Christy Moore to play West Cork’s first Green Festival

cork | environment | press release Sunday August 12, 2007 23:55 by Sustain West Cork - Sustain West Cork

film director & local resident , David Puttnam to be a guest speaker.

The first festival of its kind to be held in the South West is set to take place in Bantry over three days in August. Sustain West Cork, are organising the “Eco-Festival” to raise environmental awareness and promote local Sustainable Development. With live music, children's entertainment and an impressive lecture & workshop schedule it promises to be an enjoyable family event.

Drawing by Ceola Reece

Legendary singer/songwriter Christy Moore is to perform at the South West’s first sustainability festival taking place in Bantry from August 24-26. The performer tops a multi-cultural bill that will see a host of international musicians play alongside local bands. “ I totally support everything Sustain West Cork are doing”, says Christy Moore, “and I am delighted to be a part of it.” Skibbereen resident, film producer and Chair of the British Parliament’s Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill , David Puttnam will make an appearance as a guest speaker. Jonathon Porritt Programme Director of Forum for the Future and Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission is also speaking on Saturday.

The festival organised by Sustain West Cork aims to highlight local solutions to the issue of climate change. “That can be as simple as shopping locally or starting to composting kitchen waste,” says Sustain West Cork’s spokesperson Kate Arbon. “But we will also be asking, ‘What will a sustainable rural economy in West Cork look like in ten years time?’ ”

Mark Edwards, the widely published photographer, returns to Bantry with his evocative and moving presentation of his Hard Rain book of photographs taken in 150 countries. It is a powerful commentary on climate change, environmental collapse and global poverty. Christy Moore said, “..this book inspires me to try and stand again. To know that others share this bleakest outlook brings a ray of hope.” The Hard Rain exhibition, a spectacular 40m montage on canvas currently on tour around Europe, will be on display over the weekend.

A film competition will give an opportunity to 14-19 year olds to make their views known about environmental change. A lecture and workshop programme will see guest speakers from successful community-based environmental projects sharing their knowledge and experience with the public.

Sunday is a Family Day with children’s theatre, workshops on making toys from recycled material, and a parade featuring “Eco-Inventions” made in local summer camps. In the afternoon there will be traditional music and an outdoor ceili to finish off a great weekend. The following weekend, September 2nd, the Sustainable Homes Exhibition will take place at the Bantry Show.