Kinsale Arts Week 2012

Kinsale Arts Week is famous for brilliant drama, art, fabulous food, music, literature and completely unforgettable events. ‘Expect the Extraordinary’ is the slogan, and expect plenty of famous faces along the way.  Kinsale is an ideal location for the festivity because it has great people, beautiful scenery and the most vivacious setting.

Add in free events, family happenings and some of Ireland and the world’s leading artists, writers, thinkers, actors and all round great people, and you have the recipe for one of the best nine-day-weeks of your life! Kinsale Arts Week is utterly unique among arts festivals so for a taster of what to expect see the website.

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Enjoy 2 nights accommodation in our master suite, boasting a large private balcony with uninterrupted sea views

• Indulge in an extensive Breakfast each morning
• Take pleasure in playing one round of golf at the nearby Old Head Golf Links, a 220-acre diamond of land, jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean
• Enjoy one evening meal in our award winning Pier One Restaurant
• Guests have full use of a Leisure Centre during their stay (5 minutes walk). Have fun in the indoor heated pool & outdoor hot tub

Every golf break has different requirements and we’d be more than happy to put a package together to suit yours!  Please contact Amy Duggan by phone, email or enquiry form and she’d be delighted to discuss your options and make recommendations.

If you’re looking for an adventurous & healthy activity then sailing is the answer. Enjoy panoramic sea views, possibility of sighting dolphins, whales and seals along the route! All cruises are run aboard the cruising yachts based at the Trident Hotel’s private Marina.

Our Stay & Sail Package includes 2 nights Bed & Full Irish Breakfast, 1 Evening Meal and half day sailing. You will sail to either the Old Head of Kinsale or around the Sovereign rocks giving you a chance to get a feel for trimming the sails and steering the boat. Your professional skipper will encourage you to get involved in the sailing of the yacht; alternatively you may sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery. For further information on sailing in Kinsale please see Sovereign Sailing one of Ireland’s leading sail training and yacht charter business

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A fantastic night of satire, surrealism and good old-fashioned comedy. Ah, go on, go on, go on…

Tuesday 25th September & Wednesday 26th September 2012

45 EUR pp for a 3-course meal & 2-hour interactive comedy show

BOOK NOW: Tel – 021 477 9300 or email info@tridenthotel.com

Fans of the classic sitcom Father Ted will love this unique and interactive comedy dining experience. Enjoy a delicious three course meal in the company of the extravagant Father Ted Crilly, dimwitted Father Dougal McGuire, alcoholic Father Jack Hackett and their tea loving housekeeper, Mrs Doyle. This famous foursome have left Craggy Island to bring you a firsthand experience of the comical mishaps, mayhem and misadventures that seem to follow them wherever they go!

A unique and hilarious experience Laughlines, the first and only Father Ted Tribute Touring Company, debuted their hit dinner show in 2005 and continue to put on sellout performances across the UK which receive rave reviews. The professional cast have perfected the characters’ mannerisms and use a high energy mix of improvisation, audience participation and perfect comedy timing to bring to life the best of Father Ted, delivering a delicious evening of unforgettable entertainment.

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Our Surf ‘n Stay Package includes Overnight Accommodation, Full Irish Breakfast, Two hour Surfing Lesson including FREE transfers to & from Garretstown beach! Gtown Adventures will guide you safely through your first waves on the water, they will provide wetsuits, boards, boots, hoods so all you gotta do is show and Surf! Experience the thrill of surfing and get fit at the same time but most importantly you’ll have great fun and meet great people!

For further information on Gtown Adventures please visit www.surfgtown.com, Gtown offer a variety of other water sports Body Boarding, Sea Kayak Tours, Coasteering and Stand Up Paddle Boarding. We can create the perfect tailor-made getaway for you!

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Soprano, Cara O’Sullivan announced details of the first Kinsale Pink Ribbon Walk that takes place on Sunday 4^thMarch 2012 at 2pm in aid of Action Breast Cancer.

As Brand Ambassador for the Kinsale Pink Ribbon Walk, Cara O’Sullivan will lend her support on the day and will perform ‘Stand up and Fight’ to inspire walkers as they head off on the 10km route. There will be an earlier start time of 1.45pm for runners.

After the Walk, refreshments will be provided by the Kinsale Good Food Circle and jazz singer Sharon Crosbie, also a Brand Ambassador, will entertain everyone after the Walk, creating a party atmosphere in the Town Council Car Park on the Pier Road.

It promises to be great day as every participant wears a Pink Ribbon Walk t-shirt and Kinsale shops and restaurants will ‘go pink’ for the weekend.

Online Registration is now open onwww.pinkribbonwalk.ie and Registration forms are available at Kinsale Pharmacy or Finishing Services Kinsale.

The Pink Ribbon Walk is a national fundraising initiative which organises sponsored charity walks in locations around the country in aid of Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society. The objective is to empower individuals and communities to increase breast cancer awareness, promote healthy living and raise funds for Action Breast Cancer through a fun and rewarding experience.

