Thousands Killarney-bound for another great Oireachtas

NOT everything born at the Conradh na Gaeilge congress in 1896 is still visible today, but An tOireachtas hasn’t merely survived – it’s thrived.

Inspired by similar festivals in Wales and Scotland, the inaugural Oireachtas was a minnow next to the behemoth gracing Killarney this week.

It took a few hours on a Monday afternoon at the Rotunda in 1897 to rattle through just nine events. Almost 120 years later, hundreds of people of all ages will participate in 42 competitions, thousands more will visit Killarney, and the events receive media coverage from BBC Gaeilge, Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4.

It’s estimated the festival will bring €5,500,000 to Killarney. It’s the fifth time the town’s hosted An tOireachtas since 2010, and the INEC’s Managing Director Patrick O’Donoghue says it’s always a pleasure to hold the event.

“It’s expected to bring 10,000 people to Killarney, so it’s great for the town” he said.

“It’s an integral part of Irish culture. and it’s a particular privelege to host it in a year of 1916 commemorations.”

Oireachtas na Samhna 2016 opens at 5.00pm today (No- vember 2) in the Gleneagle’s Mangerton Room, where prestigious literary prizes, including Gradam Reics Carlo, will be presented.

Feature events will include the much-loved sean-nós dancing competition ‘Steip’, and the blue riband of sean-nós singing, An Corn Uí Riada, which takes place from 7pm on Saturday in the INEC.

The INEC will host the bulk of proceedings, with events also slated for the Killarney Avenue, The Plaza, and The Brehon. A full timetable, as well as ticketing information, is available from www.antoireachtas.ie.