Welcome from Mareta Doyle

Chairman Kinsale Arts Week

To quote Fidel Castro: ‘It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and a plan of action’.

When we decided to adopt a Cuban theme as part of this year’s festival, we decided to embrace the philosophy that is embodied in Fidel’s quote. The fruit of our labour is a plan which we hope you will find as exotic, colourful and vital as the fabulous island of Cuba itself.

Now in its fourth year (and greatly expanded since those first tentative steps in July 2005), the ‘nine-day week’ comprises over 80 events and projects ranging from classical and popular music to cutting-edge visual arts, family, children’s entertainment, theatre, and literature.
We have assembled an exceptional professional management team and an enthusiastic community volunteer group. Together, they have worked tirelessly to deliver one of the most ambitious arts programmes to be found in the Irish festivals’ calendar.

We are extremely grateful for the continued and essential support that we receive from grant agencies, as well as from our sponsors and patrons. We would also like to acknowledge local businesses and the wider Kinsale community’s commitment to the arts.

I hope you will find enough hours and sufficient stamina to take you through nine exhilarating and stimulating days and nights of festival fun.

Viva el festival!