West Cork Festivals in July
As the summer arrives to West Cork, so too do many wonderful annual festivals and events for all the family to enjoy. Here is just a sample of festivals and events taking place in the area and all easily accessible from our hotel in West Cork.
West Cork Literary Festival takes place Sunday 7th – Saturday 13th July in Bantry, and includes workshops with many notable literacy giants, such as Ruth Padel who will oversee the Poetry workshops and Kevin Rushby the Guardians chief travel correspondent who will conduct travel workshops. For those looking for hotels near Bantry, the West Cork Hotel offers the ultimate in West Cork Accommodation.
With many highlights to look forward to in this festival, including the celebration of the towns maritime heritage, writers will also have the opportunity to have their work appraised by a professional literary panel in Writer Idol. Not just for the adults, the children’s festival will feature top kids writers and illustrators and include workshops for teen writers.
The Lough Hyne Challenge on Saturday 13th July is arranged and managed by the West Cork Triathlon Club. A challenging course, entrants first compete in a 1.5km swim in Baltimore harbour, followed by a 46km cycle course that see cyclists travel along the Ilen river, towards Toe Head and back to Baltimore via Skibbereen and Lough Hyne. The final stage of the challenge is a 10km run through the winding roads or Baltimore. A very scenic but strenuous course for competitors and an exciting race for spectators, the Lough Hyne Challenge is a popular event that attracts visitors and spectators from all over Ireland.
On Sunday 21st July, it’s the Sherkin Island Regatta. A wonderfully busy day on the island and an event that attracts large crowds, crews from rowing clubs in the surrounding neighbouring villages and towns compete against one another within Baltimore Harbour. The at the end of July from Monday 22nd – Sunday 28th July it’s the Skibbereen Children’s festival followed by from Friday 26th – Sunday 4th August the Skibbereen Arts Festival. A vibrant festival that is renowned for attracting world class international and local acts to feature in its packed programme of events. This year things are no different with the announcement that Valgeir, who is known for his collaborations with Björk, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Camille, CocoRosie, Ben Frost, Howie B, Kronos Quartet, The Magic Numbers, múm, Feist and Nico Muhly to name but a few will be playing on Sunday 4th August in the Abbeystrewery Church. Later in July, the Glandre annual regatta also takes place. With its close proximity, for hotels near Glandore, look no further than the West Cork Hotel. A highlight of the summer, the Skibbereen Arts Festival is one of the must do things to do in west Cork for anyone in the area.