← All events
music · Saturday 22 August 2026 · 8:00pm 
Babyshambles at Cyprus Avenue
At Cyprus Avenue · Caroline Street, Cork
At Cyprus Avenue · Caroline Street, Cork
Babyshambles return to Ireland in August 2026 for the Dandy Hooligan Tour, marking twenty years since the release of their debut album Down In Albion. This Cork date at Cyprus Avenue brings Peter Doherty and the full band - Mick Whitnall on guitar, Drew McConnell on bass and Adam Ficek on drums - back to the stage after an eleven-year absence. It is a show for anyone who grew up with those early-to-mid 2000s records, and equally for fans who never had the chance to see them live the first time round.
Down In Albion, released in October 2005, went to number one in the UK and spawned a run of Top 10 singles. The reunion only became possible once Doherty and Whitnall had both been clean for a number of years, and the tour also carries a tribute dimension - former guitarist Patrick Walden, who played on the original album, died in June 2025 at 46. Doherty has spoken of his death as “a real trigger to get it done.” Expect the Albion material to be front and centre.
Cyprus Avenue is one of Cork’s best-loved live rooms. The venue on Caroline Street has been running since 2003 and holds around 500 people, with a layout that keeps the crowd close to the stage. The sound has always been a strong point - it is a proper listening room, not a barn. Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting at 8pm. Tickets start from €35; check the venue or Ticketmaster.ie for current availability and pricing.
Cork city centre is well served by road from Dublin via the M8 motorway (roughly two and a half hours) and from Limerick via the N20 (around an hour). Bus Éireann runs regular intercity coaches from Dublin, Limerick and Galway into Cork’s Parnell Place bus station, which is a short walk from Caroline Street. Irish Rail connects Cork Kent station to Dublin Heuston and Limerick with several services daily.
Caroline Street itself is central - most city-centre car parks are within ten minutes on foot. Street parking in the area is limited on weekend evenings, so a car park or arriving by public transport is the more straightforward option.
Cork city has a strong food and pub culture, with the English Market a short stroll from the venue and plenty of bars along the South Mall and Oliver Plunkett Street. There is more to see in Cork and across Co. Cork.
Heading to Cyprus Avenue in Cork? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Cork area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.