Evening Entertainment in Kerry

Whatever type of music you prefer, there is a pub or club around the county to suit you!

• Music Pub Tour, Killarney
• North Kerry
• Spraoi Ciarraí Concerts, Killarney

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Killarney Music Pub Tour
Not to be confused with a ‘Pub Crawl’ - this takes place between 6pm - 9pm and is ideal for families.

I attended the opening night and found it is a music session that is both informative and enjoyable. The main two musicians behind the idea are Brendan O’Sullivan - well known and very accomplished fiddle player, and bouzouki player Tim Browne who has written extensively about the history of Irish music.

There is a meal option included, for those that wish to avail of it, at 6pm. It costs 20 euros, which covers the cost of the show and meal. If you don’t wish to avail of the meal the cost is 12 euros for adults / 6 euros for children.

The first hour is upstairs in Teddy Connors Bar. The musicians play tunes, explaining differences between jigs and reels etc and giving some of the historical background to the tunes.

The second hour is upstairs in Courtney’s Bar where a more informal session takes place. The audience are invited to join in - and if they have any instruments with them, all the better.

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North Kerry
On Thursday night last I was in John B. Keane's pub in Listowel. Every Tuesday and Thursday night during the tourist season they stage drama acts in the pub - with free admission.

Last Thursday night Denis Hobson and Lorcan Curtin from the Abbeyfeale Drama Group performed a 'sawn-off' version of John B. Keane's play 'The Chastitute'. Leaflets on the tables around the pub gave an insight in to the play -

"A Chastitute is a rustic celibate by force of circumstances peculiar to countrysides where the Catholic tradition of long-life sexual abstemiousness is encouraged and free range sex is absolutely taboo. This is a much abbreviated version of the great John B Keane 's 1981 play. The story remains valid: It is the story of a man's search for companionship, his fear of isolation, of social failure, of God and His strictures and of a barren old age."

The pub was packed to capacity but the atmosphere was real homely - Mary, John B's wife, making sure everyone had a seat and Billy, John B's son, pulling pints and introducing the play and the cast.

John B was really a marvelous writer with a real insight into the ordinary lives of the people in his community - the play was brilliant. At times the audience were in hysterics with laughter and at times they were really touched by the sadness of the plight of the play's main character - John Bosco McLaine. A great night's entertainment, something that locals, and especially visitors, would love to talk about for a long time afterwards. As I finished my drink and headed for home Billy was about to organise a sing-song. I regretted having to leave the warm atmosphere and the craic.

The Tuesday and Thursday night's Drama Productions will continue until Listowel Races (Sunday 11th to Saturday 17th,September 2011)

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Killarney - Spraoi Chiarraí Concerts

One Saturday evening, last August, I was at a Spraoi Chiarraí concert in St Mary’s Church of Ireland in Killarney. These concerts are aimed at visitors and showcase Irish Traditional Music, Song, Dance and Story Telling.

I must say I was really impressed by the professionalism of musicians. The music was excellent. The show opened with Mike, Mary and Sean Kelliher and they were followed by Tim O’Shea, Padraig Creedon and Catherine Carey. Really first class and it went down very well with the visitors who filled the church.

St Mary’s was built back in 1870 and is a beautiful building with great acoustics and a really nice atmosphere for a concert.

And the great thing about these concerts is that there’s no admission charge. They start at 8 and finish about 10 so they’re ideal for families.

For information call 087-2814550                                          


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