Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
Once described by seanachai Eamon Kelly, as a state of mind as opposed to a geographical location, there are now calls for the whole Sliabh Luachra district to be designated as a protected area of culture and arts to support and protect all of its wonderful elements.
Raising the matter, Kerry TD Michael Cahill said everybody loves the culture, heritage and traditional performance art forms but they should be protected and promoted.
“I called on the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to initiate a Protective Designation Status that can be awarded to geographical districts or activities, recognising and protecting their practices through government approval,” he said.
“We rightly recognise our Irish language practicing communities by designating them as Gaeltacht areas. Our traditional music, dance, song, storytelling and folklore are a vitally important part of our psyche also and deserve proper official status recognition. I will be bringing my proposals to the minister,” Deputy Cahill added.
He said he hopes to get approval for a scheme that will be much sought after countrywide by those promoting Irish culture, heritage and sport.
“Most people realise that the area known as Sliabh Luachra, covering Castleisland, Gneeveguilla, Scartaglen, Rathmore, Ballydesmond, Kilcummin, Knocknagree, Glenflesk, Killarney and much more, is deeply rich in Irish traditional music, dance, song, stories and folklore and it holds a special place in our hearts, through our culture and heritage,” the Kerry TD added.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan said he is aware of the strong cultural heritage that is evident throughout Sliabh Luachra and surrounding areas but, unfortunately in regard to the specific matter raised by Deputy Cahill, he has no such powers to make the proposed designation.
He added, however, that his department does have a role in relation to the recognition of living cultural heritage practices as set out in the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This helps to protect, promote and celebrate Irish living cultural heritage practices, customs, crafts and traditions.
The department accepts expressions of interest from practitioners for cultural practices to be added to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage on an ongoing basis, with the goals of acknowledging, safeguarding and promoting Ireland’s living culture through official State recognition.
“These are assessed by an expert advisory committee who submit recommendations as appropriate to the department for approval by the minister,” he said.
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