Joint SMI and ICTMD Ireland Postgraduate Conference 2026
The joint SMI (Society for Musicology Ireland) and ICTMD Ireland (Irish National Committee of the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance) Postgraduate Conference 2026 will be held at MTU Cork School of Music, Union Quay in Cork City on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January 2026.
We are delighted to welcome Dr Joanne Cusack (Maynooth University) to give the 2026 keynote address. The conference will feature the presentation of the Alison Dunlop Graduate Prize. As in previous years, the postgraduate conference will also include a Careers Forum and a dedicated session featuring prize-winners of the annual CHMHE competition for undergraduate dissertations.
Registration Fee: €25 Members / €45 Non Members
Register on Eventbrite Here
For any queries, please email: smi.ictmd.2026@gmail.com
Conference Schedule
A draft copy of the conference schedule is available here.
Call For Papers
The Deadline for the Call for Papers has passed. To see the Call For Papers, click here.
Getting to the conference
The MTU Cork School of Music (CSM) is centrally located on Union Quay in Cork City Centre. Here are the instructions for travellers attending a conference, whether you're arriving by air, rail, or car.
CSM Address
Address: Union Quay, Cork, T12 E9HY, Ireland
The building is situated right on the River Lee and is easily identifiable.
Arriving via Cork Airport (ORK)
Cork International Airport (ORK) is approximately 8 km from the MTU Cork School of Music.
Taxi: The fastest and most convenient option.
Cost: Approximately €20 (depending on traffic).
Duration: About 15-20 minutes.
Bus: You'll need to take a bus to the city centre and then walk.
Take the Bus Éireann Route 225 or 226 from the airport to the city centre.
The bus will drop you off near the Cork Bus Station (Parnell Place), which is about a 5-minute walk from CSM.
Arriving via Cork Kent Train Station
Cork's main train station is Kent Station, which has connections from Dublin, Mallow, Cobh, and Midleton.
Walking:
It is a straightforward walk through the city centre.
Taxi: Cost: A taxi from Kent Station should cost around €10.
Bus: Kent Station is served by bus routes, and the Cork Bus Station (Parnell Place) is a short walk from Kent Station. From the bus station, it's a 5-minute walk to CSM.
Arriving via Bus
For those arriving by intercity bus (e.g., from Dublin, Limerick, Galway, etc.), most services stop at the Cork Bus Station on Parnell Place.
From Cork Bus Station (Parnell Place): The School of Music is only about a 5-minute walk away.
Local City Buses: Many city bus routes stop very close to the School of Music, including nearby stops at:
George's Quay (approx. 3-minute walk)
Parnell Place (approx. 6-minute walk)
South Mall (approx. 7-minute walk)
Look for city bus routes like 202, 215, 220, 226, or 235 that serve the George's Quay/City Hall area.
Driving and Parking
Driving Directions: The CSM is most easily accessed from the N25 South Ring Road.
Parking: On-street parking near CSM is limited.
The nearest multi-storey car park is the City Hall car park, which is a very short walk from the School of Music.
Alternatively there is a park & Ride at the Black Ash park and ride facility. Parking is €5 for the day and you can get off at the first stop at Cork City Hall. The 213 bus from Cork City Hall (Anglesea Street Side) will bring you back to the Park & Ride. Note, the park & ride closes at 8:30pm.
Accommodation
Cork has many hotels and guest houses, here is a list of the closest hotels to MTU Cork School of Music.
The Imperial Hotel & SPA
Maldron Hotel South Mall Cork City
The Metropole Hotel
Leonardo Hotel Cork
Premier Inn Cork City Centre Hotel