Happening again as part of A Taste of West Cork in September 2012, the basis of the Celtic Cook Off is for top chefs from the Celtic regions to take part in a fun and informative Cooking Show that showcases the best of West Cork produce cooked simply with each chef’s own interpretation and ideas.

Over the past few weeks we have been learning more about the chef’s involved in this year’s event and we look forward to welcoming chefs, locals and visitors to our Hotel West Cork for the event on Wednesday 12th September. To find out more about The Celtic Cook Off at the West Cork Hotel and to learn more about the chef’s taking place, check out our dedicated Celtic Cook Off section.

This weekend, Baltimore is not the only place that you can enjoy top music and entertainment, as this Sunday 13th May, here at the West Cork Hotel we have our Ballroom of Romance. This popular event attracts locals and visitors in the area to our hotel in West Cork and is a great way to enjoy some live music and dancing.

People travel from all over the world to enjoy this event, and event organisers are yet again expecting guests from Australia, the US, Japan, France, Germany, and the UK as well as from the rest of Ireland. Whilst in the area to enjoy the Fiddle Fair, guests exploring the area and looking for things to do in West Cork as well as the ideal place to stay, our hotel in West Cork is only a 10 minute drive from Baltimore, and ideally located in the town of Skibbereen, providing easy access to the region of West Cork and the events taking place during the Fiddle Fair.

The Fiddle Fair takes place in the village of Baltimore between 9th – 13th May 2012 and there is definitely much to be enjoyed over the next few days, and as the opening concert “Any Old Time” is already sold out, it would be wise to book up events including gigs and workshops ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Although most activities won’t begin till the Friday, we at the West Cork Hotel are starting the bank holiday weekend early with a traditional music session in the Ilen Bar, our pub in Skibbereen this Thursday 3rd May.

From Friday over the rest of the weekend, there are festivals and events happening all over the County of Cork but 2 popular local West Cork festivals to be enjoyed are the Ballydehob Jazz Festival and the Drimoleague Feile Beag Festival.

The Ballydehob Jazz Festival will take place from the 4th-7th May, and most events at this festival are free of charge and concerts are held in the town’s pubs, cafes, schools, street stages and the Ballydehob Community Hall.

The Drimoleague Feile Beag Festival, also taking place on the 4th-7th May and includes many free event for all ages including pub charades, ceili, funfair, basketball tournament, arts and crafts exhibition, flower arranging, fancy dress, street music, and much more.

Like last year, the Celtic Cook Off will take place here at the West Cork Hotel and will see chef’s from each of the Celtic Territories: Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Isle of Man, Cornwall and Brittany come together for one night to compete against each other in a, ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style cook off!

The full Celtic Cook Off line up is as follows:

• Ireland – Paul Flynn of the Tannery in Dungarven
• Scotland – Tony Singh of Oloroso in Edinburgh
• Isle of Man – Butch Buttery
• Wales – Shaun Hill of the Walnut Tree in Abergavenny
• Cornwall – Jack Stein of the Rick Stein Group
• Brittany – Stephane Delourme of the Seafood Restaurant in Padstow

In addition to this fantastic line up of celebrity chefs, and adding to the elite Judging Panel this year is Roy Brett (last year’s Celtic Cook Off winner), Martin Shanahan (Last year’s Ireland representative and owner of Fishy Fishy in Kinsale) and Tim Anderson (BBC Masterchef winner 2011).

So put the dates in your diaries now, for what will be a night to remember in West Cork.

There are a host of things to do in West Cork as the month of May begins, starting with the Walking Talking Festival in Cape Clear (29thApril-2nd May), this festival is a series of guided walks with local experts, focusing on the history, folklore and ecology of the area, as well as numerous informal gatherings that including poetry and song.

Following this and over the May Bank Holiday weekend (4th-7th May) and back on dry land, it’s the Ballydehob Jazz Festival, most events at this festival are free of charge and concerts are held in the town’s pubs, cafes, schools, street stages and the Ballydehob Community Hall.

Staying on the music theme, on the 9th-13th May its Baltimore’s Fiddle Fair, this popular festival that started way back in 1992 attracts musicians from around the world, who play in venues around the beautiful fishing village of Baltimore.

