Celebrating the creativity, history, and ecology of Killeagh
with events in Glenbower Wood & at Greywood Arts, Killeagh Cork
Check out the full FESTIVAL PROGRAMME !
BOOKING IS OPEN!
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BOOKABLE EVENTS ON EVENTBRITE
Or Click the Individual event to book
Friday:
- 20th Century Killeagh Community Photo Archive & Youth Photo Project Exhibition Opening 7pm
- Bealtaine Procession led by Alchemy Arts from Greywood Arts to Glenbower Wood 8pm
- Seed Pavilion Opening with poetry by Paudie Lee, early gaelic harp by Mícheál Ó Catháin & Fireflame fire show with Will Flanagan.
Friday’s events are free – no booking necessary!
Saturday:
- Here Comes the Sun! Morning yoga with Alison Faith 10am – 11am
- Yoga, Fun & Fairytales – with Mandy from Seanachai Yoga 11:30 – 1:30
- Creative Kid’s Bubble art workshop with Jeni Wu 1:15pm (Book with Jeni on 087 914 3783)
- Cré / Clay ceramic workshop with Siobhan Joyce 11:30 – 1:30
- Bealtaine trees celebration with Helena & Maria Walsh 2 pm
- Photo Exhibition @ Greywood Arts 11:30 – 4
- Music in Long’s Pub 10pm
May Sunday:
- Dawn Chorus Walk 6am
- Picnic, music & dancing in the Seed Pavilion 12 – 4
- 12 – 12:30: Corda Dolce – East Cork’s Youth Strings Ensemble
- 12:30-1: Ceoltóirí Clais Mhóir youth trad music group
- 1:30 – 2:30: Ceili Dance Lessons
- 2:30-3:30: Open Ceilli Dancing
- Food from Volcano Pizza & Mr. Softee
- Meet the Maker fair 12-4
- Seed & Plant Swap 12 – 4
- Imagination Station – botanical printing with Killeagh Scouts 12 – 2
- Photo Exhibition @ Greywood Arts 11:30 – 4
- Music in the Old Thatch 10pm & Imokilly Tavern 9:30pm
Monday:
- Dogsercise Adventure Dog Walks 10 & 11:30
- Wreath Making Walk (adults) with Una Mullin of Juna Bloom 11-12:30
- Seedlings Kid’s Art Workshop with Jaki Coffey 11-12:30 FREE
- When I Was Your Age – Bealtaine Hero Award storytelling event with Noelle Ní Riagaín 1:30 – 3 FREE
- GAA Healthy Clubs Family Fun Day 2-4
- Photo Exhibition @ Greywood Arts 11:30 – 4
Questions? Contact us at create@greywoodarts.org or 08308451750
LOOKING BACK: May Sunday Festival 2023 Art Trail
Click here to see more images from the 2023 Art Trail!
LOOKING BACK: Our May Sunday Festival 2022 was full of music, dancing and fun – see the video below for the event highlights.
HISTORY
Glenbower Wood is situated on what used to be the estate of the De Cappell Brooke family in the village of Killeagh, in East Cork. In the 1830s, De Cappell Brooke began making improvements to his home as well as the land surrounding. After the improvements had been completed, De Cappell Brooke invited the entirety of the community to celebrate on the first Sunday in May. This became a yearly event known as May Sunday. It was the only day of the year on which the Wood was open to the public. The date also, perhaps not so coincidentally, coincides with ancient Druid “Fertility Rite” that would have been celebrated on the same date with hopes for a fruitful year and the Feast of Our Lady.
In the 1920s, the festival became very popular, spilling out of the Wood and onto the main street. It was a colourful event which featured music, dancing, food, and many other activities. Unfortunately, in 2001 the festival was unable to proceed due to Foot & Mouth disease. After a nearly 20-year hiatus, Greywood Arts revived some of the May Sunday traditions, placing the emphasis back on the festival’s origin in Glenbower Wood. In 2018, a reimagined version of the festivities celebrated local creativity, history and ecology through a programme devised in collaboration with artists and community groups, and supported by Cork County Council. Building on the success of the revived festival, the activities expanded in 2019 – and in 2020 the festival was once again cancelled – this time due to Covid-19. 2021 saw our first Art Trail as a Covid-safe way of marking the transition to summer in Glenbower. With restrictions lifted, 2022 celebrated live performance. 2023 was our biggest endeavour yet, with live events and an Art Trail spanning the first two weeks of May.
2018 & 2019 Festival Archive at www.creativekilleagh.ie
greywood arts 