Niche travel

You might think February is a quiet time in Kerry, but you’d be wrong. Two big musical events are set to have floors stamping and walls heaving from Ballyferriter to Killarney. Okay, for the sake of accuracy, in Ballyferriter and Killarney.

First up is Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh, the Spring Music School, in the west Kerry village of Ballyferriter. Visitors arriving between February 15th and 19th will be met by the strains of fiddles, tin whistles, accordions, harps, bodhrans, uilleann pipes, concertinas and mouth organs, as musicians and music lovers converge on what must be the country’s remotest musical hot spot. This year’s event has 23 classes to choose from, plus sean-nós singing and dancing workshops.

And, just as the ringing in your ears from that event starts to fade, it’s time for The Gathering Festival, in Killarney. Taking place between February 22nd and 26th, it includes a terrific mix of live concerts, set dance classes, instrument workshops and lectures. There will also be a showcase music event, drawing bands from all over.

Best of all is the céilí programme, which will see a convergence of some of the country’s best céilí bands playing in a variety of venues, including the Kilfenora Céilí Band.

Now in its lucky 13th year, this month's event features a session on the lakes, aboard the Pride of the Lakeswaterbus, so the very hills will be alive with the sound of music.

See scoilcheoil.com, thegathering.ie