See www.pinkribbonwalk.ie. for further details and online registration or call the  Pink Ribbon Walk Hotline on (087) 2627387 for more information.

We would like to extend our best wishes to Everyone involved in this wonderful event!

Experienced as a series of stunning images from Kinsale’s foremost photographers, including Sheena Jolley, John Allen, Luke Lee, Mike Brown, Stefan Syrowatka, and Giles Norman give a personal view of what the sea means to them.

Architecture? Who Cares, Sunday July 10th 2 – 5pm

We all have to live, work, and play in architecture, so why isn’t it top of everyone’s agenda? Who gets to decide what architecture looks like, and what kind of buildings do our tourists come to see? Come along and discover just how much architecture affects our lives, and how we can all make a difference and make it better. Ticket Price €10/€7.50

Michael Morpurgo, Sunday July 10th 6 – 9pm

The award-winning author and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo talks about his life and work, including War Horse, Shadow and his latest book Little Manfred. Michael has written over 120 books and sold millions of copies worldwide. He was recently appointed an OBE for services to literature. War Horse, Michael’s moving and powerful story of survival on the Western Front, is now a hugely successful theatre production by the National Theatre, and has recently opened on Broadway in New York. The film of War Horse by Steven Spielberg is due to release in January 2012.

In 1976, Michael and his wife, Clare, started the charity Farms for City Children. They help to run three farms around the country, in Gloucestershire, Pembrokeshire and North Devon. Each farm offers children and teachers from urban primary schools the chance to live and work in the countryside for a week, and gain hands-on experience. Ticket Price €15

Rupert Isaacson: The Horse Boy, Tuesday July 12th 6- 9pm

Rupert and Kirstin Isaacson were heartbroken when they learned that their two-year-old son Rowan was autistic. And with each passing day, Rowan’s growing isolation, his uncontrollable fits, each failed treatment, filled them with despair. Then one day Rowan escaped and ran into a field of horses. Rupert watched in horror, but saw a miracle occur. The horses responded lovingly to Rowan, and he to them. The Isaacsons left their home in Texas and travelled to the plains and mountains of Mongolia, the spiritual home of the horse, on an arduous epic horseback journey in search of a cure for Rowan.

The Horse Boy does more than chronicle Rowan and his parents’ journey across the vast, wild landscape of Mongolia. It delves into the strange world of autism itself, the relationship between humans and animals and between different cultures and different ways of being (autistic vs. normal, or “neuro-typical”), and the nature of healing.

Rupert Isaacson is an ex-professional horse trainer and founding director of the Indigenous Land Rights Fund. His journalism and travel writing has appeared in the Daily Telegraph, Esquire, National Geographic, Independent on Sunday, Conde Nast Traveller, Daily Mail and The Field. Ticket Price €15

Houses and Landscapes By Niall McLaughlin, Friday July 15th 6 – 9pm

Niall McLaughlin (Niall McLaughlin Architects and Visiting Professor in Architecture, Bartlett U.C.L.) is the man behind some inspiring and spectacular spaces and places. Here, he talks about four houses in different landscapes in Ireland and England, looking at how environment, materials and people all come together to influence the design of each building. Ticket Price €7

For further information on tickets and other events please visit www.kinsaleartsweek.com

We extend best wishes to artists, makers and visitors to the 2011 event.

WEDDING SHOWCASE

Betrothed couples are set to flock to Kinsale on Sunday June 26^th for the ‘Kinsale Wedding Showcase’; the only town wide wedding exhibition in the country.

Forgoing the usual Wedding Fayre events, the business community in Kinsale has joined together to promote each of their wedding services and supplies over one day, offering a one stop destination for couples considering a wedding in Ireland’s gourmet capital. 

Those opening their doors to the public on the day will include Kinsale’s top 5 romantic wedding venues – Actons Hotel, The Carlton Hotel, The Trident Hotel, The Blue Haven and Ballinacurra House. Wedding coordinators and chefs will be on hand at each venue to take couples through the wealth of amenities, gourmet food and services that couples can enjoy by celebrating their big day in Kinsale. Wedding suppliers will also exhibit at the venues offering the best choice, convenience and range to suit any budget.

Every couple that visits on the day will receive a special ‘Kinsale Wedding Chequebook’, offering exclusive discounts and special offers on wedding related services and supplies throughout the town.

Couples will also have the opportunity to see for themselves the unique scenery and amenities that have made Kinsale one of Ireland’s most romantic destinations. Stunning photogenic locations such as Charlesfort, the Marina, local beaches and even the quaint winding streets themselves offer an incredible choice of backdrop for those memorable wedding portraits.

Commenting on the event, Kinsale Chamber of Tourism Chairman Hal McElroy said “This is the second year that we will host the Kinsale Wedding Showcase, which we are delighted to say is significantly bigger and better this time around. It is a unique event in that we have businesses that are more used to competing with each other coming together as a group to promote Kinsale generally as a wedding destination. As a chamber we recognise the power of working together for the greater good of the town and this was evident with the success of last year’s event which resulted in over 20 wedding bookings on the day. 

