THE TIES THAT BIND – Third Times A Charm!
Our West Cork friends Levis’ Corner House return to The Duncairn for their takeover weekend! Come join 13th–15th November 2026!
We are delighted to share that our project - The Ties that Bind - with good friends Levis’ Corner House has been granted three years’ of support by Creative Ireland as part of the Creative Communities strand of the Shared Island initiative. Following the success of our first two years, The Ties That Bind, returns in 2026 with a third iteration of cross-community collaboration, with the addition of Wexford Arts Centre and Glasgowbury as new partners. Following two sold-out collaborations, Levis’ Corner House in Ballydehob, West Cork, returns to The Duncairn Arts Centre in North Belfast this November for a weekend celebrating music, food, creativity and community!
The three-day programme brings the spirit of West Cork to Belfast, with Sing for Your Supper on Friday 13 November, Levis’ acclaimed music festival Secret Song on Saturday 14 November, and a free family celebration, Super Song Sunday & Abair Amhrán, on Sunday 15 November.
From West Cork food, traditional music and céilí dancing to surprise musical performances, Irish song, children's arts and crafts, the weekend promises a mighty celebration of the people and creativity that connect communities across Ireland.
Sing For Your Supper : A West Cork Gathering of Food, Song & Dance at The Duncairn
Following on from the last two year’s roaring success of Sing for your Supper, Levis’ returns to Belfast with another evening of communal tunes, traditional music, good grub, and a wee bit of Ceilí dancing. There will be food - no one leaves the house hungry! - and, as tradition of the session demands, there will be plenty of singing and dancing too.
An evening of West Cork hospitality, shared platters of local produce, singing led by award winning pianist and composer Maurice Seezer, traditional music and a céilí led by a special guest from the Muscraí Gaeltacht. Guests are invited to share a party piece, with the winning performance receiving the cost of their supper back.
Doors 6.30pm | Start 7pm | Tickets £26 plus booking fee - only 10 tickets remaining! BOOKING HERE: TICKETS
Secret Song : A West Cork Gathering of Food, Song & Dance at The Duncairn
Levis’ celebrated mystery music festival returns once again to takeover the Duncairn. With no line-up announced in advance, audiences can expect an evening of fantastic live original music and spoken word, curated by Levis’ Corner House. Previous surprise performers in Ballydehob have included Lisa Hannigan, Ye Vagabonds, Mick Flannery, SOAK and Rozi Plain.
Doors 6pm | Tickets £25 plus booking fee. BOOKING HERE: SECRET SONG TICKETS
Junior Secret Song x Super Sunday & ABAIR AMHRÁN: 11.30AM-1.30PM - FREE EVENT!
A free family day featuring live music from West Cork, children's arts and crafts, creative activities with visiting and local artists, and Abair Amhrán, a welcoming Irish traditional singing session led by Dr Caoimhín Mac an Fhálaigh. No previous singing experience or Irish language required.
Native Coffee serving up lovely coffee and treats!
A Shared Creative Legacy
Our good friend Joe O’Leary, sums it up perfectly when he says, “Music is a gentle way to dissolve boundaries and bring people closer,”
“The Ties That Bind is about bringing diverse communities and musicians from across the island together in a safe and magical space, where people can meet, share their creativity and discover both their commonalities and their differences. It's about creating connections, celebrating what makes each community unique, and recognising how much we can inspire one another. Music and creativity have long been the best way of opening doors and bringing people together.”
Bígí Linn!
The events are part of The Ties That Bind, a cross-border artistic and cultural exchange project funded through the Creative Ireland Programme's Shared Island initiative. Originally bringing together Levis’ Corner House and The Duncairn, the partnership has grown over the past two years through artist residencies, performances, mentoring and community exchanges. The wider project is now expanding its network to include Wexford Arts Centre and Glasgowbury in Derry, creating further opportunities for artists and communities to connect.
The Ties That Bind partnership between Levis’ Corner House and The Duncairn is funded by Creative Ireland’s ‘Creative Communities on a Shared Island’ initiative, supported by Cork County Council and Belfast City Council.
PHOTOS CREDIT: Jason Lee, Liadain Kaminska
