Cork Opera House to celebrate 170th year with black-tie gala

Cork Opera House will be kickstarting its 170th anniversary celebrations with a black-tie gala concert this month.

The event, taking place on March 22, will feature a diverse line-up of artists, including the West End’s Killian Donnelly and Claire O’Leary, Cork Soprano Majella Cullagh, singers Rachel Croash, Emma Nash, Laoise Leahy, Rory Dunne and Precious Abimbola, as well as a host of well-known actors and performers including Michael Grennell and Dylan Howe.

The gala evening will mark 170 years of Cork Opera House, celebrated through music, opera, comedy, theatre and dance, with Cork City Ballet set to perform Le Corsaire, supported by the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, conducted by John O’Brien.

The institution will also announce the launch of it’s ‘Send It Home’ campaign, a global celebration of the iconic venue, sponsored by Pure Cork and Fáilte Ireland.

The initiative is a key feature of a year-long anniversary programme filled with events, activations, incentives, and promotional activities that honour the institution’s place in Cork’s history.

The ‘Send It Home’ campaign is a public engagement project aimed at inviting people to share their personal connections to Cork Opera House.

“Every ticket, photograph, poster, and prop has a story,” Cork Opera House CEO, Eibhlín Gleeson said.

“Your memories connect generations and bring life to Cork Opera House’s history.

“Whether it’s from granny or grandad’s attic, local schools, or Irish communities abroad, let’s bring Cork Opera House’s history home.”

There will be two drop-off weekends on May 11 and 25, from 10am to 1pm, where people can bring their memorabilia, including programmes, posters, photographs, letters, and any other historical items related to Cork Opera House.

For more information about the campaign visit www.corkoperahouse.ie/sendithome or contact sendithome@corkoperahouse.ie. The deadline for submissions is July 1.