WEST CORK MUSIC’s three international festivals are worth €7.67million to the local economy and are invaluable in terms of boosting the region’s international profile, research has shown.

In the face of rising costs, static funding, and a drop in the number of tourists visiting Ireland, the buoyant events continue to buck the national trend and boost tourism in Bantry.

Independent research into the economic impact of West Cork Music’s three summer festivals has shown that the festivals delivered a massive economic boost to the local economy in 2025.

The independent economic impact assessment of the festivals, which are organised each year by West Cork Music, was carried out by Professor Eleanor Doyle of Cork University Business School at UCC.

The figures show that 15,888 tickets were sold this year, and more than 5,570 people attended the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, West Cork Literary Festival, and the Masters of Tradition. Prof Doyle reported that 17% of the visitors were from overseas, with 53% from outside the Bantry region, while ticket sales throughout West Cork are indicative of the local support for these festivals.

Local accommodation providers benefited from 20,761 bed nights for the festival audience, artists and volunteers, with audience members spending €4.8 million on accommodation, catering and local services.

Bucking the national trend for falling tourism numbers, these figures show a substantial increase on 2024. That has been attributed to the fact that more people are travelling to see international headline acts as part of the programming arranged by Francis Humphrys, the director of West Cork Chamber Music Festival; Eimear O’Herlihy the director of the West Cork Literary Festival; and Martin Hayes, the artistic director of the Masters of Tradition.

The festival founder, Francis Humphrys, acknowledged that the festivals continue to be generously supported by the Arts Council, Cork County Council and Fáilte Ireland.

As CEO of West Cork Music, he said the research shows that for every euro of public money invested in these festivals, an additional €12.30 in economic impact was generated.

‘The findings are really encouraging,’ Francis told The Southern Star, given that it continues to be a challenging time for arts festivals.

Despite rising costs, Francis said: ‘These figures demonstratively prove the value of established and well-run arts organisations to local communities, and are startling proof of the value of West Cork Music’s three international arts festivals to Bantry.’

He said: ‘Each individual festival succeeds as it offers a unique artistic experience to complement the unrivalled scenic attractions of West Cork.

And he made the point that the figures also ‘help copper-fasten the case for building a music centre provide a home for West Cork Music and year-round arts events.’

In conclusion, Francis Humphrys said the Chamber Music, Literary Festival and Masters of Tradition ‘each bring their own special audience attracted by the sheer quality and indeed quantity of the artists who make their way to Bantry.’

This year, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival will run from June 26th to July 5th. The West Cork Literary Festival will take place from July 10th to 17th and the Masters of Tradition from August 19th to 23rd.