O’Keeffe Festival Sliabh Luachra Schools Session Returns on October 27

Kerry, Cork and Limerick County Councils Musician in Residence, Eoin Stan O’Sullivan (centre right) with teachers and session leaders, from left: Ailish Walsh, J.J. Herlihy, Bryan O’Leary, Mr. O’Sullivan and Deirdre O’Brien at the Sliabh Luachra Schools music session in St. John’s Hall, Presentation Castleisland in March. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Presentation Castleisland students and musicians from left: Éabha Harkin, Faith Bradley, Emma Mullane, Amy Griffin and Molly Hughes getting in a last minute tune ahead of their participation in their school’s hosting of the Sliabh Luachra Schools Traditional Music session in March. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland Community College musicians from left: Paddy O’Connor, Seán Butler, David and Mark Lane and their teacher J.J. Herlihy warming up for their participation in the Sliabh Luachra Schools traditional music session at Presentation Castleisland last March. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Ceoltóirí as Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore with their teacher Rebecca Stryker preparing to take part in the schools session at Presentation Castleisland in March. Included are: Nóirín Healy, Colleen Angland, Grace Angland, Olivia Cronin, Delia Foley, Jennifer Buckley, Eleanor Cronin and Pádraig Murphy. ©Photograph: John Reidy 16-3-2023

Secondary school students from around Kerry and North Cork gathered at Presentation Castleisland on March 16th last to play some powerful music.

The event was held under the auspices of the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in conjunction with the Arts Council of Ireland and the Kerry County Council Musician in Residence Eoin Stan O’Sullivan.

The seisún mór was led by Eoin Stan, Bryan O’Leary, with festival chairman Cormac O’Mahony and Presentation Castleisland teachers Deirdre O’Brien and Ailish O’Connor.

The success of the day was such that plans were immediately made for further sessions on a twice yearly basis.

On Friday October 30^th.

The next will be part of the 30th anniversary Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival on opening day, in fact, on Friday, October 27th from 1pm.

The levels and quality of musicianship from both teachers, leaders and students was breath-taking and heart-warming.

Anyone worried about the future of the music of the Sliabh Luachra region should have been there on the day and maybe they can be on October 27th at 1pm.

Festival 2023 AGM

There was an AGM of the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in the kitchen of Hartnett’s / Fagin’s Bar on Friday night and I was so glad to hear that the promise of the schools session is being pinned to the calendar of events.

That AGM also heard calls going out for all beds in the general Castleisland area to be identified and made available for the expected throng of festival followers expected in town over the five days from Thursday, October 26th to and including Monday 30^th.

Volunteers Wanted

There was also a call for local volunteers to make themselves available to help visitors locate the various class and performance venues and to make their visit to Castleisland and the festival an enjoyable and memorable experience.

I’ll tell you more about the AGM later on. In the meantime, all the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival information you need you can click for here: https://patrickokeeffefestival.com/events-2023/

You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.