The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
The pride and joy of Lios Póil
PRIDE of place exists in inverse proportion to size of place. That mathematical theory isn’t widely established yet, but there must be some truth in it. How else could the small parish of Lios Póil hold a week-long festival to celebrate everything it has to offer?
A true gem of a festival, Féile Lios Póil presents a pot-pourri of life in the local community and invites everybody in to sample it. You can run your legs off up the side of a hill, dress up as a hippie, win a prize for a head of cabbage, or kick a ball along the road. It’s all fun, it’s followed with intense interest and it’s a mix you’ll find nowhere else.
The official opening by close neighbour Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh set the scene for remembering the achievements of the parish’s great footballers of years gone by and the naming of Pearsa na Bliana Eugie Devane, cited for his work in developing the great game of ‘caid’ (football) in the parish.
The past duly honoured, new champions were to be crowned, and few champions can compare with those who race to the top of the steep Stricín for the honour of being crowned King and Queen of the mountain. More than 70 competitors took on the challenge. For some the achievement was reaching the peak; others had higher expectations. Local man Ronán O Griffín was crowned Rí an Stricín for the second year in a row, his fourth title in all. The fastest girl and fastest female was 14-year-old London-born Daisy Williams, who reached the top in 25:20, honouring her ancestors from Dingle and Ventry with her achievement.
The events continued on Sunday where the prizes for most appropriately dressed man and woman were won by Declan O’Sullivan and Catherine Dorgan. For those with a sweet tooth, the bakers of Lios Póil were up at dawn preparing cakes, bread and sweets, with 10-year-old Katie O’Sullivan’s cake ‘Red Velvet’ among the prize winners.
The sheep were turned out well too, with the sheep of Kevin Devane catching the eye of the judge from Muckross for the overall prize. Thomas Sheehy’s woolly beauties won the mountain class.
Even cabbages were nurtured to greatness, as Pat O’Connor from Ballinassig attributed the perfect appearance of his award-winning exhibit to the removal of Cabbage White Butterfly eggs twice daily.
Meanwhile, skill and a good eye was rewarded as John Galvin won a round bale of hay for correctly estimating its 380kg weight. The hay was the centrepiece of a stall set up by Geraldine Ashe from Glen Minard, to raise funds for a skydive she’s doing with Neasa Ní Mhathúna on September 1 to benefit Kerry Hospice.
That only brings us to Sunday, but the féile continues until this Thursday with the Lios Póil Olympics among the highlights. They do all of this not to attract tourists or make a profit, but simply to say Lios Póil is a great place.