Session in Fagin’s / Hartnett’s Bar Tonight at 9pm in Memory of the Late Mike Kenny

Home and dry and wetting the whistle: Members of the Brennan’s Bar delegation in Day’s Bar on Inishbofin soon after arrival. Con ‘Rocky’ Roche (left) with the partly hidden Eamon Fleming, Cathleen Reidy, Mike Kenny RIP and Seán Brennan, RIP. Photograph: John Reidy 6-6-2003

Members of the Castleisland and Inishbofin communities who met during the first visit of the Kerry delegation to the beautiful island on June 6th to 9th -2003. Front, from left: Michael Burke, (I) Cathleen Reidy, (C) Stephen & Tommy Lavelle (I) and Rose Halsall, trip organiser, (C) Second row from left: Gionata and Fionnuala Spazzi, Kilkenny; Jackie Dan Jerry O’Connor,(C) Dessie O’Halloran (I) and Con Roche, (C) Back from left: Jerry King, (I) Simon Cloonan, (I) John Reidy, (C) Joe O’Connor, (C) Michael Kenny, (C) Eamon Fleming, (C) Seán Brennan, (C) Philip O’Connor, Cork and Jerry O’Connor, (C). ©Photography & Design John & Micheál Reidy

It’s hard not to think of the late artist, sculptor, session organiser (music too) and dreamer of good deeds, Mike Kenny (February 1956 – August 2011) when news of music sessions in various locations cross our bows.

It’s impossible not to think of him now as 11 years ago today – and on a Friday as well – he dreamed his last in this world in the Aghadoe ward of Kerry General Hospital.

Members of his family and closest friends, Mags Liston, Eamon Fleming and Marion Foley were with him on that fine evening.

Sails Hauled Aloft

Sails will be hauled aloft and his memory will be celebrated with a session of music being organised by P.J. Teahan and friends at Fagin’s / Hartnett’s Bar this evening, August 12^th at around 9pm.

This time last year, the late David ‘Dauber’ Prendiville and Eamon Fleming and myself met at the Shoemaker’s Bar to mark the occasion of his 10^th anniversary. We sat under the television and, uncannily, a clip of the Seán Ó Riada sculpture was being shown just as we lowered our glasses in our annual salute to a long lost friend.

A Message from Inishbofin

I got a reminder during the week too when I got a message from Inishbofin about an upcoming weekend of music, song and craic to celebrate the life and music of the late Desmond ‘Dessie’ O’Halloran and the music and musicians and tradition of the Island.

This will take place on Inishbofin Island on the last weekend of August on Friday 26th. Saturday 27th. and Sunday 28th.

Bofin Ceili Band and Friends

Music sessions will be held in all venues from about 3pm. formal concert by the Inishbofin Ceili Band and friends on Saturday evening in the local community centre, singing sessions in certain venues as well.

Mr. Kenny would be selecting a crew and setting his sails for Bofin if he was spared.

I hope that he and Dessie and Dauber and Johnny O’Leary and Seán Brennan and Jackie Dan Jerry O’Connor and Denis McMahon and their equals are meeting up and lifting glasses on days like this and cheering in unison: All Sails Aloft. May God be good to them all.

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