June 30th - July 8th, 2017
The West Cork Chamber Music Festival takes place in Bantry, on the shores of historic Bantry Bay in County Cork, Ireland. Established in 1996, it is now one of Europe’s leading chamber music festivals and has earned a reputation for its innovative programming, the world-class calibre of its performers and its informal atmosphere.
The Festival runs for nine days with five concerts, three masterclasses and a talk each day. Bantry House is the main concert venue along with the small single-aisle church dedicated to St Brendan, whose legendary Brendan Voyage began in this part of Ireland. All the venues have an intimacy that is vital for chamber music and Bantry House itself is renowned for the atmosphere created in the candle-lit Library and the House’s extraordinarily beautiful setting at the head of Bantry Bay.
All events are within walking distance of the central hotels and one can find oneself crossing the Square in the company of world-famous musicians, the intimacy of place and venue creates a special community of musicians and music-lovers. Bantry is a one and a half hour drive from Cork city and Cork Airport which has direct flights to destinations throughout the UK and Europe.