The Ring of Cork is known for its breath-taking views, delicious cuisine,and unforgettable beaches but it is also bursting with fun festivals, creative workshops and exciting events. Head to a festival with friends, enjoy memorable family time at fun events and make memories to last a lifetime. In this article, we are going to fill you in on lots of fun events taking place along the Ring of Cork over the next month. Life is short so be sure to attend some of these exciting days planned around the Ring of Cork and enjoy every moment.
If you are looking for some rest and relaxation, this is for you. We all get caught up in everyday life and the stress and worry that can go alongside it. This retreat is all about leaving those worries at home and switching off from the day to day stress you might have. Immerse yourself in the countryside, relax in nature and breathe the fresh air. The focus of this retreat is all about bringing yourself back to nature and giving yourself some care. We all live in a fast-paced environment and we need to give ourselves time to relax. This is the perfect retreat for anybody who is looking for some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This retreat lasts for two and a half days and costs €250. It takes place in Inch Hideaway from the 24th – 26th of August. (15 minutes from Midleton)
If you are looking for something a little unique to try with the kids this summer, this is the perfect family event. Get out in the fresh air and bring the kids on the Kids Farm Walk at Ballymaloe Cookery School. It’s days like these they will remember forever. These fun walks take place every Saturday from 2pm at the Ballymaloe Cookery School for the month of August. Tickets are just €5 from the Ballymaloe Cookery School Shop. It is the perfect event to do as a family and you will create memories to last a lifetime.
Have you ever wanted to watch a prison themed film in a prison? Well, now you can. Spike Island Cinema club has three fantastic prison themed classics waiting for you. You start the experience with an evening sailing across Cork Harbour which is followed by a prison themed tour. Enter the cells and hear the stories of prison on Spike Island and learn all about the escapes from long ago. Afterwards, you then get to watch one of the prison themed screenings. An evening of fear, thrills and amazement. The three films include; Saturday 31st August ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, Saturday 7th September ‘The General’ and Saturday 21st September ‘Con Air’. If you are looking for something different to try, this will have you on the edge of your seat all night long. It is important to note that you have to book in advance and the boats depart at 6.30pm and return to Cobh for approximately 10.30pm.
The Ballymaloe Grainstore is known for its memorable events with an abundance of impressive performances. There are lots of great acts coming up which are worth adding to your diary:
- The first is the international concert pianist and Steinway artist Sachiko Furuhata-Kersting who will perform a programme of music by Chopin on Friday the 23rd of August.
- Brian Kennedy is taking to the stage with his spectacular voice and engaging personality. Brian’s impressive concert will take place on Sunday the 15th of September.
- The wildlife filmmaker and BBC presenter Colin Stafford-Johnson is going to share his stories of tracking down some of Ireland’s most elusive creatures along the western coast. This event is called ‘My Wild Atlantic Journey’ and will take place on Thursday the 19th of September.
Feast is the Famous East Cork Food & Drink Festival and is one of the most popular food festivals in Ireland. It takes place from the 1st to the 8th of September in Midleton. It combines the areas rich food heritage with the wider Cork region and is all about gathering up and bringing together of the best of what the area has to offer. A fresh blend of conversations, dinners, produce, markets, foraging, mixology, producers, landscape, heritage and storytelling.
There are so many events to choose from; the Producer’s Picnic at Castlemartyr Resort, Indian Food & Film at The Ballymaloe Grainstore with Arun Kapil of Green Saffron, meeting the Producers of Joe’s Farm Crisps with a behind the scenes tour of their crops and crisp production HQ, the Garden to Table Experience at Ballymaloe and much more. You also have the finale of this year’s festival, with a special Cully & Sully family zone with campfire cooking, planting workshops, seed-balling, bee education, music and much more! This festival is packed with fun events so be sure to check out their website for more.
Ballincollig Heritage week is taking place from the 21st of August – 25th of August and is bursting with fun things to do. From teddy bears picnics and walks to tracing family history talks and a bit of music. Walks including the ‘Tree talk and walk’ and the ‘Gunpowdermill Walk’ at Ballincollig Regional Park. There is something for everybody throughout the week and you can find a full list events taking place during the week here.
When you think of Fota Wildlife Park, you automatically think of a trip to the zoo. Now you can get active at Fota with ‘YogaRunYoga’ which is taking place on Sunday the 25th of August. The adult class is suitable for over 16s and takes place between 10:30am – 11:30am. The class will include 20 minutes of a Yoga warm up, followed by a 2-3km run through the beautiful Fota and the event will finish with a 20 minute Yoga cooldown. If you are looking for a class for all the family, you can try the family friendly yoga from 12:30 – 13:25 ‘Yoga@Fota’. A fun relaxing class for all ages. (Note under 18s must be accompanies by a guardian).
A guided tour of Passage West Maritime Museum will showcase the ship models, artefacts, photos, videos and give you information about two hundred years plus of shipbuilding. This tour is free and takes place on August 25th between 2pm – 5pm. The museum tells the story of Passage West, the Birthplace of Ireland’s Steamship Industry. The town of Passage has an impressive industrial heritage dating back over 300 years. Known as ‘the original port of Cork’ it was the birthplace of the first steamship built in Ireland, ‘The City of Cork’, which was constructed in 1815 on the site of where the Museum now stands. It was also the port from which “The Sirius”, the first ship to cross the Atlantic entirely under steam, left in 1838 under the command of local man Captain Richard Roberts. Be sure to learn all about it on the guided tour on August 25th.
If you are looking for something a little different to get your creative juices flowing, we would recommend the Leamlara Art Trail. It is a contemporary art exhibition in rural East Cork. The goal is to showcase a mix of local and international artists whose work reflect the rural setting and community in which they are presented. It will take contemporary visual arts out of its urban comfort zone and reflect on the meanings of rural life today. The art trail is located around a scenic walk and the art will be located along a country road. The Art Trail starts at Tattan’s Ring’s View and takes place from 5th – 8th of September.
This seafood and sail event is to celebrate the Cork Oyster and Seafood Festival and it is bringing together some of Cork Harbours favourite pubs and activity providers. It is taking place on September 21st. You will start in Crosshaven with a delicious Mad Fish Stew packed with fresh fish and shellfish at Cronin’s Pub. You will then walk to Hugh Coveney Pier and get to experience an oyster shucking demo before jumping aboard Ocean Escapes boat for a spin to the city. Enjoy the harbor cruise with a beer while taking the views of Camden Fort Meagher, Spike Island, Cobh and Blackrock castle before heading into the city itself. You will also be listening to a musical duo Velvet as you cruise the harbor. When you reach the city, you will head to Crawford & Co to tickle your taste buds with a seafood BBQ of monkfish, mussels and more. This event is €95pp and you can book at www.oceanescapes.ie
For more events taking place over the next few months, check out our events listing on the site here.
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