The chamber music festivals that are treasured by music-lovers everywhere share several features – the day is full of music from morning to midnight, the programming repeatedly discovers unexpected repertoire and great but lesser-known musicians, all works are properly rehearsed, there is a strong programme of masterclasses and facilities for young musicians and audiences keep coming back.  These festivals are very often in remote but beautiful places.  This is what we try to achieve in Bantry.

The West Cork Chamber Music Festival includes concerts, masterclasses, talks and instrument making workshops.   The hundred or so invited musicians are without exception superb, the programming combines the challenging and the unknown with the familiar and the whole town is taken over for rehearsals.  There is also a fantastic ‘Fringe Festival’ with daily events all over the town.

Bantry House and St. Brendan’s Church are the main concert venues but all the venues have an intimacy that is vital for chamber music which creates a special community of musicians and music-lovers.  Bantry House itself is renowned for the atmosphere created in the candle-lit Library and the House’s extraordinarily beautiful setting at the head of Bantry Bay.  All events are within walking distance of the town, which enjoys a fantastic atmosphere all week.

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