Festival Review: 2018

18th-26th August Bantry to Adrigole

Ellen Hutchins Heritage Trail

Explore Bantry Bay’s shores, woods & mountains by following a self-guided trail telling the story of Ireland’s 1st female botanist. Leaflets: Bantry Tourist Office or Library. Audio guide: Abarta Heritage

This heritage trail follows in Ellen’s footsteps visiting many of the places she hunted for plants, as well as her birth & burial sites. At most of the trail stops there are options to explore further by following local walking routes.

18th-26th August Bantry

Mini Art Trail: Seaweed Drawings

Prints of Ellen’s beautiful, detailed and accurate watercolour drawings of seaweeds (1808 to 1812) displayed in shop windows of Bantry form this mini art trail, along with enlargements of some of the prints on display in Manning’s Emporium, Ballylickey. Art trail map available from Bantry Tourist Office.

Over 200 years ago, Ellen carefully selected seaweeds from Bantry Bay, and spent days drawing of them, at her home in Ballylickey. See the drawings to appreciate the skill and patience that Ellen brought to her botanical art and the beauty of Bantry Bay’s seaweeds.

Sunday 19th August Glengarriff Woods

Lichen workshop: Anatomy & Ecology of Ireland’s Lichens with Paul Whelan. €30/person BOOKING: National Biodiversity Data Centre

A day long lichen workshop in conjunction with the National Biodiversity Data Centre

One group of organisms Ellen Hutchins had a special affinity for was lichens, several of which were some of her rarest finds. The workshop will help you look at lichens, one of the longest living organisms on the planet, and understand how nature has put them together. With over 1,100 species in Ireland, you will attain an insight into how they reproduce, how they live on rocks and trees and the important role they play in an ecosystem.

Sunday 19th August 10:30am-12:30pm Glengarriff Woods

Guided Walk: Mosses & Liverworts Free event

An engaging and informative introduction to the intriguing world of our smallest plants with Dr Joanne Denyer (Irish Conservation Officer, British Bryological Society). Note: Sorry, no dogs allowed

The beautiful old oak woodlands of Glengarriff, provide the setting for this guided walk. Joanne makes the world of tiny plants accessible to all and hand lenses will be provided so participants will be able to see the true beauty & intricacies of the mosses & liverworts up close.

Sunday 19th August 5pm-6pm Bantry Bay

Boat Trip and Seaweed Tasting. Free event BOOKING REQUIRED

A free boat trip to see where Ireland’s first female botanist studied seaweeds followed by seaweed tasting. Event sponsored by Zenith Energy and new local company Wild Atlantic Seaweeds (WASi).

This boat trip will take the passengers around the beautiful inner bay, seeing the land and shores that Ellen explored, as well as the places where she lived. The guided tour will be followed by an exciting chance to taste seaweeds.

Sunday 19th August 8pm-9:30pm Glengarriff Park Hotel

Illustrated Talk: Flora of West Cork Free event

An illustrated talk about the unique wild flowers of West Cork and a glimpse into the life of Ireland’s first female botanist by Clare Heardman (NPWS & BSBI).

Due to its position on the extreme edge of Europe, West Cork has a unique climate resulting in a flora which includes some plants found in very few other places in the world. Ellen Hutchins was amongst the first to start documenting the botany of the area. Now, over 200 years later botanists are refinding some of Ellen’s discoveries.

Monday 20th August Glengarriff Woods

Bryophyte Workshop: Bryophytes as Indicators of Annex I Habitats (Old Oak Woodland) with Dr Joanne Denyer €50/person BOOKING National Biodiversity Data Centre

A day long bryophyte workshop in conjunction with the National Biodiversity Data Centre

This workshop will introduce participants to the use of bryophytes in the identification and ecological assessment of the Annex I habitat ‘Old sessile oak woods. There will be an indoor session in the morning, where participants will be introduced to key field identification features of bryophytes and use of bryophytes in ecological assessment. In the afternoon participants will practice bryophyte identification in Glengarriff Woods.

