The Ties That Bind Returns: a north-south creative exchange rekindled in Ballydehob
Levis’ Corner House and The Duncairn resume Shared Island partnership, 10th - 13th July 2025
Following the success of its inaugural year, the Shared Island cultural exchange The Ties That Bind returns this July with a renewed commitment to fostering collaboration between two of Ireland’s most distinctive arts venues—Levis’ Corner House in Ballydehob, West Cork and The Duncairn in North Belfast.
Funded by the Creative Ireland Programme’s Shared Island initiative, the project continues to explore themes of identity, place and artistic connection, inviting artists and audiences to cross not only geographical borders, but cultural ones.
Over the past year, the programme has facilitated a series of reciprocal artist residencies, bringing musicians, writers and visual artists from West Cork to North Belfast and vice versa. These exchanges have nurtured creative partnerships and sparked dialogue between two communities separated by over 500 kilometres, but united by a shared belief in the role of the arts in building understanding and connection.
This summer’s event sees The Duncairn travel south for a four-day “takeover” of Levis’ Corner House, taking place from 10 to 13 July 2025. The Ballydehob weekend will feature performances, collaborative showcases and informal gatherings, all designed to bring Belfast’s vibrant artistic scene into conversation with the cultural life of West Cork.
The opening night on Thursday, 10th July sets the tone with Hello, How Are You? Tell Me Your Name?—a relaxed introduction that invites guests to settle into the exchange. On Friday, 11th July, Duncairn INTRODUCING… presents a showcase of emerging Northern artists, including Rua, Sammy Copley, Luke Howard and Polar Bolero, capped by a headline performance from the Joshua Burnside Trio. This evening also includes an open invitation to local musicians and audiences to join a session in Levis’ front bar, encouraging spontaneous collaboration between artists from both communities.
Saturday evening, 12th July, features the Duncairn Creative Collective & Friends, a multidisciplinary presentation of work by members of the Duncairn's artist network and invited guests. The evening promises a mix of live music, spoken word and visual storytelling that reflects the diversity and richness of the Creative Collective’s work.
The weekend concludes on Sunday, 13th July with a family-friendly Super Sunday Session, offering a daytime celebration of music, food, crafts and conversation. With an emphasis on inclusion and informality, the final day mirrors the community-focused ethos that has defined The Ties That Bind since its inception.
Beyond performances, the project continues to support artist development through residencies, mentoring and shared creative space. Following the Ballydehob takeover, Levis’ Corner House will travel north to The Duncairn in November 2025, continuing the exchange in Belfast and offering West Cork artists an opportunity to engage directly with new audiences and collaborators.
