West Cork Stone Symposium, Sheep’s Head peninsula, 20-22 March 2020

When and where is it on?

The Stone Symposium is on in Durrus on the Sheep’s Head peninsula. In previous years it has rotated around the peninsula’s villages. One of our aims is to attract visitors to the west of Ireland in the springtime, outside the main tourism season, and so we have worked to to share the benefits across our community – each of the places we move on from has a reminder of our presence because the stone walling workshop creates a permanent reminder. We always say, we’re the only festival that deliberately tries to leave a trace!

How many years has it been going?

This is our fourth year – we’ve had great support from people who return year after year, as well as our local communities.

The event also receives backing from The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland whose tutors deliver training throughout the weekend. And the Symposium is organised by our local tourism cooperative – the Sheep’s Head and Bantry Tourism Cooperative. It all helps to keep the show on the road!

You'd have to have a heart of stone not to consider buying a West Cork stone carving or dry stone walling workshop for the love of your life! https://t.co/Xcd1vR90xM #craft #ireland #purecork #ValentinesDay2020 pic.twitter.com/P5eJInS93q

— West Cork Stone (@westcorkstone) February 8, 2020

Drystone walls, stone carving, West Cork Stone Symposium

What was the inspiration to start it?

A few years ago, our director Victor Daly began offering stone carving workshops on the Sheep’s Head – he still delivers those throughout the year. Victor had worked as an instructor at stone festivals and symposia across Ireland and in the US, and he was keen to bring an event like that to West Cork. Stone carving and dry stone walling skills are passed down from generation to generation, and to keep them alive we need to make sure they are passed on to as many people as possible!

What exciting things can people look forward to?

Our stone carving workshops and dry stone walling workshops are taught by brilliant and creative craftspeople from across Ireland with wonderful stories to share about their work on a wide range of projects including heritage restoration. Our local blacksmith, Pat O’Driscoll is passing on his skills in a workshop, and we’ll be adding a wood-carving workshop to the programme, as well as a list of speakers in the coming days.

In previous years, we’ve had talks on everything from stone circles and holy wells to megalithic tombs and modern sculpture! A guided walk on the Sheep’s Head Way is another lovely way to be part of the event, and JJ Bowen’s demonstrations of the blacksmith’s craft over the weekend always draw a crowd.

What tips would you give to people attending to get the most out of it?

The Stone Symposium is an incredibly friendly and collaborative event. On the dry stone wall, everyone works together to create a wall that will stand the test of time. So a willingness to have a go, and hard-toed boots are an advantage! On the stone carving side, the boots are handy too, but the focus is more on personal projects. It’s always amazing and humbling to see people working on motifs and memorials that mean something deeply personal to them.

The skills people learn at the symposium last a lifetime, and we love to hear back about the projects people have completed at home using the lessons they’ve learned at the symposium. The village of Kealkill in West Cork, for example, has some beautiful townland signs that were worked on by local residents at the Symposium last year, and we have trained OPW staff members as well as people who are dying to make a start on their garden wall!

How can people book tickets / when does it usually sell out?

People can book online at https://westcorkstonesymposium.com or call Siobhán on 086 3030991 for help with that side of things.
They can choose to book for one day, two or three and everyone is welcome from beginners to experienced craftspeople.

It’s a really friendly and collaborative event and there’ll be great stories and plenty of singing in the local pubs each evening too.
The workshops usually sell out in early March – there are only 20 places per workshop available each day, so we advise people to book early.

View this post on Instagram

Laying the foundation stone for our dry stone walling workshops at the West Cork Stone Symposium this weekend in Durrus! Why not join us to make something that stands the test of time? #drystonewalling #stonecarving #blacksmithing #westcork #purecork #wildatlanticway

A post shared by Visit Sheep's Head (@visitsheepshead) on Mar 21, 2019 at 11:28am PDT

Anything else you’d like to add / we should have asked?

Just to say that the symposium is a really good example of sustainable and responsible non-profit festival- it creates benefits for the community (this year the Muintir Bhaire GAA club will supply the stone for the wall they gain); it adds something beautiful and timeless to the landscape, and our visitors gain skills they’ll have for a lifetime.

This year, we are doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint by collecting lift-share information during the booking process too, and we hope what people learn will encourage them to appreciate the role stone has always played in shaping the landscape and the culture of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Inspired by Stone

For generations, artists, makers, producers, and dreamers have been inspired by the stone that forms our peninsulas, islands, rolling hills, and valleys. Stone tells a story that unlocks the flavours, textures, landscapes, and creativity of our Wild Atlantic shoreline.

Now it’s your opportunity to help keep stonecraft skills alive.

This event, is directed by Victor Daly, stone carver, and co-organised and supported by the Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative and the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland.

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