Festival of Music at St. Barrahane's Church

Festival of Music at St. Barrahane's Church Every July and August St. Barrahane's Church, Castletownshend, Co. Cork hosts a number of highly acclaimed classical concerts. Purpose of the Festival
1.

to promote classical music
2. platform for young artists
3. entertainment for locals and tourists
4. upkeep of St. Barrahane’s Church

The first festival was organised in 1980 and except for 1987, has taken place annually ever since. Michael Sokolov-Grant was its first chairman. Amongst the distinguished musicians to have played are the RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet, the Crawford Piano Trio, David

Agnew, oboe, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, trumpet, Director of the Royal Academy of Music, London, Professor Gerard Gillen, organ, of Maynooth College, Brigid Knowles, contralto, Catherine Leonard, violin, Philip Martin, piano and composer, Dr. John O’Conor, piano, Dr. Geraldine O'Grady, violin, Professor Micheal O'Suilleabhain, Limerick University, Cara O'Sullivan, soprano, Ioana Petcu-Colan, violin, Peter Sweeney, former Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Hugh Tinney.

The final concert of this year’s St. Barrahane’s Church Festival of Music!We’re delighted to welcome acclaimed Irish mez...
19/08/2026

The final concert of this year’s St. Barrahane’s Church Festival of Music!
We’re delighted to welcome acclaimed Irish mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty and one of Ireland’s most celebrated pianists, Finghin Collins, for a special evening of song in the beautiful setting of St. Barrahane’s Church, Castletownshend.
The programme features music by Schubert, Hamilton Harty, Joan Trimble, Rebecca Clarke, Berlioz, Barber, Britten and more, including songs inspired by the sea, Joyce and Yeats.
Sunday 23 August | 8pm
€25 | Under 19s FREE
Tickets from Thornhill Electrical, Skibbereen, at the door, by calling 086 226 4797, or online at barrahanemusic.ie (booking fee applies).
Have we saved the best for last? Come and find out!

19/08/2026

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A CONCERT WITH A DIFFERENCE – Claire Victoria Roberts & String QuartetThursday 13 August 2026 · 8pmSt Barrahane’s Church...
07/08/2026

A CONCERT WITH A DIFFERENCE – Claire Victoria Roberts & String Quartet
Thursday 13 August 2026 · 8pm
St Barrahane’s Church of Ireland, Castletownshend, Co. Cork
Tickets €20 · Under 19s FREE at the door
St. Barrahane’s Church Festival of Music is known for bringing outstanding classical musicians to West Cork. This Thursday, however, we take a very different musical journey — into the rich world of Welsh and Argentine folk and traditional music.
We are delighted to welcome Claire Victoria Roberts, an exceptional Welsh vocalist, violinist and composer, performing with a virtuosic young string quartet.
Claire takes traditional Welsh song and gives it new life, combining the character and beauty of folk music with lush string harmonies, vocal improvisation and lilting melodies. The programme also explores traditional music from Argentina, including music connected with the Welsh-speaking community of Patagonia.
The connection between Wales and Patagonia is a fascinating part of the evening. In the 19th century, Welsh settlers established communities in Patagonia, where Welsh language and culture have survived to this day. Claire’s programme brings together traditional music from both sides of the Atlantic, creating a musical conversation between two places separated by thousands of miles but connected by history.
Claire will be joined by an exciting young string quartet, including local talent.

Claire is a remarkable musician whose work crosses the boundaries between folk, jazz and contemporary classical music. Her music has been performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and she has received commissions from the Wigmore Hall, Oliver Coates and the National Youth Choir, among others. She is also a recipient of a Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize and a PRS Foundation Composer Award.
Whether you love traditional music, enjoy discovering something new, or simply want to experience an unusual and beautiful concert in one of West Cork’s most atmospheric venues, this is an evening not to miss.
Tickets: €20, under 19s FREE — at the door only
Tickets available:
Online — booking fee applies
At the door
Thornhill Electrical, Skibbereen
Text/call 086 226 4797

The future of great string quartet playing depends not only on gifted young musicians, but on all of us who come to hear...
01/08/2026

The future of great string quartet playing depends not only on gifted young musicians, but on all of us who come to hear them. Without audiences, there is no future. If we want this wonderful music to continue to enrich our lives—and those of future generations—we must play our part. Use it, not lose it.
The outstanding Meliora Quartet, fresh from the Young Musicians Programme at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival and the NSQF Fellowship at the Concorda Chamber Music Course, are among the finest young quartets of their generation. We are delighted to support their development as a professional ensemble, welcoming them this August and again in January 2027. It will be fascinating to watch their journey—perhaps towards becoming the next Vanbrugh or Contempo Quartet.
Their programme is a superb one: Haydn's radiant "Sunrise" Quartet, Webern's deeply romantic Langsamer Satz, Caroline Shaw's imaginative and entertaining Blueprint, and Beethoven's monumental String Quartet in B-flat major, Op.130, culminating in the sublime Cavatina and its joyful final movement.
Join us on Thursday, 6 August at 8.00pm in St Barrahane's Church, Castletownshend.
Tickets: €20; under 19s free. Available from Thornhill Electrical, at the door (no booking fee), by calling or texting 086 226 4797, or online at www.barrahanemusic.ie/Eventbrite (booking fee applies).

Join us on Thursday, 30 July 2026, for a truly special evening as St. Barrahane’s Church, Castletownshend, celebrates th...
26/07/2026

Join us on Thursday, 30 July 2026, for a truly special evening as St. Barrahane’s Church, Castletownshend, celebrates the 200th anniversary of its present church building with a gala concert as part of the St. Barrahane’s Church Festival of Music.

This landmark occasion brings together two internationally acclaimed artists. Irish soprano Anna Devin, praised for her "impeccable Baroque style" and celebrated for performances throughout Europe and the United States, is one of Ireland's finest vocal talents. She is joined by the distinguished Scottish pianist Iain Burnside, an award-winning accompanist, BBC Radio 3 broadcaster and one of the most respected collaborative pianists of his generation.

Their beautifully curated programme explores the richness of the song repertoire, featuring works by Robert and Clara Schumann, Edvard Grieg, Handel, Frank Bridge, Samuel Barber and Benjamin Britten, before concluding with a delightful selection of traditional Irish songs.

The concert also celebrates the remarkable story of St. Barrahane's Church. Built in 1826 to the designs of architect James Pain using stone from Horse Island, it replaced an earlier medieval church and has since become one of West Cork's most treasured landmarks. Renowned for its beautiful Harry Clarke stained-glass windows, connections with Somerville and Ross, and its long-standing musical tradition, the church provides a magnificent setting for this anniversary celebration.

During the interval, guests are warmly invited to enjoy complimentary drinks and nibbles, offering an opportunity to celebrate this historic milestone with fellow music lovers, friends and supporters of the church.

Tickets are €20 and are available from Thornhill Electrical (no booking fee), at the door, by calling or texting 086 2264797, or online via www.barrahanemusic.ie and Eventbrite (online booking fee applies).

We hope you will join us for what promises to be one of the highlights of the 2026 Festival of Music—an evening of exceptional artistry in a truly historic setting, celebrating two centuries of worship, community and culture.

We look forward to welcoming you.

For full programme details and further information, visit www.barrahanemusic.ie.

Really looking forward to the start of the Festival! You can see what you can expect, and book concerts on our website:...
06/07/2026

Really looking forward to the start of the Festival! You can see what you can expect, and book concerts on our website: https://barrahanemusic.ie/
Looking forward to seeing you in St. Barrahane's!

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St. Barrahane's Church
Castletownshend

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