As Chairperson of Cobh Readers and Writers ,I would like take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and participation in this year’s  festival.

The aim of our festival is promote and encourage participation in the arts, and display the great artistic and cultural groups we have in the area.

This year’s theme was a celebration of Rory Gallaghers connection with Cobh and the O ’Mahony family, and we were honoured to have Dónal Gallagher as our special guest over the weekend. His presentation on Friday night and the commemorative plaque unveiling at 19 West Beach on Saturday afternoon were just two of the many highlights during the festival.

We were delighted this year to promote such a wide range of artistic events which included  literature, poetry, music, theatre, spoken word, film, and photography; and I believe that with all the talent we have in our town that this encourages us to look forward to the future and continue to nurture and celebrate what we have.

I would like to thank our committee, Ben Cuddihy, Peter Kidney, and Ruairí de Barra, for all  their hard work.

A special thanks to our Guest of Honour, Dónal Gallagher, and to Eoin Gallagher and to the Gallagher and O’Mahony families.

We would like to thank all those listed below:

Many thanks to our sponsors:
Cork County Council, Cobh Credit Union, and kind donations from C. J. Daly , and Simon Avery.

Plaque donation and design:
Pat O’ Mahony , Patrick O Mahony.

Partner Venues:
Cobh Library, Sirius Arts Centre, and Coliemore the Artist House.

Associate Venues and Sites:
The Commodore Hotel,
The Rob Roy Bar,
The Mauritania Bar,
Cobh Dry Cleaners,
Community Radio Cobh.

Festival Services:
Pat Hegarty (Film Services)
Fionnghuala Smith (Festival photographer)
Kieran Mackessy (Photography – opening event)
Peter Kidney (Transport)
Séan Long (sound system)
Eoin Gallagher (Artist Liaison)
Garvey’s Supervalu
East Cork Cinema Club.

Individual hosts, artists, participants, and performers.
Ramon Muntjewerff for Govert de Roos Exhibition),
Simon Avery & Milton Cottage Trust (John Milton Talk),
Haulbowline Theatre Group,
John Adams (Open Mic MC & Music),
UMG (Universal Music Group – Rory Gallagher Irish Tour 74’)
Stan Notte (Poetry),
Ken Hickey (Poetry)
Ann Wilson (Literature),
Trish Carlos (Literature),
Marion Horgan (Literature),
Kemi Tijani (Literature),
June Caldwell (Literature),
Séan Long (Music – opening),
Moonchild (Music),
Brian Tambling (Music),
Dr Dec & the Side Effects (Music),
‘On the Nickel’ (radio),
Jamie Clarke (Radio production),
Creative Writers Group (Library),

But most of all I would like to thank the audiences who came from far and wide to support our event.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

John Smith.
Chairperson Cobh Readers & Writers.