The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Story of The Great Blasket’ first of autumn talks series
THE story of the Great Blasket is the subject of the first in this year’s Autumn Talks organised by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The long-running series returns to Killarney this Thursday, October 24, with six free talks lined up between then and November 28.
The talks get underway at 8pm each night in the McShain Suite of the Killarney Plaza Hotel. First up is Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, who will deliver a talk titled ‘Exception or Exemplar? The Story of The Great Blasket’.
Mr Ó Cinnéide is the current manager of Ionad an Bhlascaoid and has responsibility for the Office of Public Works’ (OPW) landholding on An Blascaod Mór.
He has long been involved in the conservation and promotion of the island’s heritage, and his own great-grandfather hailed from the island.
A native Irish speaker from the West Kerry Gaeltacht, Mr Ó Cinnéide is a long-term advocate for the Irish fishing industry at home and at EU level, he is a former CEO of the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, as well as a current board member of the Irish Marine Institute.
His current role combines his interest in the great Blasket with his interest in sustainable cultural tourism development, regional development and promoting linguistic, cultural and built heritage as living resources to the community.
The talks that follow include ‘Autumn Fungi in Killarney’ on October 31, delivered by Tom Harrington; ‘The Waterfowl of Lough Lein Past and Present’ by Áine O’Sullivan; ‘Deer in Ireland: Aspects of their Biology, Evolution and Taxonomy’ by Rory Harrington on November 14; ‘Close to Nature Forestry/ The Way Forward for Irish Forestry’ by Pádraig Ó Tuama on November 21; and ‘The Reintroduction of the White-tailed Eagle to Ireland 2007/2019’ by Alan Mee on November 28.
Admission is free, with all welcome to attend.