Iconic St Fin Barre's to host immersive Christmas light experience

The atmospheric surroundings of Cork’s St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is to host a new festive immersive light and sound experience.

Created especially for St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and supported by Cork City Council, The Promise, will run from December 9 to 19.

Using projection-mapped imagery, surround sound and storytelling to illuminate the interior of the cathedral, the will tells the story of St Fin Barre following the River Lee from Gougane Barra, and establishing a monastery on the site where the cathedral now stands.

Running each evening from 5pm to 10pm, The Promise is a new addition to Cork’s Christmas calendar, with approximately 20,000 tickets available across its 11-night run.

Orla O’Byrne, artist and curator at the cathedral, said the building itself was central to the idea behind the project.

“St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is the birthplace of Cork and we wanted to create something really special for the city right here.

“The architecture is so evocative and imaginative already, and this experience will allow people to see the cathedral in a completely new way,” said Ms O’Byrne.

“At its heart, though, it is a Christmas story. It’s about that feeling of anticipation in the days before Christmas, but also something bigger - hope, joy and the promises we make to each other and pass from one generation to the next.”

The experience is being created by Tim and Catherine Mountain, the husband-and-wife creative team behind UK-based Evenlode Productions and Evenlode Films.

The cathedral is also working with young Cork writers whose poetry is expected to feature within the story, while a Cork actor is being sought to record passages for the soundscape.

The St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir will also feature in the soundtrack and through two special live Christmas concerts on Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12.

Tickets, priced at €12 for adults, €6 for children over six and €25 for a family of four (plus booking fee, from https://events.stfinbarres.ie.