Join us for the fourth West Cork Stone Symposium (20-22 March 2020) in Durrus on the Sheep’s Head peninsula.
Our programme gives you the chance to work alongside amazing craftspeople, acquiring skills that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Talks by archaeologists and sculptors, as well as demonstrations by carvers and blacksmiths will be on offer during the weekend too. And there will be great music and craic to be found in the village pubs each evening too!
Workshops run in parallel each day. You will need to register for your first day’s workshop at the Philip’s Green Centre in the centre of Durrus.
Friday 20th March 2020
Dry Stone Walling Workshop | Buy single day tickets (€65) 9:30am-4:30pm (Durrus).
Stone Carving Workshop | Buy single day tickets (€75) | 9:30am-4:30pm (Durrus)
Visit Durrus Cheese
FOOD EVENT | Sarah Hennessy | Durrus Cheese Dairy, Coomkeen, 10:30am-12pm (tbc)
Durrus is home to one of Ireland’s most famous and tastiest farmhouse cheeses. Visit the dairy in Coomkeen to see cheese being made. You’ll learn about how place, sea air, and a family business create distinctive and award-winning flavours here on the Sheep’s Head peninsula. And of course you’ll get to taste Durrus too!
Talk (tbc)
Philips’ Green Centre, Durrus, 5:30pm |€5 on the door (free to workshop attendees)
Saturday 21st March 2020
Dry Stone Walling Workshop | Buy single day tickets (€65) | 9:30am-4:30pm (Durrus)
Stone Carving Workshop | Buy single day tickets (€75) | 9:30am-4:30pm (Durrus)
Learn to be a Blacksmith|One-day course [Saturday only] tbc Includes lunch & fire tools/decorative items you produce| 10am-5pm (Durrus)
Watch a Blacksmith at Work
DEMONSTRATION | JJ Bowen | Outside Philips’ Green Centre, Durrus | 2pm Saturday & Sunday (time may change).
The acclaimed Sheep’s Head blacksmith JJ Bowen will show us how he makes chisels and other items using traditional blacksmithing skills.
Guided Walk (Coomkeen, Durrus)
1pm Registration at Philips Green Centre €10 (adult) €5 (child) NB: Not suited for pushchairs or small children | Short car pooled drive to departure point | Cars will leave Philips’ Green at 1:20 prompt. | Please wear suitable footwear.
Charlie McCarthy will lead a guided walk on the Sheep’s Head close to Durrus, including spectacular views from the ridge and insights into local history and geology. A walk with Charlie is not to be missed!
Call or text 086 303 0991 to reserve a place.
TALK | tbc | Philip’s Green Centre, Durrus, 5:30pm |€5 on the door (free to workshop attendees)
Sunday 22nd March 2020
Dry Stone Walling Workshop | Buy single day tickets (€65) | 9:30am-4:30pm. (Durrus)
Stone Carving Workshop | Buy single day tickets (€75) | 9:30am-4:30pm (Durrus)
Check out details of great places to stay, places to eat, walks and other activities on the website of our award-winning local tourism co-op!