Cork has always prided itself on being the artistic, cultural and festival capital of Ireland but the news that it will become the European Capital of Culture in 2005 is certain to give the city the biggest boost in its 800-plus year history. In fact, with a budget in the region of e20million, the organisers have promised a volume of sustained cultural and artistic activity “unprecedented in Europe”.

“The biggest thing happening in Europe in 2005 will be the Cork Capital of Culture programme,” John Kennedy, Director of Cork 2005 stated recently. “The city will host performances for audiences of less than one hundred right up to celebrity events for tens of thousands that will be televised across Europe.”
While the big names being promised for Cork in 2005 won’t be announced until next spring, the good news is you don’t have to wait that long to enjoy the charms and attractions of Cork. This month alone sees no less than three major festivals taking place in the city by the River Lee. Earlier in the month Murphy’s Stout hosted the first ever Murphy’s UnCorked Festival of Comedy & Blues, which was held at various venues throughout the city. This exciting new weekend boasted an impressive roster of comedy greats & blues music from Ireland, the UK and the US. Included in the line-up were comedy stars of the calibre of Dara O’Briain, Deirdre O’Kane and Eddie Bannon with blues from the legendary Peter Green formerly guitarist with Fleetwood Mac.
The Cork Film Festival, one of Ireland’s oldest and biggest film events will run from 12th to 19th of October and as always it promises to be an exciting week of screenings, workshops and late nights in the legendary Festival Club. The programme this year is an eclectic mix of big-budget pictures, world cinema, innovative independent films, documentaries and short films.
Among the films featured at this year’s festival are Song For A Raggy Boy, which opens proceedings on 12th October. Based on a true story by Cork writer Patrick Galvin, it’s directed by Aisling Walsh and stars Aidan Quinn who will be in Cork for the screening. It tells the powerful story of one man’s fight against the brutal regime in an Irish reformatory school in the 1930s. Another major Irish film will be the world premiere of Cowboys And Angels, the feature debut of David Gleeson, an exciting new filmmaking talent. This is an engaging coming-of-age story set in a very cosmopolitan Limerick.
Barely two weeks after the film festival comes The Cork Jazz Festival, Ireland’s most prestigious jazz event and one of the most important events on the European jazz calendar. The festival attracts over 40,000 visitors to Cork each year to hear over 1,000 musicians from 25 countries perform in theatres, clubs, hotels and pubs around the city.
The main concert venues are the Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork Opera House and the Triskel Arts Centre. The famous Festival Club at the Gresham Metropole Hotel offers world class jazz on five stages day and night while the Jazz Trail offers entertainment in over 40 excellent pubs and clubs, most of it free of charge
The line-up for this year’s festival includes: Carla Bley, Charlie Hunter, Abdullah Ibrahim, Greg Osby, Viktoria Tolstoy, Olga Konkova, Danilo Perez, Bobby Previte, Pat Martino, Jim Ridl, Billy Drummong, Julian Arguelles, Ronan Guilfoyle, Tom Rainey, Chuong Vu, Joe Lee Wilson, Kirk Lightsey, Jimmy Cobb, The Fins, Tim Armacost, Dado Moroni, Hendrik Meurtens, Chris Berger, Harry Connolly, Gay McIntyre, plus lots more big names to follow.

Eating & Drinking
Small and compact, yet truly cosmopolitan Cork packs in a lot of attractions, all easily accessible on foot. The sheer variety and quality of the city’s restaurants, cafés and bars make it a major centre of entertainment all year round for both locals and visitors.

Weller’s
An exciting new addition to Cork’s lively bar scene, Weller’s Bar is located in the heart of the city at 4 Fr Matthew Street, just off The South Mall. (Named after the great Paul Weller but hear this - apparently the building once housed a jam factory!)
Boasting a spacious, open, modern and ultra stylish design perfectly suited to its mixed clientele Weller’s open at 8am in the morning serving a full Irish breakfast, continuing to serve good food all day with popular lunch and evening menus.
With a relaxed door policy and a lively friendly crowd Weller’s offers something for both locals and visitors to Cork. Music plays a big part in Weller’s success – on Thursday night Salsa Ireland take over the venue with classes up until 10pm and dancing ‘till late.
Friday is the hugely popular Latino Night while Saturday sees the house DJ take over with hot contemporary and classic tunes. Sunday at Weller’s is club night with music from 10pm ‘till late. For the upcoming jazz festival popular jazz outfit Bone Idol will be in residence for the weekend.

Barbucha
Another new hostelry for Cork, Barbucha is the latest addition to the well-established Mardyke Entertainment Complex in Sheares Street - an oasis of calm tucked away from the hussle and bussle of Cork city centre. With its air of sophistication and stylish Asian influenced interior, it is fast becoming a Mecca for Cork trendsetters and celebrities.
The instant feeling of cosiness and atmosphere you get on walking in the door is created by the combination of chocolate brown timber wall panelling and paint on the ceilings. This is offset by flickering candles, which catch the eye, and the occasional glowing photographic image of incense sticks or sunsets in Thailand.
Details such as a seated Buddha, or a carved window frame sourced all the way from India are further enhanced and picked out by very focused beams of light. This also helps to create lots of light and shadow, and in turn further enhances the air of mystery about the place.
The lounge style brown leather sofa seating is strategically placed to create intimate seating spaces for either groups or couples. This sofa seating is also offset by ruby red and shimmering brown walls of silk fabric. Other centrepieces are the glowing bar, which has been arranged to wrap around the stairs, and a terracotta gas fire bowl raised up to eye level.

