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seasonal · Thursday 9 July 2026 · Various 
Kinsale Arts Weekend 2026
At Various venues across Kinsale · Kinsale, Co. Cork
At Various venues across Kinsale · Kinsale, Co. Cork
Kinsale Arts Weekend marks its tenth anniversary in July 2026 with a four-day programme built around Immrama - the ancient Irish voyage tales in which the sea carries people, stories, and fate across open water. The festival runs 9 to 12 July across Kinsale town and its harbour area, drawing together visual art, music, theatre, literature, film, and open studios. It suits anyone who wants to spend time with serious art in an unhurried seaside setting, without festival-field prices.
The flagship event is Lament for Art O’Leary - From Keening to Contemporary Opera, on Saturday 11 July at the Joseph Walsh Studio in Riverstick. The evening opens with an open-air Hedge Theatre exploration of the keening tradition, moves through the grounds in a processional, and culminates in a full contemporary opera. The score is by Irene Buckley, text by Vona Groarke, performed by violinist Katherine Hunka, the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, and sopranos Emma Nash and Kim Sheehan. The lament dates to 1773, when Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill keened her husband’s murder in one of the great poems in the Irish language.
Across the four days, Kit French shows 30-plus oil paintings at Gallery 23, Eilís O’Connell exhibits at Kinsale Library, and Dorothy Cross’s film installation Kinship runs at Charles Fort. Open studios at Ballycatteen, experimental cinema at OHK Café, the Speaking Benches audio storytelling walk, live music, and community theatre fill out the rest. Many events are free; ticketed events book through Eventbrite.
Kinsale is about 25 km south of Cork City on the R600 - roughly 30 minutes by car. Bus Eireann runs from Cork Bus Station; journey time is around 50 minutes. Pay car parks near the town centre fill fast on summer weekends; arriving before midday or walking from the outskirts is easier. The Saturday opera is at the Joseph Walsh Studio in Riverstick, a short drive outside Kinsale.
Charles Fort, a 17th-century star fortress above the harbour, is a festival site in its own right and worth an hour. There is more to see in Kinsale and across Co. Cork.
Heading to Various venues across Kinsale in Kinsale? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Kinsale area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.