The Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival has announced the winners of this year’s Young Musician Awards, accordion player Michael Healy, and flautist and uileann piper, Áine Teape.
Describing both 2024 winners as “exceptional”, the festival said it was honoured to recognise their talents and that both musicians will perform at the Sliabh Luachra Concert at the acclaimed féile of traditional music on Saturday, October 26th.
The Young Musician Award, introduced in 2021, aims to inspire young musicians to immerse themselves in the rich musical traditions of Sliabh Luachra, promoting and preserving the unique style of music synonymous with the region.
Famed exponents of Sliabh Luachra music include Patrick O’Keeffe, Julia Clifford, Denis Murphy, Johnny O’Leary, Jerry McCarthy, Dan Leary, Connie O’Connell, Jimmy Doyle, and many more.
Every year, the town of Castleisland in County Kerry, Ireland, comes alive with the melodious sounds of traditional Irish music. The Patrick O’Keeffe Festival, held in honor of the legendary fiddler and teacher, Patrick O’Keeffe (1887-1963), celebrates the rich heritage of Irish music and the significant role that O’Keeffe played in its preservation.
“We are living through a huge cultural revival when it comes to traditional Irish music, and this revival has seen young musicians from all over Ireland and indeed the world take a renewed interest in Sliabh Luachra Music,” the Committee said.
Michael Healy, from Kilcummin, is the current All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil 15–18 Button Accordion Champion. Michael began his musical journey at the age of six, inspired by legendary accordion players such as Jimmy Doyle and other Sliabh Luachra icons like Paudie O’Connor, Bryan O’Leary, and Jackie Daly. He has been a regular participant and winner in All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoilcompetitions, excelling in both button accordion and melodeon.
Michael has also had the privilege of playing alongside greats like Jimmy Doyle and Joe O’Sullivan at the Arbutus in Killarney, this greatly influenced his playing. A regular participant in traditional music sessions in Browne’s Bar Castleisland alongside his brother Kirill, Michael is well known to the traditional music community in Sliabh Luachra.
His mentors include Conor Morarty, Mike Brosnan, and Pádraig Buckley. Paudie O’Connor, will tutor him in preparation for his performance at the festival.
Áine Teape hails from Ballinspittle, Co. Cork, and is an accomplished musician on both the flute and uilleann pipes. She began learning the flute at age eight, under the tutelage of renowned teachers like Rosaire Cagney, Conal O’Grada, and Joanne Quirke. Her passion for the haunting sound of the uilleann pipes led her to study with John Mitchell.
In 2024, Áine won the Senior Flute Slow Airs competition at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford, and she continues to draw inspiration from the rich musical tradition of Sliabh Luachra, particularly from the works of Maurice O’Keeffe and Dan Herlihy.
The Sliabh Luachra Concert, featuring performances by both Michael Healy and Áine Teape, will take place on Saturday, October 26th at 8 PM in Castleisland.
Events and concerts are taking place all around Castleisland and the wider area across the four days, including session trails, classes, workshops, recitals, a Sliabh Luachra Teenage Trad Session involving twelve schools from around Kerry, and album launches.
As captured in the information website rushymountain, Sliabh Luachra is described “a geographical region, a style of music, and (it has been said) a state of mind”.