THE second Clonakilty Arts & Minds festival takes place from Friday March 27th to Sunday 29th.

The event deepens its commitments to creativity, conversation and community in West Cork and brings together an inspiring range of artists and thinkers.

From pop-up gigs in shops like Cash & Co to a DJ set by Arveene at Revel Café, the festival will be brimming with activities.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be a panel discussion in De Barra’s Folk Club on Sunday called ‘From Hollywood to West Cork’ which will see contributions from various industry people including Pat Collins, Danny Crowley, Pádraig Trehy, Édaín O’Donnell of West Cork Film Studios and emerging voice, Clair Brennan.

Staying with film an award-winning documentary ‘Last Will & Testament’ which explores the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays will be screened at the Park Cinema.

Visual art exhibitions will also feature throughout the weekend featuring the work of PJ Lynch and Julianne Guinee alongside Mark Dougherty, TP McCurtain, Pauline Walsh and Stephen Hayes.

Some of the musical highlights will include contributions from Saoirse Millar, Jim Murray, Méabh McKenna, Ultan O’Brien and John Blek. Local band, Band of Youth will be playing in Astna Square.

A wellbeing session will also be held and there will also be a discussion ‘Surviving Earth’ featuring Dr Paul Deane from UCC and Cillian Lohan of the European Economic and Social Committee.

A street parade to celebrate the children’s author Dr Seuss – who wrote ‘The King’s Stilts’ while staying in Clonakilty – involving the pupils of Kilmeen National School will take place on Thursday at 1.15pm through the streets of Clonakilty.

For a full festival timetable see ‘Clonakilty Arts & Minds’ on Facebook.