26 October 2026
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
The Promise will transform the interior of the historic cathedral through projection-mapped imagery, surround sound and storytelling this December.
One of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks will be transformed from the inside this Christmas as St Fin Barre’s Cathedral hosts The Promise, a new immersive light and sound experience from December 9th to 19th, with the support of Cork City Council. The Promise will use projection-mapped imagery, surround sound and storytelling to illuminate the interior of the cathedral, with moving images washing across its pillars, arches and decorative surfaces as audiences are taken on a 20-minute journey through Cork’s past and into the spirit of Christmas.
Created especially for St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, the experience begins with the story of St Fin Barre following the River Lee from Gougane Barra and establishing a monastery on the site where the cathedral now stands.
From there, the story moves through themes of Christmas, hope and the promises passed from one generation to the next, with stars, music and some familiar details from the cathedral itself woven into the experience, including an appearance from its famous Goldie Angel.
Running each evening from 5pm to 10pm, The Promise has been commissioned by St Fin Barre’s Cathedral as a new addition to Cork’s Christmas calendar, with approximately 20,000 tickets available across its 11-night run. Tickets are priced at €12 for adults, €6 for children over six and €25 for a family of four, plus booking fees.
Orla O’Byrne, Artist and Curator of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, said the building itself was central to the idea behind the project: “St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is the birthplace of Cork and we wanted to create something really special for the city right here. With the support of Cork City Council, we’re delighted to be bringing The Promise to life. The architecture is so evocative and imaginative already, and this experience will allow people to see the cathedral in a completely new way. Light, sound and moving imagery will travel across the interior and reveal details of the building in ways people won’t have seen before.
“At its heart, though, it is a Christmas story. It’s about that feeling of anticipation in the days before Christmas, but also something bigger: hope, joy and the promises we make to each other and pass from one generation to the next.”
The experience is being created by Tim and Catherine Mountain, the husband-and-wife creative team behind UK-based Evenlode Productions and Evenlode Films. Tim is creating the imagery and soundscape for the production, with the pair working together on its wider creative and production elements.
Cork voices will also form part of the finished piece. The cathedral is working with young Cork writers whose poetry is expected to feature within the story, while a Cork actor is being sought to record passages for the soundscape.
The St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir will also feature prominently, both within the soundtrack and through two special live Christmas concerts during the run.
On Friday, December 11th and Saturday, December 12th, the cathedral will host A Night Full of Promise, with the choir performing Christmas songs and carols alongside the projections. The programme will include A Night Full of Promise, a Christmas song composed by the cathedral’s Director of Music, Peter Stobart.
The concerts will run from 7pm to 8pm, with regular performances of The Promise taking place around them.
For the main experience, audiences will book a timed 30-minute slot, with the immersive show itself lasting approximately 20 minutes. Seating will be available, while audience members will also be free to move around the cathedral during the experience.
Up to 220 tickets will be available for each slot, with approximately 20,000 tickets available across the run. The Promise runs at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral from December 9th to 19th, 2026, inclusive, with performances from 5pm to 10pm each evening.
Tickets are priced at €12 for adults and €6 for children over six, with a family ticket for two adults and two children priced at €25, plus booking fees. Tickets will be available online and at the cathedral, subject to availability.
For tickets and further information, visit events.stfinbarres.ie/promise/