News
Old friends to re-unite at Sneem Storytelling Festival
By Angela Belassie
Old acquaintances are set to reunite nearly 60 years since first meeting – after they both appeared in an article about the history of an Irish ballad.
A young Batt and Maura at a dance.
Batt and Maura Burns on their wedding day in 1965.
The ‘Bishop’s House’ in Parknasilla Sneem.
Young Richard Graves in the 1960s performing in a play and at the University of Oxford.
Richard Graves with a collection of books written by family members.
A young Batt and Maura at a dance.
Batt and Maura Burns on their wedding day in 1965.
The ‘Bishop’s House’ in Parknasilla Sneem.
Young Richard Graves in the 1960s performing in a play and at the University of Oxford.
Richard Graves with a collection of books written by family members.
Richard Graves made a trip to Sneem in 1965 to retrace his family’s history.
The author of 20 biographies descends from a rich literary legacy – including his grandfather, Anglo-Irish poet Alfred Perceval Graves (APG) and his uncle, poet and novelist Robert Graves.
During his summer trip, Richard, who was then 19, stayed with Batt Burns, who is a Seanchaí and an Irish teacher who grew up in the village.
And by chance they were both quoted in an article about the ballad of Father O’Flynn, written by APG about an unlikely friendship between a Protestant and Catholic priest.
Whiskey and poetry
“I recognised Batt’s name straight away," Richard (73) said.
"I was welcomed by him and his family and we spent an evening, with around 20 of his relatives, singing and reciting poetry.
“The local priest turned up at the party and introduced me to Irish whiskey. Despite the whiskey, it was a very memorable trip and I would return to live in Ireland some years later.”
BACK IN TOUCH
Batt and Richard have since got back in touch and reminisced about the 1960s and changes in the area.
And Batt has invited Richard, who has lectured widely on literary subjects, notably on the poets of the Great War of 1914-1918, to speak at the annual 'Sneem International Storytelling and Folklore Festival'.
The event, which celebrates the ancient art of yarn-spinning with artists of all ages, will run from November 11 to 13.
Batt, who founded the event in 2011 to help preserve the Irish storytelling heritage, said: “We look forward to hosting Richard at the next festival, which promises to be the best yet.
“Richard has a unique family link with Bishop Graves, APL and Robert Graves. He has many interesting stories to tell, as an author, lecturer and man with strong links to Sneem.”
The pair were set to meet two years ago – but had to postpone due to the pandemic.
Family history
Richard’s great-grandfather was the Reverend Charles Graves, the Anglican Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Agadoe.
The family’s holiday home in Parknasilla, Sneem, became known as ‘The Bishop’s House’ – by which it is still known today and it is at the site of a luxury hotel, which welcomed its first guests in 1895.
Richard, of the digital marketing agency GWS Media in Bristol, which specialises in multilingual sites, said: “My great-grandfather had died 66 years prior to my trip to Sneem.
“But people spoke about him as if he had just gone away for a long weekend. They have a long folk memory in the village and I felt very at home.”
Batt and his late wife, Maura, who were then recently married, hosted Richard and went on to run a bed and breakfast in the village.
To Return to All That
APG, who had been president of the Irish Literary Society, based his ballad on the Catholic parish priest of Sneem and family friend, Fr Michael Walsh.
Richard, who first read about Parknasilla in his grandfather’s autobiography, 'To Return to All That', said: “I had been keen to visit Sneem for some time, especially as my grandfather, APG, died before I was born and I wanted to visit the place where he had enjoyed so many happy family holidays as a child. I returned to the old family home, which had since become lodgings for summer staff. Sneem is a beautiful place and I look forward to returning there.”
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers join national campaign to cut PRSI and safeguard local jobs
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
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