THE DRUMBEAT of the bodhrán banished thoughts of the recession this weekend as thousands of tourists flocked to the mid-Kerry town of Milltown for the fourth annual World Bodhrán Championships. The traditional goatskin drum workshops drew entries from Poland, France and Germany to the little town at the gateway to the Dingle peninsula.
Run under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the bodhrán’s peculiar attraction was “rhythm” according to festival spokesman Seán de Buitléar.
“You don’t have to be musical or know notation to join in. It’s pure rhythm. It’s a unique sound.”
Mr de Buitléar said the organisers were “absolutely delighted” with the turn out as they had feared the recession would mean poor crowds – in fact some 20,000 people were expected through the town over the four days, well up on previous years. Meanwhile, a republican commemorative event in Clashmealcon, Co Kerry, at the weekend attracted an unusual protest from Republican Sinn Féin.
It objected to what it said was the incorporation of an Ann Summers underwear party in an event to mark the killing of five IRA men by the Free State.
A statement, on behalf of a local RSF official, said: “While we have no objection to Ann Summers parties, it is hardly an appropriate way to commemorate an event that led to the deaths of these five men”.