Bere Island Arts Festival returning to West Cork with a packed programme of events 

Bere Island Arts Festival has launched its full programme for 2024 following the inaugural festival weekend last year.

The community will welcome people to its shores from September 19 to September 22 when the island will become the setting for music, song, visual, performing, and spoken art.

More than 30 events will take place across the island at various venues including the Heritage Centre, Wild Atlantic Glamping, and former military buildings such as The Drill Hall and The Lecture Theatre (old Camp Church) and will feature acclaimed poets Enda Wyley and Peter Sirr, visual artist Bill Griffin, renowned folk singer Lisa Lambe, and the creative trio behind ‘Building the Boat’: poet Keith Payne, dancer Inma Pavón, and sound artist Mick O’Shea.

Attendees can look forward to a reading of new works by local poet Seamus Harrington, the poetry competition organised by the Bere Island Creative Writing Retreat and a casual Irish language gathering at the pop-up Gaeltacht.

Crossroads dancing

They can also expect traditional Irish music and dance at Dancing at Crossroads, the 7 Island Art Exhibition showcasing works from artists across the West Cork islands, and a screening of the short film ‘ Mary Sullivan — The Fine Line’.

Additionally, the School Book Project will launch ‘ My Townland, My Story’, a collection of writings by island schoolchildren.

Speaking about the upcoming festival, Pauline Hurley of Bere Island Arts Festival, said: “All of us who call Bere Island home know what a special place it is, and for audiences and acts attending our festival they will feel that too.

“Our island will stage local, national, and international artists who are responding and adapting to the unique setting and landscape.

“This festival is a collaboration of businesses, volunteers, artists, and sponsors including Creative Places West Cork Islands, the Arts Council, Poetry Ireland, and Cork County Council. But, most of all, it’s a community of people who are proud of what we have here and want to welcome visitors with open hearts and minds.”