Cork Heritage Open Day turns 21 and marks the start of National Heritage Week in Cork
06/08/2026
Organised by Cork City Council, Cork Heritage Open Day will take place on Saturday August 15th with 42 buildings opening their doors for free for one day only. Cork Heritage Open Day is the only event of this size and scale happening in Ireland and includes guided tours of venues, historical street walking tours, talks on the history of Cork, and events celebrating the rich heritage of the city.
Cork Heritage Open Day marks the start of National Heritage Week which runs until August 23rd. This is the 21st year of Cork Heritage Open Day and it is its largest programme of events to date.
Val Kavanagh, Heritage Office in Cork City Council said
‘For one day only, Cork’s most unique and historic buildings and spaces will open their doors and invite us in to hear the stories that shaped them and witness the beauty of their architecture. We are very grateful to all the building owners, historians and volunteers who give so generously each year on Cork Heritage Open Day’.
Cork Heritage Open Day welcomes 10 new buildings to the programme along with the LÉ Samuel Beckett, one of the most advanced and recognisable ships in the Irish Naval Service. A selection of the new buildings include Graffiti Theatre in Blackpool which was originally built in 1907 as the Assumption Convent, St Michael’s Church in Blackrock where architect Sir Thomas Deane and mathematician George Boole are buried, Blarney Woolen Mills which has a long association with Cork’s textile history and Blackrock Castle Observatory, one of Cork’s most iconic heritage buildings.
Cork Heritage Day offers a unique opportunity to see the inside of buildings that are normally not open to the public. For one day only, you can explore the courtrooms in the Cork Circuit Courthouse, learn about 170 years of brewing history in Heineken Ireland and visit the Masonic Hall which has been home to freemasonry in Cork since 1844. The Everyman and Cork Opera House are offering Behind the Scenes Guided Tours and guided tours will take place in a host of venues including Triskel Christchurch, National Sculpture Factory, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and Cork City Hall.
Join Cork historians as they guide you around the streets of Cork and celebrate the history of areas such as the Medieval Quarter of Cork, the Old City Walls, Shandon and Patrick’s Street. Cllr. Dan Boyle will give a walking tour in Turners Cross on Capwell 100 which was the first major social housing in Cork after the establishment of the Irish Free State while a unique walking tour of Cork’s Ordnance Survey Benchmarks will also take place.
Watch out for the eleven buildings and landmarks who will light up in purple on Cork Heritage Open Day and during National Heritage Week.
As part of Cork Heritage Open Day, talks will take place in historic buildings in Cork.
- Conál Creedon will give a talk on Heritage and the Big Bang of Storytelling in Civic Trust House
- Dagmar O’Riain Raedel will give a talk on the architectural legacy of the Hill Dynasty in the Metropole Hotel
- Genealogist David Ryan will give a talk on researching the South Parish in Irish Census Records in Nano Nagle Place
The programme also includes a wide range of family friendly events. Discover medieval life at the Cork Public Museum, make butter in the Butter Museum and learn about life for children under Victorian rule in the Old Cork Waterworks Experience. Some of the events on Cork Heritage Open Day will be through the Irish Language and some with an Irish Sign Language Interpreter.
While all events are free of charge, some events must be booked in advance. See www.corkheritageopenday.ie for list of all events, those which require pre-booking and starting time and meeting points for all talks, guided tours of buildings and walking tours.
Cork Heritage Open Day is organised by Cork City Council as part of Heritage Week in partnership with the Heritage Council and is proudly supported by media sponsors the Echo and C103. For a full list of events see www.corkheritageopenday.ie or pick up a brochure at City Hall, Cork City Libraries or Cork City Tourist Information Office.