The Sheep’s Head Way walking route has a worldwide reputation as Ireland’s best-loved coastal walking trail The West Cork walking trail traces the coastline of the Sheep’s Head peninsula – its beauty enhanced by the magnificent views it offers across Bantry and Dunmanus bays. Whether you walk the whole 88km hiking route along the West […]
Culture Night in Bantry 2024
Follow a vibrant culture trail across Bantry, weaving in music, crafts and dance on Culture Night 2024 (20th September).
The evening’s highlights will include a concert in St. Brendan’s Church in the West Cork harbour town, where writers and musicians will respond creatively to the theme of rhythm, and an intimate concert of songs and stories in Marino Church with Lisa Lamb
Words, Music, Rhythm: A West Cork Music Culture Night Concert
Coordinator: West Cork Music | Time: 8pm-9:45pm
Booking Essential: https://westcorkmusic.ie/culture-night
Join us for a concert in St Brendan’s Church where we will showcase the artistic traditions Bantry celebrates across the three festivals West Cork Music hosts over six weeks each summer – the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, the West Cork Literary Festival, and Masters of Tradition.
Featuring:
- Café Cork Flute Ensemble. Based at Cork School of Music, this ensemble is made up of enthusiastic amateur and professional flautists who perform a wide variety of classical, modern, and popular music on all types of flute from the piccolo to the contrabass.
- Leeanne O’Donnell. Leeanne started her storytelling career working in radio with RTÉ and BBC, and she has made a number of award-winning radio She wrote her first novel, Sparks of Bright Matter, from her home on the foothills of a mountain in West Cork.
- Oisín Morrison and friends. A talented harper, flute player and composer from Dublin, Oisín has been recognised with various awards, including the prestigious Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada. He will be joined by friends at the Culture Night concert to explore rhythm through the medium of Irish traditional music.
Lisa Lambe, NightVisiting @ Marino Church
Coordinators: Fish Kitchen & West Cork Music | Time 7pm -8:30pm
Internationally acclaimed Irish folk singer Lisa Lambe brings her new project ‘Nightvisiting’ to Bantry on Culture Night. The event will bring those who gather to the hearth of the rural house, to sing the old songs and tell the local stories, many now lost or forgotten. The event is based on Lisa’s work with the National Folklore Collection and her recent M.A in Irish Folklore.
Bantry’s Culture Night Trail
This year’s Culture Night trail in Bantry includes activities in multiple languages (English, Irish, and Ukrainian) and crafts (knitting and crochet), as well as music. The town-wide trail celebrates West Cork’s cultural richness and community, as well as the underlying rhythms of its words, music, and creativity.
Young Performers’ Showcase
Coordinator: Curious Keys Music School
Time: 4:00-4:30pm
Students from Curious Keys will showcase their talents on Culture Night in Bantry. Come along to see the next generation of musicians perform and help give them first taste of interacting with appreciative audiences!
Wheelchair accessible: No
Location: Curious Keys Music School, 10 New Street, P75 NF84 [Over Forest & Flock]
Pop-Up Gaeltacht @ Ma Murphy’s
Coordinators: Bantry’s Irish Conversation Group & Ma Murphy’s
Time: 6-7:30pm
Join us for a Pop-Up Gaeltacht to practice whatever level of Irish you have. You’re sure to gain a few extra words and confidence, and pick up the natural rhythms of everyday conversation as Gaeilge. The event will feature cómhrá agus craic, and scúps if you’re keen to keep talking!
Wheelchair accessible: No
Location: Ma Murphy’s Pub, New Street, Bantry, P75 DP82
Per.Form @ Forest & Flock
Coordinators: Forest & Flock & Per.Form
Time: 6pm
Forest and Flock – home to lots of wonderful Irish art, craft and design, with be hosting a dance performance in collaboration with Bantry’s Per.Form Studio.
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Location: Forest & Flock, New Street, Bantry, P75 NF84
Knit & Stitch Social Evening
Coordinators: Bantry Yarns & West Café & Wine Bar
Time: 8pm-10:30pm
Stitch in sync with fellow knitters and crocheters as part of Bantry’s Culture Night on Friday September 20th.
Knitting and crocheting used to be thought of as private affairs, but now these traditional arts are the focus of social events where skills and stories are shared!
So, get those needles clicking in sync with other knitters and crocheters at a social evening of learning and crafting on Culture Night, led by Bantry Yarns’ Jaq Stedman in the convivial setting of Bantry’s West Café and Wine Bar.
Booking Essential: https://bantryyarns.ie/knit-and-stitch-social-evening
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Location: West Café & Wine Bar, Bridewell Lane, Bantry, P75 KR12
Refreshments: Cold larder plates, wine and coffee will be available for purchase on the night.
Bantry Library History – Short Film
Venue: Bantry Library
Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Call in to Bantry Library to see a short film that celebrates the 50th birthday of this iconic building annd its construction by weaving together archival photography and recent audio recordings from the project architect Harry Wallace and local Murnane and O’Shea. The Library is also hosting two exhibitions – one on the building and architecture of Bantry Library from its construction in the early 1970s and the second from MTU 2nd year Interior Design architecture students from their projects on the interior’s redesign.
Jamming in the Café
https://culturenightcorkcounty.ie/events/jamming-in-the-cafe/
Venue: Bridge Street Community Café
A free-flowing music session with improvised music.
If we save the ocean we save the earth
https://culturenightcorkcounty.ie/events/if-we-save-the-ocean-we-save-the-earth/
Venue: The Mariner
Seabed Sanctuary Artist Collective presents a film and music evening focusing on our oceans, and West Cork shores.
