News
Sliabh Luachra Journal is ready to be read
How several IRA men managed to escape from thousands of British troops carrying out a major search of the “wild country’’ just east of Killarney, during the War of Independence, is recalled in the 19th issue of the Sliabh LuachraJournal, just published.
In an article titled, 'The Big Round-Up', Jeremiah O’Leary recalls the manhunt, in early June 1921. It was focussed on the Clydagh valley, Glenflesk, and estimates of numbers of troops involved ranged from 2,000 to 10,000.
As troops converging on Clydagh from Killarney and many barracks in Co Cork formed a ring of steel, the IRA was concerned as many of its members were trapped in the area being swept.
“But’’, O’Leary notes, “all made good their escape because they were familiar with the terrain and had ample warning of where the enemy was.’’
And they also had cover and support from local people. When troops entered houses, they found all the men had gone. On being asked where the men were, the usual response from women was: “They’ve gone to the bog'’.
Leading one British officer to retort: “You must have a hell of a large peat mine around here!’’
In a separate article on the War of Independence, O’Leary says 1921 was the most active year in the north Cork/east Kerry area, with ambushes in places like Tureengarrive, Rathmore and Headford. The journal has three articles to mark the centenary of the war.
TRADITIONAL MUSIC
Winning the senior fiddle competition at Scartaglen Feile Cheoil, in 1968, was the beginning of close ties with the traditional music of Sliabh Luachra for Matt Cranitch.
Now regarded as a foremost authority on the music of the region, especially that of the renowned fiddle master, Padraig O’Keeffe, he is also a leading musician on the national scene.
On the day Matt won the fiddle competition in Scartaglen, Jackie Daly won the senior accordion competition. “Little did we realise at the time that, many years later, we would go on to form a music partnership which, indeed, would bring us back to Scartaglen many times,’’ he recalls in the journal on page 12.
A native of Rathduff, Co Cork, Cranitch went on to win All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles and numerous other awards and has performed widely at home and abroad.
He also received a PhD from the University of Limerick for his study of the fiddle-playing of Sliabh Luachra.
The 112-page journal, which is sent to exiles in many parts of the world, is published by the local history society, Cumann Luachra. It contains a wide range of articles covering the life and lore of historic Sliabh Luachra and is on sale in shops throughout the area as well as in Killarney and surrounding towns.
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