The West Cork Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, welcoming musicians and music-lovers from all over the world. It is an unrivalled opportunity to experience a remarkable range of both performers and repertoire from all over the world. This year’s programme features World and Irish premieres as well as performances of winning pieces from the Festival’s Composition Competition.
A stellar line-up includes five great Quartets – Doric, Chiaroscuro, Ardeo, Tchalik and Marmen as well as Barry Douglas, Henning Kraggerud, Pacific Quintet, Woodpeckers Quartet, Anna Besson, Lucy Fitz Gibbon, Rachel Podger, Maireád Hickey, Ella Van Poucke, Nathalia Milstein, Brett Dean, Lotte Betts-Dean and many more.
The festival takes place in Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland – a small town on the shores of Bantry Bay, one of the world’s deepest harbours, and located on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Cork Airport and Cork train station are 90 mins away by car. There are direct flights to Cork from Heathrow, Gatwick, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Stansted airports. There are buses from Cork city to Bantry (Bus Eireann and West Cork Connect services).
Bantry lies within the spectacular scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way, the 2,500 km driving route which stretches from County Donegal to County Cork. It lies between the Sheep’s Head and Beara Peninsulas, and tourists can visit sites of historical and archeological interest, from wedge tombs to stone circles. There are 2 nationally-recognised walks namely the 88km Sheep’s Head Way and 165km Beara Way.
Garnish and Whiddy Islands are nearby and a range of water and land-based activities are available throughout the summer.Tourists can also visit artisan craftsmen and try their hand at cheese-making or stone-carving.
Bantry House, a historic house with commanding views over Bantry Bay and the Caha Mountain range, and St Brendan’s Church, Bantry are the two main concert venues with town concerts in St Brendan’s School Hall.
Festival fringe events take place on Whiddy, Sherkin, Hare and Bere Islands as well as unique locations in Schull, Ahakista and beyond.
Bantry has two hotels – Westlodge Hotel and Maritime Hotel – as well as some Airbnb rentals. Hotel accommodation can be found further afield in Skibbereen and Glengarriff.
Local accommodation is quickly booked so the Festival organisers recommend early booking.
There is no official dress code.
Local restaurants include O’Connor’s Seafood Restaurant, the Fish Kitchen and the Brick Oven.
