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Canada Ireland Foundation, founded by Robert G. Kearns in 1997, is dedicated to celebrating the story of the Irish in Canada. Originally known as the Ireland Park Foundation, the organization was founded with the purpose of creating a public space to commemorate Irish

Famine migrants who arrived in Toronto in 1847. With the support of the City of Toronto and many other generous public and private contributors, Ireland Park was officially opened in July 2007, in the presence of Mary McAleese, President of Ireland. Now known as Canada Ireland Foundation, in addition to developing and maintaining important public spaces, they continue to conduct and present original historical research, while presenting an ever expanding range of contemporary artistic and cultural events and programs throughout the

year.

This application is for “Opening of the Corleck Building and 2026 Programming”, taking place January 10 to December 1, 2026. The Corleck, a new multi-arts venue operated by the Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF), marks a transformational expansion of the organization’s cultural programming capacity. Built as a flexible multimedia performance space, the Corleck enables CIF to host concerts, theatre productions, exhibitions, talks, community gatherings, and year-round cultural programming. Its inaugural year will include a series of festivals, exhibitions, and signature events designed to serve both the Irish diaspora and the wider Toronto arts community. The Corleck’s inaugural programming includes:

(1) Official Opening Weekend (March): The Corleck will launch with a two-day celebration featuring a formal ceremony with Canadian and Irish dignitaries, followed by a suite of free public activities, including introductory Irish language lessons, children’s dance workshops, a live traditional music session with visiting Irish musicians, and a special edition of Network Ireland;

(2) Bealtaine Irish Theatre Festival (May): Building on the success of its inaugural edition, CIF will significantly expand its annual theatre festival by presenting five award-winning productions, including Druid Theatre’s acclaimed staging of Endgame;

(3) Irish Music Festival (September): A new three-day indoor music festival will offer a distinct musical theme each night—Folk, Rock, and Pop/R&B—positioning the Corleck as a contemporary venue that attracts both the Irish community and broader Toronto audiences; and

(4) Visual Arts Exhibitions (September/November): Two curated, free exhibitions anchor the fall program: a large-scale photography exhibition tracing the visual history of U2, and a Canada–Ireland history exhibition exploring long-standing cultural, political, and migratory ties.