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West Cork Literary Festival 2022

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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.

This year sees a full in person return to the festival and a packed schedule of 69 events featuring over 80 authors such as Laureate for Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín, Zadie Smith, Paul Muldoon, Nick Laird, Louise O’Neill, Geoff Dyer, Rosaleen McDonagh, Seán Hewitt, Maeve Higgins, Yan Ge, Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Caroline O’Donoghue, Tice Cin – and many more.

Festival Programme

This summer, the West Cork Literary Festival has partnered with the Lighthouse Project to deliver an offering at Sheep’s Head with writer Sara Baume and visual artist Mark Beatty. The Lighthouse Project is a site-specific response to lighthouses around Ireland, curated by Dani Gill and produced in partnership with festivals and other partners in counties where it takes place. Please note that tickets are limited and attendance at this event is limited to ticket-holders only.

This event takes place on the 15th July 2022.

Book Now

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.

West Cork Literary Festival at a glance

West Cork Literary Festival

Sheep’s Head Genealogy & DNA Group Gathering

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Sheep's Head Way

Anyone with family ties with the Sheep’s Head peninsula won’t want to miss a weekend dedicated to exploring local genealogy!

All are welcome to the event – attendees will meet in the dining room of the Bayview Inn in Kilcrohane on the afternoon of Saturday, 22nd June.

There will be a short talk by Danny Tobin, who will chair the event, and a talk by Dr Dorothy Sweeney, followed by a general and open discussion with members working together and helping each other to make connections in their family trees.

Danny will use a DNA-matching tool to show who is connected to who via DNA (this is only of use to those who have already done DNA tests and have their results uploaded to the gedmatch website).

A number of speakers will be involved over the weekend, and a walk is planned for the Sunday afternoon, which will take in some interesting heritage sites around the peninsula.

Speakers

Ann Marie Coghlan

Ann Marie Coghlan is a professional genealogist living in Ireland. She is an Affiliate of Accredited Genealogists Ireland [AGI]. Her background is in Education Management and in Business Consultancy in UK. Her family heritage is in Cork, Clare, Galway, and Dublin.

Her main Irish research interest is in the City of Cork and its business and religious communities. She is experienced in researching the Irish community in England and Scotland. She is also interested in migration, family patterns, and Irish burial practices. She is a speaker and a researcher for local societies and family groups, and a Speaker for the Ireland/UK International Society of Genetic Genealogists [ISOGG].

Drs. Jim & Dot Sweeney

Both Jim & Dot earned doctorates in Counselling Psychology. Their 35 years of work in the fields of Education and Psychology include teaching, speaking, and consulting. Additionally, they have traveled throughout all 50 US states, focusing on National Parks; they worked as Park Rangers in Yellowstone National Park for 12 summers. A desire to find their roots led them to research in USA and Ireland, with both their journeys ending up on the Sheep’s Head peninsula! Their passion fueled them to become dual citizens and to connect with like minded folks across the globe with Sheep’s Head ties.

For more information, contact Danny Tobin on [email protected]

Sheep's Head geneaology weekend

Sheep’s Head Easter Run 2019

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Sheep's Head Easter Run 2019

The Sheep’s Head Easter Run 2019 is a 10k race which offers wonderful views over Dunmanus Bay and the beautiful Sheep’s Head peninsula

Athletes can experience the breathtaking views over Dunmanus Bay and the Sheep’s Head countryside as the route takes them up past Rusnacahara Church, on through the townlands of Kealties and Brahalish, back onto the main road and finishes at ‘Arundels by the Pier‘.

The race has an approved AAI permit and takes place on our accurately measured 10K course.

The event is being organised by Ahakista Rowing Club and any funds raised will go towards the everyday costs of the Club. We also hope to make a donation to the four national schools in the parish – Kilcrohane NS, Rusnacahara NS, St James NS and Carrigboy NS.

Race Details:

Registration can be undertaken by clicking the ticket link above, or on the day.
Chip timing will be available.

