Annual Pattern Day 2013
The Annual Pattern Day was held in Tralibane on Sunday August 25th.2013. This year it held to coincide with the Chief O’Neill Traditional Music Festival in Bantry from August 22nd –25th. The Festival was launched on Thursday evening 22nd. in the Bantry Bay Hotel .It was a most enjoyable evening. The Musicians from the Bantry branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann gave a recital of O’Neill tunes.. Dancers from Bantry gave a selection of step-dances and The John Levis school of dancing danced a set. Followed by a Senior Set-dance. Eugene McSweeny from Ballydehob Recited a poem about O’Neill and then presented it to Chief O’Neill’s Great grand nephews .Tom O’Neill from San Francisco & his cousin Philip O’Neill from Oxford in England.
Both of those gave a speech on their relation to the Great Chief O’Neill.
There was a packed programme of various events over the weekend which was jointly organised by Bantry Development and Tourism Association, and The Captain Francis O’Neill Memorial Company, with the generous help of Comhaltas Ceoiltoiri Eireann and Foras na Gaeilge and
Tom O’Sullivan and Mary Tisdall O’Sullivan
The Pattern Day was held in bright sunshine . People were brought by bus from Bantry to Tralibane Bridge where the musicians gave a recital of O’Neill’s music and Timmy McCarthy gave the history of Francis O’Neill. A large crowd assembled at Tralibane Bridge and then went on a walk to the O’Neill Monument via O’Neill’s Birth Place in Tralibane. Refreshements were served there and all the walkers ended up at the open-air platform dancing which was in full swing when they arrived at the O’Neill Monument. Tim Joe & Ann O’Riordan supplied the music for the pattern dancing which could be heard all over the Tralibane Valley.
Once again The Comhaltas group gave recital of O’Neill’s music.
A variety of traditional dances were danced ending up with the Senior & Junior Waltz Competitions.
The adjudicator was Noreen Motherway from Midleton Co.Cork A native of Durrus.
The results of the Senior Waltz for the Jackie Shannon Memorial Cup was
1st,Sean Ahern Clonakilty & Mary Hennessy Bantry.
2nd Denis O’Sullivan Mealagh Valley & Peggy Downey Bantry.
3rd. Jim & Margaret O’Mahony Kealkil.
Junior Waltz Results for the Nora Cremin Sheild was
1st.Siobhan Daly & Niamh Downey
2nd’Emer & John Downey
3rd. Maeve & Kate O’Shea..
Raffle Results;
Philip O’Neill, Edith Pearce, Jim. Russel, Peggy Downey, Grace O’Riordan, Nora Cremin,
M.O’Shea, Ursula Kingston, Lynn Barry, Nora Cremin, Sarah Bishop, S. Bishop.
Siobhan Daly and Niamh Downey winners of the Junior Waltz (Nora Cremin Shield)
Sean Aherne & Mary Hennessy winners of Old Time Waltz , Jackie Shannon Memorial Cup presented by Noreen Motherway(Judge)
