Cullen Cuilinn Uí Chaoimh
A region vibrant with community life
IN a region steeped in culture and tradition, Cullen stands out as a beacon for all things Gaelic and, in particular, the traditions of Sliabh Luachra.
This is epitomised in the ages old Laitiarain Sunday and in Feis Laitiarain, held each June and which recently passed its 120tha year in 2018. However, there’s much more ‘afoot’ in Cullen, where sport, and particularly all things GAA, sees each new generation bring out stars anew to win Duhallow, county, Munster and national honours.
And while Cullen can genuinely said to be a quiet, country region there’s no shortage of industry and entrepreneurship from inhabitants who regard not only Cork but Kerry and Limerick as adjacent marketplaces for all manner of economic activity.
Perhaps most celebrated, year in year out the depth of musical heritage of the buoyant Sliabh Luachra region is maintained and Feis Laitiarain, held on the grounds of Cullen GAA pitch, acts as a shop window for native culture.
From the first Feis hosted in 1898 in the Old School at Lislehane; the music, dance and song has continued in an annual hosting that’s made a remarkable contribution to the heritage of the region.
The feis is very much a community event, with local organisations and the public lending their support to the venture each year to ensure its success.
And in recent years there has been a significant increase to the singing, language and music competitions with entries across the entire south west region of the country while organisers also commend the support of Duhallow based schools.
Children sports also add to the diversity of the proceedings and the annual programme always closes with a mighty seisiun that showcases the cultural strength of the region.
This, along with many other key events throughout the year characterise a vibrant community, people who rely on collective effort and so add up to far greater than the sum of their parts in surroundings that few can be so lucky to live in.