Cork City Council Announces Parking Deal to Support its First Friday's Initiative
Cork City Council has announced a new city centre parking offer to support its next ‘First Friday's’ event this bank holiday weekend.
A flat tariff of just €4 will be on offer in the City Council-owned and operated Paul Street car park from 5pm to midnight this Friday, May 1, to encourage people to engage with and enjoy the range of events that are taking place as part of its First Friday programme.
The parking deal will be on offer in the car park for all First Friday events right through to September to underline Cork City Council’s commitment to the city centre initiative.
Inspired by the success of Culture Night, First Fridays was launched in April, to invite residents and visitors alike to discover, explore, engage with and celebrate the city's rich cultural life after dark on the first Friday of each month, right through to September 2026.
First Fridays is a Cork City Council initiative, delivered through its City Centre Directorate and supported by the Night Time Economy Programme, as part of the City Council’s renewed focus on the city centre. The initiative is also being supported by Fáilte Ireland.
The Night Time Economy Programme is funded through the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
Fiona Collins, Night Time Economy Advisor said: “We were absolutely thrilled with the response to our first ‘First Fridays’ event in April – the feedback has been wonderful, and it really confirmed what we believed: that Cork has a vibrant, curious audience who want to experience their city in a new way after dark.
“This month we've added even more events to the line-up, and the parking offer from Cork City Council is a real signal of the collective commitment to making the city centre a welcoming, accessible place to be.
“We’d love to see even more people come out and discover what Cork has to offer.
“And if you're a business, arts group, performer or community organisation who'd like to get involved in First Fridays, we’d love to hear from you.”
The line-up for this weekend’s First Friday event on Friday, May 1 is listed on https://www.purecork.ie/whats-on and includes:
First Friday Market on Cornmarket Street
Cornmarket Street will come alive with a vibrant night market, offering a lively atmosphere in the heart of the city from 5pm to 9pm.
Butter Museum
Join The Butter Museum for a Beltane Butter Supper Club from 4pm to 7pm. Storyteller Maria Gillen will recount tales of The Butter Roads and Ger Wolfe will play music to welcome the season of light, and of course, there will be butter making. Their regular entry fees apply - https://thebuttermuseum.com/
Elizabeth Fort — Extended Evening Opening
Elizabeth Fort will remain open until 8pm, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the historic fort's grounds after hours and enjoy the atmosphere of this remarkable city landmark.
Blackrock Castle Observatory — Evening Opening
Blackrock Castle Observatory will also open its doors as part of the First Fridays programme, offering visitors a chance to explore one of Cork’s most iconic and atmospheric landmarks on the banks of the River Lee.
Nano Nagle Place
Mini Culture Series starts at 6pm, featuring an architectural tour led by Gareth O’Callaghan. Participants can step into the story of Nano Nagle Place through its architecture—where 18th-century heritage meets thoughtful contemporary design. This guided tour explores the careful restoration of historic buildings alongside modern interventions that honour the site’s original spirit while adapting it for today. Discover hidden details, design choices, and the vision behind transforming a place of education and refuge into a vibrant cultural landmark.
Ciseach by Catherine Young
Ciseach, meaning a shambles, or a wattled walkway to cross difficult terrain, is a stirring work by Catherine Young Dance, taking place at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane at 7.30pm. Ciseach is an embodied manifesto urging us to re-member, to re-connect with our past, with nature and with each other. Ciseach collects fragments of native wisdom, myths and kinships, and pieces together possible futures to build the wattled causeway, the ciseach to guide us to solid ground.
Audiences at the premiere said: "It feels like you're part of it...really, really astounding", "Incredibly powerful and really moving, profoundly moving", "The music, the sound, incredible"
For tickets - https://firkincrane.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173670256
Klostés, at the Triskel – supported by Night Time Economy
Klostės translated as Pleats or Folds, is a black and white, non verbal, 67 minute feature film created by the people of Kaunas, Lithuania, together with Cork-born artist and filmmaker, Aideen Barry.
This experience begins with a light installation on the exterior of Triskel Christchurch. Audiences will enter via the Triskel Christchurch gates on South Main Street and from there though the doors into Christchurch where they are invited to watch this experimental art film.
The film was commissioned by Kaunas 2022, The European Capital of Culture. It takes inspiration from Kaunas Architectural Modernism and the hidden histories associated with the magical city. In 2023 the film was part of the bid that won UNESCO World Heritage Status for the city of Kaunas, and in 2024 it was acquired for the National Collection at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The Cork born director is delighted to be showing this work for the first time in her home city.
Dates: Friday May 1, Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3.
Time: 10pm - 1am
Price: Free, no booking required - Seating: Free
