From Bridge Cards to Brass Bands: The Story of the Cork Jazz Festival

My-Village | Our Stories | Cork History Published: 23 October 2026 Location: Cork City, Ireland By: My-Village Editorial How a cancelled hotel booking in 1978 helped create one of Cork’s most treasured traditions. Every October Bank Holiday weekend, Cork City comes alive with music. From the pubs of MacCurtain Street to the busy streets of the city centre, the sound of jazz, brass bands and live performances fills the air. But this famous Cork tradition began in a rather unusual way — with a cancelled bridge tournament. A Cork Idea Born in 1978 In 1978, Jim Mountjoy, then marketing manager of the Metropole Hotel on MacCurtain Street, faced a problem. A planned bridge event had fallen through, leaving the hotel with rooms to fill over the October Bank Holiday weekend. The Metropole already hosted popular jazz sessions featuring local musicians. Mountjoy, working with Cork jazz enthusiasts, saw an opportunity to turn those sessions into something bigger. On Friday, 27 October 1978, the first Cork Jazz Festival began. The inaugural programme featured well-known musicians including Ronnie Scott, Kenny Ball, George Melly and Cork guitarist Louis Stewart. What began as a local hotel initiative would eventually become one of Ireland’s best-known music festivals. From Local Stages to International Fame Throughout the following decades, the festival attracted some of the greatest names in jazz. Ella Fitzgerald performed in Cork in 1980, while other celebrated musicians who appeared over the years included Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, Herbie Hancock and Dave Brubeck. The festival continued to expand beyond the Metropole Hotel, bringing music into pubs, hotels and venues throughout Cork City. By 1986, the event had grown considerably, attracting international visitors and generating valuable business for the city’s hospitality industry. The October Bank Holiday weekend was becoming something