat. Robin Verheyen Friday, 20 March | 20:00 Triskel Arts Centre

New York jazz pianist Marc Copland brings his quartet to Triskel with saxophonist Robin Verheyen for a proper jazz night. This is serious, sophisticated live jazz in one of Cork's best intimate venues. Get tickets

Dani Larkin with guest Fiona O'Connell Friday, 20 March | 20:00 Coughlan's

Dani Larkin is one of the most compelling folk voices to emerge from Ireland in recent years; warm, haunting, and genuinely special live. Fiona O'Connell supports. Get tickets

Basht. & Safe From Harm Friday, 20 March | 19:00 Cyprus Avenue A double bill at Cyprus Avenue. Details

Fleetwood Mac Tribute Saturday, 21 March | 19:00 Aula Maxima (UCC)

A live ensemble tribute to Fleetwood Mac at the beautiful Aula Maxima in UCC. Details

Hans Zimmer's Best Works Saturday, 21 March | 21:00 Aula Maxima (UCC)

Iconic film scores performed live by ensemble: from The Lion King to Interstellar to Gladiator. A great Saturday night if you grew up on cinema. Details

Son of Crazy Chester Saturday, 21 March | 20:00 Coughlan's Part of the John Spillane weekend at Coughlan's, the evening show on Saturday. Get tickets

Tom Dunne, Fiachna Ó Braonáin & Alan Connor Saturday, 21 March | 20:00 Connolly's of Leap

Three of Irish music's most enduring and warm-hearted performers together at Connolly's of Leap: Tom Dunne of Something Happens, Fiachna Ó Braonáin of Hothouse Flowers, and Alan Connor. A West Cork Saturday night worth making the trip for. Get tickets

Christophe Capewell + Brooke Sharkey + Isak's Island Sunday, 22 March | 20:00 Levis Corner House, Ballydehob

A triple bill of varied and interesting artists at Levis Corner House: a brilliant venue for a Sunday evening in West Cork. Details

Finbar Wright Sunday, 22 March | 20:00 Cork Opera House

One of Ireland's best-loved romantic tenors at the Opera House with special guest Ronan Browne. Get tickets

The Big Swingin' Mikeys & Kelvin Long Sunday, 22 March | 19:00 & 22:00 Dwyers of Cork Five-piece folk, rock, and contemporary covers from The Big Swingin' Mikeys early, and Kelvin Long solo later in the night at Dwyers. Details

The Voyage: West Cork Choral Singers Sunday, 22 March | 19:30 St Brendan's Church, Bantry

A mixed choral programme featuring music by John Ireland, Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Eric Whitacre, Charles Stanford, and others. West Cork Chamber Music Festival involvement makes this a particularly well-curated evening. Details

Ricky Kelleher Monday, 23 March | 21:30 Dwyers

Folk and bluegrass solo act at Dwyers. Details

The Piano (Jane Campion Season) Today, Monday 16 March | 20:00 Triskel Arts Centre

Jane Campion's The Piano opens Triskel's Campion season; tender, remarkable, and as emotionally precise as cinema gets. If you've somehow never seen it, rectify that immediately. Get tickets

Celtic Beats - Kiely Walsh Academy of Dance Today, Monday 16 March | 19:00 Cork Opera House

The Kiely Walsh Academy of Dance presents Celtic Beats: The Irish Dance Show at the Opera House. Get tickets

Kyla Cobbler - Not My Lemons Tuesday, 17 March | 20:00 Cork Opera House

Kyla Cobbler brings a bigger, better version of her sell-out show to the Opera House. Sharp, funny, worth it. Get tickets

Go Dtí Seo Tuesday, 17 March | 19:30 Ionad Culturtha

Irish cultural entertainment at Ionad Culturtha on Paddy's Day. Details

Holy Smoke! (Jane Campion Season) Wednesday, 18 March | 20:00 Triskel Arts Centre

The second film in Triskel's Jane Campion season; brave, adventurous, and refreshingly frank about the complexities of faith and desire. Get tickets

Damo Clark: Get A Load Of This! - Comedy Cavern Tuesday, 24 March | 20:00 Coughlan's

