Latest news with #SeaChurchExpress
Irish Independent
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
East Cork venue to launch shuttle bus service to address ‘lack of rural transport at night'
The 'Sea Church Express' will collect gig-goers from the Titanic Experience in Cobh and Midleton Railway Station and drop them off in Ballycotton approximately 90 minutes before events start at the venue. The service will operate 30 minutes after events end at Sea Church, returning passengers to Cobh and Midleton. Matthew Sisk, events manager at Sea Church, told The Corkman that alleviating customers' need to drive to the venue was the 'catalyst' for the Sea Church Express. 'Because we are an intimate venue, we would get maximum 200 people in there, about 50 of those people are designated drivers, so we thought of tackling that by getting a shuffle service going,' Mr Sisk said. 'A lot of couples would not bother going out if only one of them is able to drink, and if you're coming from Cobh, you're probably spending €40 for a taxi one-way.' The Sea Church Express return journeys will cost €20 per person regardless of pick-up location. Oliver Falter, general manager of Flynn Cush Hospitality Group Ltd which runs establishments in Ballycotton said the new bus service will help to address 'the lack of rural transport at night'. 'It means that gig-goers can come to Ballycotton with the peace of mind of knowing they will be brought safely back to Cobh and Midleton,' he said. The service will make its debut voyage for the Flashdance 80s vs 90s Disco event on July 11. For more details and to book a place on the bus service as part of a gig experience, visit
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Take me to Sea Church: East Cork venue launches shuttle bus to make gigs more accessible
Get me to the gig on time – the team behind one of the country's most scenic live music venues, housed in a restored church, has launched a new shuttle bus service for concertgoers. Sea Church, the multi-purpose entertainment venue in Ballycotton, Co Cork, has unveiled plans for its own shuttle bus service that will collect concertgoers at two locations in the East Cork region, bring them to gigs, and return them afterward. The Sea Church Express will launch on July 11 for the venue's Flashdance: 80s vs 90s Disco Night and will be available for all events from then on. The bus will collect attendees at the Titanic Experience in Cobh and at Midleton Railway Station, departing Cobh two and a half hours before showtime and leaving Midleton two hours before showtime. It will drop passengers off at Sea Church 90 minutes before the performance, giving them time to relax at the bar or restaurant, or simply enjoy the stunning setting overlooking Ballycotton Bay. The bus will depart 30 minutes after the scheduled end of the show, allowing time for an encore or for passengers to enjoy a drink at the Fishbowl, a reserved waiting area created for Express passengers after the gigs. Oliver Falter, general manager of the Flynn Cush Hospitality Group Ltd, which developed and runs the venue, said the shuttle bus is another addition to the fantastic offering in Ballycotton. 'There's a huge demand in the East Cork area for the entertainment we provide, but we needed to address the issue of rural transport at night, and so we decided to put on our own bespoke bus,' he said. 'It means that gig goers can come to Ballycotton with the peace of mind of knowing they will be brought safely back to Cobh and Midleton.' The Academic in The Ballycotton Sessions Sea Church is the former St Colman's Church of Ireland building, built in 1835 with funds raised locally. As the local Church of Ireland population declined, the church gradually fell into disuse and was eventually closed. It remained shut for several years until Ballycotton-born tech entrepreneur Pearse Flynn bought it in 2018 from American owners and began a multi-million-euro restoration and transformation into a music and arts venue. It has since hosted a series of high-profile and intimate live music gigs featuring some of the biggest names in the music business. It also hosted The Ballycotton Sessions, presented by broadcaster Louise Duffy and screened on RTÉ, featuring performances by The Waterboys, Moncrieff, Hermitage Green, Jerry Fish, Síomha, Hudson Taylor, and The Blizzards. The shuttle bus is a return service, with tickets costing €20, regardless of pickup location. Details on upcoming gigs and the bus service are available at Read More Sailor rescued from drifting yacht off Waterford coast during strong winds
