Over 8,000 enjoy festival fun in Killarney

Pádraig Ó Sé interviewing Seamus MacGearailt about his award-winning Micilín Muc range of sausages live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

Stepping it out: local Irish dancers, performing

Sibéal Ní Chasaide, who sang an astonishing version of Mise Éire for the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, (centre) with her sisters Niadh and Róisín

Conor O’Loughlin (left) and Brian O’Leary, a grandson of the legendary box player Johnny O’Leary, performing at a previous Oireachtas in Killarney. Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan

Áine Ní Chronín performing on fiddle

Irial Ó Ceallaigh, winner of the men’s singing competition

Ciara Ní Chearbhaill enjoying the music

Killarney musician Morgan Pearse, Gearóid Curtin, David Healy and Seán Ó Laoithe performing with Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and Pádraig Ó Sé

Hup: Radio na Gaeltachta broadcasters, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and Pádraig Ó Sé performing a Kerry set

Looking dapper: Amhloaibh Ó Siocháin-Ó Beoláin enjoying the festival

Déithír Ní Fhátharta and Neans Nic Dhonncha performing an award-winning sketch

THEY came, they saw, they danced, they sang, they read, they recited and they celebrated all things Irish as Killarney played host to the bumper Oireachtas na Samhna over the past five days.

Well in excess of 8,000 people packed the town for a get-together like no other, with concerts, book launches, poetry sessions, dance workshops and impromptu sessions for families of all ages.

The festival was based in the Gleneagle Hotel and the INEC and with such an influx of free-spending visitors, it represents a huge economic boost to the area at this time of year.
The Oireachtas was previously held in Killarney in 1914 and in 1918 – 100 years ago – and it has successfully returned to the town in recent years. The calendar of events embraced all age groups and they took place from Thursday to Saturday.
Such is the importance of the events, this year RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcast some of its magazine and music shows from the venue, TG4  broadcast its news live from the event and RTÉ.ie/Gaeilge also featured the festival.

Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan. Click on individual images for details

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