Eyeries Family Festival, taking place this year from July 15 to 17, is reputed for delivering a family-focused weekend, offering a wide variety of mostly free activities for people of all ages to enjoy. This is the first festival of the summer season in Beara with many people organising their summer holidays around the event.
This year is a particularly momentous occasion for the community-organised festival as the 10-year anniversary of the festival – delayed due to the pandemic – will be celebrated.
Singer-songwriter Ryan Sheridan recognised for hit singles ‘Jigsaw’ and ‘Here and Now’ is sure to draw a big crowd as the headline act on Friday, July 15. It’s not the first time Eyeries festival has drawn a household name; over the years, the festival has welcomed Sharon Shannon, Damien Dempsey, Neil Delamere, Riptide Movement, High Kings, Pat Short and Hermitage Green. Tickets are available on www.eyeries.ie and Eventbrite.ie.
Friday evening sees children’s events held open air in the village. Saturday again hosts many children’s events, a family fun day, shore walk, looped walk, free boat trips and street entertainment in the evening. The Sunday Street Market, in place since the very first festival, is a major highlight of the weekend.nThe streets will be thronged with young and old, enjoying live music, the stalls and food, with people travelling from near and far to meet family, friends, old neighbours and acquaintances.
The festival also provides many opportunities for local talents and artists to showcase their work.
What began as a few events on a Saturday and Sunday back in 2010 has since become an activity-packed weekend a firm favourite on the West Cork festival calendar.
For anyone looking for accommodation, check out Eyeries Motor Home Park and the number of local B&Bs and Airbnbs. Just a few miles away, Ardgroom and Castletownbere also have lots of accommodation available.
The festival committee is passionate about showcasing the rich culture, resources and amenities that Eyeries and the Beara Peninsula has to offer. They would like to thank all the volunteers and sponsors who make this wonderful event possible every year.
This year Eyeries Family Festival is running a fundraising raffle in conjunction with Beara Boat Tours, who have very generously donated a half day boat trip for 12 people, worth €750, as well as three runner-up prizes of a boat trip for two people. Entry tickets are only €10. Visit www.eyeries.ie or idonate.ie/EyeriesFamilyFestivalFundraiser. Find Beara Boat Tours on facebook and Instagram.
www.eyeries.ie for more information on the local area. All festival information is available on Facebook and Instagram.
