Cork Rotary
Our Projects
Here are some of our ongoing projects, making a difference at home and abroad. For all the latest news on these and other events follow us on
Friendship Night
An Evening of Entertainment in Cork City Hall
Over 200 senior citizens from across the city come together at Cork City Hall for a wonderful evening of music, dance, and laughter.
Hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Cork and Bishopstown, this annual event provides a welcome break from the dark days of winter.
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The entertainment kicks off with musical performances of timeless classics by the Army Band. Guests are then treated to light refreshments before further performances from Irish dancers and talented local singers. A sing-along of old favourites gets the party going.
As the night progresses, the dance floor comes alive with old friends and new, sharing waltzes, quick-steps, and line-dances. It’s a magical evening of connection, celebration, and cherished memories.
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Golf Classic
Putting the ‘Fun’ in Fundraising
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Every April, the Cork Rotary Club hosts a Fundraiser Golf Classic to support local and international Projects. Held at the stunning Cork Golf Club in Little Island, this annual event has become a much-anticipated day of fun and friendly competition over the years, even the weather has been kind to us!
Participants have the chance to play on one of Ireland’s premier McKenzie-designed golf courses while contributing to very worthy causes.
Thanks to your incredible generosity, our Rotary Golf Classic has raised over €100,000 in the past decade — an extraordinary milestone!
Margaret Heffernan of Dunnes Stores always supports us in our donations to the Cork St Vincent de Paul Society as part of our fundraising efforts.
Why not join us for the next event? Enjoy a fantastic day out and help make a difference in our community. Together, we unite for good!
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Children's Fun Day
Fun at Fota
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Originally called “Kids Out”, the first Irish Rotary Children's Fun Day took place in Cork in 1991 and has since become an annual tradition, bringing fun and unforgettable experiences to children with additional needs from local schools. In recent years, it has been held at the scenic Fota Wildlife Park .
Fun fact: Tim Murphy, the event's organizer, has been involved every year since it started!
In 2025, over 300 children from eight Cork schools, accompanied by 250 teachers and SNAs, joined Rotarians from the Cork, Bishopstown and Douglas clubs for an unforgettable day at the park.
They enjoyed the excitement of spotting their favorite animals and ended the outing with the much-anticipated treat: their favorite hot snacks!
A sunny day adds to the magic, but whatever the weather, the experience of the Rotary Children's Fun Day is memorable.
You can become part of this by joining our club!
Art From Inside
“Art from Inside” is a collaboration between Cork Prison, the Education Unit (Cork ETB), and Cork Rotary Club. Students in the Cork Education and Training Board’s Educational Unit in Cork Prison donate art, including paintings, craftwork, pottery and woodwork to be auctioned for charity.
This is a wonderful collaboration, providing a showcase for prisoners to display talents and skills which they have developed during their incarceration, while raising funds for a good cause.
In 2024, the art pieces selected by Cliona McCabe and Tom Woodward were auctioned to raise funds for Cork Children’s Leukaemia Association and the Dillon’s Cross Project, which is run by the Education Unit, to provide educational opportunities for the female relatives of prisoners and ex-prisoners.
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Cork Tree Of Remembrance
Cork Rotary Tree of Remembrance on Patrick Street
Every December, the iconic Christmas Tree outside Brown Thomas on Patrick Street stands tall as an enduring symbol of Cork’s incredible generosity. Over the weeks, the tree is adorned with thousands of yellow ribbons, each carrying handwritten messages of love, remembrance, and hope for family and friends near and far.
The Rotary Tree of Remembrance has raised over €1.2 million for local charities since 2003. Thanks to your support, organizations like Marymount, Enable Ireland, Cork Cancer Care Centre, and many others continue their vital work in our community.
You can join this heartwarming tradition by writing your own message on a ribbon or making a donation to support these wonderful causes.
Volunteer for a two-hour shift at the tree and help spread the magic of the season. Just drop by the tree to chat with a Rotary member or email secretary@CorkRotary.ie to sign up.
Clean Water For Cambodia
A Clean Water Project
in collaboration with the Melbourne Rotary Club
Did you know that over half of Cambodia lacks clean drinking water? Poor sanitation causes disease and can severely affect adults seeking employment as well as limiting their ability to tend to their own crops. Equally, and perhaps more importantly, poor sanitation and hygiene are factors in limiting children’s education and other opportunities.
Rotary Cork and Rotary Melbourne support the Cambodia Clean Water and Toilet Project, an Australian charity providing water pumps and toilets to rural families.
The first toilet funded by Cork Rotary was constructed in 2021 and gifted to the family of Kuhn and Yeuy and their three children.
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To date, we’ve funded 15 septic tank toilets and 5 communal water pumps, significantly improving access to clean water. All recipients of the toilets and bores pay a small fee as a “buy in” and receive training in sanitation and management of the toilets and bores.
This initiative is a crucial step toward better public health and transforming the lives of village families.
Youth Leadership
Learning about International Politics
The Rotary Ireland Youth Leadership Development Competition, in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Dublin, boosts students' communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
Students apply and interview on leadership, community involvement, current affairs, and the EU. Each school selects a winner; then, the Zone Finals in November determine the top 1-3 students. Winners travel to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in February to serve as MEPs for a day.
This competition provides an amazing opportunity to develop lifelong skills and experience the excitement of international politics.​
Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Developing a Love of Learning
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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that delivers free books to children from birth until they start school. Registered children receive one book per month, delivered directly to their home at no cost to the family. Each book is carefully chosen by the UK and Ireland Imagination Library Book Selection Committee to match the child’s developmental needs at every stage.
By supporting early learning and growth, the program helps children develop vital literacy skills while nurturing their imagination and curiosity, ensuring a brighter future through books.
This programme was introduced in the Republic of Ireland in early 2019, making it the fifth country to adopt Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
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