Following the success of its first year, the acclaimed Shared Island cultural exchange project, “The Ties That Bind”, returns this summer with a second iteration of cross-community collaboration between Levis' Corner House (Ballydehob, West Cork) and The Duncairn (North Belfast). The Duncairn will take over Ballydehob from the 10th to the 13th July 2025.

As part of Creative Ireland’s Creative Communities on a Shared Island initiative, two of Ireland’s best known intimate venues from opposite corners of the island have teamed up to explore their mutual creative links in a project called “The Ties that Bind”, in collaboration with Cork County Council and Belfast City Council.

Last year, local artists from each community took part in residential exchanges, swapping the rural picturesque village of Ballydehob for the inner-city hustle and bustle of North Belfast, and vice versa. The two organisations have also successfully taken over each other’s venues for weekends of music, spoken word, storytelling and community engagement.

This year’s programme begins with a four-day festival-style takeover of Levis' Corner House by artists, creatives, volunteers and staff from the Duncairn, bringing Belfast’s diverse cultural scene to rural West Cork.

There are many highlights from the weekend. There is a showcase of four emerging artists from the Duncairn community: Rua, Sammy Copley, Polar Bolero, and a headline performance from the Joshua Burnside Trio on Friday, the 11th of July. 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.