Castleisland (Oileán Ciarraí) could be considered the cultural capital of Sliabh Luachra. The town was long renowned for the width of its main street, and in fact Castleisland was described by one of its most well-known citizens, journalist Con Houlihan, as “not so much a town as a street between two fields”. In addition to being the largest local center of commerce (unless you’re up for braving Tralee or Killarney), Castleisland hosts The Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival. Every year during the October bank holiday, the brightest stars of Sliabh Luachra music gather to share the tradition, and the nights are long and yet much too short.
Main Street, Castleisland
a typical evening at the festival
at the very first POKfest–From L to R: Tim Keily, Jerry McCarthy, Johnny O’Leary, Mary Jones (one of the primary organisers of the event), Dan O’Connor, Paddy Cronin, and Denis “The Hat” McMahon
and they played away…
The eponymous castle
The markethouse of yesteryear
Irish volunteers gather in the street in 1914
The Music of Sliabh Luachra 