Stand-up comedy from Damo Clark at the Coughlan's Comedy Cavern. Get tickets

Stand-up Comedy Club: Low-key Funny Wednesday, 18 March | 20:30 The Roundy

Low-key local stand-up at The Roundy; a good Wednesday option. Details

March Artists Afternoon Thursday, 19 March | 14:00 The Everyman

An afternoon celebrating local artists with performances and discussions at the Everyman. Details

Unmasked '26 Thursday, 19 March | 20:00 Cork Arts Theatre

A night of mystery and theatrical intrigue at Cork Arts Theatre. Details

Kinsale Film Series: Christy Thursday, 19 March | 19:00 Kinsale Community School

The Kinsale Film Series screens Christy. A film about Christy Brown, the Irish writer and painter who had cerebral palsy and communicated through his left foot. A landmark Irish film, and a great venue to see it. Get tickets

The Glam Prix - Drag Lipsync Battle Tuesday, 17 March | 19:30 The Pavilion

A Paddy's Day drag lipsync battle at The Pavilion. Fabulous. Details

The Best of Cork Winter Series Friday, 20 March | 20:00 City Limits Comedy Club

Cork comedy at City Limits; the winter series showcasing some of the city's best stand-up talent. Details

The Piano Man: Elton John and Billy Joel - A Live Celebration Saturday, 21 March | 20:00 The Everyman

A live tribute celebration of Elton John and Billy Joel at the Everyman. Details

AJ School of Dance: Reach For The Stars Saturday, 21 March | 16:00 Cork Opera House

Aideen Johnson School of Dance end-of-year show at the Opera House. Get tickets

Sirât & Twinless Sunday, 22 March Triskel Arts Centre

Two screenings at Triskel on Sunday; Sirât exploring identity and faith, and Twinless, a poignant film about loss and the bond between twins. Get tickets

Deep Dive Tour: Domain of the Dinosaurs Sunday, 22 March | 10:00 The Glucksman, UCC

A member of UCC's Department of Palaeontology leads an in-depth guided tour of the current Glucksman exhibition. A proper deep-dive for anyone curious about prehistoric life. Book

Shakespeare's Macbeth (adapted) Monday, 23 March | 19:30 Cork Arts Theatre

An adapted production of Macbeth at Cork Arts Theatre. Shakespeare's bloodiest play in a compact venue. Details

Famous Paintings and Their Hidden Histories: Top of the Hill Tuesday, 24 March | 11:00 Triskel Arts Centre

Áine Andrews leads a discussion on Grace Henry's famous painting Top of the Hill; context, significance, and the hidden stories behind a celebrated Irish work. Details

Imperfections: An Exhibition by Brian Hayes Friday 20 March onwards The Grey Heron

Brian Hayes's exhibition Imperfections opens at The Grey Heron. Details

Cork Artist Club Saturday, 21 March | 11:00 The Roundy Details

Cork St Patrick's Day Parade Tuesday, 17 March | 13:00 Cork City Centre

The main Cork City parade; this year's theme is "Marsh, Myth & Magic," with over 3,600 participants and a furry Grand Marshal (yes, really). The biggest parade Cork has put on to date. Details

Cork Eid Festival Sunday, 22 March | 12:00 The Cricket Club, Mardyke

A brilliant family day out; free entry, bouncy castle, food stalls, face painting. Details

Duplo Club Wednesday, 25 March Cork City Libraries

Duplo play session at Cork City Libraries; great for toddlers and younger kids. Details

Kinsale Maritime Parade Today, Monday 16 March | 19:30 Kinsale Harbour

Kinsale kicks off its St Patrick's weekend early with a maritime parade in the harbour on Monday evening. Details

Mallow St Patrick's Day Parade Tuesday, 17 March | 14:30 Mallow

Grand Marshal this year is Paralympian Jack Cronin. Expect live music, face painting, and a sensory-inclusive viewing area. Details

Spring Equinox Retreat at Ballymaloe Friday, 20 March onwards (weekend retreat) Ballymaloe Grainstore

A weekend retreat with yoga, meditation, and seasonal food at the Ballymaloe Grainstore. One of those retreats that actually earns the word. Details

Ecstatic Dance - Spring Equinox Saturday, 21 March | 16:00-19:00 Cork Lotus Studio

Spring Equinox ecstatic dance session with cacao ceremony at Cork Lotus Studio. Details

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