Each one of the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festivals since its inception in 1993 has been different in one way or another.
They’ve all been colourful in their own way and that colour has been added in big bold splashes by the musicians, singers, dancers and by those who come to hear and see them.
Festival 2023 added a layer of colour all of its own. It put down a marker for years to come and it drew long verses of praise from many quarters.
The rewards reaped from this year’s festival will steer both the music of the Sliabh Luachra area and the event itself safely and well into the future.
Unprecedented Community Involvement
It was an event which saw the community of the area coming together in a way not seen before.
An appeal for bed spaces for the expected crowds – which certainly materialised – realised over 200 extra beds over a wide area.
Business premises in the locality, not previously attached in that way to the festival, accommodated and delighted in music sessions at which dozens of mostly young people played.
That too has pointed the way to the future and has thrown open options to the business community which supported this year’s event both financially and verbally like never before.
The nomination of P.J. Teahan as this year’s recipient of the Dedication to the Music of Sliabh Luachra Award has forged closer links between his Handed Down chosen base in Scartaglen and the Castleisland stronghold of the O’Keeffe festival – not that there was ever any chink in the link.
Forging of Links
PJ, in turn, did his own bit of forging of links in recent years with Eoin Stan O’Sullivan of Newmarket on the Cork side of the Sliabh Luachra area.
In fact, Eoin Stan gave a fine account of Sliabh Luachra on Lyric FM on Sunday evening in An Draíocht,The Lyric Feature in a walk through the area with presenter Paul McDermot.
PJ’s nomination was the call of festival chairman Cormac O’Mahony and, while he was on that particular roll, he and Ted Kenny came to an agreement to bring the Browne’s Bar based Mike Kenny Memorial Cup, young musician award under the umbrella and time-frame of the O’Keeffe festival while keeping it in its house of origin.
There are people here who, having witnessed all the festivals to date, declare that they’ve never seen the streets of the town so ‘black’ with musicians as they did over this October weekend.
The Greatest Footprint
The festival is now nominated for a local award but it’s the rewards of how it has conducted itself under its younger, sharper organising committee that will leave the greatest footprint.
A footprint that’s firmly rooted in the culture and traditions of its own place, in its own music and pointed in a direction where the music of the Sliabh Luachra area is minded and nurtured.
“Mind your Music,” – to quote the late Dr. Ciarán MacMathúna from that memorable Sunday evening in the Crown Hotel during the first festival in October 1993.
It’s the music that matters most.
God Rest You Patrick
That the festival brings a financial windfall to the town is both a blessing and a bonus and to think that we have a man who was close to being an outcast in his time to thank for it all. God rest you Patrick.
You don’t have to take my word for any of the above as below you’ll find letters of support for the festival from the likes of Peter Browne, piper, former RTÉ broadcaster and the man who started the festival ball rolling here in 1993.
And there’s one from Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer, Creative Ireland Coordinator with Kerry County Council.
The Pádraig O’Keeffe Festival – By Peter Browne
This letter strongly supports the Pádraig O’Keeffe Festival which has been held annually in Castleisland, Co. Kerry during the October Bank Holiday weekend since 1993.
It commemorates a legendary fiddle-player and music teacher who was a central figure in the musical life of the area over many years.
The 2023 Festival just passed was very successful in my judgement.
The main concerts were of high artistic quality with full houses on both nights that I attended.
There were many ancillary, specialised and themed events also such as workshops, classes, céilíthe, kid’s events, recognition awards to two up-and-coming traditional players – one male and one female, a pop-up Gaeltacht and more.
These were just some of the imaginative and popular events; two of which I attended were an afternoon interview and performance with a unique traditional tune composer, Eamonn Flynn and an afternoon themed recital by up to 15 well-known fiddle players.
One of the mainstays of the festival is the provision of many opportunities for musicians to meet and play in informal sessions around the town. Castleisland seems to be the right size for this – allowing plenty of space for playing music but not so large as to disperse it too widely.
This festival manages to keep a strong focus on its basis – the unique music tradition of its Sliabh Luachra hinterland – while also incorporating musicians and genres from the wider Irish tradition; it also manages to combine informal, general music-making with specific events which recognise and celebrate traditional music as an important Irish art form.
It has always been well and responsibly run with due financial accountability; visiting musicians are respected, accommodated and remunerated properly and the atmosphere in the town this year was pleasant and enjoyable.
The expansion of the festival five days has maintained all these qualities and it is worth noting that there is a large amount of community buy-in for the festival as well as respect for social inclusivity. There was a noticeable amount of overseas visitors this year – both musicians and listeners. It also has ongoing archival value.
It has now become one of the prime events in the annual traditional music calendar in Ireland, I believe it is worthy of continued strong support and is fully in line with best practice artistic objectives. – Peter Browne
Kate Kennelly’s View of the Festival
The 2023 Patrick O’Keeffe Festival was a huge success. Excellent music was heard throughout the town of Castleisland, the quality of performances and local engagement was evident.
Without question, the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival plays a vital role in the promotion and preservation of the unique musical heritage of Sliabh Luachra. This is evidenced by the workshops, lectures, Sliabh Luachra events and fiddle recitals.
This year, the festival organised and delivered a series of schools, workshops and masterclasses for schools in the catchment area. The quality of musician and student interaction clearly demonstrates that the Sliabh Luachra Music tradition continues to be an integral part of the living culture in Kerry. It was gratifying to witness the quality of performances and the level of interest in Sliabh Luachra Music across generations.
A significant addition/ contribution to the Sliabh Luachra Music Archive saw a full house at the Ivy Leaf Arts Centre.
This festival provides and essential platform to showcase the very best of traditional music, with a strong focus on Sliabh Luachra Music, it provides an important opportunity for musicians and the wider sector to connect, network and perform. The strong roots in the community are evident, and the festival remains an attractive event for national and international audiences and musicians.
The Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival engages consistently and effectively with Kerry County Council Arts Office initiatives.
Kerry County Council looks forward to continuing collaborations with the festival on the promotion of the Sliabh Luachra Music Trail and wishes all involved continued success.
Le gach dea-ghuí…. Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer, Creative Ireland Coordinator, Kerry County Council.
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