Cultural Events
Imeachtaí Cultúrtha
Cultural Events
The annual Féile Patrick Byrne has incorporated a series of non-musical events over the years. One staple has been a lecture on the opening night each year. The topics have covered local history and folklore as well as traditional music. Previous guest speakers have included:
- Prof. Terence Dooley – Dept. of History, NUI Maynooth.
- Dr. Fintan Vallely – musician, author, academic and editor of the Companion to Irish Traditional Music.
- Micheál McDermott MA – local historian.
- Shaun O’Byrne – authority on the genetic history of the O’Byrne clan.
- Prof. Patrick Duffy – Dept. of Geography, NUI Maynooth.
- Revd. Robert Kingston – Church of Ireland rector in Carrickmacross and local historian.
- Séamus Mac Gabhann – academic, lecture and editor of Ríocht na Midhe, the journal of Meath Archaeological and Historical Society.
In addition to the lecture, a guided heritage walk around Carrickmacross has been part of the festival programme every year since 2012. This is a free event and popular with visitors. Historian Charles Barker acts as guide and brings alive the vibrant history of the town over the course of the approximately 90 minute tour. Particular attention is paid to the Patrick Byrne related sites.