Zak’s Bistro
Cork has always been a gastronomic paradise with every conceivable kind of restaurant to offer the hungry reveller. One of the latest eateries to open is Zak’s Bistro, located at 4 Marlboro Street, in the heart of the city between Patrick Street and Oliver Plunkett Street. Established by Danny O’Keefe whose family also run the successful Coffee World café in Winthrop Street, Zak’s is designed in a sleek, modern, funky style with bright colours, mosaic tiles, lots of stainless steel and chrome. The menu includes flame-grilled burgers and steaks, home-made Italian style pizzas, pasta and chicken dishes and a variety of traditional Mexican dishes. Zak’s also has a full beer and wine licence and is open seven days a week. Zak’s is loaded with atmosphere with the music carefully chosen blending soulful tunes and funky jazz, to create a perfect ambience.

Rochestown Inn
One of Cork’s longest established bars, The Rochestown Inn is located in a prime location in one of the city’s most desirable areas, overlooking the harbour on the Mahon peninsula adjacent to the scenic Rochestown to Passage walk. Though it’s a few miles outside of town, the Jack Lynch Tunnel makes it easily accessible from the city centre. A traditional watering hole, with a strong sport connection, The Rochestown Inn is also a great place for music with a broad selection of R&B, blues and contemporary music presented live each weekend.
“We even have a full-time musical director looking after all the music,” says proprietor Gary O’Donovan who, with his wife Katie has recently taken over the running of the premises. “We scour the country looking for quality acts. We offer some of the best music around and we’re delighted to say that the great blues outfit Fat Chance will be playing here over the jazz weekend.”
As well as fine drink and entertainment, good food is always available at The Rochestown Inn whether it’s an early morning breakfast or a gourmet sandwich at lunch.

The Everyman Theatre
Cork boasts an amazing range of venues. The Everyman Palace Theatre on Cork’s MacCurtain Street has quickly established itself as the leading middle scale venue in Munster for live music, stand up and theatre.
This lovely Victorian listed building originally opened its doors 105 years ago as Dan Lowry’s Palace Of Varieties and presented live performances by such luminaries as Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy.
The Everyman Palace now showcases the very best in Irish and international theatre with regular visits from companies like the Abbey, Druid, Red Kettle, Corcadorca and Meridian. In November the Royal Shakespeare Company will present The Hollow Crown, starring Donald Sinden and Susannah York. Earlier this year Tracey Shaw and Jason Connery starred in the Irish premiere of The Blue Room by David Hare. Tom Conti also performed his acclaimed one man show One Helluva Life.
The big success story of 2004 for the Everyman Palace has been the phenomenal response to its production of Bouncers by John Godber. After two sell-out runs earlier in the year it is currently on a national tour and will return to the Palace yet again for another week in late October.
Other highlights in the coming season include a visit by the acclaimed and wacky Circus Of Horrors, Opera Theatre Company with Cinderella, Pat Shortt and Pakie O Callaghan with their solo shows, The Bull Islanders, and local radio personality Neil Prendeville making his panto debut in Little Red Riding Hood.
The Everyman Palace is also the primary listening venue for the Guinness Jazz Festival which this year features the brilliant Jan Garbarek Quartet, Carla Bley, Charles Lloyd Quartet and many others. It was the main venue for the first ever Murphy’s Uncorked Comedy and Blues Festival and also hosted major shows for the Beamish Experience.
The theatre is also a sought after concert venue. In the last year the list of artists has included The Frames, Glen Hansard, Jack L, David Kitt, Nine Below Zero, John Spillane, Ger Wolfe, Finbar Furey, Luka Bloom, Dominic Kirwan, The Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur, Red Hurley and Altan. Josh Ritter will make his first appearance there in October as will The Three Irish Sopranos in November.

Curran’s Restaurent
Charm and a sense of old world quality are the hallmarks of Curran’s Restaurant in Adelaide Street. A diverse culinary selection ranging from light lunches to substantial evening meals are available in the downstairs restaurants, over which a rooftop patio allows the diners to enjoy the best of weather and a unique view of Cork city.
At night the restaurant becomes a cosy candelit affair with the roof garden feature a particular delight in warm or mild weather. Popular meals include the exquisite Thai marinated chicken and the outrageous char grilled fillet steak, all tweaked to perfection in Curran’s kitchen by head chef Ger Cronin.
With great food served in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Curran’s Restaurant is sure to be the restaurant of choice for many a patron during Cork’s tenure as European Capital of Culture.