Alliance Française de Cork

Cork French Film Festival School screenings in...

Valerie — 2026-09-13T19:31:58Z

Cork French Film Festival School screenings in Cork, Mallow and Midleton, 13th -15th October

Cork French Film Festival School screenings
at the Arc Cinema, in Cork, Mallow and Midleton, 13th -15th October
to celebrate the Cork-France pairing as part of the 2027 Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU
with the support of the French Embassy, the Cork City Council, and Institut Français.

Ride Above / Tempête
French film directed by Christian Duguay / France / 2022 / 110 mins / in French, with English subtitles

Adapted from French writer Christophe Donner's novel Tempête au haras, this French film tells the story of Zoé's life at her parents' racehorse stables in Normandy, driven by the dream of someday becoming a jockey like her father.
But one stormy night, a terrible accident leaves her confi ned to a wheelchair. With the support of her family, the help of her therapist and under the guidance of Seb, a stable hand with a gift for communicating with horses, Zoé will endeavour to make her dream come true.

Cork City:
13th, 14th & 15th October, 10 am
Booking: sharleen@arccinema.ie

Midleton:
Tuesday 13th October, 10 am
Booking: kira@arccinema.ie

Mallow:
Thursday 15th October, 10.30 am
Booking: kevin@arccinema.ie

Bookings through email only, by 5th October. Limited seating. Early booking is advised.
7.50 € per student (DEIS school concession: 6.50 €). Free for accompanying teachers.

Please see the AIPLF website to download a free teaching resource for this film:
https://aiplf-ireland.com/ressources-fle-sur-des-films/

The programme for adults over three nights (16 - 18 October 2026) will be announced soon.

2026 Annual Brittany Ferries Lunch

Valerie — 2026-09-12T17:55:29Z

On 12th September, Alliance Française de Cork was represented by its President, Valérie David-McGonnell, at the annual lunch organised by Brittany Ferries, the France-Ireland Chamber of Commerce, and the Cork Chamber of Commerce, on board the Pont-Aven ship in Ringaskiddy.

This event was attended by H. E. Céline Place, Ambassador of France to Ireland, EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, Minister Jerry Buttimer TD, Mayor of County Cork Cllr. Bernard Moynihan, Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr. Damian Boylan, France-Ireland Chamber of Commerce President Chris Smyth, Brittany Ferries President Jean-Marc Roué, Cork Chamber of Commerce President Susie Horgan, Cobh & Harbour Chamber of Commerce President Colin Morehead, General Manager of Brittany Ferries for Ireland Hugh Bruton, CEO of the Port of Cork, Ann Doherty, and many other guests.

French-themed Quiz in aid of Focus Ireland, 1st Oct, 7 pm

Valerie — 2026-09-12T17:30:57Z

1st October French-themed quiz (in English) in aid of Focus Ireland, at Alliance Francaise de Cork, with the kind support of Flower Studio, L'Occitane, Iago, Azure Jewellery, Tory Top Chocolate, Cork Niche Fragrances, and the French Embassy

On 1st October, at 7 pm, we will be organising a French-themed quiz (in English) in aid of Focus Ireland, at Alliance Francaise de Cork.

Prizes for the winner of this quiz have kindly been provided by Cork Flower Studio, L'Occitane, Iago, Azure Jewellery, Tory Top Chocolate, Cork Niche Fragrances, and the French Embassy.

Entry fee: 20 € per person (all proceeds will go to Focus Ireland).

Please note that registration must be done in advance as places are limited.

Click here > to book your place

Art Exhibition in our gallery, Sept.-Dec. 2026

Valerie — 2026-09-09T22:13:19Z

Art exhibition in our gallery (September to early December):

'Anatomy of Absence' by Emma O'Riordan, Crawford College of Art and Design Graduate and winner of the 2026 Alliance Francaise de Cork - CCAD Solo Exhibition Award

Emma O'Riordan is an emerging artist from Bantry, County Cork, and a recent BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate of the Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork City. Building on the momentum of her degree show, she has received numerous awards and two solo exhibitions, the most recent being this presentation at Alliance Française de Cork.

Her research-informed practice, working primarily through painting and drawing, explores personal narratives within broader societal commentaries on womanhood. Through figurative imagery and expanded painting methodologies, O'Riordan investigates complex themes of sexism, misogyny, violence against women, trauma, disembodiment, power dynamics, vulnerability, and resilience.

In this exhibition, she considers the relationship between the body and mind, tension and ease as well as abstract feelings. This body of work continues her ongoing investigation into these profound and layered narratives.

The official opening took place on Tuesday 15th September, with Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr. Damian Boylan, County Cork Deputy Mayor Cllr. Gillian Coughlan, and Cllr. Ben Dalton O'Sullivan, AF de Cork President Valérie David-McGonnell, AF de Cork Vice President Pascal Lucas, and elected Board Member Dr Barry Monahan.

