TIMMY LYNCH

Best of starts for Kanturk Arts Festival 2019

THE launch of the Kanturk Arts Festival 2019 programme got off to a flying start with a fine rendition of Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘Stony Grey Soil’ by Councillor Bernard Moynihan, who officially performed the launch in front of an appreciative audience at Kanturk Rugby Club last week.

Councillor Moynihan praised the committee for doing their bit to develop and grow the arts in the Kanturk region and announced the very welcome news of €3,000 in grant funding from Cork County Council. “We’re delighted with the grant,” chair of the festival Lisa Egan said. “It will be a big help in running the festival and we are very grateful to Cork County Council and particularly Arts Officer Ian McDonagh for their continued support of the festival.”

On the night, the audience were entertained by a capella group, Various Voices from Mallow, young singer/guitarist Jayne Harrington, whose lovely voice charmed everyone and Pat Sexton of Speakeasy Toastmasters.

Also present on the night were Joan O’Connell who will run a crochet workshop during the festival; Gerli Kerm, who will be giving a felt making workshop, and artist Jessica Baron who will deliver an art workshop. Details of these and other workshops can be found at Kanturkarts.ie.

The programme is packed with everything from drama to crochet/art/ fiction/felt workshops, songs and stories, poetry and music. Now the countdown is on to the festival itself which takes place from March 15th to the 18th inclusive.

Brochures for the festival are available in local outlets and at the library.