Sympathy for Fr Pat and Siamsa vision

SIR,

Nuair a léigh mé an t-alt dar teideal “I feel Siamsa Tíre has lost its way – founder Fr Pat Ahern” bhí an-díomá orm, agus an-trua agam do Fr Pat, fear a bhfuil a shaol caite le fonn agus le dúthracht ag bunú agus ag forbairt Siamsa Tíre le breis agus leathchéad bliain anuas.

Ní thuigim ó thalamh an domhain cad atá déanta le fís ionsparáideach Fr Pat, a chuir smais agus críochnúlacht ar gach a rinne sé chun Siamsa Tíre a chur i lár an aonaigh ar fuaid an domhain mhóir.

It is with a combination of incredulity, shock and dismay that I read and reread the article.

What Father Pat, “a humble, gifted and generous man”, and all who have supported and subscribed to his vision feel is palpable and leaves a deep scar and sense of hurt on all who have worked so hard to support his enlightened leadership and direction.

Fr Pat has made an outstanding contribution to the artistic, cultural and literary tradition of his native county.

This he has done in a creative and a wondrous manner, transferring the magic and music and mystery of Kerry to the stage, and projecting it in such magnificence throughout the entire world.

In 2018, I wrote, “Ciarraíoch go smior is ea Father Pat.

“Tá sé bródúil as a shinsear agus as a chondae agus as gach a bhaineann le dúchas na Ríochta.

“He has given much to Kerry” One only needs to take a quick perusal of the Clár Imeachtaí of Siamsa Tíre for January-June 2024, which I received last week by post from Siamsa Tíre.

Of the 42 events listed, there is only one, in my opinion, that could be regarded as reflecting the characteristic spirit of the “Folk Theatre of Ireland”.

Siamsa Tíre now, I feel, is no more than a theatre facility that enables performers to use it to attract audiences from Tralee and its environs, with little or no consideration given on how those shows fit into the ethos and culture of Siamsa Tíre.

As these “modern” shows come in the front door, heritage, imagination and culture go out the back door.

In writing about culture, John Moriarty, philosopher and great friend of Fr. Pat, writes “The creativity of the past flowing through and finding new life in the creativity of the present becomes an enriched inheritance for the future,” and nowhere was that more evident than in Teach Siamsa na Carraige and Teach Siamsa Finuge.

People are reeling with shock throughout the whole country, but I cannot imagine the sense of devastation that must now be enveloping both pobal Chorca Dhuibhne and the North Kerry community in a very particular way, with the decision made to sell Teach Siamsa na Carraige and rumours abounding about the eventual demise of Teach Siamsa Finuge, which was first mooted for sale as far back as 2008, but was saved at that time through the timely intervention of former Arts Minister, Jimmy Deenihan, TD.

However, there is no reference now in Siamsa Tíre Teoranta’s Memorandum of Understanding to either ‘Teach Siamsa’ in Carraig and Finuge.

As Fr Pat says, “with the stroke of a pen, both Teach Siamsa Finuge and Carraig were excised”.

It is in these houses that the essential role of Siamsa Tíre was and should continue to be realised – the preservation and handing on of our cultural past to future generations.

Fr Pat tells us that “they were, first and foremost, the training centres where young people from the North and West Kerry areas were taught in a range of disciplines, from dancing to singing, music and other theatrical arts”.

When I myself reflect back over the years on Siamsa Tíre in Finuge, one memory is etched vividly on my mind, going back to the beginning.

Young, impressionable children in front of the open fire, listening in awe and wonder to an old seanchaí recounting tales of yore – ‘béaloideas’ in the very real sense of the word.

Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh Pobal Chorca Dhuibhne aníos, agus i gcomhpháirtíocht leis na cairde i gCiarraí Thuaidh, go gcuirfidh siad tús le feachtas a chuirfidh stop le seo.

Ná bíodh sé le rá ag Siamsa Tíre tar éis leath-chéad bliain, “Mo chlann féin a dhíol a máthair” Sincerely,

Éamon Ó Murchú,

Cois Fharraige,

204 Páirc na Mara, Mullach Íde,

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