Now in its 21st year, The Gathering Traditional Festival, showcased music song and dance over five days last week.

LAMENT: Johnny Óg Connolly performing ‘An Cosáin Draoichta' a tribute to his late father melodeon player Johnny Connolly. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Seán Ó Súilleabháin giving a rousing version of An Poc Ar Buile at The Gathering Festival at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Mathona Morrissey a pupil at the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Irish Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel over the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Faye Griffin a pupil at the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Festival in the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Barry Fitzgerald a pupil at the Killarney School of Music who played at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel Killarney at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

SHARING TUNES: Musicians gather to share tunes at The Gathering Irish Traditional Festival in the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. From left: Damien Dalton Billy Joy Pat O'Leary and WIllie Moloney. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Seosaimhín Uí Chuilleanáin and Emma Ní Chuilleanáin at The Gathering Irish Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Pupils of the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

HUP: Sarah Pigott on her work experience at the Presentation Monastery National School taking part in the Traditional Gathering Festival Schools Outreach Music Programme. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

TUNING UP: Iarla Ó Lionáird and instrumentalist Steve Cooney tuning up a Shruti Box at The Gathering Irish Traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Katie Treyvaud a pupil at the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Michael O'Connor a pupil of the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

KEEPING THE BEAT: Traditional Irish musician and teacher Sheila O'Donoghue at the Killarney School of Music Concert at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Siún Morrissey a pupil of the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Presentation Monastery National School taking part in the Traditional Gathering Festival Schools Outreach Music Programme. Back row: musicians Bryan O'Leary Allana Callendrello Caroline Sprague Theresa Buckley (Killarney Credit Union Sponsors) Mary Brosnan (School Principal) and Tim O'Shea (Musician). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

CONCERT: Renowned instrumentalist Steve Cooney in concert with traditional Irish singer and producer Iarla Ó Lionáird performing at The Gathering Irish Traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel Killarney at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Jennifer Rea a pupil at the Killarney School of Music who played at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

PERFORMING: Renowned artist traditional Irish singer and producer Iarla Ó Lionáird playing a Shruti Box with instrumentalist Steve Cooney performing at The Gathering Irish Traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Roisín O'Sullivan a pupil at the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel.

Emma Quirke a pupil of the Killarney School of Music Concert playing at The Gathering Irish traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

THE MASTER: Padraig Buckley Director of the Killarney School of Music playing at a concert at The Gathering Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel over the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

SLEEPY HEAD: Colm Óg Ó'Suilleabháin pictured at the Killarney School of Music concert at the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

SESSION: Musicians gather to share tunes at The Gathering Irish Traditional music and dancing festival at the Gleneagle Hotel at the weekend. From left: Colin Looney Adrian Looney Margaret Looney Noel Lucey and Imelda Kelleher. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

ALL SET: Great to be back dancing sets Carla Counihan and Annette Counihan at The Gathering Irish Traditional music and dancing Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the festival celebrated all that is good about Irish culture.
It kicked off on Wednesday (April 6) with the popular pilgrimage to Scartaglen for a céilí with local musician Neily O’Connor in Tom Fleming’s Bar.

This was followed by four nights of céilís - Thursday with Uí Bhriain Céilí Band, Friday with The Abbey Céilí Band, Saturday with Striolán Céilí Band and Sunday afternoon with the Johnny Reidy Céilí Band.

And while céilí enthusiasts stepped it out in The Gleneagle Ballroom, over in the INEC Club Irish music devotees enjoyed performances by Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney; Danú; Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch and Paul De Grae; Doireann Ní Ghlachain and Sarah Collins; Derek Hickey, McDara Faolain, Liam Flannigan and Jack Talty; and An Cosáin Draoichta.

A series of advanced music and dance workshops took place throughout the weekend including: guitar with Steve Cooney; accordion with Derek Hickey; singing with Róisín Ryan; melodeon with Johnny Óg Connolly; and set-dancing with Pádraig and Róisín McEneany.

Two albums were launched at the festival including Derek Hickey’s ‘Drehidtrasna’ and Seán Kelliher’s ‘3 on the bund’.