Festival Exhibition

An international exhibition of fine contemporary violin and bow making runs throughout the festival and displays instruments and bows from some of the leading makers in the field. The exhibition is comprised of both baroque and modern violin, viola, cello and double bass and baroque, transitional and modern bows for the quartet.

The makers will be present, some will be working at their benches and all will be available to meet and to discuss their work. All of the instruments and bows in the exhibition are available for trial and most are available for sale. An instrument and bow maintenance and repair service will also be available throughout the festival.

Violin Talks

Violin Talks are held alongside the exhibition in The Old Methodist Church, Bantry. All talks are free.

What's On

Sunday 29 June 2025

9. Violin Talk

29 June 202512:15 pm
Marino (Old Methodist) Church, Bantry
Free admission
Artist Jose Catoira
Thursday 3 July 2025

38. Violin Talk

3 July 20253:10 pm
Marino (Old Methodist) Church, Bantry
Free admission
Artist Jeroen Reuling

The Makers

Violin Makers
Baerbel Bellinghausen

Baerbel Bellinghausen

Violin Makers

Baerbel Bellinghausen is devoted to sound: string instruments have been part of her life ever since her youth. She is...

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Youenn Bothorel

Youenn Bothorel

Violin Makers

His sensitivity to music and its instruments led him at 19 years old to Newark School of Violin Making, England,...

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John Cockburn

John Cockburn

Violin Makers

John Cockburn’s passion for violin making arose from lifelong obsessions with acoustics, craftsmanship, and music of all genres. Following stints...

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Andrew Finnigan & Pia Klaembt

Andrew Finnigan & Pia Klaembt

Violin Makers

We are fascinated by sound. Understanding the acoustical properties of our instruments and their materials is the driving force in...

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Bertrand Galen

Bertrand Galen

Violin Makers

Bertrand was born in Metz in eastern France and trained at the Mirecourt International Violinmaking School. After five years as...

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Eero Haahti

Eero Haahti

Bow Makers, Violin Makers

Eero Haahti (*16.12.1961) - started studying cello playing at the age of five with Arto Noras - 1977 made his...

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Michiel de Hoog

Michiel de Hoog

Violin Makers

Michiel de Hoog has been making violins for over forty years. Born in Holland into an artistic family, he started violin...

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Ian Knepper

Ian Knepper

Violin Makers

Originally from the united states, Ian has been living in Ireland since 2007. Ian started out in the violin trade...

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Jeremie Legrand

Jeremie Legrand

Violin Makers

Jeremie Legrand began studying violin making at the National School of Mirecourt, France, at the age of 15. He worked...

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Conor Russell

Conor Russell

Violin Makers

Conor Russell was born in Dublin, Ireland. He played the violin, and began making instruments at Cork School of Music....

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Jan Strick

Jan Strick

Violin Makers

Violin maker Jan Strick and Bowmaker Pierre Guillaume have been jointly running Maison Bernard, the oldest lutherie workshop in Europe....

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Artists are coming soon.
Arts Council - funding music
Crespo Foundation
Fáilte Ireland
Wild Atlantic Way
Cork County Council
Pure Cork
RTE Lyric FM
Creative Places West Cork Islands
Irish Examiner
Maritime Hotel
IMRO - Irish Music Rights Organisation