Graham Johnston suffered stab wounds to his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.
Graham Johnston had been serving time for theft and burglary offences – he was due to be released in November of 2017.
He began his sentence in 2011 and was not believed to be violent in nature.
It's understood the 41 year old became involved in a row over a remote control with another inmate in the Kitchen of Cork prison at about five past five yesterday afternoon.
Prison staff intervened and a local doctor and Gardaí were called – however Mr Johnston was pronounced dead a short time later.
A forensic examination of the scene will be carried out while the State pathologist is expected to carry out a post mortem.
No one else suffered any injuries in the incident.
