Description
The Dan Paddy Andy Festival is Ireland’s real rural festival set in the Stacks Mountains of North Kerry, half-way between Listowel and Castleisland and just off the mountain road between Tralee and Abbeyfeale. This four day event is always well signposted from the nearby towns so why not take a short detour to experience a somewhat hidden Ireland? Dan Paddy Andy O’Sullivan, one of the great Irish Matchmakers, was the man John B. Keane wrote about in his book the ‘Man of the Triple Name’. John B spent the summers of his youth in Lyreacrompane and drew on the area for the many characters in his books and plays. Festival events include music, marquee dancing, ceilí, song, drama, storytelling, dog show, turf cutting and a ‘cupán tae’! One of the highlights of the festival is the Dan Paddy Andy festival bog walk – now well established and attracting over 100 participants annually. Suitable for all age groups, the walk is set in the blanket bogland of the Stacks Mountains and includes stops for talks on local history, a chance to cut turf in the old fashioned way with a slean, refreshments and song!
