The 2013 St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Skibbereen promises to be a fun-filled few days for the whole family with a host of events planned in the town. This year’s event will be known as the St. Patrick’s Gathering Weekend Skibbereen forming part of The Gathering 2013 year long celebrations as we welcome the Irish Diaspora from around the globe back to the Emerald Isle.
Festivities kick off on Saturday, 16th March, with a Farmers Market in Fair Field from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. which will be showcasing the best of West Cork produce for visitors to discover and for any looking to sample some of this delicious West Cork food used within some fine cuisine, why not join us at the West Cork Hotel for lunch or dinner in our Kennedy Restaurant in Skibbereen.
With entertainment happening throughout town in the evening, there is the opportunity for those wishing to continue the celebrations well into the night to join us at The West Cork Hotel as we will be hosting an Over 25′s Disco “Reeling in the Years” from 10 p.m. until the early hours of the morning!
Sunday Mass will be available at 11.30 a.m. at both St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Abbeystrewry Church. But the main event will of course be the St. Patrick’s Day Parade which takes place on Sunday, 17th March, at 2.30 p.m. from the Cork Road, and will pass the West Cork Hotel, continuing onto the Fair Field. There are more groups than ever due to take part in the parade this year which should make it the perfect occasion to bring the whole family. The Skibbereen Community Choir will provide the musical backdrop for revellers when they perform at Fairfield following the Parade and there will be live entertainment in our Ilen bar for all residents to enjoy and revel in the Paddy’s Day atmosphere.
Festivities will continue on Monday, 18th March, with traditional Irish brunch and Jazz music from 11 a.m. until 2.00 p.m. at the West Cork Hotel. So if you are planning on travelling to West Cork over the St. Patrick’s weekend then why not avail of The West Cork Hotel’s special St. Patrick’s Weekend offer for 2 night B&B, which includes breakfast each morning and a complimentary Pint of Guinness or Irish Coffee upon arrival. For further information on this special St. Patrick’s Weekend offer please contact us on 028 21277 or info@westcorkhotel.com.
Building on the success of last year’s Supper, this year attracted an even bigger following and not even the terrible weather and flooding on the roads could deter people! As Neil Grant, our General Manager commented, “I was saying thanks to one of our guests as I knew they had travelled a distance to get here in terrible weather. Their response was to say that they would have taken any detour required and would make it here ‘no matter what’! It was lovely to hear!”
Sourcing Haggis from McSween’s of Edinburgh, which made its entrance to the accompaniment of the bagpipes, was complemented during the evening with local scallops, and with loin of venison from North Cork. Our friends at Woodcock Smokery provided the necessary ingredients for Arbroath Smokie fishcakes, whilst Scottish Clootie Dumplings were paired with Glenilen Clotted Cream and Union Hall Drombeg Custard.
As well as the wonderful food, there was much entertainment to be had, and Norman Kean as MC for the evening ensured that all kept on track as he introduced speakers and performers to recite and carry out the official duties required during a Burns Supper.
From 2 – 6pm we shall be opening the doors of our magnificent 
An ideal romantic retreat for a truly memorable break away this Valentines why not enjoy a 2 night stay with us at the West Cork Hotel, including Prosecco and Chocolates in your room upon arrival, a room service breakfast each morning served until 12 noon and a romantic candlelit dinner with prosecco and gift for the ladies on either the 14th or 15th February in our 
Starting at 7 for 7:30pm sit down, our West Cork Hotel Burns Super is a 7 course traditional Scottish themed feast, using the best of West Cork Ingredients, and which will include of course a “wee dram”, as well as poetry recitals taking place during the meal and the traditional ceremonial arrival of the main dish of Haggis, which will be brought in held aloft by one of our Chef’s and piped in by a Bagpiper! After the meal there will be a Scottish Music session, which will include some “jigs n reels”.
Whether arranging an informal business meeting or for catching up with friends for elevenses’ – there is no better place to meet than our