'Crosstown Drift' Festival Returns to Garinish Island, West Cork for a Weekend of Fiction, Literature and Music
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From: Office of Public Works
- Published on: 17 September 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Office of Public Works (OPW) and The Good Room announce the return of the highly anticipated Garinish Island Arts Festival ‘Crosstown Drift’ from 20 - 22 September 2024. This unique event combining elements of fiction and literature, conversations and demonstrations, walks and talks with writers, poets, musicians and cultural creatives that promises to be a weekend of Culture and Creativity.
Chairman of The Office of Public Works, John Conlon said:
“We are delighted to announce the return of ‘Crosstown Drift’ to Garinish Island for a second year. This event offers a unique opportunity for attendees to explore the beauty of the island while engaging with a diverse range of artistic and cultural experiences.”
The festival will take place over the weekend of September 20, 21 and 22 on the picturesque Garinish Island in Bantry Bay. The 37 acre island located in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff is known to horticulturists and lovers of trees and shrubs all around the world as a garden of rare beauty. It is the perfect backdrop for this immersive cultural experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to meander along scenic pathways, accompanied by poets, writers, and musicians performing in breath-taking locations across the island.
Director of The Good Room Presents, Joe Kelly stated:
"For this year's offering at Crosstown Drift on Garinish, we are excited to have programmed over the three days a diverse and interesting cultural weekend, with musicians, poets, writers and speakers performing over the 37 acres of the majestic island. We have walks, talks and this year we have added an evening concert series with two of Ireland's finest musicians Cormac Begley & Lisa Hannigan."
The rich programme of events commences on Friday morning at 11am, our very own Glyn Sherratt, Head Gardener, will take you around the horticultural highlights of Garinish, bringing its history, wildlife and plants to life. If history is your passion, you can join Irish Examiner’s Michael Moynihan who will be talking to UCC’s Dr. John Borgonovo & Dr. Donal O’Drisceoil about Cork University press’ newest release, of which they are co-authors “Atlas of the Civil War”. For the foodies among you, check out food writer and Grub Circus ringmaster Joe McNamee talking to Aishling Moore of Cork city’s renowned Goldie seafood restaurant and legendary fish smoker Sally Barnes for a discussion on sustainability in food from our rapidly deteriorating oceans.
Our walks pass the Italian Garden, the Grecian Temple, the Martello Tower and Bryce House with music, poetry and fiction being on the agenda. Talks will be held in a beautiful stretch tent by the Casita lawn, covering topics ranging from food and history to crime writing, fiction, poetry, and more. Join the many talented writers as they narrate some new pieces and extracts from their most recent novels, essays, and writings.
For music lovers, we have a selection of events including music walking tours and an evening concert series on Saturday 21 September with Cormac Begley and on Sunday 22 September with Lisa Hannigan performing live. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
With music, poetry, and fiction on the agenda, attendees can expect a weekend filled with inspiration and creativity.
For a full list of events happening over the weekend please see www.thegoodroompresents.com