At this year's Cork Choral Festival poet Billy Ramsell will have his specially commissioned piece - 'A Singing City' - voiced by Elmarie Mawe. The meaning behind Billy's poem is looking into Cork's rich history as a singing City but also looking into the future when the event will hopefully be held in reality and Cork will get it's voice back again next year. Under normal circumstances the event would attract up to 5000 singers and 50,000 visitors from all over the world throughout the City and County. This year's event will have free interactive workshops. As well as 48 international Choirs from across the globe. There will also be a big group singing experience with Ardú Director Ciaran Kelly. For more information about this year's festival visit:2021 Cork International Choral Festival | Cork International Choral Festival, Cork, Ireland (corkchoral.ie)

Lorraine and her team have designed a hybrid event of online and In Real Life. There are 5 main strands including: Online, City Stage (Port to the Fort), City Stage on your doorstep, City Gallery and City Rising, Emerging Artists. Events within the strands include: A Silent Disco, Hip-Hop,Street Art,Music,Dance and Outdoor socially distant workshops for kids and many more.. To see the exciting events at this year's festival as well as this years participants visit: https://www.corkmidsummer.com/

Ciaran and Blue Haven Kinsale team are full of praise for the work of Kinsale Youth Support Services and in order to show support 47 participants are walking the distance from Kinsale to sister town of Newport, Rhode Island, a total distance of 4,890 KMs throughout the month of April. If you would like to support this worthy cause visit: https://ie.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-the-blue-haven?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer

We hear from the extraordinary Cork Singer Songwriter Stephanie Rainey and the release of her new single "Ross and Rachel". Written at the end of 2019 with the assistance of London-based Cian Ducrot, Stephanie describes this as a song she really fell in love with and has been exited about releasing it for a long time. The song tells the story of the ups and downs in a relationship,whist using Ross and Rachel from friends as an analogy, it's especially relevant now with a Friends reunion only around the corner. To hear more of Stephanie's music visit: https://stephanierainey.com/ https://www.facebook.com/stephanieraineyband/

The Schull native who spent 9 years in London, making the move over to attend drama school, tells us about the 9th First Cut! Youth Film Festival which is taking place online. Ayoola played the role of Kathy in the RTE drama smother and also Audrey in Killing Eve, both of which can be found on the RTE player. Getting these parts is a fantastic achievement considering how tough it can be to get roles in acting , this is something else she goes on to discuss. If you would like more information on the First Cut! Film Festival visit: https://firstcutfilmfestival.com/

Joe talks about opening up food trucks providing Ramen last year to the people of West Cork. Aside from food trucks they have been lucky enough to be able to stream gigs online during the middle of the pandemic. Now that experience will assist in making the Ballydehob Jazz Festival happen online over the forthcoming May Bank Holiday. Find out more here.For more information on this years Jazz festival visit: https://ballydehobjazzfestival.org/

Drimoleague director Pat Collins got his first taste of world cinema aged 18 at the Cork International Film Festival and has since been editor of Film West magazine and a mentor of Cork Film Centre. Since then he has gone on to make numerous documentary's and films. Pat talks about his most recent film which examines the life of American Folklorist Henry Glassie, a curious character who discover different cultures and people through the things they make.The title of the film is "Fieldwork" and it is a meditative film for those who are into creativity. It has also been released in the UK. To watch Fieldwork now visit : https://ifi.ie/film/ifi-documentary-festival-henry-glassie-field-work/https://queensfilmtheatre.com/Whats-On/Henry-Glassie

The ‘Celtic Ross Artisan Food Truck’ - C.R.A.F.T - West Cork – is a permanent fixture on the terrace of the Celtic Ross Hotel. Serving vibrant West Cork street food CRAFT offers you the opportunity to sample their passion for local produce and enjoy a cup or two of Stone Valley’s celebrated coffee, brewed using beans freshly roasted in nearby Clonakilty. The team at the family-owned Celtic Ross are avid supporters of all things local and up to 35 local food and beverage producers are showcased on the menus of CRAFT West Cork and in the hotel itself. Tue in to RedFM’s Breakfast show this week for the chance to ‘Taste the Real West Cork’ by winning a two-night stay for two at the Celtic Ross Hotel Rosscarbery including dinner on an evening of your choice the Kingfisher Bar and Bistro, recently awarded with an AA rosette in culinary excellence.

Rebecca has been singing all her life but it was while in Australia performing in a number of bands that her career began. Through networking online Rebecca became acquainted with Kevin Sunray where he reached out with instrumental tracks and Rebecca then came up with the perfect accompaniment to one of his tracks which then became known as voices.Which tells the story of a women crying out in pain to a man that can't hear her anymore because he is listening to other voices. There is also a music video to go with the song which was shot with the assistance of Jarek Sowinski of JS productions outside Fountainstown beach. Check out the video for voices and more of Rebecca's music at: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaHoulihanMusician/

Hosted by award winning writers Danielle McLaughlin and Madeleine D'Arcy, Fiction at the Friary is a free monthly event in the Friary Bar (currently online). On the 25th they host an event called "The Secret Life of Book Bloggers" at 3 o'clock as part of the Cork World Book Fest.The festival, which turns 17 this year, runs from Tuesday 20th to Sunday 25th April and incorporates UNECSCO World Book Day on April 23rd. This year will see writers from Australia, Latin America, Ireland and Northern Ireland read from their work in events taking place online. The programme also includes events with partners UCC and, for the first time, Nano Nagle Place and Fiction at the Friary in bringing writers and readers together.The Fest is a participative, inclusive event, connecting readers with established and emerging Irish and international authors. It also caters for all age groups with Teen Day coming back on Wednesday 21st April, which includes authors Louise O’Neill and Shane Hegarty as well as the launch of the popular Graphic Novel Project. There will also be discussions on children’s books from around the world, and on the role of literature in climate change. Languages featured during the fest include Spanish, Galician, Catalan, Basque, Latvian, German, Chinese, Indonesian, Irish and Hebrew. To book tickets for these events, which are free to attend, visit http://corkworldbookfest.eventbrite.com or www.corkworldbookfest.com