A new section to the Binneas Website ‘Songs of Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin’ to mark the 240th anniversary of his birth.
De réir an bhéaloidis d’fhuadaigh na síoga triúr dreiféar as móinéar ar an dtaobh thiar de Ghóilín lá breá fómhair. Cuireadh bean acu go ceantar an Daingin, bean eile go Cill Ó gCróin agus an triú bean go Clochán Mhóir atá ar an gcnoc lastuas do Mhálainn i bparóiste na Dromad. Mór a bhí mar ainm uirthi sin is bhíodh sí le feiscint ag Clochán Mhóir agus í síos suas an Caol ina sprid an mheán-lae. Deirtear go raibh folt breá gruaige ar dhath an óir ag sileadh léi. Is léir gurb é an seanchas seo a spreag Dónall Ó Curnáin ó Mhálainn an t-amhrán seo a chumadh. Bhí an fothrach ar a dtugtaí Clochán Mhóir suite ar an gcnoc lastuas dá thigh féin.
According to local tradition Mór was one of three sisters who was carried by the fairies as they were working in a meadow somewhere Over-the-Water. One sister was brought to Dingle, another to Killogrone, while Mór, the third sister was carried off to Málainn in the parish of Dromid. That sister had flowing golden hair and went by the name of Mór. A small stone hut on the mountainside, the ruins of which can still be seen today, is known as Clochán Mhóir. It was claimed that Mór could be seen as a mid-day spirit walking up and down along a nearby mountain stream. This legend inspired Dan Courtney from Malainn, in the composition of this song “Bean na Gruaige Buí.” The ruin of Clochán Mhóir is situated on the mountainside just above the house where Dan resided.
This song was composed by Molly Coffey in October 1975. It describes the nights at the local Kenneigh dance hall that has long since closed. This song was performed at the concert to mark the conclusion of the digitisation phase supported by the Heritage Council of Ireland. The concert was supported by Kerry County Council.
A fantastic evening of music, song & story from the ‘Binneas Collection’ to mark the end of the digitisation phase supported by ‘The Heritage Council of Ireland’. The venue was packed and numerous people took part in the performance including a group of school children from Scoil Náisiúnta Chillín Liath who sang ‘The Great German Plane’ & ‘Bó na leath adhairce’.
Click on the Facebook link below.
Saturday 15th November 2025 8.30pm
Binneas Presents an evening of local Music & song from the Binneas Collection at Dromid Community Centre.
The evening will showcase some of the recently digitised material from the Binneas Collection that was supported by the Heritage Council of Ireland grant.
Free admission, Refreshments & Chat afterwards.
All welcome.
This evening is supported by Kerry County Council
Binneas have created a series of digital maps to aid people to geographically engage with some of the content in the Binneas Collection. More pins will be added to the maps over time. This project has been supported by ‘The Heritage Council.
"Buachaill óg ó Rinin a dhein a' dán seo nuair a bhí a mhuinntear ag chur d'fhiachaibh air
cailin nár thaitin leis a phósadh"
Collected from Muirris Ó Rioghardáin, Baslickane (age 70)
"A young boy from Rinín wrote this song when his people were forcing him to marry a girl he didn't like"
This song is part of the Dan Courtney collection. It was sung by one of P. Walsh’s past pupils, as he was about to depart to the U.S.A. It is not known at this time if it is a composition of Courtney’s but it is likely that he had an input in it. The Glen that is referred to is Toorsaleen and Coomaspeara. The reference in verse eight to ‘buying up the news’ refers to the ‘News of the world’ newspaper, a scandalous publication at that time, but in much demand.
Consider giving the gift of Music & Song this Christmas from the ‘Binneas Collection’.
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