Courses

West Cork Literary Festival 2018

December 31, 2017 by Dunmanus

The West Cork Literary Festival presents an extensive programme of readings, workshops, seminars, panel discussions and children’s events

At the heart of the West Cork Literary Festival’s extensive programme is a schedule of five and three day workshops in Coláiste Pobail Bheanntrai. These workshops cover subjects such as the novel, travel writing, script writing, poetry, creative writing for beginners, writing for children and much more.

The main evening events feature readings held in the Maritime Hotel. In recent years, the literary festival’s guest authors have include Graham Norton, Mary Robinson, Colm Tóibín, Lord Melvyn Bragg, Sir Michael Parkinson, Michael Palin, Nuruddin Farah, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Holroyd, Annie Proulx, Margaret Drabble, Fay Weldon, and many more famous authors.

Bantry town is buzzing with literary conversation throughout the festival. There are free readings in Bantry Library and Bantry Bookshop, afternoon seminars, book launches, panel discussions, coffee and chat events.

The West Cork Literary Festival also provides an opportunity for Munster novelists to enter a competition to win the JG Farrell Award.

Dates:	13th-20th July 2018
Location:	Bantry, Co. Cork
Bookings:	Book online
Phone:	00 353 (0)27 52788/9
Email:	[email protected]
Website:	http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literaryfestival/
	Please be advised by individual venues
TripAdvisor Reviews:	No
Google Maps:	Yes
Facebook:	Yes
Twitter:	@wcorklitfest

Carbery Sailing

January 6, 2017 by Dunmanus

At Carbery Sailing on the Sheep’s Head peninsula, we offer RYA-approved sailing courses and chartered sailing trips along Ireland’s beautiful Atlantic coastline

Our sailing school is based in Ahakista on West Cork’s Sheep’s Head peninsula – a European Destination of Excellence. All of our sailing courses take place on our Hallberg Rassy 46 yacht ‘Merlin’.

Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay and Roaringwater Bay offer technical challenges to suit everyone and make West Cork a fantastic place to learn to sail. You’ll gain practical experience and confidence as well as your RYA sailing qualifications when you’re learning to sail, or building your sailing skills on Cork’s dramatic bays.

Our professional and friendly instructors cater for novice sailors and for people looking to advance their sailing skills. Train for your ‘Start Yachting’, ‘Competent Crew’, ‘Day Skipper’ and ‘Yachtmaster Coastal’ sailing qualifications here. You can also sign up for ‘taster’ weekends, mile-building courses or chartered day trips and Wild Atlantic Way Cruises.

Our visitors love the fine scenery, fantastic food and great company they find on the Sheep’s Head peninsula after a day out on the water. It’s a wonderful base for a sailing break along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

Contact Carbery Sailing today, and we’ll help you plan every aspect of your trip from your training, travel, and transfers to great accommodation.

You’ll find our scheduled sailing courses and Wild Atlantic Way cruises here on the events calendar and at http://carberysailing.com

Location:	Ahakista, Sheep's Head peninsula, Co. Cork
Open:	7 days, 9am-8pm.
Email:	[email protected]
Tel:	00 353 (0)27 29101
	No
Website:	http://carberysailing.com/
TripAdvisor:	Yes
Responsible Tourism Policy:	Yes Long-listed for Irish Responsible Tourism Awards 2015: 'Best in a Marine or Coastal Environment' category.
Google Maps:	Yes
Facebook:	Yes
Twitter:	@carberysailing

February 6, 2014 by Dunmanus

Learn something new and connect with the landscape, seas, and wonderful food culture you’ll find along the Sheep’s Head Way

In the Studio: Traditional skills are alive and well here, and when you take a letter-cutting or a stone-carving course, you’ll be working with materials drawn from the landscape of the Sheep’s Head peninsula.

Knitting and felt-making courses can regularly be found on our events calendar. Art courses – encouraging you to look more closely at, and work with the landscape – are available too.

In Workshops: The festivals for which Bantry is famous offer you wonderful opportunities to learn new skills at music and writing workshops led by practitioners who excel in their fields.

Out on the Water: Take up sailing courses with Carbery Sailing. All courses are approved by the Royal Yachting Association, and there are three beautiful bays to explore around the West Cork peninsulas. Dinghy sailing on Bantry Bay is another great option for water lovers!

In the Moment: Yoga courses on the Sheep’s Head peninsula and in the Mealagh Valley teach you mindfulness and an appreciation of the beautiful world around here along the Sheep’s Head Way.

Letter-Carving Weekend

January 18, 2014 by Dunmanus

Visit West Cork to enjoy a creative holiday on the stunning Sheep’s Head peninsula. Victor Daly – a sculptor and carver with over 20 years of experience – will teach you to carve letters in stone using traditional tools and skills passed down from generation to generation.

During your workshop, Victor will introduce you to the tools and basic techniques you’ll need to cut classical and contemporary letters in stone. Tools and materials will be provided, and you’ll work to complete a small letter-carving project which you can easily take home with you.

The weekend includes accommodation in the immaculate surroundings of Gallán Mor, a boutique 4-star B&B offering stunning views over Dunmanus Bay. Lorna and Noel will offer you a warm welcome, complimentary home-baking, and rooms with views over the bay and the peninsula’s mountain peaks.

