It was a real do-nothing Sunday until after supper. We never left the house until then. Then it was off to a concert in St. Mary’s Church. The concert is part of the four-day Féile na Bealtaine. There are dozens of performances and events scheduled in Dingle town and the surrounding West Kerry area. The program is here. It’s a big deal and the town is packed for the long weekend (May 1st is a Monday bank holiday). Our event was a Tribute to Séamus Begley (Séamus Ó Beaglaoich) , a beloved Dingle musician who passed away at 72 this past January. His whole family (a daughter, three sons, and even some grandchildren) performed. Pauline Scanlon (who we saw in concert at last year’s festival), Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, and Éilís Kennedy, all great in their own right, made guest appearances. The music was wonderful. Great singing, great flute music, great accordion music, and even some set dancing. Seamus’s wife participated in the dancing. Picture taking was discouraged but I did manage to take a short video during the encore after the standing ovation at the end of the concert. That’s Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh on the left and Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich (Maeve Begley) on the right. The night was a roaring success.
After the performance we decamped to O’Flaherty’s for a beer and a bit more music. The Guinness was a reward for two plus hours on a remarkably hard church pew. Smart attendees brought a cushion.
Yes, brilliant indeed. What voices. Remember next year to bring your own cushions!
What beautiful voices and the church setting was perfect. Sue, good idea about the cushions! Sure the Guinness helped make all better!
Lovely voices with an Irish lilt. Thanks for the Clandestine video.
We once heard a concert in a church in Venice and it was fabulous. The setting looked similar to your experience!!
Enjoy every minute!!
Love to you both♥️