Tuesday 21st August 11:00am-12:30pm Bantry Bay

Boat trip €10/person ADVANCE BOOKING REQUIRED Book here

An exclusive tour of inner Bantry Bay with Bantry Bay Boat Hire. Join a small flotilla of motor boats exploring the ecology & history of the bay.

Weather permitting, this trip will be a special tour around the bay in the company of Ellen’s great great grand niece and a local ecologist. Just 15 places available so this will be an exclusive experience. Self-driven trips are also available all week via Bantry Bay Boat Hire

Wednesday 22nd August 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm Bantry House Gardens

Ellen Hutchins’ Story in 10 Objects Free event

Discover the story of Ireland’s First Female Botanist (1785-1815) through a drawing, her letters, books, and the type of microscope and writing materials she used.

The story of a remarkable young woman who showed great skill and determination in her study of seaweeds and other non flowering plants. Peer through the type of microscope Ellen used, and compare this with a modern hand lens. Handle one of her letters, see an original drawing, and appreciate a lichen up close.

Wednesday 22nd August 5pm-6pm Manning Emporium, Ballylickey

Live Botanical Art Demonstration Free event

Award-winning botanical artist, Shevaun Doherty, will be demonstrating her exquisite art skills live and talking about botanical art. Seaweed themed nibbles and wines will be available to purchase at Manning’s café.

Shevaun Doherty has won Gold and Best in Show at Bloom for the last two years, this year with a watercolour on vellum of a lichen. She has contributed to the Ellen Hutchins Festival every year. Drop in and see her at work, and chatting about it, sharing tips and advice.

Thursday 23rd August 10am-12:30pm Coomhola

Guided Walk: Coorycommane Loop Free event

Walk in the footsteps of Ellen Hutchins, Ireland’s first female botanist, with local Conservation Ranger, Clare Heardman, on this 5km loop walk overlooking Bantry Bay. Meet: Coomhola Bridge. The terrain is rugged and boggy in places so wear walking boots. Sorry, no dogs allowed. Lunches available afterwards in Manning’s Emporium, Ballylickey.

In good weather this loop walk provides spectacular views over Bantry Bay and Ballylickey to the south and to Co Cork’s highest mountain inland. Along the trail there are lots of interesting wildflowers to see.

Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th August 10am-4pm Bantry House Tearooms

Two-day Botanical Art Workshop: Fabulous Fruits in Watercolour €100/person To book contact 087 1656948. Shevaun.doherty@gmail.com

Two-day botanical art workshop with Shevaun Doherty. Inspired by the rich colours and voluptuous shapes of fruit. For anyone wishing to improve their watercolour skills. The venue is the bright and beautiful Bantry House Tearooms. The price of €100 includes materials.

Shevaun’s workshops have been a popular feature of Ellen Hutchins Festivals in previous years.The workshop will focus on the techniques required to create realistic form in watercolour. Learn how to use layers of translucent colour to capture the nuances of light, shadow and surface texture in paint.

Friday 24th August 10am-12pm Snave Beach, nr Ballylickey

Guided Micro-nature Trail Free event BOOKING OPENS 1st August: Book micro-trail event via Eventbrite

An introduction to the lichens and tiny plants on the rocks and trees on the shore of Bantry Bay. With leading Irish botanists Howard Fox (NBG/OPW) and Maria Cullen. Dress appropriately for the weather. Sorry, no dogs allowed.

Join Howard and Maria on the rocks at Snave. Hand lens and plenty of guidance will be provided to enable even absolute beginners to appreciate the hidden world of lichens and other cryptogams (spore producing plants). See their beauty and understand the science of these tiny but complex organisms.

