All About Cork: Shandon St Festival back this week after two years

There was great sadness in 2023 when it was announced that the Shandon St Festival was taking an extended break, due to funding issues and rising insurance costs.

The event, a staple of the northside summer calendar for 16 years, was a lauded community-led festival that brought all the best elements of Cork to the city’s historic quarter and provided a boost for the local economy.

Now, after a hiatus, it will return this coming weekend.

The New Shandon St Festival will be held around the streets of the Shandon historic quarter on Saturday, June 21.

Beginning at 1pm and continuing all afternoon until 5pm, the streets will echo to the sounds of families, especially children engaged in music, fun and games, face-painting and balloon making.

Stalls will line Church St, as all who live and work in the local community celebrate the solstice together.

James Nolan, of the organising committee, said the excitement in the area is palpable as the final preparations are made.

“We are so delighted to be able to, once again, organise a wonderfully exciting street festival open and free to all in our community.

“The previous street festival was held every year for several decades, but the arrival of covid and the loss of some people resulted in having to cease for a couple of years. However, the resilience of Shandon has enabled us to re-establish and revitalise this much-loved event.

“But, now, we are back again, bigger and better and more ambitious for our community than ever, and we are calling on people from all over Cork to come on over on Saturday to Shandon and join in with the local community in celebrating the afternoon, where there are games and music and fun for all the family. It should not be missed.”

Organised by a local committee, the festival is being sponsored by Cork City Council, the Shandon Area Renewal Association, and the Cathedral Credit Union and local businesses, along with the support of the HSE South West and the local community gardaí.

All smiles at Cruinniu na nÓg event

Change of contact number

Blackpool Community Centre’s phone number has changed. Contact the centre now on 089 4013274 or 089 2621883.

Theatre gets €5k in funding

The Graffiti Theatre Company in Blackpool has been awarded €5,000 in funding under the Local Enhancement Programme.

A total of 352 groups across Cork city and county will share a total of €550,000 in allocations ranging from a few hundred euro up to €10,000.

We’re all off on a summer holiday!

Butter Band lead procession

The Butter Exchange Band who have led the Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Cork since the first Procession in 1926 are set to do so again next Sunday, June 22. This year marks the 99th year since the first Eucharistic Procession in Cork making it one of the longest running traditions in the city.

Taking the Eucharistic Procession through the streets emerged in the years after the War of Independence and the Civil War in a bid to heal division.

Last year, despite the rain, almost 4,000 people participated. The Butter Exchange Band use the Procession each year as the first occasion for new members to introduce them to performing The Cork Butter Exchange Brass & Reed Band was established in 1878.

Eucharistic Procession call

The Cork Cathedral of Parishes is encouraging primary school children to get involved in the Eucharistic Procession this weekend.

The Parish said: “Did you take part in the Eucharistic Procession over the years?

“Why not join us for the 99th Eucharistic Procession which will place on Sunday, “A special invite to primary school children, especially those who have made their first holy communion this year for the Eucharistic procession.

“For more information or to express your interest, please contact corpuschristi@corkandross.org”

Award for Death by Cue’s

Cork Arts Theatre and The Everyman have announced the recipients of the Catalyst Award 2025:

The theatres said in a statement: “We look forward to presenting new company Death by Cue’s (Sydney Sheehan, Donal O’Keeffe, Emely Tenhagen, and Christian Sumstad) adaptation of No Exit, and Warm Regards by Alison Teahan directed by Sinead Crowley.

“The work will be staged at CAT this September.” Now in its third year, Catalyst provides a platform for early career theatre artists in the Cork.

Historical walk

A reminder that Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy’s free historical walk in Blackpool, which will focus on suburban development and 19th century social history takes place this coming weekend.

It takes place on June 22 and is entitled ‘Blackpool, Its History and Heritage’.

Meet at the square on St Mary’s Road at 1pm.

Have Blackpool, Shandon and Ballyvolane news to share? Contact robert.mcnamara@theecho.ie