West Cork Music Festival – Chamber Music, Literary, Masters of Tradition – has an impressive positive economic impact on the community, creating dividends in terms of tourism, and rural vibrancy as well as the arts.

Prof. Eleanor Doyle, of the Global Competitiveness Institute, Cork University Business School, University College Cork , has carried out an Economic Impact Assessment and her conclusions are that:

• The combined economic impact of the 3 Festivals is more than €7.6 million in 2025
• West Cork Music generated an additional €12.50 for every euro of public money invested in the organisation

This impact is produced from 23 days of festivals over the summer, with the events acting as the lynchpin of Bantry’s tourism offer each summer. Huge thanks to everyone in the town who helps out, with volunteering, ushering, providing accommodation and rehearsal spaces. Not only are you helping to make great art happen here in Bantry, but it’s part of a wider positive impact for the community!

For West Cork Music, the opportunity to create more impact year-round, is a driver of our project to develop a year-round arts venue and education hub in Bantry. Find out more at https://bantrymusiccentre.ie