Moving Pictures: A Historic City Walk
To mark Heritage Week 2026, we invite you to join Cork International Film Festival for a fascinating guided walking tour exploring the city's rich cinematic and architectural heritage.
Led by architectural historian Danielle O'Donovan, this 90-minute walk through Cork's VQ (MacCurtain Street area) will uncover the stories behind some of the city's best-loved cinemas and entertainment venues, revealing how they have shaped Cork's cultural life.
Meeting Time: 18.00
Meeting Point: Outside Gallagher's Pub (Corner of Bridge Street & MacCurtain Street)
Duration: 90 minutes
Using material from the Cork International Film Festival Digital Archive, alongside historic photographs, local stories and archival research, the tour will bring to life the people, places and events that helped establish Cork as a city with a remarkable cinema-going tradition. Stops along the route include iconic landmarks such as The Everyman, the site of the former Coliseum Cinema and The Metropole Hotel.
Participants will discover how Cork's historic streets have evolved alongside the development of cinema and learn about the origins and legacy of Cork International Film Festival, Ireland's first and largest film festival, which has been connecting audiences with world cinema since 1956.
The tour concludes at the historic Metropole Hotel, where refreshments will be provided.
Advance booking is essential due to limited capacity.
The walking tour operates on an optional pay-what-you-wish basis. Every contribution helps keep events like this accessible to all.
Meet Your Guide:
Danielle O’Donovan has been Director of the Butter Museum since 2025 and specialises in architectural and built heritage.
She previously led the Ports, Past and Present research project at University College Cork, has worked at Nano Nagle Place, and has taught architectural history at university level. Her work focuses on bringing Cork’s history to life through heritage, museums and digital projects.
Supported by Cork City Council Local Heritage and Biodiversity Community Grant Scheme 2026.
