18th century poem reimagined for Cork fest
An “extraordinarily rare” performance has been unveiled as the flagship event for one of county Cork’s most vibrant annual arts festivals.
The Kinsale Arts Weekend will return for its 10th outing this summer from 9-12 July. Ahead of the full programme launch coming later this month, organisers have shared details of a site-responsive performance of ‘The Lament for Art O’Leary - From Keening to Contemporary Opera’, presented in partnership with the world-renowned Joseph Walsh Studio in Fartha.
Taking place on 11 July, the production offers a thoughtful interpretation of the famous 18th century Irish poem, 'The Lament for Art O’Leary’, through Cork composer Irene Buckley’s haunting score and a contemporary text by celebrated poet Vona Groarke.
Born from the shock of the murder of her love in 1773, Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill first performed her lament over Art’s body as it lay by the road side, and again that night as he was being waked. This raw, oral outpouring was preserved and remains one of the most extraordinary, vital, and powerful works in the Irish tradition of mourning and grief.
On the day, audiences will gather first in the open-air Hedge Theatre for an exploration of the keening tradition led by Professor Tríona Ní Shíocháin, drawing on the sean-nós tradition. As the evening light shifts, the assembly will process through the creative heart of the grounds toward the studios for an atmospheric operatic concert presentation. The performance features the Kinsale Arts Weekend Ensemble, including lead violinist Katherine Hunka, members of the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra, with conductor Gary Beecher, and accomplished sopranos Emma Nash and Kim Sheehan with a chorus from the MTU CSM Opera Lab Ensemble.
Following the unveiling of the festival’s flagship event, Anna Mulcahy, Chairperson of Kinsale Arts Weekend, explained how the performance will be delivered under the festival’s evocative 10th anniversary theme, Immrama, the ancient Irish voyage where the sea serves as a living vessel for fate, trade, and transformation.
She said: “Immrama isn't just about the journeys of the past; it’s about the stories currently crossing our borders and the futures we are voyaging toward. This year, we focus on the power of the collective voice, celebrating the rich tapestry of people who have touched these shores, enriching, and informing our local artistic landscape. This monumental performance embodies that very spirit.”
The full programme for the 10th anniversary of Kinsale Arts Weekend will be officially announced later this month, featuring a vibrant lineup of visual arts, music, literature, and street theatre.
For tickets and more information, visit kinsaleartsweekend.com.