Building a Future for Music & the Literary Arts in West Cork
Let's build something extraordinary
With a decade of strong box office growth, a quarter-of-a-century artistic legacy and a deepening role as educator and convener, West Cork Music now needs a home to call its own. A purpose-built hub for festival and year-round activities — for visitors, and the people of Bantry and beyond. The fullness of West Cork Music's creative and collaborative potential can only be realized with this dedicated facility. All of this, against a backdrop of infrastructure need and population growth, means the time has arrived.
Join us, the American Friends, to help build a state-of the-art home for West Cork Music and a social-cultural enterprise for Bantry in Co. Cork, Ireland.
What will it be?
Hub for three world-class festivals celebrating classical and traditional music and the literary arts
Centre of learning and civic life, supporting a robust year-round menu of day and night time activities for visitors and the local community
Economic hub, adding employment opportunities and stimulating trade in Bantry town centre
Ireland’s first purpose-built chamber music concert hall outside Dublin
Bantry’s first purpose-built music education facility and only communal space for large indoor public gatherings
A welcome addition to an array of much-loved local venues already in use such as Bantry House
Architecturally innovative, elegant and seamlessly integrated into the fabric of Bantry town
Green, accessible building, embracing high standards of energy, water and materials efficiency, and low-carbon operations.
Tech forward, supporting remote learning and collaboration and empowering flexible national and international engagement
You can make a difference
Gifts to the American Friends of West Cork Music support West Cork Music's capital project — helping ensure this exciting new venue will be built for generations of musicians, writers, audiences, and the people of Ireland. Every gift, in any amount, has a place and a warm welcome.
Are you keen to bring a particular part of the building to life? Good news! Naming rights for key spaces are available - further details will be available soon. Interested donors may, in the meantime, contact us with queries.
Performance at Bantry House
Doireann ní Ghríofa, John Fitzgerald & Theo Dorgan 2017
Your support is tax-deductible
American Friends of West Cork Music (AFWCM) is a U.S. non-profit organization, with the mission of celebrating and supporting West Cork Music, a registered Irish charity.
Your gift to AFWCM is tax deductible in the U.S. and can made right here on this site. Options for one-time, monthly and annual giving.
Project timeline
2023 - A strategic plan was approved by the Board of West Cork Music and Cork County Council. A town centre site was acquired, and award-winning McCullough Mulvin Architects were appointed after an international competition.
October 2024 - The Board approved detailed designs, business plans, and fundraising strategies which will underpin applications for planning permission and funding from statutory bodies.
February – May 2025 Detailed Design to Planning
June – December 2025 Planning Process (6 months)
Jan – May 2026 Detailed Design to Tender
June – October 2026 Tender Stage, Evaluation, Award
November 2026 – October 2028 Construction
November 2028 – January 2029 Commission Handover
Securing planning permission will unlock the project’s access to public funding competitions and kickstart an international fundraising campaign. It will also trigger the process of appointing contractors.
The construction phase, supported by public and private partners and an awareness-building/ fundraising campaign, will culminate in the opening of a stunning music venue and education hub in a thriving cultural quarter in the heart of Bantry town.
Laura van der Heijden, David Brophy & Festival Strings 2019 © Ben Russell
About West Cork Music
Now in its 28th year, West Cork Music is a Bantry-based arts organization with world-class music, literary and educational offerings. As curator and presenter of three annual flagship festivals (West Cork Chamber Music Festival, West Cork Literary Festival and Masters of Tradition) and year-round programming, it engages culture-seeking audiences at the regional, national and international levels which, in turn, acts as a key driver of the tourism economy in Ireland’s Southwest.
About Bantry
Bantry is an idyllic harbour and market town situated along Ireland's award-winning Wild Atlantic Way. On the doorstep of West Cork's three peninsulas — Mizen, Sheep's Head and Beara — the town is an anchor for a region rich in natural heritage and coastal beauty.
Recognised as a haven for artists and creatives of all sorts, our region nevertheless lacks an arts venue where our local talent and international excellence can be enjoyed. The West Cork Music Arts Venue will be transformative for the town and for our beautiful part of rural Ireland.
Bantry Bay © Deirdre Fitzgerald
Festival audience at Bantry House © Ben Russell
About American Friends
Established in the U.S. in 2019 by longtime festivalgoers and supporters of West Cork Music, Armen Vartian and Candice Foss, American Friends of West Cork Music (AFWCM) celebrates and supports the work of West Cork Music and its goal of building a new home in Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland.
AFWCM is a public charity exempt from federal income tax under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
Let's build something extraordinary
Gifts to the West Cork Music Venue & Education Hub will help us build a space that will support generations of musicians and writers, and delight audiences from West Cork and across the world for years to come.
A generous private donation kickstarted our fundraising campaign and has helped us take these critical early steps. You can help us take the next ones!
Our ambitious short-term goal is to raise €400K so we can complete the planning application process, which will unlock our ability to apply for public funds.
