Culture Night

It’s one of the most magical events of the year on Leeside; Culture Night (Friday, September 20th) will see the city teeming with life as visitors arrive in droves for an eclectic mix of talks, exhibitions, screenings, performances and readings.

City Hall will be transformed into a literal playground for kids, thanks to ‘Around the World in 80 Games’. Meanwhile those in search of a seafaring expedition before the autumn chill sets in can hop on a cultural boat tour down the River Lee on board the ‘Cailin Oir’, which will depart from Custom House Quay at 4pm.

On another nautical note, St. Peter’s on North Main Street host ‘Island Ferry Tales’ – a virtual reality trip to Cape Clear.

To view the full programme of events and plan your evening like a pro, visit culturenightcork.ie.

Modern Botany Afternoon Tea at The River Lee

Is there anything more luxurious than a decadent afternoon tea? Take your seat in the hotel’s sumptuous lobby cocktail bar, where the new menu has a novel twist.

The River Lee Hotel has collaborated with Modern Botany, Ireland’s leading luxury skin health brand, to create an extraordinary afternoon tea with a botanical flavour.

Plants and flowers are at the heart of Modern Botany’s approach to skincare. The treats served at the River Lee’s Modern Botany Afternoon Tea are made with ingredients proven to promote skin health, including flax, calendula, borage and chamomile.

Once you’ve enjoyed your fill of Carrageen moss pudding, calendula mousseline cream and Bramley apple and flax financiers, classic finger sandwiches and dressed Ballycotton crab on homemade Guinness brown bread, each guest goes home with a complimentary and exclusive Modern Botany travel-size gift.

Best enjoyed with lashings of Barry’s Tea, one of Cork’s most famous exports.

Modern Botany Afternoon Tea is served daily from 12pm-5pm for €35 per person. Prosecco Afternoon Tea is available for €43 per person and Champagne Afternoon Tea for €50 per person. To book, call 021 4937772.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

Take note; ‘jazzing’ is a verb in Cork. To go jazzing is to set out into the city in search of some of the best international and local jazz acts performing in Cork’s cosy bars and legendary venues.

This year’s line-up features Grammy award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling, who pays tribute to jazz icons Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong at Cork City Hall, Mica Paris and The Big Brass Band explosion.

Some of the best action in town takes place in The River Lee, where admission is free all weekend. Kick off your Cork Jazz experience with a cocktail on the terrace before Belleville Hot Club and The New York Brass Band, then stick around to watch London Astrobeat Orchestra perform Talking Heads at 9.30pm and dance the night away with the Banyah DJ Set until 2am.

Staying for dinner? The Hyde Park Brass Band are in The Mirror Room on Saturday evening, with select acts performing all day - right up until Monday night.

Venture into the city at any stage during the weekend and you’ll find an electric fringe scene; expect pop-up street performances and an outdoor food market, where you can pick up delicious street food to fuel your explorations.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival runs from October 24th - 28th, 2019.

Taste the Island

If feasting on local produce is high on your list of priorities during your stay in Cork, you’re in excellent hands at the River Lee.

Gourmands need look no further than the menu at the hotel’s elegant Grill Room restaurant for a festival of local goodies, plucked from the pantries of the region’s artisan producers and organic farms.

Book the Taste the Island package and enjoy the full Irish breakfast experience in The Mirror Room each morning and a three-course dinner in The Grill Room on one evening of your choice.

With feather soft beds, river views and complimentary use of the NRG Fitness swimming pool, sauna and steam room, the most pressing duty of your stay will be deciding which of the legendary restaurants in the neighbourhood to visit on your second night.

The Taste the Island Package (€230) is available for 2 night stays on limited dates between September-November 2019, subject to availability. Visit the website to book.

Indie Cork

A festival of independent film and music, Indie Cork has evolved into one of the country’s most exciting celebrations of movies, documentaries and short films.

A truly immersive experience for film buffs, the vibrant programme includes talks, conferences and seminars as well as eclectic screenings and premieres.

Grab some popcorn and settle into a seat at The Gate Cinema for this year’s opening film, Shelly Love’s Irish comedy ‘A Bump Along the Way’ on October 6th.

‘Lift’, a documentary about local powerlifting granny Karen Barry, is another hot ticket this year. Produced by Stanley’s Deathpark Productions, the film was shot over three years and follows Karen’s incredible journey from 47-year-old beginner to World Championships competitor.

Indie Cork runs from October 6th-13th, 2019.