Today, February 22-2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the death of one of the most influential, inspirational traditional Irish musicians of the 20th century. The coming October bank holiday weekend will see the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the founding and staging of the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in 1993. In the meantime,…
2020 North Kerry Final The misty conditions couldn’t dampen the fizz of excitement that washed over Brosna on Sunday. Castleisland Desmonds took on Ballydonoghue in an intense encounter in Páirc na Féile that saw 2020 deferred final reach its natural conclusion. It was Brosna’s first time hosting this prestigious competition and let’s just say we…
John Creedon has become the saviour of the meaningful, musical place-names and town-land addresses which are in grave danger of being wiped off the maps of Ireland again. You’re far more likely to be asked for your Postcode these days than for your postal address. The Postcode has its advantages, of course, in cases of…
A reminder that Castleisland Chamber Alliance wishes to invite all interested individuals and organizations to a public meeting at the River Island Hotel on this Friday, November 22nd at 8pm. The purpose is the setting up an independent organisation to put in place a heritage and exhibition centre for the locality, Tentative plans are being…
Cordal native poet, Jimmy Cullinane is launching his book of poems titled ‘The Hillside Scribbler’ this weekend. The launch will take place at Hughes’ Bar, Cordal on Saturday and will start at 2pm with a top class music session afterwards by Jimmy’s son, Dónal along with Emma O’Leary and Bryan O’Leary. Everyone is welcome. Inspired…
Since the Municipal District elections in May, Castleisland Chamber Alliance has been working closely with the locally elected councillors and with the municipal district manager. “Our aim is to get the priority projects which we have identified on to the Kerry County Council agenda,” said chamber Chairman Michael John Kearney. List of Priorities Mr. Kearney,…
Today, August 12th. 2019 marks the eighth anniversary of the death of Castleisland native, artist, sculptor and event organiser, Mike Kenny of Killarney Road. While on a different mission altogether a couple of days ago I happened across a batch of negatives dated Mid July 1992 and labelled ‘MK Work Done’ and it was timely.…
The bonds of friendship are close in the world of music in Ireland. It’s a small world. Traditional music, in particular, draws its own circles and tightens those bonds. Castleisland came firmly within that circle midway through the last century with the activity of the likes of Patrick O’Keeffe, Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford and many…
The long and fruitful association between RTÉ Radio and the musicians and custodians of the culture associated with the Sliabh Luachra area marked and stood another important milestone in Scartaglin on Saturday night. Appreciation from Sliabh Luachra The start of the fifth Handed Down Traditional Music Lecture and Concert series was billed as ‘Peter Browne…
In an excerpt from a programme from the long-running RTÉ Radio One, Sunday morning series, Sunday Miscellany, Matt Cranitch broadcast a distillation from his years of study of Patrick O’Keeffe, his life and music. In the ‘music special’ programme, broadcast in June 2016, and in the strict time allotted to him, Matt covered all aspects…
