West Cork Chamber Music Festival: Bantry event off to a fine start 

Highlights of the first weekend of the festival included a collaboration between and a Ukrainian pianist and a Danish cellist 

West Cork Chamber Music Festival artistic direcor Francis Humphrys with Cllr Caroline Cronin at the event reception. Picture: Karlis Dzjamko

Last week’s heatwave broke just as the 10-day West Cork Chamber Music Festival opened on Friday night and a cool mist rolled over the hills in Bantry. There’s a perception of chamber music, and perhaps even this festival in particular, as being somewhat niche, but over its history the festival has expanded in every direction to dispel such notions. 

Director Francis Humphrys continues to unearth rarely heard works and programme challenging music alongside more familiar repertoire, yet has also introduced a children's programme and a 14-event free festival fringe with workshops and concerts throughout the West Cork area.