As you may have noticed, Cork City is a hive of activity on a cultural level. Events such as the Cork Jazz Festival are well-known all around the globe.
It is also host to some less famous but equally worthwhile cultural organisations. Let's look at a selection of these.
Shoreline Sligo 2000
This painting of Sligo's shoreline is taken from an exhibition of Sean McSweeney's work hosted last year by the Triskel Arts Centre.
Image courtesy of Triskel Arts CentreShoreline Sligo 2000
Image courtesy of Triskel Arts Centre
Image courtesy of Triskel Arts Centre
Shoreline Sligo 2000
This painting of Sligo's shoreline is taken from an exhibition of Sean McSweeney's work hosted last year by the Triskel Arts Centre.
Image courtesy of Triskel Arts CentreTriskel Arts Centre
The Triskel Arts Centre has been open for the last 30 years. The centre focusses on modern art such as film, literature, drama and visual art.
The centre is housed in a three-storey townhouse in Cork City. However, Triskel will become even bigger in 2008, when the nearby Christchurch is developed into further space for the centre.
Some of the events taking place this year in Triskel are a French Film Festival, an international short story conference and a tribute to the legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher.
Choral Festival
A choir performing at last year's Cork International Choral Festival.
Image courtesy of Cork International Choral FestivalChoral Festival
Image courtesy of Cork International Choral Festival
Image courtesy of Cork International Choral Festival
Choral Festival
A choir performing at last year's Cork International Choral Festival.
Image courtesy of Cork International Choral FestivalCork International Choral Festival
The Cork International Choral Festival has been taking place each year since 1954. It is a very popular festival with choirs from all around the world, even though it was originally set up to develop choral music in Ireland.
The Festival runs over a period of four days at the end of April in Cork's City Hall. For those not competing at the festival, they have an opportunity to perform at other venues around the city.
Cork Opera House
The Opera House in Cork began its life as an 'Athenaeum', which is a place of study. It opened in 1855 at a cost of £6,000.
Cork Opera House
The new facade at Cork Opera House
Image courtesy of Cork Opera HouseCork Opera House
Image courtesy of Cork Opera House
Image courtesy of Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House
The new facade at Cork Opera House
Image courtesy of Cork Opera HouseHowever, the acoustics (sounds) from the building were very poor and the building had to be re-modelled. This occurred in 1873 and the building was renamed the Munster Hall. Sadly, that was unsuccessful too and after more re-designing the Cork Opera House opened its doors to the public on September 17th, 1877.
More disaster struck with the destruction of the Opera House in 1955 when faulty wiring started a fire. The fire spread so quickly because the Opera House was made almost entirely out of wood.
It was rebuilt and opened in 1963 and had a facelift completed in 2003.