John Joe honoured for love & support of Finuge festival

THE late John Joe Somers was a man who loved and sponsored the annual Sean McCarthy Memorial Weekend in Finuge and this year’s festival played host to a poignant moment when John Joe was himself honoured for his contribution to a festival close to his heart.

John Joe passed-away in Boston in March 2015, aged 63, and his lifelong friend and musician Finbarr Fury played at his funeral. Local man Jimmy Deenihan was also a close friend and he and John Joe soldiered together in the football fields of north Kerry many years ago. John Joe’s sister Rita Horan has this year continued the tradition by sponsoring the Fury Brothers in concert which was the main highlight of the festival.

Aged 19 when he left his native Irremore for America, John Joe became a successful businessman and philanthropist to scores of Irish people who immigrated to Boston seeking work. Brenda Murphy, a sibling of John Joe’s, praised her sister for helping to keep their brother’s memory alive by associating it with a festival he loved. John Joe also made a substantial donation towards the restoration of Sheehan’s Thatched Cottage and Finuge GAA Club.

“John Joe was a musician himself and given he was in the pub business in Boston he would always encourage musicians as he just loved music,” said Brenda.

“He never forgot his roots or connections with Finuge. He was a lovely man and a massive thank you is owed to Rita for sponsoring the Fureys to play at this year’s festival, which was a great weekend, and something John Joe would have loved.”

Photo By Domnick Walsh George Furey ( left ) with Suz and Michael Nilsson from Ballyheigue in Finuge for the Sean McCarthy Weekend. The Fureys were in concert and played in the Teach Siamsa Finuge. Pictured are brothers Eddie Furey and George Furey ( Cap ) in Finuge Co Kerry .

The Somers Family,Tralee, who were at the Sean McCarthy Memorial Weekend at Teach Siamsa, Finuge to listen to the Furey’s in concert in memory of John Joe Somers. Also in photo is former minister Jimmy Deenihan (centre).

Front from left: Back: Relations of the late Sean McCarthy who met the Furey Brothers Eddie and George at the Teach Siamsa, in conjunction with the Sean McCarthy weekend. Caithriona McCarthy, Eddie Furey, Blanaid McCarthy and George Furey. Lionel McCarthy, Jan McCarthy,...