West Cork seems to have its own ‘musical ecosystem’. Musicians playing in each others’ – often intersecting – bands. Gigs aplenty. In most genres under the (not very present) sun: Blues, trad, rock, world music, jazz, country, post-punk, alternative, classical. And yes, reggae. Music with a strongly accented sub-beat, originating […]
Culture
Light, daylight, shadow; the richness of the hues, the softness of the shades. What, I often wonder, are we missing when we switch on an electric light, a screen? The microtones, the half-lights, what DaVinci called ‘earth light,’ the mysterious quality of sunlight falling upon a living thing, animating it, […]
A series of art fundraising workshops are helping to raise funds for a Bantry community centre writes Ella Mc Swiney Donation-based art classes delivered by local artist Constance McKenna and running over a six week period at Gortalassa Old School House will help raise funds for the centre, which has […]
A beautiful wine moment, around a bottle of red Burgundy, inspired a birthday cycling trip with my sister. The route, from The Lonely Planet Guide to Cycling in France, was chosen based on easy terrain, the odd hill just to give us a bit of a challenge, and, crucially, wonderful scenery, pristine, […]