At the end of Month (25th – 27th May) and again in Baltimore, it’s the Wooden Boat Festival, which is run in conjunction with the Seafood Festival, which is an opportunity to take part in sailing, talking, learning as well as enjoying the very best food and drink on offer in West Cork.

The President was in the area to attend a commemoration in Union Hall on Sunday for the 5 fisherman who lost their lives earlier this year following the sinking of the Tit Bonhomme trawler off the coast of West Cork. The Tit Bonhomme sank after hitting Adam’s Island at the entrance to Glandore Bay in stormy seas on the way back to shore after a three-day prawn fishing trip. Speaking at the ceremony, President Higgins expressed his sincere sympathies to all who lost loved ones on 15th January 2012 and his gratitude to the men and women of the Naval Service, the Coast Guard, An Garda Siochana, the teams of volunteer divers and hundreds of volunteers who helped and assisted in the recovery operation.

Staying in the recently refurbished hotel Suite, President Higgins and his wife enjoyed a meal at our very own Kennedy Restaurant in Skibbereen on Saturday night and chatted to guests and locals in the Ilen Bar, where he was serenaded by The Kiltha Tones male choir from Youghal, who were also guests at our hotel in West Cork this weekend.

President Higgins, we look forward to welcoming you back.

Aside from remembering and honouring the maiden and sole voyage of the ill-fated liner, West Cork has been abuzz as the long bright days of summer have been drawing nearer. With the busy summer season ahead, the many draws of a summer in West Cork are moving closer, with the area surrounding Skibbereen offering numerous activities for the local or visitor.

Skibbereen is ideal base for visitors to access the West Cork region and our Hotel West Cork is suitably located in the town, on the Ilen River with easy access to the region’s main routes. From heading off on a West Cork whale watching tour, sailing, island hopping to Carberys hundred isles (only 3 inhibited) and scuba diving to sea angling on West Cork coastline or maybe even West Cork sea kayaking in the rivers and coastal waters as far East as Cobh harbour, this wonderful area has much to offer the active and adventurous.

So while we mark the occasion when the iconic liner left our shores for good, perhaps it is best to note the coastline she left behind by taking advantage ofthe plethora of land, water and sea-based activities and attractions available and things to do in West Cork.

We here at the West Cork Hotel are not surprised to hear about the popularity of the area for walkers, especially as at the end of this month from 29th April – 2nd May, its the annual Walking Talking Festival in Cape Clear – This weekend consists of a series of guided walks with local experts, focusing on the history, folklore and ecology of the area, followed by various, informal gatherings that including poetry and song.

If you are in heading to Cape Clear and looking for somewhere on the main land, than our hotel in West Cork is the ideal base to stay and enjoy a bite to eat after a long day West Cork walking and talking in Cape Clear than why not try our restaurant in Skibbereen.

Programme of events commences Friday 15th June, Arriving here at the West Cork Hotel on Friday 15th June, the programme of events commences at 6:30pm, with Meet the Producers; An informal chance to meet, talk and eat with some of our leading artisan producers in West Cork, including Sally Barnes from Woodcock Smokery. Who you shall meet again the following day, as on Saturday 16th June at 10:30am, you will go to Woodcock Smokery to ‘Smoke your Own’ – an opportunity to learn filleting skills and prepare you own fish to be smoked. Lunch will also be served at Woodcock Smokery. After lunch about 2:30pm, you will visit Manning’s Food Festival in Ballylickey, held at the famous Manning’s Emporimum and with over 40 fresh food, drink and craft producers presenting their exquisite selection of produce! Tea will be served at Manning’s Emporium and later that night on your return here to the West Cork Hotel; dinner will be served in our Kennedy restaurant in Skibbereen. Focusing on locally sourced produce, our house specialities include Bantry Bay Mussels and Castletownbere Crab and Salmon Cakes. Your final day, Sunday 18th June will begin with seaweed hunting and foraging with Sally McKenna, well known cookery editor and publisher of the Bridgestone Guides, followed by lunch at Glebe Gardens before departing from West Cork at 3pm.

The cost for this amazing food experience weekend is just 380 euro per person and price includes – accommodation, breakfast, evening meals (on 2 days), collection and return to Cork Airport/Station and transport to and from venues. For more information about this fantastic weekend and how to book, visit our: West Cork Food June Break