Skibbereen Arts Fest is going ‘green'

SKIBBEREEN Arts Festival is going eco-friendly in its 10th year, by taking some simple steps to help make the festival more sustainable and environmentally friendly into the future.

Speaking at the launch in Skibbereen last Friday evening, organiser Declan McCarthy said that the public may have noticed less signs advertising the festival around town.

‘We decided this year not to get any more corriboard signs so we are employing someone to do hand-painted signs, which can be re-used, so it’s just a little thing we thought we could do,’ said Declan.

He said the audience won’t be seeing any plastic bottles on the stage anymore, either.

With the festival – which runs from July 26th to August 4th – celebrating ten years this month, Declan said they have invited 10 other festivals from across West Cork to collaborate with them to mark the anniversary.

‘The way we chose them is that they are all in receipt of Arts Council funding and that was the criteria,’ said Declan. 

‘It’s remarkable that for such a small area here in West Cork we have 11 world class arts festivals happening here,’ he explained.

Highlights this year include the Moon Dance Fancy Dress Street Party on the opening night, while musical highlights include two gigs by The Blind Boys of Alabama and Amadou & Mariam in the Town Hall.

A cinematic treat for movie lovers is the Movie in The Garden feature where the film Gravity will be screened in the spectacular walled garden at Liss Ard estate on Saturday July 27th.

Best-selling author and podcaster Blindboy Boatclub will present his podcast live at the Town Hall and there are also several art events throughout the week.

County mayor Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan launched the festival, along with Skibb resident and film director David Puttnam.

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