A week of beautiful music at Bantry

Ticket sales at the 18th West Cork Chamber Music Festival were substantially up on previous years, with a record number of sell-out concerts and, for the first time, waiting lists.

But the organisers faced challenges, including the cancellation of star violinist, Nicola Benedetti, due to ill-health, and the late arrival of the Jupiter Quartet from the US, due to flight delays.

Three other visiting violinists took on Benedetti’s appearances, in addition to their own, while her trio partners created a new programme of duos to cover for her absence.