Turfcutters CD launch


At the launch are John O'Shea, turfcutter; Pat Keane LEAFS;
Cllr. Liam Purtill and local publican Michael Finucane.

 

 

 A computer CD capturing the dying art of turf cutting
in North Kerry was launched at the Oyster Festival in
Ballylongford, County Kerry by local Fine Gael
Councillor Liam Purtill.

"The Last of the Turfcutters" is a compilation of music,
commentary and pictures capturing a day in the bog in
Kerry when men save turf in the old style using the
slan and pike. The launch of the computer CD was
sponsored by Kerry Group.

"It is fitting that what could now be seen as a dying
tradition is captured on a computer disc for future
generations to appreciate," Cllr. Purtill said. "The
advance of farm machinery and new technology
has swept away many rural social traditions and it is
important that we try to preserve some of the old ways."

A Limerick launch is now being planned for later in
the year. It will be performed by Cllr. John Gallaghue
chairman of the Limerick Institute of Technology, a long
time Governor of UCC and a Kerryman, an honour bestowed
upon him by the Tralee Urban District Council for his
contribution to adult education in the Kingdom!
  

 

 

LIBRARY VISITORS TO VIEW LAST OF THE
TURFCUTTERS ON COMPUTER CD


Picture: Sarah Keane from Cork with Tim Carmody,left
and Eamon Browne of the Kerry County Library

 

 

 A community based social tradition under threat by modern technology is to be preserved on computer CD by Kerry County Library.

With advances in farm machinery, old style turf cutting is dying out in North Kerry but now the Library has been presented with a unique record of a day in the bog when local men cut turf with the slan and pike as done by their grandfathers. The traditional turf cutting has been photographed and the images accompanied by music and commentary produced on a CD which is now available in Kerry County Library.

Copies of "The Last of the Turfcutters" were presented to Cllr. Ned O'Sulllivan, chairperson of the Culture and Heritage Policy Committee of Kerry County Council by Ms. Patricia Keane of LEAFS in the Listowel branch of the County Library

"We are delighted that the Library will be giving the public access to the CD on computer," she said. "There has been great interest in it and now people will have the opportunity to view it in the library."

Cllr. O'Sullivan said that the Culture and Heritage Policy committee had a significant role to play in recording and preserving aspects of Kerry life. He said the computer CD captured a social tradition under threat in Kerry.

Mr. Eamonn Browne of the Local History Department said that it was socially important to have a record of how people lived their lives in times gone by.

 

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