Welcome funding for archivists

AWARDS of €1,000 have been given to four Kerry-based groups under the Government and Kerry County Council-led Creative Ireland programme, as the county looks to strengthen its archived material for years to come.

Each of the winning groups – Blackwater Women’s Group; An Ceolann Cultural Centre, Lixnaw; Lartigue Monorail and Museum, Listowel; and Scartaglin Community Group – have been recognised for their participation with communities and making their chosen topics of interest accessible to wide audiences, and they were selected after a process managed by Kerry Library Service.

Blackwater Women’s Group received €1,000 to assist with a documentary on local life – “Kerry in the Bygone Day” – dealing with the heritage and customs of south and west Kerry. An Ceolann will use their award for an archive collection cataloguing process, while Lartigue Monorail and Museum is working on cataloguing and digitising its rare archive material.

Scartaglin Community Group also received funding for the renowned “Handed Down” project, which intends to create an online archive of Sliabh Luachra’s musical tradition.

The presentation was made to the groups by Cathaoirleach Councillor John Sheehan, who was joined by Chairperson of the Strategic Policy Committee overseeing Culture, Arts, Tourism and Recreation Cllr Sam Locke. Representatives from each successful group attended and were joined by Creative Ireland Kerry Co-ordinator Kate Kennelly and Tralee Library Archivist Mike Lynch.

Photos Dominick Walsh. Mayor of Kerry John Sheahan presents a €1,000 award to (above) Paddy Keane Lartigue Monorail & Museum, Listowel (above right) Josephine O’Neill and Mary O’Neill of the Blackwater Women’s Group; (below) PJ Teahan of the Scartaglin Community Group and...