All set for the eighth Maurice O'Keeffe Festival in Sliabh Luachra
ALL roads are set to lead to the musical barony of Sliabh Luachra over the Easter weekend as the eighth annual Maurice O'Keeffe Festival will kick off on Friday, April 10.
Musicians are set to flock to Kiskeam and Ballydesmond and 90th year-old Kiskeam musician Maurice O'Keeffe is set to be, once again, in the thick of the musical flow. This year's concerts, held throughout the weekend, are being held in tribute to the late Don 'Jeremiah' O'Connor.
On Friday, April 10, a 'Monster Céilí' will be held in Ballydesmond Community Centre with music by Tim Joe & Ann and that will kick off at 9.30pm.
On Saturday, April 11 from 11am until 1pm, a sean nós session will be held at the Kiskeam Community Centre. Set dancing will take place from 2-4pm also at community centre.
At Kiskeam NS, a fiddle and duet competition will be held at 1.30pm and from 3-6pm there will be a fiddle recital at the Shamrocks bar and an informal singing session at Denny Matty's in Ballydesmond.
On Sunday, April 12, there will be a remembrance mass for the late Peter Daly as well as all deceased musicians in the Duhallow area.
Then, at 8pm that evening, it's the grand Sliabh Luachra concert, featuring Suzanne Leahy and Tommy Browne, Maurice O'Keeffe, Grupa Ceoil Coiscéim, Patrick Fleming, Jackie Daly, Mike Culloty as well as a host of other musicians.
On Monday from 5-8pm there will be a céili at Kiskeam Community Centre with Denis and DJ Curtin while other musical events include Jimmy Doyle, Joe O'Sullivan and Paudie Gleeson who will play on Saturday at 9pm in Bob's Bar, Ballydesmond.
- MARIA HERLIHY
