GLENFLESK COMHALTAS NEWS.
The Munster Fleadh Cheoil was held in Kenmare on the 15 to 18th July.

Congratulations to all who competed and best of luck to all who qualified for the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil which will be held in Cavan on the 20th to 22nd August. 
 
Thanks to Norrie Sheehan who trained the dancers and to Padraig Creedon who trained the Grupa
Cheoil. 
 
Ceili Dancing u 12 4 hand 1st Glenflesk; 8 hand 3rd Glenflesk;

8 hand mixed 3rd Glenflesk; u 15 8 hand 1st Glenflesk, 2nd Glenflesk;

U15 4 hand 1st Glenflesk;  u 18 8 hand 1st Glenflesk; 4 hand 1st

Glenflesk, 2nd Glenflesk; over 18 8 hand 1st Glenflesk; 4 hand 1st

Glenflesk, 2nd Glenflesk. Lilting u 15 2nd Sinead Moynihan.

Over 18 duet 1st Padraig Creedon and Brian O'Leary. 

An early reference to music in Glenflesk comes from the seventeenth century poet Jeoffrey O'Donoghue of the Glen when he replied to a joke by an O'Keeffe poet of Duhallow with the comment; "Níorbh anamh ann le ceol an cruit feoil bruic bradán is breach". (Not seldom would one find boar, meat, trout and salmon there accompanied by the music of the harp). Jeoffrey is one of the four Kerry poets commemorated by the Spéir Bhean opposite the Franciscan Friary in Killarney. In the eighteenth century there was a Court of Poetry in the northern end of the Parish at Anaghillemore called the Faha School. The poems of the local poets and visiting poets, among whom was Eoghan Rua O'Sullivan, were collected in a manuscript called Bolg an tSoláthair. Latin and Greek were among the subjects taught there.

In the nineteenth century music and dancing were very much in the homes of the people and the set began to get popular. In the early twentieth century in Glenflesk sets were danced at cross roads and one popular place was a rock beside the Loo Bridge Bar. This rock was made smooth by ice action in glacial times. Local people played for these dances. The young people learned their music at home or from a local musician. Some of these musicians were Pat Byrne, Rusheenmore, Johnny Sweeney, Gortlicka, Tim F O'Donoghue, Inch, The Carey's of Coomaculen, Mick and Henry Williams of Brewesterfield, Tim Crowley and Florie O'Donoghue. In the mid twentieth century dance hallls became popular adn Murphy's Hall in Barraduv which became The Orient Ballroom and Mick the Bridges were the popular local halls. With the coming of the Showbands in the 1950' the small rural dance halls disappeared.