Cork Celebrates Irish Language Day with Music and Conversation

Cork City Council is hosting a giant bilingual chat session, Ciorcal na gCiorcail, at the Millennium Hall, City Hall, Cork, on Monday 16 March 2026 from 11am, with special musical guest John Spillane in attendance.

The event, timed to coincide with Lá na Gaeilge on St Patrick's Eve, is being organised by the council's Irish language officer, Chris Dorgan, with the support of the local business community and Ciorcal Comhrá groups across the city.

Chris Dorgan, Cork City Council Irish Language Officer:

"We have been encouraged over the years to make St Patrick's Eve, March 16, Lá na Gaeilge or Irish Language Day. And so, with the support of the business community and other Ciorcail Comhrá throughout the city, we are encouraging everyone to use whatever 'cúpla focail' or few words they might have as part of their everyday experience in the city on that day and for business to do likewise.

On Monday March 16, from 11am onwards in the Millennium Hall, we are inviting the public and existing groups to join us for a coffee and chat with special musical guest John Spillane in attendance providing a few singalong options."

To support those with little, rusty, or no Irish, a phrasebook featuring commonly used phrases with phonetic spelling and translations will be distributed at the event and made available online and from Cork City Council offices.

A full list of Irish language events taking place across the city's Library Network throughout the month of March is available in Irish and English.