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Culture Night in Bantry 2026
Follow our Culture Night Trail
Follow a vibrant culture trail across Bantry this Culture Night to find events and performances that weave in music, literature, and conversation inspired by the idea of striving to improve creatively…
Give the young musicians from Bantry’s Curious Keys Music School an appreciative audience at the start of their creative journeys. Listen to West Cork writer R.P. O’Donnell talking about his debut novel. Then listen to the Meliora Quartet – an engaging young ensemble that takes its name from the Latin word for ‘improvement’!
Curious Keys Open Mic
Location: Bantry Tourist Office, P75 EY11
Time: 5:30pm
The teenage musicians from Bantry’s Curious Keys Music School will take part in an open mic style performance, showcasing their improvement as musicians, singers and songwriters, since they began learning their instruments.
Singers and musicians aged 12-18 can apply to take part below. Be among their first audiences as you enjoy their performances, encourage their talent, and take the opportunity to sing along!
No booking required for audience members – arrive for prompt 5:30pm start.
Wheelchair accessible: Yes.
Reading & Conversation with R.P. O'Donnell
Location: Bantry Bookshop, P75 YH01
Time: 6:30pm
The trail takes in a reading at Bantry Bookshop by West Cork-based American novelist R.P. O’Donnell. A former winner of West Cork Literary Festival’s JG Farrell prize, he will be in conversation with fellow novelist Gráinne Murphy about his acclaimed first novel All the Old Clocks, “an accomplished rural noir” mystery set in West Cork in 1988.
No booking required. Please arrive promptly for a 6:30pm start.
The Meliora Quartet in Concert
Location: St. Brendan’s Church, P75 H593
Time: 7:30pm
On Culture Night, West Cork Music will showcase the young musicians of the Meliora Quartet. Founded at MTU Cork School of Music, the ensemble takes its name from the Latin word for ‘improvement’. You’ll quickly understand why their amazing performances, spurred by their commitment to continuously improving, has made them favourites with audiences at West Cork Music’s summer Chamber Music Festival!
No booking required – arrive for prompt 7:30pm start.
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Venue Map
Tree of Life Workshop
Bantry Library
5:30-7:30pm
In this stitching workshop, participants will work together to decorate the tree of life with textile art. As the night goes on the tree will grow, and participants will create works of art from familiar crafts and materials, such as knitting, sewing, and textile materials.
Textile artist Sinead Harris will facilitate this collaborative stitching project.
Other events across the Bantry Trail
Summer Arts Youth Workshop Exhibition
Marino Church
5:00-8:00pm
Drop in to see an exhibition of work that emerged from a workshop for young people led by Shane O’Driscoll as part of Cork County Council’s Summer Arts Programme.
Bantry Down Memory Lane Exhibition
Bantry Library
Recovery & Resilience
Bridge Street Community Café
7:30-9:30pm
For audiences aged 18+
Enjoy an evening of storytelling, poetry and spoken word, featuring creative voices sharing original work in a welcoming setting.
Culture Night in Bantry is supported by
