Alliance Française de Cork is delighted to sponsor a France-based double act featured in the September 2026 Updown Circus Festival:
"À Contresens”, a circus performance by Duo Rattrape (Lisandro Gallo and Liam Carmody), on 6th September 2026, at 4.15 pm in Douglas Street, Cork.

"À Contresens" is a co‑production with the Centre Régional des Arts du Cirque de Lomme (CRAC Lomme), Hauts-de-France Region. This show has been presented in the Lille metropolitan area, in partnership with regional venues such as TANDEM Scène nationale.

The Updown Circus Festival is directed by Cormac Mohally and produced by Ayşegül Yüzel.
To see the full programme of the Updown Circus Festival (1st to 8th September 2026):
https://www.updowncircusfestival.ie/

7th July 2026: Full house tonight for our event about Nice and the Provence, featuring:

– A presentation on interesting places to visit in that region (including a focus on Antibes which is twinned with Kinsale), by Yves Kriwan;

– A traditional French dance class with French instructor Anouk Hart;

– Tasting of specialities from the South-East of France, including navettes, tapenade, olivettes, calissons, and lavender honey nougat.

Many thanks to Cork County Council Cllr. Deirdre Kelly for opening the event with us tonight, and to all who attended.

On 3rd July, Alliance Française de Cork was represented by its President, Valérie David-McGonnell, and its Treasurer, Pascal Lucas, at the launch of the programme of the upcoming Updown Circus Festival, at the Triskel Arts Centre.

The Updown Circus Festival is directed by Cormac Mohally and produced by Ayşegül Yüzel.

Alliance Française de Cork is delighted to sponsor a French-Irish double act featured in this festival:
"À Contresens”, a circus performance by Duo Rattrape (Lisandro Gallo and Liam Carmody), on 6th September 2026, at 4.15 pm in Douglas Street, Cork.

"À Contresens" is a co‑production with the Centre Régional des Arts du Cirque de Lomme (CRAC Lomme), Hauts-de-France Region. This show has been presented in the Lille metropolitan area, in partnership with regional venues such as TANDEM Scène nationale.

To see the full programme of the Updown Circus Festival (1st to 8th September 2026):
https://www.updowncircusfestival.ie/

’Projection Gourmande’ is an immersive night of French Flavour & Film organised by Alliance Française de Cork in partnership with The Metropole Hotel in Cork

on Friday 9th October from 7 pm to 10.30 pm
at The Metropole Hotel (MacCurtain Street, Cork, Douglas Vance Suite)

Guests will enjoy a specially designed four-course French dining experience inspired by regional dishes from across France, followed by a screening of the acclaimed French film Sugar & Stars (À la belle étoile, Sébastien Tulard, 2023), a heartwarming cinematic story centred on the journey of a young French chef pursuing his culinary dreams.

Menu curated by Trigon Hotels French Executive Chef Alex Petit and Alliance Française de Cork President Valérie David-McGonnell:

MENU

Starter
Ficelle Picarde
or
Soufflé au Comté

Main Course
Boeuf Bourguignon
or
Bouillabaisse

Cheese Course
Irish Cheese Plate
Brie de Meaux, Ossau-Iraty, Sainte-Maure

Dessert
Crème Brûlée
or
Tarte Tatin with Vanilla Ice Cream

90.81 euro per person (includes food, wine and film)

#Ireland2026.EU

1st July 2026:

This morning, Alliance Française de Cork President Valérie David-McGonnell was invited to the EU flag-raising ceremony at the Cork City Hall to mark the first day of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU (1st July-31st December 2026) by Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr. Damian Boylan, in the presence of Hon. Consul of France to Cork Josselin Le Gall.

Tonight, AF de Cork’s very first event celebrating the Cork-France pairing as part of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU took place:

– A presentation on interesting places to visit in the north of France by our French teacher Justine Deberdt, followed by a quiz and a tasting of regional specialities (palets de dame, bêtises de Cambrai, gaufres, Maroilles cheese...);

– A beautiful photo exhibition in our gallery, with the kind support of the Région Hauts-de-France and of the Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel en Hauts-de-France.

Many thanks to Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr. Damian Boylan for the invitation this morning and for introducing our event tonight, to the Cork City Council for their support, and to all attendees.

Fête de la musique 2026:

Our very first open mic event at Alliance Francaise de Cork took place on Friday 19th June and lasted over 3 hours!!!

Concert: Many thanks to the very talented French singer Hanae Han who performed a selection of popular French-language songs for us tonight, as well as a classical piece by Gabriel Fauré, before teaching the audience a few additional songs.

Open mic session: Well done to all the participants who also performed tonight, solo or in groups.

To listen to our Spotify French songs playlist created last year with the help of our adult students and recently updated:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6D3MVKPqyhJEmNjnqTUzp1?si=L1NsQ_AsRE2H6XtSEfFHhw

As part of the Cork on a Fork Festival, we are delighted to organise a French & Cork Cheese Tasting Experience at Alliance Française de Cork, 2nd Floor, 36 Mary Street, Cork:

Fri 14th August, 7.00pm - 8.00 pm

Join Cork-based French cheesemaker Jean-Baptiste Enjelvin for a special presentation and tasting exploring the craftsmanship and flavours of French and Cork cheeses. Event in English.

Event organised by Alliance Française de Cork with the kind support of On the Pig’s Back and Hegarty’s Cheese.

Price: 10 euro

What do former French President Charles de Gaulle, film directors Louis Malle and Christian Carion, singer Louane, The Three Musketeers’ writer Alexandre Dumas, and artist Henri Matisse have in common?
They were all born in the Hauts-de-France region!

As part of the celebration of the Cork-France twinning during the Irish Presidency of the EU Council, and to celebrate the new ferry connection between Cork and Boulogne-sur-Mer in the north of France, we are delighted to organise an event about the Hauts-de-France region (north of France), at Alliance Française de Cork

on Wednesday 1st July, 7 pm:

– Discover interesting places to visit in the Hauts-de-France region (presentation in English),
– Take part in a short quiz,
– Try food specialties from this area of France.

Price: 10 euro
Free for those who hold a 2025-2026 AF de Cork Membership.

As part of the celebration of the Cork-France twinning during the Irish Presidency of the EU Council, we are delighted to organise an event about Nice and the Provence region, at Alliance Française de Cork, 2nd Floor, 36 Mary Street, Cork:

Tuesday 7th July, 7 pm - 8 pm

Discover interesting places to visit in Nice and its surrounding region (presentation in English), experience a traditional regional dance, and try food specialties from the area.

Price: 10 euro
Free for those who hold a 2025-2026 AF de Cork Membership.

THIS EVENT IS FULL

Fête de la musique 2026 at AF de Cork

Concert with French singer Hanaé Han & Open Mic: French-language songs
Friday 19th June, 7 pm

French-language songs will be performed on the night.
Free event, but registration is essential.

To attend, please register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/fete-de-la-musique-2026-open-mic-event-at-af-de-cork-tickets-1990270100447

If you wish to perform a French song on the night, please send us the title by email by 12th June: [email protected]