Greetings from Safe Harbour
The last days of summer may be behind us but that doesn’t mean we have to be down. Plenty on this week to get out of the house and have a good time!
The Cork Folk Festival runs from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October, with Altan headlining at Triskel on the Friday.
Cork Opera House has Kyla Cobbler's Not My Lemons on Tuesday and Wednesday, then Declan O'Rourke on Thursday.
Camille O'Sullivan is at Live at St Luke's on Saturday, and Joe the Magician has a Sunday afternoon show at The Everyman.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the link at the bottom of the email.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Kyla Cobbler: Not My Lemons
Tuesday 6 to Wednesday 7 October · 20:00 · Cork Opera House
Kyla Cobbler is a Cork-born comedian who built an audience through viral Instagram reels before her first open mic in May 2021. She now has more than 300,000 Instagram followers, and her April 2025 appearance on The Tommy Tiernan Show brought her national attention. Her debut show, Gone Rogue, toured Ireland in 2024. Not My Lemons covers finding love and the complexities of family life.
Cork Folk Festival
Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October · Venues across Cork city
The 47th Cork Folk Festival is headlined by Altan, with Máirtín Ó Connor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O'Dowd, and Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch also on the programme. John Spillane, Aoife Scott and Scullion are among the other acts, alongside a Céilí Mór, music workshops, a walking tour and a concert marking 100 years of traditional music on Irish radio. On Sunday, musicians gather at Elizabeth Fort for Trad in the Fort, and Thomas McCarthy gives a tribute to the late Fermoy troubadour Ron Kavana.
Camille O'Sullivan
Saturday 10 October · 20:00 · Live at St Luke's
Camille O'Sullivan's new show, The Art of Falling Apart, is a love letter in song. It celebrates her friend Shane MacGowan, Sinéad O'Connor, David Bowie, Radiohead, Brel, Nick Cave and more, with each song given its own character. She made the show with long-time collaborator Feargal Murray.
The Olllam
Tuesday 6 October · 19:00 · Cyprus Avenue
The Olllam fuses Irish traditional music with the modern jazz and post-rock energy of Detroit. The band is led by uilleann piper John McSherry and includes Joe Dart of Vulfpeck, Michael Shimmin, Ross Ainslie, Seán O'Meara and Joe Hettinga. Following the album elllegy (RTÉ Radio 1 Best Group), they have collaborated with GRAMMY-nominated producer Zedd and completed a US tour in November 2025.
Louis Butler and Gavin Smith
Tuesday 6 October · 21:00 · El Fenix, Union Quay
Folk and bluegrass from a Cork duo, built on vocal harmonies, intricate instrumental sections and a tight musical dynamic. Louis Butler and Gavin Smith launched a weekly event at El Fenix in April 2024 and have held a Tuesday night slot there since.
William Jack on Cello
Thursday 8 October · 13:00 to 14:00 · City Library, Grand Parade
William Jack is an Australian cellist and songwriter based in London. His jazz guitar background and classical training feed a style that moves between folk, jazz, classical and contemporary music. The concert is part of the Cork Folk Festival programme.
Other Mother EP Launch
Thursday 8 October · 19:00 · Wavelength (Cyprus Avenue Rooftop), Caroline Street
Cork five-piece Other Mother celebrate the release of their debut EP, Can't Help But Feel Dramatic. Their "bubblegrunge" blends gritty alt rock, post punk, synths and electronic textures. The band won MTU's Battle of the Bands in 2025 and has appeared at ESMA fest and Swarmfest.
Declan O'Rourke
Thursday 8 October · 20:00 · Cork Opera House
Declan O'Rourke's eighth studio album, Oceanic, was recorded in Sydney with Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil as co-producer. The singer-songwriter first put songs to tape in Australia at 19, and the record reconnects him with those early days.
Absolute Eagles: A Tribute to the Eagles
Friday 9 October · 19:00 · Cyprus Avenue
This tribute covers The Eagles' hits from 1972 to the present day, reproducing the original records with five-part vocals and guitar harmonies.
