Make haste to the Beara peninsula for this inaugural two-day literary festival on the picture-perfect Garinish Island …
Garinish Island, a short scenic cruise from Glengariff, West Cork, is renowned for its 15 acres of manicured Italianate gardens created by former owners Annan and Violet Bryce. Annan Bryce bought the island in 1910 and commissioned Harold Ainsworth Peto to design fine gardens and Italian garden buildings. Peto travelled to Italy, Spain and France and collected various architectural stone carvings to display in the gardens.
Later, the renowned gardener and plantsman Murdo Mackenzie added to the impressive plant collection, which changes continuously with the seasons. Pathways wind around the landscape leading to a number of fascinating garden buildings such as the Grecian temple, the clock tower, the Casita, and an original Martello Tower.
It’s a gorgeous setting for any event, but it is especially inspiring for a literary festival.
To mark the 70th anniversary since Garinish Island was bequeathed to the Irish state, the OPW has worked with the cultural organisation Good Room collective to present “Crosstown Drift Goes To Garinish”, a new two-day literary festival which launches this week, from August 12-13. It’s a further incentive to visit – over 63,000 visitors explored the island last year – and it is hoped the literary festival will maximise tourism in the area.
The festival opens on the Saturday at 5.30pm with writers Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Conal Creedon, Catherine Kirwan, Danny Denton and Lisa McInerney, in a ticketed event. This costs €40 and includes the Harbour Queen Ferry return ticket and entrance onto the island; www.eventbrite.ie.
The festival continues on Sunday from 12pm to 4.30pm with a series of free events around the Island on a range of subjects including sports, food, rewilding on the Beara peninsula and the ecology of the birds of County Cork with writers including Patrick Smiddy and Mark Shorten, Eimear Ryan and Ciarán Murphy.
Two to note: at 1pm on Sunday, Eoghan Daltun will read from his book An Irish Atlantic Rainforest, about his inspiring personal journey. He moved his family from Dublin to the Beara peninsula to create an Irish Atlantic Rainforest. Later in the afternoon, Denis Cotter is in conversation with Danny Denton at 3.30pm. Denis’ fourth book Paradiso, celebrates the cuisine of this renowned Cork restaurant.
Readings will take place in different settings including the Grecian Temple, Casita, Clock Tower, original Martello Tower and Bryce House – the original family residence has been restored by the OPW, with support from Fáilte Ireland, and is presented as it would have appeared during their lifetime. A selection from the family’s vast collection of important paintings, prints, drawings and books is on display.
Afterwards, visitors should inspect the rare specimens and abundance of azaleas, roses and rhododendrons – children will love the island’s colony of seals; www.garinishisland.ie.
Discover our West Cork destination guide through this link.
