"Celebrating 10 years in some style"

What a busy and uplifting mini-fest weekend we just had. We saw the return of Club 50, our Arts and Activism event.  An unbelievable sold-out show with The McGoldrick and O’Flaherty Families and a bumper Super Sunday attended by more than 400 people. We really are just settling back into the swing of things, catching our breath and getting ready for the next couple of weekenders. Updates on these to come.

Stay with us here, it’s worth it!!!

For now, we would like to let you know about a very special series of events we have coming up 14th – 17th November.

West Cork is coming to North Belfast.

At the beginning of 2024 we were awarded funding from The Shared Island initiative to develop a partnership project with a Venue and people we greatly admired from the village of Ballydehob (pop- 280) in West Cork. Working with Cork County Council, Belfast City Council and Creative Ireland we hooked up with the brilliant people at Levis’ Corner House- a family run pub, venue, community hot spot.

Levis’ and ourselves have so much in common, we both have an independent spirit (love to do things in our own way), strong principles, we love people & value community.  We share a deep passion for supporting and showcasing new, independent and emerging artists. We also have the knack for creating a friendly, inclusive and warm  environment for anyone choosing to engage with our work.

Here it comes, we’re getting there…

From 10th -14th July, we did a Ballydehob takeover bringing a flavour of what we do here in North Belfast to the good people of West Cork. We brought with us a team of more than 20 artists and creatives to host music sessions, A Club Fifty, A showcase of our Creative Collective and A Super Sunday. We also have been exchanging  artists over week-long esidencies and song writing masterclasses with Joshua Burnside and Mick Flannery.

It was one of the highlights if not THE highlight in the 10 years we have been doing this.

We simply cannot put into words how positive, inspiring, uplifting and unique our time down in Ballydehob was.

Now, it’s our turn, to roll out a Belfast welcome, to show our new friends what the real Belfast is all about. The warmth, humour, energy, passion and lust for life we have.

On Friday 15th November Levis’ will programme their famous Sing for your Supper Event here at The Duncairn, bringing with them Michelin Star chef & proprietor of Ballydehob’s Chesnut Restaurant. An evening of top food, music and great craic. Tickets are limited and go on sale soon.

On Saturday once again we are served up a flavour of Levis’, this time in the shape of their immensely popular marathon (value for money) Secret Song mini-festival.

The jist of this event is that it’s full of surprises. You won’t be told who is appearing or at what stage of the proceedings. Full details & tickets are now available to view at theduncairn.com.

Sunday, as is with ourselves, a family day and The West Cork Crew will end off their takeover with their own junior secret song event with some excellent performers, a carnival atmosphere and - if weather permits - an mini wren-boy procession.

It’s gonna be some craic and we expect tickets to sell out extremely quickly. So watch this space for updates and more info.

Corcaigh Abú!