Visitors to West Cork jazz festival revel in a feast of fun 

THE ever-popular Ballydehob Jazz Festival came to an end for another year yesterday, with the West Cork village once again attracting musicians from all over the world and droves of visitors for the annual event.

The community- and volunteer-run music and art festival returned from May 3-6, featuring more  than 30 performances from Irish and international acts such as The Bonk, Donal Dineen, The Lava Birds, Tacla, Becca Ruane, and BoolaBoom.

Festival highlights this year included a debut from outdoor circus show Pirate Taxi; the Bootleggers Ball featuring the Canibal Dandies; DJs and dancers; and the legendary New Orleans-style funeral parade on Sunday, which was themed the ‘Carnival Of Creatures’ and led by Modh Coinníollach (the Good Mood) muppet.

Over 80% of the festival events, art exhibitions, music trail, street performances, and more had free entry.

Ballydehob Jazz Festival, which is supported by Cork County Council, the Arts Council of Ireland, and local businesses, also ran free community and school workshops during April in Levis’ Corner House, offering skills in puppet-, mask- and prop-making, and putting together performance pieces such as dance and drumming.

Creative director Joseph O’Leary said the festival, which has been running since 2007, marks a “celebration” of the village.

“It’s a really unique festival we have created together, full of heart, fun and community, music and art,” he said

“It’s a celebration of Ballydehob, and could happen nowhere else because there’s nowhere like this village.”