It’s all happening in Drimoleague lately.

Earlier this year, the unassuming West Cork village burst into the international consciousness when Graham Norton’s book-turned-TV show debuted on ITV, featuring the village as the fictional destination ‘Duneen’.

This month, Drimoleague locals are hosting an exciting weekend of informal and formal events, welcoming some of the biggest names in folk and traditional Irish music to the community.

The festival takes place every year on the weekend closest to September 25th, the feast of Saint Finbarr and the patron saint of Cork. The date is significant for the village as it coincides with “Big Fair Day,” the day of the largest annual fair in the area.

Highlights this year include the Festival Pub Singing Competition Finale, a Clare Sands and Cathy Jordan double bill, Lisa O’Neill and Cormac Begley, Rónán Ó Snodaigh, singer and director Myles O’Reilly, Dublin-born singer and banjo player Daoirí Farrell, The Legendary Ingramettes and Jack O’Rourke, as well as singing workshops, clinics and much more.

The Parish Hall, local pubs, churches, and even some out-of-the-way spots will play host to both formal and informal singing sessions and concerts in the village to give it that true local and community-lead spirit.

 

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Heats for the Pub Singing Competition are currently underway in the surrounding towns and villages, so if you can hold a note you should definitely grab a pint and join the sing-song this weekend and next in Drimoleague and Drinagh.

Each pub hosts a heat and votes for a singer to represent the pub/area in the final.

The Drimoleague Singing Festival takes place from Thursday, September 22nd to Sunday, September 25th.