Guest Author - Mary Ellen Sweeney

Cork City is always a good place for a good time, but it is a site of special honor this year as it is host to the European Capital of Culture celebration.

The opening ceremony after the New Year was a credit with the performance of “Awakening,” a play based on an ancient myth of Cork’s River Lee, how it was formed when St. Finbar defeated a giant serpent. (The Saints Above, Finbar and Patrick—how Irish Saints delight in defeating serpents!) The performance was not confined to a theater, no, it was live theater in the streets, on three city center bridges over the Lee, and an exciting combination of art forms that included lighting effects, music, water features, pyrotechnics, projection, and the spoken word to create outdoor physical theater.

The party continues all year in Cork City with special art exhibitions, poetry recitals, opera, historical re-enactments, musicals, film openings, and a constant venue of entertainment for the visitor ready to be entertained in this, “The City of Making.” There’s even a special open invitation to creative folk to contribute with “whatever floats your boat.”

Do not miss Cork’s regular “Not to be Missed Activities,” which include visiting the two breweries and taking the Murphy’s/Beamish test, Going to the Gaol, Kissing the Blarney Stone, Climbing Shandon, the bell tower of St. Ann's, Shandon, Bargaining On The Coal Quay, Shopping in the English Market, Checking out the Ogham Stones, and Sampling the Butter Museum. This are just a small listing of Cork’s regular offerings. There's so much in Cork City, you just may have to go back again to see it all. For more information on the calendar of festivities, visit http://www.cork2005.ie