We hope to build on that success this year by offering even greater choice and value for potential wedding parties. The advantage of this type of event is that it not only helps our members but is also hugely convenient for couples, who can plan an afternoon of wedding research and coordination while also enjoying superb one off deals and discounts” he added.

The Kinsale Wedding Showcase will take place from 2pm-5pm on Sunday June 26^th Couples can register at each of the five wedding venues where they will then be conveniently guided to other venues to sample the other wedding showcases taking place around the town.   

Sunday 19^th June, Fota House 2pm – 5pm

After the huge success from last year, Select Hotels will make this year’s Teddy Bears Picnic at Fota House on Sunday 19^th June even bigger and better, with all proceeds once again going to children’s charity, Barnardos.

Over 3,000 mums, dads and kids are expected to descend on Cork to enjoy this really special family day out, with something for everyone – Entertainment, Races, Kiddies Disco, Bouncy Castles, Face Painting and an appearance from a very special guest– all for just €15 per family.

Speaking about the upcoming Teddy Bears Picnic, Una Young, GM of Select Hotels of Ireland stated “Last year was amazing and we expect that we’ll make this year an even bigger success. Many of our 25 hotels around the country support the event by helping out in Fota or by organising their own Teddy Bear’s Picnic event at their own hotel, so throughout the country families will gather to fundraise for this very worthy cause as well as enjoying some really great family time together that memories are made of.”

No Teddy Bear’s Picnic would be complete without the bear himself coming out of hiding from the woods to mark the occasion!!  He will be bringing along lots of his very own Barnardos teddy bears to enjoy the picnic with and kids will have the opportunity to ‘adopt’ one of these bears and give them a loving home!  Each child will also receive an adoption form and every bear adopted on the day will contribute €10 to Barnardos.

Stephanie Whyte, Barnardos Assistant Director said “We’re really looking forward to the Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Fota, it’s a fantastic way for families to enjoy a fun day together and at the same time, help other families around Ireland. We would like to thank Select Hotels for all the hard work and the support they have shown to Barnardos over the years.”

Taking place from 2pm to 5pm in the idyllic surroundings of Cork’s renowned arboretum and magnificent gardens of Fota House in Cobh, the event promises to be a wonderful day of fun and entertainment where families are free to explore the gardens and enjoy a mix of activities including: Kids Carousel, Let’s Go Camp’s Bouncy Castles, Kiddies Disco, balloon animals and Gymboree will be there with their Play & Music development programs.

There will be lots of old fashioned family fun too with egg & spoon races, sack races, and a special Father & Son/Daughter race, especially for Father’s Day! For all the little princesses out there, there will be nail and face painting and cute princess hair styles too.

Mums and Dads can join in the fun too with their very own BBQ and music with DJ RC. As a Father’s Day treat, Dads will also get to enjoy their very own ‘Dad’s Corner’

Towards the end of the event a mega raffle will take place with some fantastic prizes including a Family pass to the 2011 Irish Open compliments of Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, plus two four ball vouchers, along with a weekend break from each of select’s Cork and Kerry members who are organising the event; The Celtic Ross Hotel, The Montenotte Hotel, The Trident Hotel, Actons Hotel, Midleton Park Hotel, Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort and The Killarney Riverside Hotel.

Family Tickets are available on the day and every child will receive a free goodie bag, contributed to by SuperValu Musgrave.

Kinsale Arts Week 09 – 17 July 2011 

Kinsale Arts Week has two special themes, celebrating two of the things for which we are so famous in Ireland… the sea and the horse. These will be explored and celebrated in a diverse programme ranging from the finest in visual arts, theatre and architecture, to family events, comedy and a series of concerts in the spectacular setting of Charles Fort which is famed as the most atmospheric rock venue in County Cork, the anticipated line up is :-

Waterloo
“The best ABBA Tribute Band in the world “- a 10-piece Swedish sensation!
With support from Cork favourites, the Papa Zitas.
Saturday July 9, 7pm
Tickets 35 Euro

Nouvelle Vague
French band with sultry bossanova interpretations of classic punk rock tunes.
With support from the West Cork Ukulele Orchestra.
Wednesday July 13, 7.30 pm
Tickets 30 Euro

The Undertones
On their 35th anniversary tour, the lads from Derry bring their rocking show to Kinsale.
With support from Cork sensations
Exit: Pursued by a Bear.
Saturday July 16, 7pm
Tickets 35 Euro

Kinsale Arts Week also features food markets, street performers & live music on the streets of Kinsale, a Kinsale Arts Week Food Trail featuring local restaurateurs in Kinsale, fun workshops with green themes & community events and Sounds on the Square – free live music on Short Quay.

It’s going to be a rocking summer at Kinsale Arts Week 2011! Get your tickets now by going to: http://www.kinsaleartsweek.com/events/Music/3

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