The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
The Monks of the Screw - North Cork’s finest
THE February instalment of the Scartaglin-based traditional music and culture series, Handed Down, will be brought to you on this coming Saturday night, February 22, at 8pm.
A presentation with the intriguing title: ‘The Monks of the Screw / North Cork’s Finest’ will see the return of the ever popular, always welcome, Eóin Stan O’Sullivan, the Newmarket fiddle player back to the Sliabh Luachra Culture and Heritage Centre.
“Eoin will bring the story of the famous North Cork band ‘The Monks of the Screw’ who formed in the mid nineties,” said PJ Teahan – for whom 2020 opened well with the conferring of the Dan O’Connell Memorial Award for his services to the music and musicians of the culture steeped locality.
“The Monks, from playing regularly in Scully’s Bar Newmarket, made three recordings but, more importantly, they sourced music from the older musicians of the area whom they sought out and met. It is to their credit that many tunes versions played today were saved from players who have since died and would have been lost.
“The band had a few line-up changes in its life-time but its core sound was pure Sliabh Luachra and ‘The Monks’ always stayed true to the style.
Guests on the night include: Jim Barry, seanchaí, Newmarket; Claire O’Loughlin, fiddle from Millstreet: Michelle Ann Houlihan, tin whistle, Ballyduff.
The usual young musicians guest spot will be filled by the 16 member strong Millstreet and Dromtarriffe Group; Collette Hartnett and Eve O’Driscoll, Newmarket; Seán Michael and Andrew Redican, Ballyduff.
The shows always start at 8pm nightly and patrons are asked to be settled in their seats by 7:45pm out of respect for performers and fellow audience members.
Tea and coffee are available afterwards in the kitchen. Post event tunes up the village have become a vital flicker in the effort to keep lit that great imaginary window to rural Ireland.