Crosstown Drift fest returning to Cork for a weekend of culture and creativity

An annual exhibition focused on culture and creativity will return to West Cork for a second year this month.

Crosstown Drift, taking place on Garinish Island across September 20, 21 and 22, will combine elements of fiction and literature, with cultural conversations and demonstrations.

Throughout the event there will be seated events with writers, poets, musicians and cultural creatives, as well as an added evening concert series aboard the Harbour Queen ferry with Cormac Begley and Lisa Hannigan.

Festivities will kick off on September 20 at 11am, with head gardener Glyn Sheratt taking visitors on a walk around the horticultural highlights of Garinish, bringing its rich history, vibrant wildlife and plants to life.

This will be followed by an introduction to traditional willow basket making with Rosemary Kavanagh of Wild Rose Basketry at 12.30pm.

Music walking tour

A music walking tour from 1.30pm will see visitors meander around the island listening to Uilleann pipes, dulcimer, fiddles, steel guitar and Sean Nós singing from David Murphy, Eoin Stan O’Sullivan, Sorcha De Roiste and Brian Leach.

On September 21, historians will hear from the Irish Examiner’s Michael Moynihan, in conversation with UCC’s Dr John Borgonovo and Dr Donal O’Drisceoil, co-authors of the Cork University Press’ latest publication Atlas of the Civil War.

Following this, food writer and Grub Circus ringmaster Joe McNamee will talk to Aishling Moore of Cork city’s renowned Goldie seafood restaurant and legendary fish smoker Sally Barnes for a discussion on sustainability within the food industry.

Crosstown Drift is delivered by the Office of Public Works and The Good Room, a cultural creative company based out of Cork city.

Most events will be free of charge, with tickets available for the evening concert series from €30 at  https://www.eventbrite.ie.