Dragon of Shandon to return as part of culture events for EU presidency

The Dragon of Shandon will return to Cork city streets this year with an expanded European dimension for Cultúr 2026, which will see numerous events across the city and county.

As Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union until December 2026, the Cultúr programme, supported by a €5m government investment, is to bring Ireland’s artists, creativity and heritage to stages and communities across Europe and at home.

In October, a special programme will bring fire performance, workshops and creative activity into the build-up to Cork’s much-loved Samhain parade, culminating in a major performance as part of the Dragon of Shandon celebrations.

The programme begins in Fermoy on Sunday, September 27, with an International Choir Concert at Fermoy Town Park featuring choirs from EU countries alongside ensembles from Mitchelstown, Charleville, Midleton and Youghal.

From October 1 to November 30, the Local Studies Library at Carrigrohane Road will host an exhibition exploring the history of European film at Cork International Film Festival.

Cork City Libraries will have an exhibition celebrating the French Government’s donation of books to Cork City Library following the Burning of Cork in 1920, performances by Ivy Favier and Linda Kenny and a French language storytime event.

Other events in the city include a Folk Festival Gala Concert at Triskel Christchurch, and a two day symposium at City Hall exploring the French model of tiers-lieux – cultural spaces combining creativity, work, social inclusion and urban regeneration.

The West Cork Feelgood Festival at Skibbereen Hospital Grounds in October will look to Denmark for inspiration, exploring Hygge, the Danish approach to wellbeing.

Carrigaline Library will host a presentation on the influence of the Normans on the development of Cork; Irish musicians Cormac McCarthy and Aoife Ní Bhriain will tour Cork county with Estonian folk ensemble Duo Ruut; Ann-Lisett Rebane and Katariina Kivi and Clonakilty will host an event looking back to an attempted landing at Bantry Bay by a French fleet carrying thousands of soldiers in support of an Irish republican uprising; while a Cork International Film Festival event will celebrate Irish–French co-productions.