©Photograph: John Reidy 20-11-1999
There is no fear that Patrick O’Keeffe will be forgotten at the festival in his honour next weekend. He wouldn’t mind in the least if the spotlight is turned on his old friend and fellow musician, Johnny O’Leary on this the 10th anniversary of his passing.
The launch of the Terry Moylan penned book: Johnny O’ Leary of Sliabh Luachra can be held, in part, responsible for the special concert.
Denis Murphy – whose 40th anniversary occurred last April – won’t be forgotten either. Nor will festival founder, Mike Kenny or Phelim O’Reilly or Julia Clifford or Jerry McCarthy or Paddy and Willie O’Connell or Dan Jeremiah O’Connor or Seán Brennan or Séamus Creagh or Joan O’Looney or Ciarán MacMathúna or Mikey Duggan or Paddy Cronin or Paudie Gleeson or any of the fine, departed people who populated the festival as friends since its inception in 1993.
There will be a special mass at the Church of Saints Stephen and John on Sunday morning, October 26th at 11.30am for the repose of their souls.
The 22nd annual Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival. Castleisland, Co. Kerry, Ireland. October 24th – 27th 2014 Est. 1993
(Provisional programme, subject to change)
Friday, October 24th at 8pm.
Official Opening with live radio broadcast by Radio Kerry, from the River Island Hotel – Live music, all welcome.
10pm. Pub Trail begins with organised and impromptu sessions with Ireland’s top traditional musicians in pubs throughout the town. A detailed programme will be available in the pubs and hotel.
Saturday, October 25th :
2pm to 5pm: A Fiddle workshop at St. Patrick’s College – all levels catered for with: Connie O’Connell, Emma O’Leary and Paddy Jones.
2pm: Pub trail continues all day.
3pm: Singing afternoon in Hartnett’s Bar with Mickey MacConnell, Tim Dennehy and Tracy Ryan. Singers and good listeners welcome.
3pm: Glór na Féile le Éamonn Ó Braoin – An afternoon of cómhrá, craic, immersion and brushing up on your teanga dhúchais in an informal, relaxed class with Éamonn Ó Braoin in Nana Bea’s Restaurant – beside the new library.
4pm: Art exhibition opens in Browne’s Bar, featuring local artist Kevin Barry and it continues all weekend.
6pm:CD Launch Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly will launch their new CD Rolling On.
9pm: A launch of the Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project at the River Island Hotel by Jimmy Deenihan, TD. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora.
Saturday Night: Pub Trail continues until late.
Sunday, October 26th:
11:30am Mass with traditional music for the departed friends of the festival.
1pm: Pub trail runs all day.
3pm: Set Dancing in the River Island Hotel with Ger Murphy of the Abbey Ceili Band.
3pm: Day two of the singing workshop at The Poets’ Inn. Mikey O’Connor will be the host here and local and visiting singers are welcome.
3pm: A relaxed afternoon of readings of the works of Con Houlihan in the kitchen of Tom McCarthy’s Bar.
6pm: Book launch in the River Island Hotel ‘Johnny O’ Leary of Sliabh Luachra’ a revised and extended version of the original by author and musician, Terry Moylan.
Sunday night: Pub Trail Continues.
Sunday Night 8pm at the River Island Hotel.
The Johnny O’Leary Memorial Concert
Featuring: Jimmy Doyle , Joe O’Sullivan. Denis O’Connor, Con Moynihan, Gearóid Dineen. Áine and Francis O’Connor, Connie O’Connell, Michelle O’Sullivan, Eileen de Paor . Christy Cronin. Nicky and Anne McAuliffe, Donal O’Connor, Ciarán O’Sullivan. Jimmy O’Brien. Paudie O’Connor and Aoife Ni Chaoimh and Billy Clifford. Brendan Begley. Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch and Paul de Grae. Bryan O’Leary, Colm Guilfoyle, Ellen O’Leary and Gearóid Dineen.
Tickets can be had at €20 each from the River Island Hotel on 066 71 42555.
Booking is very strongly advised as seating spaces are limited.
Pub trail continues.
Monday, October 27th
1pm. pub trail will continue all day till late.
3pm. Browne’s Back Bar: ‘Handed Down’ an insight into the Sliabh Luachra lecture series with PJ Teahan, Matt Cranitch, Paudie O’ Connor, Paul de Grae, Brian O’ Leary, Con Moynihan and other guests.