Walkers begin their race at 11:30am
Runners being at 12pm
And those doing the Family Fun Run 5k start at 12:15pm

Food and drink will be available for purchase at the lovely Arundel’s pub. Live music is bound to happen as well, so take some time out after your run for a relaxing afternoon and evening in Ahakista!

Sacred Stones and the Cult of Sun Worship

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Ireland’s sacred stones have an intriguing link to the cult of sun worship!

As part of the West Cork Stone Symposium 2019, Professor William O’Brien will give an open-air talk at Ballycommane, just outside Durrus, where a new visitor centre helps to tell the story of a boulder-burial site and a pair of standing stones on the site.

The site was excavated by University College Cork in 1989. The talk and tour of the centre will be followed by tea and coffee.

Tickets: €10 per person
Booking essential!

This event is part of a packed programme at the West Cork Stone Symposium 2019.

Bay Run 2019

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Bay Run 2019

On the 19th May 2019 the Bay Run Half-Marathon and 10k Run will take place from Glengarriff to Bantry. Don’t let the scenery stop you!

Glengarriff is famed for its natural beauty. Situated on the world-renowned Bantry Bay, where the mountains meet the sea, Glengarriff is the gateway to the Beara peninsula, connecting the towns of Bantry and Kenmare and has also acquired a fine reputation for the great variety of shops, galleries, accommodation, restaurants, pubs and services.

The Bay Run sweeps through these mountains in West Cork and brings some spectacular scenery as you approach the majestic town of Bantry steeped in history.

As you approach the town you will be diverted off down the beach walk to stay on the bay and finish close to Wolfe Tone Square.

A shorter 10km race will also take place on the day. See http://bayrun.ie for details.

Bay Run Route

Starting in Glengarriff, follow the N71 heading for Bantry. In Ballylickey (by the Ouvane Falls) turn off the main road heading for Pearson’s Bridge. Turning right here, loop through Dromdaniel back onto the N71 heading for Bantry. Follow N71 into town and finishing in the Upper Car Park at the edge of the Bantry Town Square.

When you enter the Half Marathon & 10Km you will receive:
Race Timing Chip
Race Number
Water stations along the route
Finisher’s Medal
Technical T-Shirt available for an extra charge.

Register online!

Masters of Tradition: A Traditional Music Festival

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Masters of Tradition: A Traditional Music Festival

Masters of Tradition is a five-day traditional music festival held each August in the West Cork town of Bantry

Masters of Tradition Festival features a series of performances, covering the full spectrum of Irish traditional music. The performances take place in Bantry House, one of Ireland’s most exquisite historic mansions, and in one of Bantry’s other special venues, St Brendan’s Church.

The event provides a platform where subtle and sometimes obscure elements of Irish traditional music can be heard. By seeking the heart of the music we find a universal voice that has widespread appeal reaching across many cultural and musical barriers.

The festival is headlined by its Artistic Director, Martin Hayes, the fiddler from East Clare, whose distinctive touch and extravagant virtuosity has brought the tradition to new levels. His famous trance-evoking sets with Dennis Cahill have mesmerised audiences all over the world and will do again this summer!

Check out the full programme at http://westcorkmusic.ie/mastersoftradition/programme

Plan your visit! Click the link for great places to stay and eat https://livingthesheepsheadway.com

Featured Activity

The Mariner Bantry

If you are looking for a great night of entertainment in Bantry, The Mariner is the place for you Centrally located on The Quay and Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry it’s a great place to catch up with local bands and nationally renowned acts. Our intimate bar and music venue plays host to a wide […]

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Featured Accommodation

Gallán Mór B&B

Gallán Mór, overlooking Dunmanus Bay on the Sheep’s Head peninsula, offers luxury B&B accommodation with style, distinction and warmth January 2016 – Gállan Mór ranked NO. 1 for the whole of County Cork on TripAdvisor Our four luxurious bedrooms, three with vaulted ceilings, offer sumptuous beds and stunning views. Our rooms overlook Dunmanus Bay and […]

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This project has been supported by Cork County Council & the LEADER programme under the Rural Development Programmes 2007-13 and 2017-2021.