Dursey Island Summer Festival
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the festival will not go ahead in 2021
A family festival which showcases Dursey Island, the Dursey Island Summer Festival was first launched in 2011 with the aim of showcasing the island as not only somewhere to visit, but also to encourage people to relocate and set up home on the island. Cork is one of only six counties in the country to have permanent island communities; seven West Cork islands are inhabited.
Visitors attending the festival are encouraged to ‘be an islander’ for the weekend. All activities on the island are free. A variety of activities and events are on offer on the island, as can be seen in the timetable below. Islanders themselves organise and participate in many of the events throughout the weekend, and are on hand to discuss their experiences of island life with visitors.
There are free refreshments, including tea, coffee and home baking available throughout the weekend at Dursey Cottage. Fundraising donations are accepted in lieu for our local RNLI station. More than €3,600.00 has been collected since the festival started in 2011.
Further details of events taking place on the other West Cork islands during the summer can be found at www.westcorkislands.com.
A family festival which showcases Dursey Island, the Dursey Island Summer Festival was first launched in 2011 with the aim of showcasing the island as not only somewhere to visit, but also to encourage people to relocate and set up home on the island. Cork is one of only six counties in the country to have permanent island communities; seven West Cork islands are inhabited.
Visitors attending the festival are encouraged to ‘be an islander’ for the weekend. All activities on the island are free. A variety of activities and events are on offer on the island, as can be seen in the timetable below. Islanders themselves organise and participate in many of the events throughout the weekend, and are on hand to discuss their experiences of island life with visitors.
There are free refreshments, including tea, coffee and home baking available throughout the weekend at Dursey Cottage. Fundraising donations are accepted in lieu for our local RNLI station. More than €3,600.00 has been collected since the festival started in 2011.
Further details of events taking place on the other West Cork islands during the summer can be found at www.westcorkislands.com.
Event Timetable for Dursey Island Summer Festival 2019 (Events were Free of Charge):
Saturday 13th June:
12.00pm (12:00): Celebration of Mass at Dursey Cottage in Ballynacallagh Village, all welcome
2.00pm (14:00): Traditional Irish music and set dancing session.
Sunday 14th June:
2.30p.m. (14.30): Screening of 'Miah' a short film directed by Daniel Corcoran and filmed on the Beara Peninsula. Venue in Ballynacallagh Village (signposted).
The Dursey Island Summer Festival is sponsored each year by Murphy's SuperValu Castletownbere and Cork County Council.
12.00pm (12:00): Celebration of Mass at Dursey Cottage in Ballynacallagh Village, all welcome
2.00pm (14:00): Traditional Irish music and set dancing session.
Sunday 14th June:
2.30p.m. (14.30): Screening of 'Miah' a short film directed by Daniel Corcoran and filmed on the Beara Peninsula. Venue in Ballynacallagh Village (signposted).
The Dursey Island Summer Festival is sponsored each year by Murphy's SuperValu Castletownbere and Cork County Council.

The West Cork Islands Weekend, June, 2015 was a great success on Dursey Island with over 700 euro raised in voluntary donations in aid of the RNLI Castletownbere. Pictured are Rosarie O'Neill, Treasurer of Dursey Island Development Association presenting the cheque to Sheila O'Driscoll, Head of Fundraising, RNLI Castletownbere.
Photos from the festival in June 2014

The West Cork Islands Weekend, June, 2014 was a great success on Dursey Island with over 700 euro raised in voluntary donations in aid of the RNLI Castletownbere. Pictured are Rosarie O'Neill, Treasurer of Dursey Island Development Association presenting the cheque to Sheila O'Driscoll, Head of Fundraising, RNLI Castletownbere, Brian O'Driscoll, Lifeboat Coxswain, Castletownbere and Anne Finch, Treasurer, RNLI Castletownbere.