“If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.”
Seamus Heaney

Kinsale Arts Weekend is delighted to announce that this summer’s show will go on. From July 10-12, Kinsale will host a wealth of arts events and displays all safely within the confines of the current Covid-19 guidelines.  A full programme of drive-in theatre and musical events means that you can enjoy it all from the safety of your car.
Our specially-adapted programme includes a choral work based on Derek Mahon’s poem “Everything is going to be alright”, a walking gallery, a harp trail, an underground children’s art exhibition and a carpool karaoke competition.
“Everything is going to be alright” has been a solace for many during the pandemic. Kinsale Arts Weekend has commissioned the acclaimed composer Philip Pope to set the poem to music. Pope’s work will be performed by a choir made up of local singers in a special virtual recital for Kinsale Arts Weekend.
For those souls still searching, poetic absolution is on hand with Poetry Confessions featuring Kinsale poets Matthew Geden, Niamh Prior and Fiona Smith.
The harp has always held a special place in our culture and KAW has honoured that tradition with performances by renowned harpist Marina Cassidy over the years. As a celebration of UNESCO’s recent recognition of the Irish harp as “culturally unique”, there will be a Harp Trail on the pedestrianised Main Street from Bastion to Bruno’s on Sunday afternoon.
Hope will also be at the thematic forefront in the showcase of artwork by our vastly-talented Kinsale artists featured in the walking gallery. For those keen to learn, Kit French demonstrates the basics of picture making and the principles of painting outside in a pre-recorded demo. This year we will also celebrate the artists of the future with children’s work on exhibit in the drive-through exhibition at Supervalu underground car park.
There will be no shortage of drama on the Saile drive-in stage with plays including The Cute Whore. This work performed by Eve O’Mahony shines a light on Georgian Ireland seen through the memoirs of an extraordinary woman and repentant madam, Margaret Leeson. The perils of life at sea in 1860 will be brought to life in The Bulman performed by David Peare and RSVP presents three short plays exploring themes such as love, hope and fear under the direction of Yvonne Coughlan.
For further information on the upcoming events you can view our FB/Twitter and Instagram pages as well as our website KinsaleArtsWeekend.com.
If you would like to contribute to Kinsale Arts Weekend or have questions, you can contact us directly [email protected]

Programme:
https://www.kinsaleartsweekend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/kaw-programme-2020-digital-1.pdf