
The Music & Song of Iveragh
The Binneas website is being upgraded, redesigned and altered to best display the material in the Collection. This work will continue over the coming months but it is not envisaged that there will be any issue with accessing the material during this phase.

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A recent, new collection of material to the Binneas Collection are the compositions of Patrick Joseph Griffin, Lisbawn.
About Patrick was born on 14 March 1908 in Lisbawn, Cahersiveen, to Timothy Griffin of Gortnagree and his mother Bridget O Sullivan of Lisbawn.. He married Margaret J O'Connell, East End, on 26 July 1934. They had six children during their marriage. He died on 8 April 1987 at the age of 79. Paddy Joe is buried in Holycross Cemetary, Cahersiveen.
Bhí meitheal ag baint mhóna i bparóiste na Priaireachta agus chaith duine acu lasán ar an gcnoc. Bhí an aimsir chomh tirim sin gur las an cnoc go léir. Níor thug an té a chaith an lasán aon chabhair dóibh chun an lasair a mhúchadh. Ní raibh fear na meithle buíoch dó, mar dódh a lán d’acraí an chnoic. Do dhein sé an t-amhrán seo don nduine a las an tine. Máire Ní Mhurchú, a bhí i scoil na gCailíní i mBaile an Sceilg, a bhailigh an t-amhrán ó Phádraig Ó Leidhin, Cúm, sa bhliain 1938.
A meitheal were cutting turf in a bog in the parish of Prior when one of the group carelessly threw away a match. The weather at the time was extremely dry and the whole mountainside caught fire. The man that threw the match didn’t assist the rest of the group as they attempted to bring the fire under control. The head of the meitheal was very annoyed with the man’s behaviour and composed an unflattering song about him. This song was included in the 1938 folklore collection made in Ballinskelligs Girls’ National School. It was collected by Máire Ní Mhurchú from Pádraig Ó Leidhin, Coom.
Seo mar a d’inis Seán Usae an scéal i dtaobh bean a bhí ag bearradh uain. Chuaigh sí isteach sa teach ag ithe císte ghriodail. D’fhág sí an t-uan ceangailte amuigh sa chlós ach bhris sé an mhéaróg agus d’imigh sé leis.
Siobhán was shearing a lamb one day when she was seized with a great desire to go into the house for a piece of hot griddle bread. While she was inside didn’t the lamb break the tying and run away. Siobhán couldn’t get light or sight of him. When Seán Usae heard the news he composed this song.
In an interview with Mikeen McCarthy (Fairgreen, Cahersiveen) recalls his recollections of John Gilpin and Maurice O’Neill.
This poem was written by Liam MacGabhann, Laharan, Valentia Island, and was published in "Rags, Robes and Rebels". He composed it after reading comments made by the son of a Welsh miner who was part of Connolly's firing squad who later asked Connolly's relatives to forgive him.
Mikeen McCarthy Interviews
Sep 30
Check out the latest upload to the website. Interviews with Mikeen McCarthy including searchable index and transcripts
Mikeen Interviews - Click Here
It is with great sadness that we hear of the news of the passing of another of the area’s musicians. Eddie McCormack, (Bodhrán) was a regular at the session in the Fertha Bar, Cahersiveen. He moved to the area from Manchester in the nineties and made his home here. We offer our sympathies to his wife and children. May he rest in peace.
It is with great sadness that we here of the passing of Dan McCrohan. Dan’s music was a big part of the cultural fabric of South Kerry. May he rest in Peace.
This comes from a collection of compositions from Con Barry (Cahersiveen). These compositions have been recently digitised.