Skibbereen Arts Festival takes place this year between
with Music, Theatre, Film, Poetry, Visual Arts Trail, Sound Art, Walks, Talks and much much more.
The detailed programme of events will be up on the festival website skibbereenartsfestival.com on 13th June… but you can check their Facebook and Twitter between now and then for updates so ……. stay tuned!
This year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in Skibbereen is themed – “The Wild Atlantic Way” and schools, clubs and businesses throughout the community are encouraged to participate in this ever popular family event. Businesses can get involved straight away by dressing their windows and turning Skibbereen “green” for the festival of events.
Festivities in Skibbereen get underway with the Comhaltas Féile Cheoil weekend from Friday March 13-15 with a full programme of music and cultural events to suit all – please find full details here
St Patrick’s Day Church services take place in Abbestrewery at 10 am and in St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 9 am and 11:30 am.
The annual parade then starts at 2:30pm, from the playground in Skibbereen and follows its traditional route before finishing at the Old Mart Car Park on Bridge St. The Julia Hickey Memorial Shield will once again be presented to the overall winner on the day and there will be runner up prizes too, as well as a special prize for the best little leprechaun!
The fun doesn’t stop there as between 4 and 6pm in Abbeystrewery Hall the Gaelscoil are holding a fundraiser with teas and coffees, face painting and many more fun activities for all.
Festivities for St Patrick’s weekend in Skibbereen get underway with the Comhaltas Féile Cheoil from Friday March 13-15 with a programme of Irish traditional music and cultural events to suit all.
On Friday, March 13th at 8pm a Concert/Irish Night takes place in the West Cork Hotel and on the next day, Saturday, March 14th workshops will be held in brush dancing, whistling and lilting in the GAA Pavilion, followed that evening by an Aifreann Tradisiúnta in the Cathedral at 6.30pm. Sunday, March 15th sees Féile Cheoil day of competitions in Rossa College.
Please download a brochure for the full programme of events here : Feile Cheoil Brochure (1)
Cork singer songwriter Mick Flannery, who has just released his fourth album, will perform his best known songs in the acoustic surrounds of Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen, on Saturday August 2nd.
Martin Stephenson will be playing in Baby Hannah’s Beer Garden on Thursday July 31st. The British musician, whose career spans over thirty years, has gained critical acclaim alongside his band ‘The Daintees’, and has a discography amounting to an impressive 40 albums.
Other music events to take place in the festival include ‘The Annual Canon Goodman Concert’, which will be held on Sunday 27th July. The concert which is held every year in recognition of influential Irish piper and music historian Canon James Goodman, will see musicians Liam O’Flynn, Paddy Glackin, and Alexander Suarez Mendez play their mastered instruments.
Uileann Pipe player Liam O’Flynn is seen as one of Ireland’s leading musicians. O’Flynn has played with the likes of Irish folk group, Planxty, whose members consist of Christy Moore and Andy Irvine, and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Paddy Glackin is Ireland’s leading fiddle player. The Dubliner was the first fiddle player in the traditional music group, The Bothy Band whose original line-up included Matt Molloy and Tony McMahon.
Cuban Galician Pipe player, Alexander Suarez Mendez will be playing along on The Sunday night. Alexander’s passion for uileann pipes began in 2011, after Gay McKeon from Na Píobairí Uileann held workshops in Havana. The 23 year old musician now teaches the uileann pipes and tin whistle back in his home town.
A Sean Nós session will bring the craic agus ceol to the festival on Friday August 1st at Abbeystrewry Church with music from Nell Ní Chróinín, Caoimhín Ó Feargahil and The Sean Gnóstics. The Vespertine Quintet are set to bring a flare of Chamber Music to the Festival on Friday August 1st, at Liss Ard. While four part acapella group, The Cork Sacred Harp singers are back to perform again this year at the Abbeystrewry Hall on Saturday August 2nd.
For more information on the festival, its events and bookings, please check out the Skibbereen Arts Festival website at www.skibbereenartsfestival.com, or for ticket information please call 087 126 0327.
Great effort and imagination has gone into ensuring the different features of Winter Wonderland are unique and great fun for both children and adults. Some of the creative elements include – the Amazing Interactive Naughty & Nice Machine, Elves Tattoo Parlour, Candy Land and Elves-World Workshop.
The elves will take you on a journey through Winter Wonderland. See the polar bears, penguins, reindeer & lots more… There are lots of sweets and goodies to choose from at Candyland. Write your letter to Santa Claus and post it in Santa’s Mailroom. Pick your own Christmas tattoo in the Tattoo Parlour. Try your luck at the Naughty or Nice machine and see if you have been good for Santa! Then help out the elves in the workshop where they are very busy preparing for Santa’s trip around the world this Christmas.
And finally you will visit Santa’s Grotto where Santa Claus and his elves will be waiting with a special present for all the good boys and girls.
Early booking is recommended especially as the ‘adventure duration time’ for each family has been increased in order to provide a high quality and value for money experience.
15% discount by booking your family visit Mon-Thurs plus opening weekend up to 6th of December.
Winter Wonderland Skibbereen can be found at www.winterwonderlandskibb.com or via the booking hotline 028 23288.
Santa’s Elves Descend on West Cork Town for Christmas Work!
Lapland has moved to Skibbereen, West Cork this year with an influx of elves applying for work at Winter Wonderland in the town. Over 200 elves applied for seasonal work at what is being pitched as the ultimate Christmas experience for children and adults alike.
Winter Wonderland which has become a popular attraction in the town for the past number of years is under new management and promises to be bigger and better than previous years with new interactive ideas and special effects to make the visit a truly festive experience.
Speaking of recruitment drive and upcoming launch of Winter Wonderland, Owen O’Driscoll said “We have been busy extending and revamping the entire structure of Winter Wonderland to make it a really special experience for families this year. The venture will also create more than 65 jobs in the run up to Christmas which is a great boost for the area. If the children enjoy the Winter Wonderland experience as much as we have putting it all together then they will leave with fantastic memories of a completely unique visit to Santa.”
This year’s Winter Wonderland will feature many never before seen elements including – New Interactive Naughty & Nice Machine, Elves Tattoo Parlour, Candy Land and much more.
Winter Wonderland will officially open on December 1st with many exciting new surprises which will be completely unique to Skibbereen to make this year’s visit to Santa a truly unforgettable occasion for all the family. Tickets are €15 per child and €5 per adult with discounts for families and a 15% price reduction midweek (Mon-Thurs) up to December 15th.
Visit www.winterwonderlandskibb.com for further details.
