The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Olympians’, cycling greats, treasure seekers and more at Féile Lios Póil
LOOKING through Féile Lios Póil’s schedule, it’s striking how many of its events are now established ingredients of August’s first week in west Kerry.
The 37 th Féile will be declared open at Halla John L. Ó Súilleabháin on Friday, July 29. It’s just over 60 years since Páidí ‘Fitz’ MacGearailt bettered all others in the Rás Tailteann, a range of memorabilia belonging to Páidí will be on show, with Páidí himself opening the exhibition.
Lios Póil’s greatest award ‘Pearsa na Féile’ will be bestowed that night, and a collection of historic short plays by Aisteoirí Bhréanainn will then enthral attendees.
‘Rás an Stricín’, a gruelling set of races to the peak that dominates Lios Póil, is relatively new to the Féile’s roster, but its revered winners always spark awestruck conversations later on in O’Sullivan’s bar.
The enormously popular car treasure hunt’s appeal endures. It’s back on Saturday, and cars will begin dripping away from the Halla from 2.00pm onwards.
Addled passengers will guide their drivers around the parish, as teams try to decode the sheet of cryptic clues. Time is of pivotal importance, and many contestants over the years have had their hopes destroyed by getting stuck behind a herd of cows sauntering towards a milking parlour.
All the other reliables are still here: Cluichí Oilimpeacha Lios Póil, the parish’s answer to the Olympics, will pit Lios Póil’s best young athletes against each other at Páirc Seán Baróid on Sunday, July 31.
Elsewhere in the páirc, and the adjacent halla, Laoch and Rós Lios Póil will be crowned, the best dressed pet will be awarded, arts and crafts competitions will be run, and much more. The Páirc will host a night of football from 5pm on Wednesday, August 3. As always, the crowd from Above the Road will take on their bitter rivals, Below the Road, for the Lios Póil GAA’s blue riband prize, Corn Uí Chathasaigh.
As always, the festival will close after Thursday night’s table quiz at O’Sullivan’s. By then, copious amounts of craic will have been enjoyed at the aforementioned events, and the dozens of others that make up Lios Póil’s most enjoyable week.More detailed information on the schedule of events can be obtained from the Féile Lios Póil Facebook page, or from Cathaoirleach Risteard Mac Eoin at 087-173-8948.