Sounds from A Safe Harbour marking 10 years in Cork 

The Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival will return to Cork for its 10th edition this week.

Curated by festival director Mary Hickson, alongside actor Cillian Murphy, musician Bryce Dessner (The National), writer Max Porter, and folklorist Billy MagFhloinn, the festival has an enviable reputation for eclectic programming.

This year’s line-up features an impressive array of international and home-grown talent, including Beth Orton, Ben Howard, Rhiannon Giddens, Jon Hopkins, Junior Brother, Villagers, Efterklang, DakhaBrakha, Fionn Regan, and Lisa Hannigan at venues across the city.

The festival, which runs from Thursday until Sunday, also includes a free music trail, festival zine, mural projects, visual arts, conversations, and surprise pop-ups.

Culinary offering

The culinary offering is curated by food influencer Sunshine Primo, who brings his ‘All Killer, No Filler’ to the table.

“At our very first meeting, Mary looked at me and said, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ And that’s exactly what I’ve done,” said Mr Primo.

“When I first arrived in Cork, the food capital of Ireland, the food and bev heads welcomed me with open arms and instantly made me feel at home. I couldn’t be more honoured to shine a light on them, celebrate their work, and spread the good word one bite at a time.”

The festival will kick off on Thursday, September 11, with ‘Tongue Tied’ popping up in O’Sho, before and after the opening ritual, which takes place at Elizabeth Fort.

On the Friday, the sunset market will be a mix of food carts, merchandise, and craft booths, along the Coal Quay, and ‘Friday Fizz’, a weekend long extravaganza of secret cocktail specials in local restaurants.

Packed programme

A packed programme of events on Saturday will include Victor from Nua Asador, with barbecue sandwiches at MacCurtain Wine Cellar, and Tiger Balm Club and Brian’s Wines pop-up bringing their own flavour to the mix.

Sunday will see Epi Rogan take over the kitchen at MacCurtain Wine Cellar, with Brian Murray and Darren bringing Birdsong to Coughlan’s to cook over fire, and Saint Francis Provisions and L’Atitude 51 collaborating at Bakestone.

For more information about the festival and to see the full events programme, visit https://soundsfromasafeharbour.com.