Friday 24th August 2pm-4pm Seaview House, Ballylickey

Living History: Letter Writing 1808

Learn letter writing practices of 1808, write with a quill pen and hear about Ellen’s correspondence; with Carrie O’Flynn, re-enactor and Anne Secord, researcher. Afternoon teas (€25pp) can be ordered for 4pm. To book, please phone or email Seaview House Hotel +353 (0)27-50073 info@seaviewhousehotel.com

In the period setting of the hotel, Carrie will introduce participants to letter-writing practices of 1808. Learn about postage systems, stationery and etiquette before trying your hand at writing using period-appropriate quills and paper. See letters of Ellen’s, and hear from Anne about Ellen’s intense 7 year correspondence with botanist, Dawson Turner.

Saturday 25th August 12:30-13:30 Future Forests, Kealkil BOOKED OUT

Ceolchoirm Rúnda (Secret Concert) in conjunction with West Cork Music & the Masters of Tradition Festival. Free event but booking required.

If you want to find out who is performing, you’ll just have to come along! This concert is a collaboration between Masters of Tradition and the Ellen Hutchins Festival. 2018 Masters of Tradition’s Secret Concerts take place in unusual venues in the Bantry area. Admission to these concerts is free but booking is required

For other concerts & events taking place in the Masters of Tradition Festival see Masters of Tradition

Saturday 25th August 2pm-4pm Future Forests, Kealkil

Plants Under the Microscope Free event

A drop-in session for all ages. Use microscopes, stereoscopes and hand lenses, with expert guidance from leading Irish botanists Howard Fox (NBG/OPW) and Maria Cullen.

This session is a wonderful way to get closer to nature, in the magical setting of Future Forests. Appreciate the beauty of plants and understand them better, helped by the botanists and their specialist equipment.

Saturday 25th August 2:30pm-5:30pm Future Forests, Kealkil

Botanical Art for Beginners Class €30/person. To book contact 0871656948 shevaun.doherty@gmail.com ellenhutchins

New to watercolour and love plants? Take your first steps into Botanical Art with Shevaun Doherty in this fun and friendly introductory class held in a magical building. The price of €30 includes materials. Placed limited.

Learn how to capture the colours, shapes and textures of the natural world the easy way. Award-winning botanical artist Shevaun Doherty won Gold and Best in Show this year and last year at Bloom. She is an excellent teacher and her workshops have proved very popular in previous Festivals. The wooden building at Future Forests in the perfect setting for this class.

Sunday 26th August 11:30am-1:30pm (ferry at 11am) Whiddy Island

Whiddy Island Seaweed Event Free event (except for ferry price).

An exciting chance to discover the seaweeds along Whiddy Island’s shore with Dr Susan Steele (SFPA) and try identifying & preserving seaweed specimens 1800s style. Ferries leave Bantry’s Main Pier at 11am, returning at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. €6.50 return.Whiddy Ferry

Learn about the impressive and fascinating array of seashore life of Bantry Bay from the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Dr Susan Steele. This is an annual Ellen Hutchins Festival event and is always amongst the most popular. Lunches, including fresh seafood options, are available in the Bank House on Whiddy. No dogs allowed.

Sunday 26th August 2:30-4pm Whiddy Island

Living History: Ellen and Seaweeds Free event (except for ferry price)

Q&A on why and how Ellen collected seaweed in the early 1800s with Anne Secord, researcher on history of science and Carrie O’Flynn, re-enactor (in costume). Ferries leave Bantry’s Main Pier at 11am, 1pm and 2pm, returning at 4:15pm and 5:45pm. €6.50 return. Whiddy Ferry

Learn why Ellen collected seaweed and prepared specimens, what help she had, and her links to the other botanists puzzling over seaweeds at that time. Compare Ellen’s clothing and equipment with the modern equivalents, and marvel over what she achieved. Lunches, including fresh seafood options, available in Bank House on Whiddy. Ferries leave Bantry’s Main Pier at 11am, 1pm and 2pm, returning at 4:15pm and 5:45pm. €6.50 return. Whiddy Ferry