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Sweet acoustic sound surprises locals

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MUSIC TO THEIR EARS: Talented acoustic guitarist Gareth Carey has been amazing locals and visitors in town with his music. Photo: Michelle Crean

Passersby have stopped in their tracks in the heart of Killarney town in recent weeks as one very talented busker has been playing melodic, uplifting and refreshing songs on his acoustic guitar.

Michelle Crean talked to the man behind the strings, 40-year-old Gareth Carey, who is planning to make Killarney his new home.

And, during our ‘In Conversation’ he revealed that he has had a huge music career touring with Jeff Martin's 'Armada' in Australia, supporting acts like Public Enemy, Gomez, The Wailers and had a meeting to discuss some songs with none other than The Temptations at the Royal Albert Hall.

He also toured Australia extensively and played for the Swing Dance Champion of the East Coast of America.

Gareth grew up in Malvern, England before moving to Clonakilty, Ireland aged 12 in 1992 and began to learn the guitar. When he was 16 he studied under the tutelage of Kevyn Gammond who played guitar with The Band of Joy with Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) on vocals and then collaborated on many albums and live shows Robert Plant went on to record and perform in his solo career. Gareth also attended Kidderminster College where he studied Music Management and Sound.

In the years that followed Gareth has been session playing with emerging bands from the Irish and English music scene.

His music influences include Nick Drake, Roy Harper, John Martyn and Bob Dylan and although he’s looking to get signed as a solo artist, he says that the music industry is going through a tough decade.

“Obviously it’s been a tough year with the year that’s in it,” he explained to the Killarney Advertiser.

He says that he supported Mick Flannery seven or eight years ago and recorded his first album with ’70s and ‘80s folk legend Roy Harper who has over 50 albums under his belt. Since then he’s been session playing but work is becoming increasingly hard to come by especially this year due to the pandemic and restrictions on gigs.

“The last 10 years has been the toughest for the music industry as it’s all free online now. It makes it more difficult to make a living from music now. I want to bring music back, I think it’s been lost a bit. It’s like art suddenly has no work. There’s no way around it.”

Not only has the last decade set him on harder times, the talented guitarist also recently smashed both his ankles in an accident, which has set him back even further.

“I smashed both ankles in Mercier in Spain on May 15 in an accident when I jumped into the water, not realising there were rocks beneath my feet.”

Metal pins were put in and it will take a few months to fully heal, he explained.
He says he’s ready to make a new album and hopes to get a record deal, especially since experiencing the positive reaction of the people in Killarney town.

“I’ve been a bit down on my own ability the last few years but now I’ve just got a new lease of life. I love Kerry especially Killarney, it's the best town and the people are really nice. I plan to settle here. I want to get a record deal ASAP. I really want to do something special. I’ll sit outside Universal Records if I have to. I want to absolutely focus on my music and get my songs out there.”

To hear Gareth’s music have a listen on soundcloud.com/garethcareymusic.

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Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

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Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.

Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.

The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.

Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.

Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.

She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.

“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”

In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.

In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.

last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.

During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.

This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.

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Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

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Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.

Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.

This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.

Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.

“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.

“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”

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