Interview: Gortaglanna

Interview: Gortaglanna

Author: Irish & Celtic Music Podcast May 17, 2024 Duration: 17:50

Interview by Mattie Lennon  IT HAPPENED IN MAY.    Before the Civil War and prior to the Truce an atrocity took place in County Kerry which

Interview by Mattie Lennon

 IT HAPPENED IN MAY.

   Before the Civil War and prior to the Truce an atrocity took place in County Kerry which has been recorded in song and story. On 12 May 1921, a troop of Black and Tans were travelling out from Listowel towards Athea when they arrested four young unarmed men in Gortaglanna. Prior to this the barracks in Listowel had been burnt out and in retaliation the troops  decided to execute the young men. The first to be shot was Jerry Lyons. When this happened, Cornelius Dee decided, as he was going to be shot anyway, to make a run for it. He ran, and almost immediately took a bullet in the thigh but managed to keep going. He ran for about three miles. He was never recaptured but remained in hiding until the truce

    In 2021 I interviewed historian, the late, Dan Keane who told me the story of the song "The Valley of Knockanure" which was written about the shootings. I’m attaching an audio clip of that interview.


Behind every great tune, there's a story waiting to be told. Irish & Celtic Music Interviews pulls up a chair for those conversations, offering a direct line to the musicians and tradition-bearers who bring this vibrant sound to life. This isn't a showcase of tracks, but a deep dive into the craft, the history, and the personal journeys that fuel the music. You'll hear from fiddlers about the old tunes passed down through generations, from singers about the ballads that tell forgotten tales, and from composers about the spark that leads to a new reel or air. Each episode feels like a casual, insightful chat, peeling back the layers of what it means to create and sustain Celtic music today. For anyone who's ever tapped a foot to a jig or been moved by a slow air, this podcast provides the rich context that makes the experience even deeper. It’s for the curious listener who wants to know not just what they're hearing, but why it matters and where it came from. Tune in to find the human heartbeat behind the melodies.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 14

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