Plan your journey: Cork Summer Show improves traffic measures

An extended bus route and free shuttle bus services will run over June 20 and 21 to help ease traffic burdens in and around Curraheen Stadium for the Cork Summer Show

From left: Sean Coleman, Youghal; Christy O’Donovan Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery; David Varian, Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery; Anna Delaney, Berrings; Ronan Desmond, Bandon; and Dinnie Kiely, Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery making final preparations for Cork Summer Show. Picture: Michael O Sullivan/OSM Photography

With 45,000 visitors expected to visit the Cork Summer Showgrounds, free shuttles and extended bus routes are in place for the busy weekend.

Organisers of the Cork Summer Show are asking the 45,000 expected visitors to plan their journey and make use of enhanced transport options.

Operating from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, the extended 208 Bus Éireann service will connect key areas across Cork City before continuing to the Cork Summer Showgrounds in Curraheen.

A free shuttle bus service will operate from Ballincollig Shopping Centre, Black Ash Park & Ride, Curraheen Greyhound Stadium, and the Le Cheile building at MTU’s Bishopstown Campus. There will also be increased parking capacity in MTU’s Bishopstown campus this year, also at the Le Cheile building.

New additions to the 2026 line-up include the Agri Aware Talks and Demonstration Marquee, a live working farm experience, machinery demonstrations, the Cork Reenactment Military Show, the RSA Education Truck, Tug of War Ireland, a new dressage demonstration on Sunday, and rabbits and guinea pigs in the poultry marquee on Saturday, and musical delights such as Bog Jazz and the Swift Show Tribute Band.

A major focus of this year's show is agricultural education. The Agri Aware Talks and Demonstration Marquee will host a live working farm experience, with milk demonstration and machinery displays, giving families and city-based visitors more of an understanding of modern rural life.

The newest addition is a special dressage demonstration featuring dressage coach and Grand Prix winner Sue Smallman, alongside Irish under-25 champion and international dressage rider Emily Kate Robinson. The demonstration will showcase movements from the highest level of dressage — Grand Prix — including half passes in trot and canter, canter pirouettes, and flying changes.

Across the weekend, competitors will take part in livestock, equestrian, poultry, craft, baking, horticulture and home industry classes, continuing the show’s long tradition as one of Munster’s key platforms for agricultural and community competition.

This year’s live entertainment programme will also feature DJ Jim X Comet, Two Time Polka, Boolaboom and Zurrito. Returning favourites across the programme will include chick hatchings, tractor displays, baking classes, pony experiences, artisan markets, floral art demonstrations by members of AOIFA on Sunday in the equine competition rings, livestock and equestrian competitions, and the ever-popular Kids’ Zone and Funfair.

This year’s official charity partner is Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery, which this year celebrate 25 years of dedicated voluntary service, supporting families through some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives.