I'll Be Your Mirror: August Readings at St Fin Barre's Cathedral

What to Expect

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” is a series of free literary readings held inside St Fin Barre’s Cathedral on Bishop Street, one of Cork’s best known ecclesiastical landmarks. Each evening brings together established local poets alongside younger writers, including participants from Graffiti Theatre’s Fighting Words creative writing programme, to read new and existing work in the cathedral’s nave. The setting gives the readings a quieter, more reflective character than a typical open-mic night, with the cathedral’s acoustics and architecture forming the backdrop for the spoken word.

This is a recurring weekly event rather than a single one-off evening: readings take place every Friday in August 2026, on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th, always starting at 6:00pm. Each week features a different line-up of readers, so regular visitors can expect new voices and new material at each session, though the format and venue stay the same throughout the month.

Good to Know

• Every Friday in August 2026 (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th) at 6:00pm, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork City.
• Free entry, no booking required.
• Held inside the cathedral nave; dress for a cool stone interior even in summer.
• Line-up of readers changes weekly, drawing on Cork’s poetry and Fighting Words community.
• Part of the cathedral’s Sacred & Spiritual listed events, distinct from regular Sunday services and evensong.

Getting There

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral sits on Bishop Street on the southern edge of Cork City centre, a short walk from the South Gate Bridge and the South Parish. It is well served by city bus routes into the centre, and there is limited on-street parking nearby, with larger car parks a few minutes’ walk away on the South Mall and Grand Parade. Visitors arriving by foot from the city centre should allow around 10 to 15 minutes.