October 26th – 29th, 2012
www.patrickokeeffe.net

The 20th annual Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival will take place in Castleisland over the October Bank Holiday weekend from Friday October 26th – 29th inclusive. Growing in stature and style with every passing year, last year’s festival included an exhibition of work by local artists. It is intended to continue in that vein as the festival approaches its magical 21st in 2013. The loss of three good friends of the festival over the past twelve months has galvanised the committee in ensuring the best possible programme of events for its patrons. Founder member and former chairman, Mike Kenny passed away on August 12th, 2011 at 55 years of age. The event was his ‘baby’ from one end of the year to the other and he thought of little other than ways of improving it from one year to the next.

Brennan’s Bar will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of the committee members and festival goers alike. It was here that the rousing, gathering tunes were played into the night and morning each year. It was here too that the scattering tunes were mixed with parting glasses tipped with promises to return the following year. This was all overseen with the eyes of guardians by Sean and Mary Brennan up to the time they closed the bar in December 2008. Sadly, Sean (71) passed away on June 12th, 2012 and the news drew tributes from musicians from all over the country.
The late Mikey Duggan (91) lived a long and fruitfully musical life at his home in Scartaglin and he never spared the fiddle at wake or wedding. He was one of the men who encouraged the new, young and inexperienced committee members to tackle the organisation of the first festival in honour of his great mentor back in 1993. His legacy – like that of all the giants of the music of the Sliabh Luachra region – will be recalled and celebrated over these few magical days of the October bank holiday weekend.

For further details contact: Chairman, Cormac O’Mahony,
Tel: 087 2731441 or John Reidy Tel: 087 2359467
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