Bantry organisation tops list of Cork groups awarded over €4m by Arts Council
CEO of West Cork Music Francis Humphrys in Bantry during one of the summer events with Literary Festival director Eimear O'Herlihy. Picture: Karlis Dzjamko
West Cork Music has topped the list of Cork organisations receiving funding from the Arts Council’s development programme. The Bantry-based organisation which runs three annual festivals through the summer – Chamber Music Festival, Literary Festival, and Masters of Tradition – was awarded €510,000.
Nationally, a total of €72.3m was awarded by the Arts Council to 148 arts organisations, arts centres, and other projects. Organisations based in Co Cork will receive €4,107,690.
Other big recipients in Cork include Cork Midsummer Festival (€497,000), the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras (€350,000), and Cork International Film Festival (€285,000).
Overall in Ireland, the Abbey Theatre will receive the largest amount at €9.5m, while Irish National Opera was awarded €5.53m. Other recipients in Munster include Waterford Spraoi (€450,000), and Dance Limerick (€294,000).
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan said: “These awards support artists and organisations to realise ambitious creative work across all artforms, while ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds have meaningful opportunities to engage with the arts in their everyday lives.”
This round of funding represents more than half of the Arts Council’s annual investment, with further awards for 2026 announced later, including allocations for disability access.
Cork International Film Festival: €285,000
Irish Association of Youth Orchestras: €350,000
The Firkin Crane: €232,000
Cork Midsummer Festival: €497,000
Munster Literature Centre: €246,000
West Cork Music: €510,000
Cork Printmakers: €93,990
Lewis Glucksman Gallery: €153,500
National Sculpture Factory Cork: €353,200
Sirius Arts Centre: €135,000
Triskel Arts Centre: €253,000
Everyman: €500,000
West Cork Arts Centre: €300,000
Cork City Council: €104,000
Cork County Council: €95,000
