Scartaglen Culture and Heritage

Is a community initiative to promote & preserve the music, song and dance and unique traditions of Sliabh Luachra. A state of the art Centre has been built and facilities include:

	200 seat modern theatre
	"Sliabh Luachra the musical Landscape" , short film
	Archive & interactive reading room
	Cafe & CD/Book shop
	Sliabh Luachra Exhibition
	Community access
	Recording facilities (achieve & broadcast)
	Academic programme
	International Summer School
	Sliabh Luachra Cultural Trail

Bookings being accepted for private functions, Christmas parties etc. Phone(066) 7147231 or (066) 7147085

BINGO Wednesday 8.30 pm. this week and every Wednesday after. JACKPOT 500 pounds	Buses will be provided from Boherbue, Kiskeam, Ballydesmond. Contact Timmy Joe Sullivan 029-79016 Barraduff, Rathmore, Gneeveguilla. Contact Joe Donavan 064-54041 Church Street Corner, Castleisland. Contact Michael Reidy 087-6732740
Speech & Drama Classes by Moire Galvin	Age Groups: 5-10 yrs / 11-16 yrs 1st class: Tuesday 6.30-7.30pm2nd class: 7.30-8.30pm
Set Dancing classes: Come along and learn a variety of sets including: The Jig set, Connemara, Polka,s etc.	For further information phone (066) 9763059, (066) 7142503

Greetings,

My great-grandmother, Ellen Nolan, was born in Scartaglen and emigrated to the United States with her husband, Daniel O'Sullivan from Cork. Would you be so kind as to provide me with some resources for tracing Ellen's ancestry if you have such access to this information. I thank you in advance.

Regards,

Sam Broyles, San Francisco, CA

Padraig O'Keeffe, was born in Glountane to Margeret Callaghan, sister of Cal Callaghan and John, a schoolmaster at Glountane National School. Paidraig at first succeeded his father as schoolmaster at the same school, but after a few years he began his life as a traveling fiddle master. He walked twenty to thirty miles a day calling at farms and houses to give lessons, and most nights would be playing at local pubs.

At one time he played at Lacka Hall with Mick Buckley, Denis Murphy and John Clifford. In later years he became resident at Jack Lyons' in Scartaglen. The traditional Sliabh Luachra style of music is distinct from that of Kerry or Cork. Padraig O'Keeffe perfected a style of bowing, use of ornamentation and overall interpretation, that introduced a wider range of expression into fiddle playing. In his time he had hundreds of pupils all over Sliabh Luachra, many are excellent musicians who still play in the Sliabh Luachra area.

Paddy O'Connell, Cordal (left) and Tom Carroll, Kiskeam, played at the unveiling of the monument to the master on September 12th 1993Padraig O'Keeffe's musical protégés,

click to see big c. Photograph by John Reidy

Paddy Jones a renowned fiddle player from Kilcusnan, Castleisland, Paddy was reared in a musical household - his mothers' people were great singers. At the early age of 10 years Paddy pursued his musical career and was taught by the fiddle master Padraig O'Keeffe.

An enthusiastic student, Paddy walked 6 miles to Padraig's house in Glountaine. Paddy persevered to learn from this great genius, sometimes endured a disappointing walk home, when Padraig once again had taken to rambling. Despite these minor setbacks Paddy persevered with his beloved instrument and the love of the Sliabh Luachra music. Although Paddy learned from one of the great masters of the Sliabh Luachra music, he also had many influences and had many opportunities to meet other great musicians to widen the scope of his collection. Paddy has traveled to France and Germany promoting his local music with the 'Kerry Orchestral' from Caherciveen. He also traveled to Thailand with the Kerry School of Music.

Currently he is handing down considerable skills, teaching music through the 'Kerry School Of Music' in areas such as Scartaglen, Castleisland, Tralee and Caherciveen. Paddy a skilled and talented musician and exceptional teacher can be heard playing locally in various sessions and also on C.D. 'Fair Dawing' by Tim O' Shea and Robbie Stafford.

by Rose Halsall