Altan
Friday 9 October · 20:00 · Triskel Arts Centre
Donegal band Altan headline the 47th Cork Folk Festival, with Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh on fiddle and vocals, Ciarán Curran on bouzouki, Mark Kelly on guitar, Martin Tourish on accordion and Clare Friel on fiddle. Support comes from Aoife and Deirdre Granville, sisters from Dingle on flute and harp, who are launching their new album, Ceo Draíochta, at the festival.
The Funts
Friday 9 October · 20:00 · Levis Corner House, Ballydehob
The Funts are an instrumental surf rock band from Cork City: Shane Murphy on drums, Patrick Freeman on bass and Dan Walsh on guitar. Their sound leans on the twang of 1960s rock and roll from The Ventures, Duane Eddy, The Surfaris, Dick Dale and Link Wray.
Outsound
Friday 9 October · 21:00 · Fred Zeppelins, Parliament St.
Outsound are a four-piece progressive rock band from Cork whose second album, Ouroboros, came out earlier this year. Go Like This and Small Town Politics join them on the bill.
Linkin Park Tribute: Linkin Cork
Saturday 10 October · 19:00 · Cyprus Avenue, Caroline Street
The set of Linkin Park hits and favourites draws on Hybrid Theory, Meteora, Minutes to Midnight and more.
Ainm
Saturday 10 October · 19:30 · Connolly's of Leap
West Cork band Ainm blend trip-hop, electronica and alternative rock into a cinematic, ethereal and gritty sound. Their latest single was produced with Andy Barlow of Lamb, one of their childhood musical influences.
NT Live: The Playboy of the Western World
Tuesday 6 October · 19:30 · The Everyman, MacCurtain Street
The National Theatre's production of J. M. Synge's play, filmed live on stage, is directed by Caitríona McLaughlin and stars Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke and Siobhán McSweeney. A young man walks into Pegeen Flaherty's pub claiming he has killed his father and becomes a local hero, until a second man arrives.
Adult Art Group, We Create Cork
Wednesday 7 October · 19:00 to 21:00 · Quay Co-op, Sullivan's Quay
Cruthaimid, a Cork art and craft meetup, moves indoors to a new location for the winter. October's still life theme is Irish Stew, with 20 minutes of warm-ups, two 30-minute drawing sessions and a look at everyone's work at the end. Participants can join the drawing or work on their own projects in any craft or medium, including collage, knitting, sewing and painting.
Seán Ronayne: Untold Sounds
Friday 9 October · 19:00 · Briery Gap Cultural Centre, Macroom
Seán Ronayne's new talk gathers never-before-told stories of Irish wildlife sound from his journeys around Ireland and beyond. His collection has passed 28,000 recordings of birds, mammals, insects, whales, fish and plants, and he weaves recordings from the archive into the storytelling.
Emma Doran: Emmaculate
Friday 9 October · 20:00 · The Everyman, MacCurtain Street
Emmaculate is Emma Doran's new stand-up show about her blended family, womanhood and relationships. She is also a podcast host and the author of a best-selling book.
Sunrise Social Club Pasta Workshop
Tuesday 6 October · 18:00 to 20:30 · Don Gregorio, 7 Washington Street
Don G hosts this group pasta-making workshop at Don Gregorio. The listing describes it as a chance to roll up your sleeves and make pasta with friends.
Joe the Magician: Live
Sunday 11 October · 15:00 · The Everyman, MacCurtain Street
Joe Daly's children's comedy magic show has a flying table, friendly ghosts and a live snowstorm. Joe stars in Dizzy Deliveries on RTÉjr.
Clothes Swap at Rebel Reads Bookshop
Wednesday 7 October · 19:00 to 20:00 · Rebel Reads Bookshop, Marina Commercial Park, Centre Park Road
Cork Clothes Swap, a non-profit volunteer group, runs this monthly swap of good-condition clothes, with up to five items each. The bookshop is next to Marina Market, through the third gated entrance of Marina Commercial Park.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Cork check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
Thanks for reading Safe Harbour!
If you enjoy the newsletter or you find it useful here are some ways you can help us:
💌 Forward it to a friend, neighbour, or your local WhatsApp group
📝 If you were sent this and want in on the action, sign up here.
💛 Consider supporting the newsletter with a monthly subscription (coming soon)
See you next week 👋
P.S. Not feeling it anymore? No hard feelings. You can unsubscribe from the email footer below