The city of Cork made pop-culture history last weekend as it hosted its first ever Comic Con at the Marina Market, drawing more than 6,000 visitors across Saturday and Sunday. From cosplayers and gamers to families and lifelong fans, attendees packed the halls for panels, exhibitions, celebrity meet-and-greets, and more.
Held October 4 and 5, Cork Comic Con transformed the vibrant Marina Market from a food hall and multipurpose venue in Cork’s city into a hive of fandom activity. The event was run under the umbrella of Comic Con Ireland / DCC, bringing the energy of larger conventions to Cork’s doorstep.
Special guests included Michael “Mick” Mellamphy, the Cork native who provided the performance capture and voice work for Sean MacGuire in Red Dead Redemption II and Emma Gregory, known for her work as Minthara in Baldur’s Gate III and voice acting across gaming and fantasy franchises. Attendees also had the chance to meet Roger Clark, the actor behind Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption II, who participated in panels, and meet and greet sessions.
In addition to celebrity panels and autograph sessions, the weekend featured medieval sword-fighting displays and stage combat demos, while an Artist Alley showcased local and national illustrators, comic creators, and independent publishers. A bustling Trader Hall also sold collectibles, graphic novels, figures, props, and memorabilia.
MILESTONE EVENT
“Cork’s first Comic Con at the Marina Market has been an incredible success,” said Derek Cosgrove, one of the organisers. “To see such a diverse crowd come together from families and lifelong fans to cosplayers and gamers has been amazing. With celebrity guests like Mick Mellamphy, medieval sword fighting displays, inspiring workshops, and such talented artists and traders, there was truly something for everyone. The response has been beyond what we imagined, and it shows how much appetite there is for this kind of event in Cork.”
Karl Walsh, co-organiser, stated that ‘the incredible turnout’ in Cork made it clear that this is just the ‘beginning of a much bigger journey’.
