An historic and, probably, long overdue agreement of a cultural nature was struck over the past couple of years between border neighbours Cork and Kerry.
The mutually beneficial accord was launched in Ballydesmond on Friday night. A gathering of the good and the great witnessed the arrival of The Sliabh Luachra Music Trail.
The 2014 Sliabh Luachra Music Trail, celebrating the unique traditional music style of the area, was launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD. Its aim is to create a year-round calendar of events, bringing together festivals and venues throughout the region to attract visitors with an interest in the music and culture of the region. This initiative is being led by the Arts Offices of Cork and Kerry County Councils with assistance from IRD Duhallow.
Supporting the Arts
Kate Kennelly, Kerry County Council Arts Officer and her Cork County Council counterpart, Cian Heffernan represented their respective offices. They were the ones ‘sent into the fields’ when this idea was first mooted a couple of years ago.
The Mayor of Cork County, Cllr. Noel O’Connor was there and RTÉ came good again on its ‘Supporting the Arts’ claim as Peter Browne and Nicholas Carolan both attended and contributed to the running order of the evening; Peter Browne will be covering the event in an upcoming broadcast of his ‘Rolling Wave’ programme.
Now it’s up and going and the inaugural concert on the Sliabh Luachra Music Trail, in association with Kanturk Arts Festival, is on this Saturday March 15th and features an exciting line-up with: Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly, Conal Ó Gráda, Diarmuid O’Brien and Clodagh Buckley, Geraldine O’Callaghan and Tríona Ní hAodha, Eoin O’Sullivan and Timmy Connors, Bryan O’Leary and Gearoid Dineen. Con Fada Ó Drisceoil will MC the event.
Unique Position
Sliabh Luachra, which straddles the borders of northwest Cork and east Kerry, occupies a unique position in the world of traditional music. It is associated with a specific, and idiomatic, traditional music style and the Sliabh Luachra Music Trail celebrates this tradition.
As well as promoting the region’s rich musical heritage, the Sliabh Luachra Music Trail hopes to ultimately play a role in celebrating and preserving its style and repertoire. One of the key aims is to publish a calendar of events highlighting festival activity and regular music sessions throughout the region. The Sliabh Luachra Music Trail for 2014 includes the Maurice O’Keeffe Festival in Kiskeam, Co. Cork in April; Con Curtin Festival, Brosna Co. Kerry in June; Scullys Fest, Newmarket Co. Cork in August and the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival, Castleisland, Co. Kerry in October.
Sliabh Luachra Music Trail Launch Concert, Edel Quinn Hall, Kanturk, Saturday March 15th at 8pm. Tickets: €15. For more details on Kanturk Arts Festival on www.kanturkarts.ie/