Gallán Mór is within easy reach of the historic town of Bantry and beautiful Bantry House. There’s plenty to explore on the Sheep’s Head peninsula too. Visit Durrus Cheese dairy, Dunbeacon Pottery, Cronin’s Forge and the area’s historic landmarks before you retreat to the comfort of the B&B’s cosy four-poster beds.

Captivating sea views, sleek interiors, lovely food – and an affable pair who run the place with Irish charm and Caribbean sparkle. (Alastair Sawday, Special Places to Stay in Ireland)

The area is home to the famous Sheep’s Head Way walking and cycling routes, and you’ll have time to explore the landscape, and sample West Cork’s food and hospitality during your stay. If you are travelling in a couple and only one person opts to take the letter-carving workshop, we can help you to plan alternative activities, including a cheese-making workshop (available Tues-Thurs only).

Book your holiday today, and start looking forward to your holiday in West Cork.

Price:

One-day Letter-Carving Workshop & Two Nights B&B Accommodation:
€260 (per person, room-sharing) Offer ends May 30th 2014.

Transport:

Gallán Mór is located 1.25 hours’ drive from Cork Airport. Transfers can be arranged.

UK airports with flights to Cork Airport include:
Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow and London Stansted.
European airports with flights to Cork include:
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Girona, Lisbon, Milan, Munich, Nice, Paris and Warsaw.

Bookings and Enquiries:

Contact Lorna Bourke to arrange a booking for dates to suit you.
[email protected]
+353 (0)27 62732
+353 (0)85 1707214

Bantry Bay Sailing Club

January 6, 2014 by Dunmanus

Bantry Bay Sailing Club offers ISA-approved dinghy sailing courses on West Cork’s Bantry Bay.

We operate in the sheltered and safe location of the inner harbour of the bay which is located in West Cork in the south-west of Ireland.

We are a recognised ISA training centre. This means we can provide you with Irish Sailing Association certification if this is what you want and you can meet the standards required. This certification is recognised internationally.

Our class sizes are small giving you more individual attention. We will provide you with the use of a club dinghy for the duration of your course. This will save you the cost of having to buy your own, even though, in time, we hope you will if you really get to like sailing.

The sailing club is located on the Bantry Bay Blueway!

Felt-Making Workshops

January 3, 2014 by Dunmanus

Learn felt-making in Christina Jasmin Roser’s idyllic West Cork studio on the Sheep’s Head peninsula where fleece becomes fabric.

Take a felt-making workshop here on the Sheep’s Head peninsula, and you’ll be introduced to the wonderful world of felt making and get hands-on experience of making your own felt piece. Group sizes are limited to max four people or one to one so you can learn in a relaxed atmosphere, with lots of support available.

All scheduled course dates for felt-making workshops are listed over on our events calendar too!

Half-day Beginners Felt-Making Workshop:

Christina will introduce you to the wet felting technique and show you how to create a flat piece of felt using different colours and types of wool and at the end of the day you will be going home with a decorative picture, or with the help of a couple of stitches, your felt piece can be made into a book or cushion cover.
Cost: one person €50 per person (Max four people)
Dates:
19th March 2016
30th April 2016
21st May 2016, or by arrangement.
Times: 12am to 3.30pm-ish

One-day Beginners Felt-Making Workshop:

Christina will introduce you to the wet felting technique so at the end of the day you will not only go home with either – a 2 dimensional flat piece of felt such as a small wall hanging, cover for a book or – a 3 dimensional piece of felt such as a small bag or purse, egg warmer, vessel etc. but also with the knowledge to be able to make your own fabulous felt.
Cost: €95 per person. Two – four people € 85 per person.
Dates:
2nd April 2016
28th May 2016
25th June 2016, or by arrangement.
Times: 10am to 5pm-ish.
Workshop includes a small lunch, coffee, tea etc.

3D Felt-Making Workshop

During your one-day 3D felt-making workshop, you will learn how to design and make a unique 3D seamless hollow object using the wet felting technique and a simple plastic resist.

This felt-making technique allows you to create any hollow form such as a vessel, purse or small bag on the day and also gives you the skills you’ll need to make a hat, slippers, or a piece of clothing after your felt-making course is over.

You will also be shown how to use surface colours and textures using different types of fibres and threads, raw fleece etc. to give your 3D form your personal touch.At the end of your 3D feltmaking course, you will go home with your own unique 3D creation and with ideas and inspiration to incorporate into your next piece of felt.
Cost: €95 per person. Discounts for block bookings.
Dates:
Saturday 16th April 2016
Saturday 28th May 2016
Saturday 25th June 2016
Christina is also able to give one-day workshops in “Felt Jewellery”, “Make Your Own Felt Hat”, “Introduction to Nuno Felt” and “How to Use Pre-Felt Within Felt-Making” or maybe there is something totally different you would like to learn within the felt-making craft. Please contact Christina for further information.

Tutor:	Christina Jasmin Roser
Location:	Libeen, Durrus, Sheep’s Head Way post 996
Phone:	+353 (0)86 394 7574
Email:	[email protected]
Website:	http://christinajasminroser.com
Facebook:	Yes
Additional information:	Half-day courses start at 12pm and end at about 3.30pm. Full day courses start at 10am and end at about 5pm. Contact Christina to arrange a date that suits you. Materials are included, and full-day courses also include a small lunch, coffee, tea etc. Contact Christina to arrange a date that suits you.