Changes from advertised ‘Handed Down’ scheduling

UNFORTUNATELY, due to circumstances beyond his control, Matt Cranitch has had to postpone his advertised talk in the Handed Down series in Scartaglin and it has been rescheduled into next season’s run.

The Handed Down event on Saturday, January 27, has been given the working title ‘Creating a Sliabh Luachra Archive – Preserving Our Identity,’ and it will be presented by Maggie Prendiville-Keane.

“We were recently awarded a grant from Kerry County Council to help set up an archive of Sliabh Luachra material,” said PJ Teahan by way of an explanation of the title.

“We have been collecting for years and at present have a large collection of rare audio, video and photographic material which we want to digitize and make available to the public.

“Through the lecture series, Handed Down, we have examined many topics relating to our area and in doing so have introduced the history of the music to new generations.

“We’re aware of our responsibilities in using public funding. At Handed Down on Saturday, January 27, local historian Maggie Prendiville-Keane will reveal some of these rare pieces to show the community what exists and what we envisage the Handed Down / Sliabh Luachra Archive will become,” said PJ.

Items already in the collection includes unreleased recordings from a variety of sources.

From 1973 comes a recording of Paddy Cronin playing with Paddy Glackin on the street in Listowel just after the latter had won the senior fiddle All-Ireland title there.

An audio recording from Tom and Mary McCarthy’s Bar, Castleisland, in 1962 recorded for Raidió Éireann by Andreas Ó Gallachóir. Also on Saturday, January 27, the Handed Down team will be presented with the Dan O’Connell Memorial Award. To mark the occasion, Jackie Daly has been invited to attend and play for a few parts of a polka set.

Groups or individuals wishing to dance are welcome and among the former dancers invited are: Timmy the Brit, Ann Keane and Eily Buckley, Aileen Cronin and the O’Connell family from Dan O’Connell’s Bar. Guests on the night will be: Jackie Daly, Dave Buckley, and musicians: Mike Rice, Gearoid Keating and Mairead Corridan, Margaret B Looney, Billy Joy and friends. The young musicians on the night will be Meabh Ní Chonaill, Lauren O’Connor and Caoimhe Murphy.

Photo by John Reidy Handed Down founder member, PJ Teahan (left) pictured with flautist, Billy Clifford and Maggie Prendiville-Keane. Maggie will present the Handed Down lecture at Scartaglin Heritage Centre on Saturday night, January 27th at 8pm.