Our Story

In 1924, Father J. C. O'Flynn was asked by the nuns of St Vincent's School on Peacock Lane to stage a scene from The Merchant of Venice. Inspired, he established regular classes for the study and performance of Shakespeare's plays in the Shandon area of Cork City.

His philosophy was simple and enduring: bring culture to the poor and underprivileged, and enrich their lives through the power of theatre. That same spirit animates every rehearsal we hold today.

The Loft

Early classes took place in the presbytery of the North Chapel before the company moved to the upper floor of Linehan's Sweet Factory on John Redmond Street — a home they kept for 75 years, and the origin of our beloved nickname: The Loft.

Since then we have performed across the city's great stages — the Cork Opera House, Cork Arts Theatre, the Everyman, the Granary Theatre, Dance Cork Firkin Crane and the Unitarian Church — and we now meet most Thursday evenings at The Rock Community Centre, Blarney Street Cork.