Ceann Trá sticks to the pattern on Lá Caitlíona

THE annual Ventry pattern day, Lá Caitlíona, was celebrated in fine style with people gathering from around West Kerry in Ionad Chaitlíon Naofa to enjoy a fine Christmas dinner followed by music and dancing.

Many in the parish arrived to the centre in Ventry on Saturday after completing the rounds of An Teampall cemetery, the traditional pattern event which takes place annually on Lá Caitlíona.

There was some debate between Antain Ó Grifín and Breandan Ó Ciobháin as to the exact amount of rounds involved in the annual tradition. In an interview with Sinead Ní hUallacháin on Raidio na Gaeltachta, Antain recalled that people would gather nine small stones before they started the rounds, throwing away a stone as each round was completed until none remained. However, Breandán said An Seabhac had noted that the tradition involved only seven rounds of An Teampall.

In any event people might have been as well off with the nine rounds to work up an appetite for the full Christmas dinner that was served at Ionad Caitlíona, as a gesture from the community to the members of Club na Sinsear. Dancing to music by Banna Cheoil Ceann Tra under the direction of Áine Uí Chathasigh and Noreen Ashe kept the party spirit going until well into the evening.

There was plenty of spot prizes and the big winner of the day was Máirín Bn Uí Lúing who took home two hampers. Máirín was looking forward to the An Gaeltacht match against St. Senan of Foynes on Sunday and was in the unique position of having four of her grandchildren playing in the game – two one each side. The explanation for this rare twist is that Máirín’s daughter Carol lives in Foynes where she has run a pharmacy in Foynes for the past 20 years.

Bríd ‘Pat’ Bn Uí Mhuircheartaigh of Coiste Forbartha Fionn Trá, who has looked after the dinner for the past eight years said: “Bhíomar ana shásta leis an lá, bhí ana-thacaíocht againn”. Recognising the community effort involved in running this day and the work of Club na Sinsear Ceann Trá throughout the year, she thanked everyone who had contributed.

Máirín Bn Uí Lúing with the hampers she won at the Club na Sinsear Cheann Trá annual community lunch, in Ionad Cháitlíon Naofa on Saturday. ABOVE, RIGHT: Hannah Sheehy, Cooleen, and Mona McKenna, Ceann Trá, watching their numbers while the raffle was...