The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Ballinskelligs on song for Saint Michael
THE local abbey, school, church and, of course, Skellig Michael named after St Michael, it’s hard to emphasise enough the importance Saint Michael holds in the hearts and minds of Ballinskelligs’ people.
Saint Michael’s Feast Day is September 29, and surely few places mark the occasion with as much vigour as Ballinskelligs. Huge crowds had always taken to the place for two days around the ‘Pattern’, and the local Coiste Fortbartha has in recent years complemented the occasion with a festival worthy of the Pattern Day’s history.
“Over the last number of years the local Coiste Forbartha have revived the Pattern in the local area and last weekend we had a very successful event over three days,” said Coiste Forbartha’s Dessy Cronin.
“On Friday night Denis McSweeney gave a fantastic insight into the workings of the Ford Motor company and their unique link to Cork and Ireland, and Saturday saw a guided walk led by Michael Ó Leidhin taking in St Michael’s well, the fish Palace, Ballinskelligs’ Abbey and Castle, as well as Ballinskelligs Cable Station. Micheal had the crowd of about 60 people captivated with his knowledge of the history of the local area and his unique way of telling the stories. “
Saturday night saw Saint Michael’s church host one of the weekend’s highlights, a performance by Cór Cois Abhann from Cork city, who were joined on the night by the Barr na Sráide Comhaltas group and the amazing Iveragh mens Choir.
“We had a haunting rendition of The Lifeboat Mona from the Iveragh boys which didn’t leave a dry eye in the house,” Dessy said of the occasion. “Cór Cois Abhann performed their own versions of California Dreaming, Loch Lomand and Billy Joel’s ‘She’s Always a Woman’.
Unfortunately, an outdoor mass billed for Ballinskelligs Abbey fell to the weather, but the occasion was enlivened once moved to Saint Michael’s Church, where Cór Cois Abhann took centre-stage again to perform the Ó Riada Mass.
“Another highlight of the weekend was an amazing photographic exhibition of photographs taken all over south Kerry by Domhnall Ó Máirtín in the late 50s and early 60s,” Dessy added. “These brought people from far and wide and there was much debate to see who would recognize the most people in the photos. Many people saw themselves or family members in photographs that were taken 60 years ago!” Dessy said with excitement at the end of another terrific festival weekend.