Garnish Island to host new literary fest

A two-day literary festival is scheduled for this month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Garnish Island becoming part of the Irish State. The OPW in collaboration with the Good Room will present Crosstown Drift Goes To Garnish, a bespoke, two day event from 12 August to 13 August.

The festival opens on Saturday afternoon at 5.30pm with writers Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Conal Creedon, Catherine Kirwan, Danny Denton and Lisa McInerney.

It continues on Sunday from 12pm to 4.30pm with a range of free events all around Garnish Island covering a range of topics including sports, food, rewilding on the Bere peninsula and the ecology of the birds of county Cork with engaging writers such as Eoghan Daltún, Patrick Smiddy and Mark Shorten, Eimear Ryan, Ciarán Murphy and Denis Cotter.

Visitors will enjoy readings and conversations with the writers while discovering the beauty and sheltered world of Garnish's famous gardens. Readings will take place in alternate settings, including the Grecian Temple, Casita, Clock Tower, original Martello Tower as well as Bryce House itself.

Speaking at the launch of the event, novelist Cónal Creedon said: “Glengarrif is the gateway to Beara – and Garnish Island is the jewel in the Crown of Bantry Bay. My mother’s people are from Beara and my father from Iveleary – Garnish Island is always a homecoming. It’s a soulful place and I’m looking forward to being back among my own.”

Annan Bryce bought Garnish Island in 1910 and commissioned Harold Ainsworth Peto to design gardens and Italian garden buildings. Peto travelled to Italy, Spain and France and collected architectural stone carvings to display in the gardens. The island is known for its richness of plant form and colour. Bryce House, the family residence on the island, was restored by the OPW with support from Fáilte Ireland in 2015.

Head of Heritage at the Office of Public Works Rosemary Collier said: “Garnish Island in Glengarrif Bay was well chosen by the Bryce family to establish these wonderful gardens we see today. The bespoke designs of Peto with later additions to the plant collection by renowned gardener Murdo Mackenzie have delighted generations of visitors to the island.”

63,000 people visited the island last year and Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan TD said “we are privileged to have been able to share this treasure with visitors from near and far for 70 years”.

“It is only fitting to celebrate the anniversary of the Bryce family’s gift to the nation with a special treat for visitors this year,” he added. He said that he hoped that the Crosstown Drift Festival will act as a further magnet to attract new and return visitors to the island.