The County of Cork is home to a wealth of culture and heritage and a most impressive means of expressing this through a number of creative cultural outputs, ranging from Film, Music and Theatre to Literary and Visual outputs. The Creative Ireland Programme seeks to put culture at the heart of everything we do, and provides the County of Cork a great opportunity to enhance and further promote and encourage the cultural undertakings of the County.
In recognition of such vast culture, as well as the numerous community groups engaging with the Creative Ireland Programme and culture as a whole in the County of Cork, a Conference has been organised by Cork County Council, which examines the essential connection between heritage and art, culture and creativity; by indeed looking at the Culture of Creativity.
Over two days, November 16th and 17th 2017, and located in the historic coastal town of Youghal, the Conference will feature over a dozen top speakers in the realm of culture and creativity. Thursday 16th, commencing at lunch time (13:30), will see talks by Dr. Matt Crannitch; Paul O’Reilly and Ian Wilson with regard to our musical creativity and Eoin Nash, John McHarg, Billy O’Callaghan and Kevin O’Shannahan will deliver presentations on the importance of inclusivity in cultural undertakings. Cork County Council’s Culture Team (with representation across the Arts, Library, Heritage, Tourism and Irish sections of the Council) will also shed light on the cultural activities of Cork County Council and the various supports and initiatives currently in place. The evening, commencing at 19:00, will then see a wonderful conference performance which will include the Youghal Comhaltas Group (CCE Craobh Eochaille); Ian Wilson with Saxophonist Cathal Roche and a performance by Peadar Ó Riada. The following day will see a wonderful morning of talks on Film, Theatre and the Visual Arts and will feature Rossa Mullin, Oonagh Kearney, Mary McGrath, Con Downing, Katie Holly, Geoff Gould, Dr. Eimear O’Connor, Mirandi Driscoll and Ann Davoren. Aileen Murray of Youghal’s Socio-Economic Group will also speak about the historic town of Youghal from a cultural perspective and Tom O’Neill will speak about the cultural importance of Spike Island. The afternoon will then see the engagement of conference participants in a discussion and workshop with Cork County Council’s Arts Strategic Policy Group and Culture Team to assist in the formulation of Cork County’s very first Culture and Creativity Strategy (2018 – 2022). The Conference will close at c. 15:30.
There will be much activity taking place in Youghal around the Conference and attendees will also be able to avail of designated free tours of the newly opened Youghal Clock Gate Tower – a wonderful cultural heritage asset in the historic Walled Town of Youghal. These will take place on the morning of Thursday 16th, the late afternoon of Friday 18th and the morning of Saturday 19th for anybody staying on in Youghal to experience the wonderful culture and heritage that the town has to offer.
The Inaugural Creative Ireland County Cork Conference takes place in the Town Hall in Youghal and is free of charge. Take-up for the conference is expected to be high and early registration is therefore advisable by emailing [email protected]. Click here for CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
The conference forms part of the Creative Ireland Programme in the County of Cork. For more information on Creative Ireland in Cork County and to get involved in the formulation of the County’s very first Culture and Creativity Strategy (2018-2022) phone 021 4285905 or email [email protected].