Padraig O’Keeffe Weekend

By PAT FLEMING

Sliabh Luachra Musician

This year celebrates the 30th year of the Padraig O’Keeffe festival in Castleisland. The man himself was born in 1887 and originally trained as a teacher. Following his father’s passing in 1915, he became principal, however, he was careless. He wasn’t suited to this strict system of teaching. After warnings mounting, he is reputed to have walked out the door in 1920, and never returned. However, he is still remembered as a teacher – he is regarded as the most influential fiddle player, or even musician, of the 20th century. This is definitely at least in part because of his famed classes – he spent years teaching music. He went house to house, usually walking 30 or more miles a day, though not without calling into his local for a few pints! He’d dabbled in the dating scene in his younger years but his mother disapproved because she wanted him to “marry in his own class”. So he stayed single and took care of his mother, and following her passing, lived on as a bachelor. There are only a few recordings of him – some in 1947-49 by Seamus Ennis, and a few others following. One on YouTube comes from 1951, and is a rare clip indeed! Hie legacy inspired art of all forms, but it lives on in the festival held in Castleisland. This year’s celebration takes place from the 27th to 31st of October.

Tributes to Padraig O’Keeffe are scattered throughout Sliabh Luachra