The world premiere of Michael Collins - the musical is the centrepiece of the Cork Opera House new season programme unveiled last Tuesday.

With book, music and lyrics by Bryan Flynn, this is scheduled for early in the New Year (booking opens in November) but the Opera House will be fully engaged until then with a programme which includes Gina Moxley's A Heart of Cork at the Half Moon theatre from Monday next (August 22nd) and Joan Armatrading on the main stage on September 9th.

There's ballet from Cork City Ballet, Ballet Ireland and Dance Theatre Ireland, and I Keano runs from September 14th to October 1st (returning in March 2006). Bizet's Carmen appears for the second time in six months (this one from Ellen Kent on October 19th), The Mikado from Carl Rosa is from October 31st to November 5th and Sean Tyrell's version of The Midnight Court is presented by the Cork Folk Festival on September 8th and 10th. Mummenschanz Next opens next Thursday, and other engagements range from Charlie Landsborough to Oireachtas na Gaeilge, from Patrick Kielty to Lorna Luft. The 50th Cork Film Festival runs from October 9th to 16th and the Guinness Jazz Festival from October 27th to 30th.