Music: The Fleadhs

Music: The famous Hanafin Brothers

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann

Festivals

Music
Milltown has developed an outstanding reputation in not only the local area but also in Kerry and Munster because of its strong links with traditional Irish music. The Milltown/Listry Comhaltas branch has hosted no less than 3 different Irish traditional music events: the Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan or Munster fleadh, the Kerry fleadh and its own Feile Cnoc an Oileain.

The Munster Fleadh
The first Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan was held in Cashel in 1961 and in 2002 Milltown followed on the proud tradition of Kerry towns and villages that have hosted the event starting with Castleisland in 1966. It has also been staged in Kilgarvan, Tralee, Killorglin and Dingle. In Milltown, the three-day event attracted musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers from all over Munster plus visitors from Munster, the whole of Ireland and abroad – a total of 25,000 music fans flocked to Milltown and its environs. There were huge obstacles to overcome in terms of venues and accommodation but with the support of the whole community, the event was a huge success. The planning group met for 6 months prior to the event and 120 volunteers took to the streets and venues on the days of the festival. A feast of outdoor entertainment kept toes tapping and voices humming. 1500 competitors of all ages from across the 6 counties of Munster participated in a wide range of competitions including: the playing of traditional musical instruments, solos, duets, trios, ceili bands, singing in English and Irish, set dancing, Comrha Gaeilge and traditional singing. First and second prize winners went on to compete in the national Fleadh na hEireann later in the year.

The Kerry Fleadh
The Kerry Fleadh has been held in Milltown four times in the years 1998-2002 and the June Bank Holiday weekend 2005 will again see the Kerry Fleadh back in the town. It is hoped that Milltown will become its permanent home.

Feile Cnoc an Oileain
The first Feile Cnoc an Oileain was held in Milltown in August 2003 and is now an annual event over the August Bank holiday weekend. The name in English means the Island Hill which appears to have been the actual place-name of the area where Milltown now stands. The theory from local historians is that the village is flanked by An Abha Solais – the River of Clear Water in the light - to the west and the Chapel River (Uisce Bodhar or Muddy Waters) to the east. If you stand in Rathpools where both rivers enter the Maine River at a time when both are in flood, it appears that the hill where the town is situated became an island. The festival is Milltown’s special effort to pass on the music, culture and song that was so precious to generations of emigrants who left the area. The first Feile Cnoc an Oileain was launched by GAA President Sean Kelly. Back to Top.

The Hanafin Brothers
No discussion about Milltown and its music would be complete without a mention of two of it’s most talented and famous sons, brothers Michael and William Hanafin who took the tunes, lyrics and steps of their native home with them to America:
Michael (1875-1970) and William or Billy as he was known (1885-1924) were born on a farm in Callinafercy just outside Milltown. Their house was always a great meeting place for travelling pipers, fiddlers and dancing masters, especially some of the best in the county who hailed from the adjoining parish of Keel. From when the boys were young, their barn was used every winter to hold a dancing school. Michael got whistle and dancing lessons from a woman called Florence Hartnett, a flute player and dancing teacher who would visit the family home. He also loved to pay the fiddle. Billy loved to play the uileann pipes.

After emigrating to Boston towards the end of the 19th century, the brothers became firm friends of the famous musician Dan Sullivan. They performed with him and were later joined by flute player Daniel Moroney who also came from Milltown. Billy was taken under the wing of Patsy Touhy the famous piper and had lessons from him. The Hanafins played in countless music halls right across the United States as part of the Shamrock Band and recorded with at least 3 recording companies. They had their own radio show in the 1930s and Michael also won medals for his dancing.

Billy died in 1924 and 46 years later, Michael passed away at the great age of 95. In honour of their invaluable contribution to keeping Irish culture alive, a bronze memorial has been erected in the square of their native Milltown. A contingent of visitors from the Boston Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann came over for the launch and among the group was Michael Hanafin, musician and great grandson of Michael. The memorial also has 32 pieces of artwork around it created by members of the local community, celebrating all aspects of life in Milltown. Funding was obtained from the South Kerry Development Partnership. Back to Top.

Comhaltas
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann or Comhaltas as it is know to its friends is Irelands premier cultural movement. Founded in 1951, Comhaltas is today rooted in every one of the 32 counties of Ireland. It is also extensively organised throughout the Irish community in Britain, the US, Australia, Canada and in recent times, branches have also been formed in mainland Europe and New Zealand. There are now over 400 branches promoting the music, song, dance and language of Ireland. Back to Top.

Festivals
The May Bank Holiday weekend is the occasion to celebrate the traditional Celtic Bealtaine festival in Milltown, “a time of fun, song, sacredness and laughter”. Started in 2004, it is has now become a permanent and very successful fixture on the calendar. It combines a Failte an Samhradh or Summer Welcome when old rituals such as ribbons dances are re-enacted in the town’s square, traditional music, dance, and story-telling performances, street art exhibitions, a walking meditation to Killaha Abbey, group mediation exercises, percussion snails, a community walk to the Mass Rock and this year, “Ha ha ha, ho, ho, ho” a popular laughter workshop! See local press for details in 2006. The 2004 Bealtaine festival led onto the Croi Solais project on Sustainable tourism which has been taking place in 2005 under the auspices of the Milltown Community Council.

It is hoped that eventually the major Celtic festivals in February, May, August and November will all be celebrated in Milltown – watch this space! Back to Top.