Bittersweet performance at West Cork event

Bittersweet is how violinist, Catherine Leonard describes the feeling she anticipates when she and pianist, Hugh Tinney will perform the last event in the West Cork Music’s Concert Series at Bantry House on Saturday.

Because of financial pressure on arts events, the Bantry-based West Cork Music organisation will focus its attention on its three summer festivals — the West Cork Chamber Music Festival (WCCMF), Masters of Tradition and the West Cork Literary Festival.

One of Ireland’s leading violinists, Leonard points out that the WCCMF “is now so huge and international that I can completely understand why it’s no longer viable to have concerts throughout the season as well. The funding isn’t there.”