The tradition and lore of the Duhallow area of Cork and Kerry have been documented in prose and verse over the decades, writes Michael O'Regan
Another timely and welcome addition to this archive is a book written in association with 45 recordings of interviews with exponents of its music and storytelling.
The book, which is called The Ancient Barony of Duhallow: Living Voices, and the CDs, can be obtained from the Heritage Centre, Rockchapel, Co Cork, or from Maurice and Jane O'Keeffe, Princes Quay, Tralee, Co Kerry.
The project is the brainchild of the O'Keeffes, who have run an antiques shop in Tralee since 1982. It all represents a truly fine piece of work, and one suspects that Thady Quill, pin-up boy of the "maids of Duhallow", according to the rousing ballad, would be impressed.
The O'Keeffes became interested in Duhallow folklore when Maurice began a series of interviews for Radio Kerry. The CDs contain Maurice's interviews, and the book is Jane's work.
Among those profiled is John Sheahan, from Rathmore, Co Kerry. Jane O'Keeffe takes up the story.
"On a return visit to Shrone, I met John Sheahan and was introduced to Teddy Duggan who owns the lands at Shrone. I was told about the pilgrimages to the ancient shrine at Shrone in days gone by, and then John went on to relate stories of wonderful musicians who used to play at house dances in the area during the 1930s, '40s and '50s. The houses would become so crowded with dancers that the musicians had to play sitting on the kitchen table to allow more room for manoeuvre.
"John took from his pocket a photograph taken in the 1960s of the Cullen Pipe Band under Pipe Major Stephen Casey. He named all the pipers for me and assured me that the band is still in existence under Pipe Major Con Houlihan.
"Throughout my visit, John would take up his melodeon and play some local traditional tunes, passed down by the great teachers of the Sliabh Luchra music."
John O'Mahony is photographed in pensive mood at his open fireplace in Tureendubh, Ballydesmond, Co Cork. Jane O'Keeffe writes: "Our conversation began with stories about hedge schools in the area and about education in general in the late 18th century and early 19th century. One of these hedge school teachers was a man from Kilmurray, Cordal, by the name of John Murphy, who was also a blacksmith.
"The teachers at the time relied on local support for subsistence. It was in the 1840s that the first dedicated school was build in Ballydesmond.
"In the early 1800s, the locality was covered in wild grass and the main crop sown was the potato, mostly 'lumpers' and 'roasters' which were prone to blight.
"The tragic events of the Famine of the 1840s left the population devastated and by the 1880s the 'champion' potato was in general use and was far superior in quality than the older varieties.
"After the Famine, people of the area were encouraged to emigrate by free travel to Australia, and many settled there at this time. In the 18th and 19th centuries many travelling labourers, Spailpíns, from the Dingle peninsula, brought with them their gifts of poetry writing and music which enhanced the lives of the local people."
The Kerry-born writer, George Fitzmaurice, is recalled by Fiona Brennan, from Knocknagree, and a visiting academic, Prof Howard Slaughter, from Akron University in Ohio. George Fitzmaurice was the tenth of 12 children of the Rev George Fitzmaurice, a Church of Ireland clergyman, and Winifred O'Connor. Five of the children died in childhood.
As a young adult, George Fitzmaurice moved to Dublin, becoming friendly with W. B. Yeats, J.M. Synge and Lady Gregory. His first play, The Country Dressmaker, was staged in the Abbey Theatre in 1907. The Dandy Dolls was revived to great acclaim in the Peacock Theatre during the recent Dublin Theatre Festival.
He died in Dublin in 1963.
Jane O'Keeffe writes that she found history in Duhallow not to be a "dry affair, but something very much alive in the best sense of old stories whispered around firesides for generations past, of music passed lovingly from master to pupil, of historical fact guarded with care and retold with pride; history which is alive and with a profound emotional connection to a place and its people".
She quotes a poem translated from Irish in 1849 by James Clarence Mangan.
Entitled Duhallow, it was written by Charles Boy McQuillan, who was living in exile from his native heath.
It will, no doubt, have a significance for those who live in that intriguing part of Cork and Kerry.
Far away from my friends
On the chill hills of Galway,
My heart droops and bends,
And my spirit pines always -
'Tis not as when I roved
With the wild rakes of Mallow
All is here unbeloved,
And I sigh for Duhallow.
My steed is no more,
And my hounds roam unyelling;
Grass waves at the door
Of my dark-windowed dwelling.
Through sunshine and storm
Corrach's acres lie fallow
Would heaven I were warm
Once again in Duhallow!