Irish Presidency of the EU Council, 1st July-31st December 2026
Alliances Françaises in Ireland have been described in the France-Ireland 2026–2030 Joint Strategic Framework, signed by Irish Minister Helen McEntee and French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, as “key players in promoting cultural exchange and Franco-Irish relations.”
Alliance Française de Cork Events to celebrate the France-Cork Pairing as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU Council, with the support of the Cork City Council)
(Please note that this list will be regularly updated)
JULY
– 1 July, 10.30 am: Alliance Française de Cork was represented by its President Valérie David-McGonnell at the European Flag Raising Event at the Cork City Hall by Lord Mayor Cllr. Damian Boylan.
– 1 July, 7 pm: Presentation on the Hauts-de-France Region, with a quiz and tasting, to celebrate the new Cork-Boulogne-sur-Mer ferry route.
Registration: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Discover-the-Hauts-de-France-Region-at-AF-de-Cork
– 1 July - 6 July: Photo exhibition from the Hauts-de-France region, with the support of the "Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel en Hauts-de-France".
– 7 July, 7 pm: Presentation on Nice and its surrounding area, with tasting, to celebrate the Cork-Nice route.
11 to 15 July: Free screenings (in French, with English subtitles) organised by AF de Cork and the Cork French Film Festival, as part of Bastille Day Festival, in partnership with the French Embassy and Institut Français:
– 11 July, 6 pm, at AF de Cork: Monsieur Aznavour (Mehdi Idir & Grand Corps Malade, 2024)
– 13 July, 6 pm, at AF de Cork: Sarah Bernhardt, la Divine (Guillaume Nicloux, 2024)
– 15 July, 2 pm, at the Cork City Library: Eugénie Grandet (Marc Dugain, 2021)
– 15 July, 6 pm, at the UCC Film and Screen Media Department, Kane Building, Room B10b: La Cérémonie (Claude Chabrol, 1995)
More info: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/2026-Bastille-Day-Ireland-Film-Festival-in-Cork
– 20 July: Release of our French Podcast about 18th-Century Cork-born Educator Nano Nagle, and the Nano Nagle Place in Cork: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Podcast-Interview-with-Mathilde-Corbineau-Nano-Nagle-Place
AUGUST
– 7 Aug: Release of our French podcast about the Cork City Library, and about Cork Bishop Francis Moylan (1735-1815): https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Podcast-The-Cork-City-Library-Francis-Moylan-by-Maria-Power
– 14 Aug, 7 pm: As part of Cork on a Fork Festival: French and Cork cheese presentation and tasting, with the support of Hegarty Cheese and On The Pig’s Back.
This event is full.
– 19th Aug: National Heritage Week: Release of our free French virtual game "Liens historiques de Cork avec la France" which highlights a number of Cork’s French-Irish connections. See our virtual project in the programme of the National Heritage Week 2026 website: https://www.heritageweek.ie/projects
– 27 Aug, 7 pm: Free screening at AF de Cork: Le Secret de Khéops / Treasure Hunters: On the Tracks of Khufu (Barbara Schulz, 2024)
This event is full.
SEPTEMBER
– 6 September: Support of the French Duo Rattrape’s performance as part of the UpDown Circus Festival: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/2026-Updown-Circus-Festival
– 17 September: Start of a free six-week AF de Cork French course for complete beginners at the Carrigaline Library.
– 17 September: Start of a free six-week Irish language course for French speakers at Alliance Francaise de Cork, with the kind support of the Cork City Council.
– 18 September, 7 pm, Culture Night: Screening of Jacques Offenbach’s opera “Robinson Crusoe” at AF de Cork (project led by the Rennes Opera), in partnership with the city of Rennes.
https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Culture-Night-2026-screening-of-Offenbach-s-opera-Robinson-Crusoe
– 24 September, 7 pm, Webinar for post-primary teachers of French on the EU and the Cork-France pairing, in partnership with the AIPLF, the French Embassy, and the Cork Education Support Centre.
– September: Launch of a free French booklet/Portfolio for Cork post-primary School Exchanges with France, with the support of the Cork City Council, the AIPLF, and the French Embassy.
– September: Release of a pedagogical booklet on the EU, commissioned by the French Embassy, for use by teachers of French in post-primary schools.
– 29 September, 7 pm: Screening at AF de Cork: Une Part manquante / A Missing Part: On the Tracks of Khufu (Guillaume Senez, 2024). Registration (free for our Cultural members, 5 euro for non members): https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/September-Cork-French-Cine-Club-Screening
OCTOBER
– 1 October, 7 pm: French-themed quiz in aid of Focus Ireland.
Registration: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/French-themed-Quiz-in-aid-of-Focus-Ireland-1st-Oct-7-pm
– 9 October, 7 pm: ’Projection Gourmande’ French Dinner & Film, at the Metropole Hotel Cork.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/projection-gourmande-tickets-1990569071678
– 10 October, 7 pm: Free screening at AF de Cork, as part of the Cork Folk Festival 2026:
Musique irlandaise en France : une 6e province ? / Irish Music in France: A Sixth Province? A 2026 documentary directed by Hervé Cantal and Falc’her-Poyroux, with the support of the university of Tours and the Maison des sciences sociales et des humanités Val de Loire. Registration: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Free-Screening-of-Irish-Music-in-France-A-Sixth-Province-as-part-of-the-Cork
– 11 October, 10 am: Free screening at AF de Cork for children of French animation film ’Chien pourri, la vie à Paris !’ (Stéphane Aubier, Davy Durand et Vincent Patar, 2020). Registration: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Free-screening-for-children-Sunday-11th-October-2026
– 11 October, 2 pm: AF de Cork is delighted to support French film maker Lily Dedeye’s first short film which will be screened as part of the GEARR - Cork Short Film Festival 2026, at the Arc Cinema. To listen to Lily Dedeye’s podcast in French: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Podcast-Interview-with-French-Filmmaker-Lily-Dedeye
– 13-18 October: Special Edition of the Cork French Film Festival (at the Arc Cinema in Cork): 3 films over 3 nights, with school screenings over 3 mornings, with the support of the Cork City Council, at the Arc Cinema Cork. French films with English subtitles. Programme: https://www.alliancefrancaisecork.com/Oct-2026-Special-Edition-of-the-Cork-French-Film-Festival
NOVEMBER
– 4 November: Conference about Irish-French connections. More details coming soon.
DECEMBER
– December: Presentation on Normandy (ahead of the European Year of the Normans). Date TBC.
