Joy In The Park 2023 returns to Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork for its second year

Joy In The Park 2023 returns to Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork for its second year on Sunday July 23rd

A free event for everyone, Joy In The Park is a celebration of life, whilst supporting mental health & well-being, in partnership with Cork Mental Health Foundation.

This year’s stellar line-up includes The Frank & Walters, John Spillane, Aoife Scott, Karen Underwood, Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers with loads more music, spoken word, children’s entertainment, circus, storytelling, arts & crafts, food stalls, wellness activities and a mental health support hub.

In addition, organisers are delighted to welcome back Minding Creative Minds (MCM) both as a partner and in person, when they host The Couch Sessions; MCM, Ireland’s first 24/7 (also, free and confidential) wellbeing support programme for everyone working in the Irish Creative Sector will present a career focused panel conversation. With the title ‘Broaden Your horizon As A Creative’ and moderated by Cork’s own Mary Crilly of Safe Gigs, who will be joined in conversation by a number of panelists talking about their own careers including Dublin poet, Stephen James Smith, comedian and co-presenter of Cork Red FM’s Breakfast; Laura O’Mahony, Dundalk musician Sophie Coyle and In Bloom Agency owner and booker Brian Hassett.

The Mad Hatters’ tent will feature some of Cork’s finest grass roots artists including Elly O’Keeffe, Hank Wedel, Victoria Keating & Aine O’Gorman, Leah Sohotra & Martin Leahy, ADT, Sophie Coyle, Clare O’Mahony and hosted by Wasps vs Humans.

The Joy Sylvie Stage returns for this year’s event, bringing a fresh eclectic vibe to the afternoon with a mix of spoken word, hip hop, and music with an exciting line-up including Stephen James Smith, Stevie G, Jinx Lennon, Emmet O’Brien, Bubba Shakespeare, Ringo: Music Bingo, Jim Crickard, Rosalin Blue, BURKIE, Cork Headway Choir and MC’d by Stan Notte.

Families will be spoilt for choice with a full programme of entertainment throughout the afternoon including the return of the Circus Factory with their Circus Disco of juggling balls, clubs, diablos, flowersticks, hula hoops, and maybe a unicycle or two for anyone to try, whatever their age. This year also welcomes Circus Captain Cormac and Guido Fanzini, guaranteed to cause outbursts of laughter, whilst characters of the Eccentric Hatter’s Crew go walkabout, keen to meet & greet anyone who cares to say hello. Jammed with activities throughout the afternoon, including arts & crafts, giant outdoor games provided by Cork City Sports Partnership, Kinderama’s movement for kids under 6 and mediation for all ages with Kelsang Drolma, there is simply something for everyone.

Completing the line-up, Cork brass and percussion big band BoolaBoom take over the park at various stages during the afternoon – You’ll hear them before you see them; expect catchy brass licks and scintillating horn solos mixed with air-punching Latin-flavoured beats!

Joy In The Park will balance that sense of fun with connection and understanding, whilst raising awareness for mental health and well-being through an engaging programme of wellness, sensory activities and workshops, provided by the HSE Cork & Kerry Community Health Action Zone and a number of organisations and community groups including SHINE, MyMind, GROW, Cork Counselling Services and Jigsaw. They will be joined by PIETA, Samaritans, Shine A Light, Aware.ie and the National Learning Network who will be at the event as part of the support hub, offering their support and information throughout the afternoon.

Joy In The Park is a free event for everyone and is able to take place because of the financial support provided by a number of institutions to include HSE Cork & Kerry Community Healthcare, HSE Cork Connecting For Life Programme, Lottery Funding, Cork City Council: LCDC, Arts Office, PARKS and Ward Funding, IMRO and Minding Creative Minds.