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Oireachtas festival attracts over 12,000 to Killarney

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ALTHOUGH the tourist season has drawn to a close, Killarney has been welcoming thousands of visitors this week, with an estimated 12,000 people making tracks for the town for the Oireachtas Festival.
Ray Mac Máinais, president of An tOireachtas officially launched this year’s Oireachtas Festival in the INEC on Wednesday and festival events will take place both in the INEC and across other venues in the town between until Sunday.
The annual Oireachtas Festival is a mecca for lovers and performers of the traditional arts and this year’s competitions include storytelling, sean-nós dancing and singing, and the famous Lúibíní competition in which two people perform a rhyming story through song.
A specially composed piece by Peadar Ó Riada, entitled I gCuimhne Laochra (Remembering Heroes), was commissioned by An tOireachtas as part of their 1916 commemorations. Ó Riada debuted his composition live on TG4 on Thursday evening from the Oireachtas Festival accompanied by renowned musician Seán Ó Sé and Cór Chúil Aodha.
Ferdia Ó Braonáin and Caoilte Canny (9) take a break from the Oireachtas Festival competitions to play in the autumn leaves.
PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH