Dear Friends, Neighbours and Visitors.
It is with great pride and pleasure that we welcome you to the 14th Bandon Walled Town Festival - a celebration of our town’s rich and layered history.
Founded in the early 1600's at the southern frontier of the Munster Plantations, Bandon grew quickly into a fortified colonial town with stone walls 6 feet thick. It stood as both a symbol of ambition and a site of tension. Fragments of those walls remain today, but the spaces where they once stood are now open and welcoming, reflecting a modern Bandon shaped by many cultures who now call this place home.
Bandon’s story mirrors that of Ireland itself, settlement, resistance, resilience and renewal. This festival is our way of honouring that journey.
This year’s programme offers something for everyone: historical talks, guided walks, workshops, performances and family fun, all designed to bring our shared heritage to life.
We are grateful for the support of The Heritage Council, Irish Walled Towns Network, Cork County Council and our generous local sponsors who make it possible to provide a full day of free events and activities.
A heartfelt thank you to our performers, entertainers and traders, whose creativity fills out streets with colour and energy.
Whether you’re a local or a first--time visitor, we hope this festival inspires you to connect with Bandon’s past - and celebrate its’ vibrant present.