Podcast: Interview with Executive Chef Alex Petit

Valerie — 2026-09-07T17:25:40Z

Podcast: Interview in French with Alex Petit, Group Executive Chef of Trigon Hotels.
Alex Petit is the curator of our French dinner which will take place on Friday 9th October, 7 pm, at The Metropole Hotel in Cork.

Entretien en français avec Alex Petit, chef exécutif du groupe Trigon Hotels (The Metropole Hotel et le Cork International Hotel).

Dans cet entretien, Alex Petit nous parle de sa formation en Bretagne, de son arrivée en Irlande, de son travail et de ses plats français préférés.

Entretien réalisé par Valérie David-McGonnell, présidente de l'Alliance Française de Cork.

Pour réserver votre place à notre événement "Projection gourmande" (diner français et film) au Metropole Hotel de Cork, le vendredi 9 octobre 2026 à 19h : https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/projection-gourmande-tickets-1990569071678

Interview in French:

Interview in French (with French subtitles):

September 2026 OPEN DAY

Valerie — 2026-09-01T21:46:53Z

We are looking forward to meeting you at our Open Day on Saturday 5th September, from 10 am to 3 pm.

Come and meet our teachers, have your level of French assessed, register for a course and/or a Cultural Supporter membership, and enter our Open Day draw!

Podcast: Interview in French with Liam Carmody, Circus Artist (Updown Circus Festival)

Valerie — 2026-08-24T09:30:01Z

Août 2026 : Entretien en français avec Liam Carmody, artiste de cirque irlandais basé dans le nord de la France, qui se produira à Cork le 6 septembre, dans le cadre du festival Updown Circus, avec le soutien de l'Alliance Française de Cork

Dans cet entretien, Liam Carmody nous parle de sa formation, de Duo Rattrape (duo dont il fait partie avec Lisandro Gallo) et de ses projets dans les Hauts-de-France.

Entretien réalisé par Valérie David-McGonnell, présidente de l'Alliance Française de Cork.
Interview in French, with French subtitles:

More info about the September Updown Circus Festival: https://www.updowncircusfestival.ie/

Alliance Française de Cork Cultural Supporter's Subscription

Valerie — 2026-08-20T19:36:42Z

2026-2027 Alliance Française de Cork Cultural Supporters (1st August 2026-July 2027):

can attend our Cork French Ciné Club screenings for free
receive preferential invitations to our cultural events
can get access to the online library Culturethèque for an extended period of one year
can borrow books from our onsite library (during our desk opening hours)

AF de Cork 'Cultural Supporter' Subscription	Fee for 2026-2027
Subscription for one adult (who is not a student with us)	60 €	Click here to register as an AF de Cork Supporter
Concession for a retiree, job seeker, or college student (who is not a student with us)	40 €	Please contact us at: info@alliancefrancaisecork.com

AF de Cork 'Cultural Supporter' Subscription, for current student or student's parent)	Fee for 2026-2027
Concession for a current AF de Cork student	15 €	Please contact us at: info@alliancefrancaisecork.com
Concession for a parent of a current AF de Cork student	15 €	Please contact us at: info@alliancefrancaisecork.com

Click here to see our French courses

Virtual Escape Game to celebrate National Heritage Week (August 2026)

Valerie — 2026-08-16T10:31:17Z

Why not try our free French virtual escape game, created to celebrate National Heritage Week?
This game highlights a number of Cork's historical connections with France.
Your mission: virtually visit different places in Cork City and County, answer all the questions, and find the secret code!

Game created on Genially by Valérie David-McGonnell for Alliance Française de Cork, with the kind support of Visit Cork. Part of the official programme of the National Heritage Week 2026 website (Digital project Section): https://www.heritageweek.ie/projects

Try our game: https://view.genially.com/6208f34f0e7dc50018622dbf (to be used on a laptop or desktop)

This game may be viewed and shared using the original Genially link, provided that the author's name and link remain visible. It may not be copied, altered, downloaded, republished, or used commercially without written permission.

Thank you to all attendees of our Cork & French Cheese Event

Valerie — 2026-08-15T07:43:10Z

On 14th August 2026, Alliance Française de Cork took part in the Cork on a Fork Festival for the very first time, with a booked-up event about Cork and French cheeses!

Many thanks to French cheesemaker Jean-Baptiste Enjelvin, who gave a fantastic presentation comparing Cork and French cheeses, which attendees were able to taste as he spoke.

Thank you also to Marc, Maelis and Jose for assisting Jean-Baptiste during his presentation, and to Hegarty cheese and On The Pig's Back Ireland for supporting this event. And thank you to everyone who attended!