About Us

Since its foundation in 1995, West Cork Music has become a regional beacon of world-class musical, literary, and artistic experiences, while retaining  its character as a grassroots arts organisation deeply rooted in its community.

Each summer, West Cork Music (a registered charity) brings the highest calibre of musical and literary experiences to the southwest coast of Ireland to create powerful, immersive experiences for its audiences, writers, musicians, and performers alike. Its festivals – the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, the West Cork Literary Festival, and Masters of Tradition (a celebration of excellence in traditional music) – are among the highlights of Bantry’s summers, and its events have played a vital role in establishing the reputation of the Cork region as a creative powerhouse.

The organisation promotes learning through educational programmes from grassroots to elite levels, and it encourages participation in the arts through outreach programmes, immersive workshops, and experiences aimed at growing the audiences of the future as well as nurturing artists’ skills. It also contributes hugely to the cultural and economic vibrancy of Bantry town and the West Cork region.

Plans for the future: adding strings to our bow!

As West Cork Music approaches its 30th Chamber Music Festival, the organisation (a registered charity) is seeking to secure the future of the festivals, broaden their reach, and move forward with its plans to establish a world-class, accessible arts venue and education hub in the heart of Bantry town.

In bringing together visitors, artists, and locals who share music, literature, creativity, and community against the backdrop of Bantry Bay, West Cork Music has always contributed to interaction between different arts, and the cultural and economic vibrancy of Bantry and West Cork, as well as Ireland’s national arts scene. Now it is seeking to grow its year-round impact by establishing a dedicated arts venue and education hub in the heart of our harbour town.

The new facilities will equip West Cork Music to deliver world-class performances throughout the year, building on our growing concert series. It will also add capacity to support learning from beginner to elite levels – a long-held ambition of our founder, Francis Humphrys!

Thanks to their location next to Bantry’s iconic library, the new West Cork Music facilities will also help to shape an emerging cultural quarter in our harbour town, for the benefit of locals and visitors alike!

Find out how you can support West Cork Music

Help us champion access to arts and creative educational opportunities in a rural setting, as well as maximise our contribution to our local economy and quality of life, when you donate to our capital project or support our festivals as a donor or friend.