The 2022 West Cork History Festival took place from 5-7 August with an in-person and a live-stream audience. You can see recordings of all the talks and discussions, as well as our Festival concert, below.

175 years since Black '47

Bob Geldof recorded a special film for us as part of our discussions marking 175 years since the worst year of the Famine. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin opened our Festival for us and responded to Geldof's film. We then had contributions from three academics - Professor Breandán Mac Suibhne, Professor Melissa Fegan and Dr Charles Read - and an artist, John Kelly who owns Reen Farm where Geldof's film was made. There was then a panel discussion featuring some of our contributors.

The Bandon Valley Killings of 1922

We had contributions from Dr Gemma Clark, Don Wood, Dr Andy Bielenberg and Professor Brian Walker followed by a panel discussion, marking 100 years since the Bandon Valley killings of 1922. This was part of our ongoing consideration of the events of the Decade of Centenaries.

Festival Concert - Thus She Shall Go to the Stars

Long-time Festival friend and collaborator Jessie Kennedy and fellow musicians the Celestial Quartet performed a concert of specially-composed music ‘Thus she shall go to the stars’. This was inspired by the life of pioneering astronomer and scientist Agnes Clerke, born in Skibbereen 180 years ago. The Celestial Quartet are Tess Leak, Diana Llewellyn, Francesca Flowers, Susan McManamon.