Illuminating the Archives; 170 Years of Cork Opera House

March 2026

Following a series of public engagement initiatives rolled out as part of the venue’s 170th anniversary, a brand new artwork, Illuminating the Archives by Cork-based glass artist, Sophie Longwill has been unveiled at Cork Opera House where it now takes permanent pride of place in the building’s atrium. The work is composed of 170 pieces of fused glass with each segment reflecting imagery inspired by the past, present and future; all assembled together to memorialize the beloved moments that make-up Cork Opera House’s history, including the musical theatre classic The Sound of Music.

To celebrate the return of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music this summer and the installation of Illuminating the Archives, we’re offering you the chance to win 4 tickets accompanied with dinner for 4 at Luigi Malones before the show.

To enter the competition:

1. Visit us at Cork Opera House

2. Post a picture of the Illuminating the Archives artwork on your story

3. Identify one specific moment or artist represented in the artwork

3. Tag us! @corkoperahouse

Competition will run through the month of May 2026, with winner announced on Monday 1st of June 2026.

We were able to bring this initiative to fruition thanks to the generous support of sponsors Fleetwood Paints and partners Sample-Studios. The completed artwork stands as a testament to the evolving partnership between industry and the arts in Ireland. Be sure to take a look the next time you’re in and see who you can spot – you might even see Freddie Fleetwood making a cameo!

Sophie Longwill, a multi award-winning artist and member of Sample-Studios, was selected through a competitive tender process involving several leading visual artists. Recognised as one of Europe’s ‘Rising Stars’ by the Michelangelo Foundation’s Homo Faber Guide, Longwill has received numerous accolades, including a 2024 scholarship to the Corning Museum of Glass, an Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland, and an artist residency at Southern Illinois University, culminating in her solo exhibition Faoiseamh. Reflecting on her work, Sophie Longwill said: “Inspired by the archives, I used colour, hand-painted illustration, and multiple glass techniques to capture the richness of the stories and the artistic vibrancy of Cork Opera House. Illuminating the Archives is composed of 170 pieces of fused glass; just as Cork Opera House is made of many voices and histories, this artwork brings together multiple elements to form a unified whole—a reflection of collective memory, community, and creative continuity.”

“This commission was conceived as a legacy piece for our 170th anniversary year: 170 individual pieces of glass, each representing a year of performance and culture on this stage, beautifully translated into light and colour by Cork artist Sophie Longwill, whose work explores memory, transformation and the passage of time through the medium of glass,” said Eibhlín Gleeson, CEO and Artistic Director of Cork Opera House. “Drawing on performances at Cork Opera House, artists, archives, costumes and the memories of our audiences, the piece now hangs permanently in our front-of-house space—a glowing tribute to 170 years of Cork Opera House and all those who have been part of its story. We are deeply grateful to Fleetwood Paints for their generous sponsorship of this commission. Their support made it possible for us to bring this vision to life and to invest in a lasting piece of art for Cork. Partnerships like this allow us to go beyond the stage and create something that will resonate with our audiences and our city for years to come.”

The judging panel for the 170th Anniversary Visual Art Commission included Eibhlín Gleeson (Cork Opera House), Brian Keehan (Fleetwood Paints), Aoibhie McCarthy (Sample-Studios), and Brian Mac Domhnaill (Lavit Gallery).

“As Ireland’s largest artist studios, we were delighted to support Sophie to undertake this significant commission in Cork Opera House, supported by Fleetwood Paints,” said Aoibhie McCarthy, Artistic Director, Sample-Studios. “This is an excellent example of what can be achieved by partners coming together to underpin local artists’ ambition and vision to enhance our existing infrastructure.” Marking its own milestone year, Fleetwood Paints also highlighted the significance of the collaboration. “Fleetwood Paints, in our 75th year in business, is proud to support and collaborate on this visual art commission created by talented local artist Sophie Longwill,” said Brian Keehan, Area Sales Manager. “This project celebrates the power of Irish colour and design – values which sit at the heart of the Fleetwood Paints brand.”

Here’s an example of one of the pieces Sophie pulled from the Cork Opera House Send It Home archive to inspire her work.