The tenth annual Garry McMahon Weekend will be held in Abbeyfeale from 19th To 21st October 2018 at The Ramble Inn.
To begin a story is hard ….to end a story is harder still.
During the upcoming Garry McMahon Weekend many a story and song will be sung and told in celebration of our rural and native traditions of ballad singing, ballad making and story telling.
By Owen D. McMahon
This is all due to the efforts of the West Limerick Singing Club and their hard working committee under the chairmanship of Tomas McKenna and Secretary Chris O’Shea, the club in promoting the humble ballad and the art of story telling and doing everything in their power to preserve our rural traditions.
This is the tenth anniversary of the Garry McMahon weekend and contributors from all over Ireland will flock to the Ramble Inn during the 19th to the 21st of October 2018.
Four Corners of Ireland
Singers from the four corners of Ireland from Cork to Tyrone, from Sligo to Wexford will give air to their native songs and ballads and a great time will be had by all. Each singer or storyteller is guaranteed an attentive audience and their contribution is treasured and valued as it is unique in its presentation and gives us an insight into the different oral traditions throughout Ireland.
Launch of Tenth Annual Weekend
The launch of the tenth annual Garry McMahon Weekend will be held at The Ramble Inn, Abbeyfeale at 8.00 p.m. on Friday the 5th of October 2018 and is being hosted by Philip and Marie Enright. The success of the Garry McMahon Weekend is testament to the growth and interest in Ballads and Ballad singing which has resulted in the setting up of many Singing Clubs throughout Ireland.
Singing Club Founded in 2002
The West Limerick Singing Club was founded in 2002 and has gone from success to success in the intervening years and can boast among its members several All Ireland Champions such as Philip Enright, Micheal Ó Sé and Catherine Broderick Murphy.
The late Garry McMahon was a proud member of the club prior to his death in 2008 and at the monthly sessions he would sing his own compositions such as ‘The Land of the Gael’ ‘My own
Newcastle West’ and ‘The Hills around Listowel’ and he would indeed be proud to know that these songs are still being sung not only in West Limerick but throughout Ireland.
Preserve the Tradition
Primarily the aim of the Club is to preserve and keep alive the traditional songs and stories from previous generations. Songs of rural Ireland composed by ordinary people, farmers, tradesmen, spalpeens etc.
The Garry McMahon Weekend most aptly takes place in an area where the Ballad has always been a considerable force and where the art of Ballad making is still very much alive.
It is however indeed hoped that as a result of the weekend rural Ireland as a whole shall continue to produce Ballad Singers and Ballad makers to chronicle peoples sorrows and joys, their whimsies and their loves and to delight generations for many years to come.
Carry on the Torch
The aim of the West Limerick Singing Club is to carry on the torch lit by such people as Garry
McMahon.
The official opening takes place on Friday 19th of October 2018 at 8.00p.m. in The Ramble Inn, Abbeyfeale, and the opening will be performed by the legendary Kerry footballer Darragh Ó Sé from Ard a Bhotair, Ventry, County Kerry, who with his brothers Tomas and Mark graced the football fields of Ireland for many a year.
One of the Greatest Midfielders
He is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Also in attendance for the weekend will be Seamus Brogan, Singer and Lilter who originally hails from Monageer, Wexford, but now lives in London.
He was All Ireland Traditional Singing Champion in 2000 and is a member of the Ard Chomhairle Chomaltas Ceoiltoiri Eireann. The renowned singer Raconteur Collector and Archivist Joe O’ Connor from Milltown Malbay will also be in attendance throughout the weekend.
The Story and the Song
On Saturday morning there will be a special lecture and presentation called ‘The Story and the Song’ giving the background to the events recalled in the well known ballad ‘The Valley of Knockanure’ by Bryan McMahon.
On Saturday afternoon a very special singing session featuring the songs and recitations of G.A.A. legends will be held at The Ramble Inn and will feature such songs as Christy Ring, Tommy Quaid and Mick O’ Connell.
Liam McCarthy Cup
How appropriate it is that this session will be held on the year that Limerick brought home the Liam McCarthy cup. It is hoped that contributors will bring songs from their own locality recounting gallant deeds on the football and hurling fields of yesteryear. Maybe someone will even bring a newly composed song about the Limerick Heroes 2018.
On Saturday the 20th of October at 6.30p.m. Aifreann na Riochta will be celebrated and sung by Abbeyfeale Choir in Abbeyfeale Church.
Honour for Kitty and Nora
On Sunday afternoon at 3pm. at Fr. Casey’s G.A.A. Club a special tribute and presentation will be held to honour of the sisters Kitty O’Donoghue and Nora Kennedy both well known in the Rambling Houses of Munster.
Originally Kitty and Nora Carrig from Creeves, Askeaton, County Limerick, they and their family will be the guests of honour at the concert on that afternoon, both need no introduction and they have been staunch supporters of The Garry McMahon Weekend. This will be an occasion not to be missed and everybody is welcome.
That’s What Ballads are all About!
West Limerick Singing Club is proud to honour these gracious ladies during the weekend.
Be assured that many songs will be sung during the weekend so come along and enjoy these songs. Sing them ! Change the music or timing if you feel something else works better for you !
After all that’s what ballads are all about!
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