Kilcorney Feis (Feis Chill Cóirne) was founded in 1910 by Liam Ó Buachalla and a large group of willing helpers. It has the proud distinction of being held every year since, usually on the last Sunday of May. The Feis in Kilcorney, as in other places, grew as part of an overall strategy to prevent the Irish language from becoming extinct. The census of 1891 showed that less than 700,000 Irish speakers remained in the Country at that time. The figures caused an alarming realisation that something had to be done. In 1893 a small group of dedicated patriots got together in Dublin and formed the Gaelic League. Amongst them was Dr. Douglas Hyde who was later to become President of Ireland. It's aim was to alert people's awareness to the importance of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland.

The early feiseanna were in fact public demonstrations of a people rising up and declaring their pride in themselves and their hopes for the future. The programmes had to be made out in English because, except for pockets here and there, Irish was only beginning to be thought in the schools and was not widely known or understood. A copy of the 1914 Kilcorney Feis programme still survives and can be viewed in Millstreet Museum and was titled "Feis Duithe-Ealla agus Musgraidhe", and under this and in English "Duhalla and Muskerry Annual Feis and Sports". The Chairman of the early events was T.P. Murphy, Hon. Sec. Liam Ó Buachalla and the Treasurer was D.W. Riordan and the committee consisted of twenty five people. The first Feis was held in the yard of Kilcorney Creamery, the next venue was Twomey's field near Kilcorney Hall.The 1913 Feis was held at Moll Carthy's bridge and the next two, 1914 and 1915, in Browne's field, across from Browne's Public House.

The 1914 Feis programme was very elaborate and contains no less than twenty seven advertisements from places like Millstreet, Killarney, Doneraile, Cork, Wexford and Dublin. The events themselves ranged from three different age-groups in Best knowledge of Irish, along with storytelling and recitation for Juniors and Seniors. There were Solo Singing and Choir competitions. Old age pensioners were catered for in a separate contest which required one Irish song and one short story, Irish History period 1547-1803 was also included. The prizes offered were beautifully framed portraits for first place, smaller portraits for second place and/or silver medals and also books. The portraits were of an Irish Patriot. The winner of the O.A.P. competition was given five shillings with the runner-up getting two shillings and six pence. The dancing competitions offered prizes of a tara brooch and silver medals with a gold centre and these were also offered for the music competitions. The sports competitions were, strangely enough, the only ones to offer gold medals. The first sports event was a Bicycle road race from Kilcorney Church to the Feis field and the winner could choose between a suit length of Dripsey tweed or a gold medal. A Bicycle road race from Banteer to the Feis field guaranteed the winner a gold medal with no options this time and for the runner-up there was a Carbide bicycle lamp. Another cycle event from Millstreet to the Feis field offered similar prizes. A competition for lofting a 28 oz. Bowl, however, gave five shillings for first place and two shillings and six pence for second.

From 1915 onwards the Feiseanna were held in either Dan Twomey's field or O'Shea's field. At one of these a group of R.I.C. (Royal Irish Constabulary) Men, complete with peaked helmets and some soldiers arrived from Millstreet. They met with great resistance when they tried to enter the Feis field. The gatemen insisted that if they insisted in forcing their way into the field, it would be over dead bodies. The two gatemen were Den Murphy and Mike Sullivan for Bolomore. Liam Ó Buachalla also joined in on this stand off. Fortunately good sense prevailed and the party withdrew and positioned themselves in Dan Riordan's Glen, on a high field overlooking the Feis field. Peadar Ó Hanrachain, one of the Gaelic League organisers at that time and a native of Skibbereen in West Cork, gave the Feis oration on that day. He is the author of the book "Fé Bhrat an Chonnardha" and father of the film star Kieran Moore. He tells us in his book that in the course of his address he gave the unwelcome visitors a lesson in history and nationalism that they would not be likely to get elsewhere. He says that he was openly inviting them to react but, very wisely, they did nothing and soon packed up and went home. In the early 1920's Martial Law was in force in parts of Ireland, which meant that if more than three people congregated for a meeting, or for any other purpose, it was deemed to be an offence. Curfew was in force in Cork City and each householder was required to display a list on his door, of the number and names of the people living there. Up to the signing of the truce on July 11th 1921 little activities were permitted. Kilcorney Feis, which was held in July of that year, was significant in that it was the first public assembly of people to be held in County Cork for a considerable time. For this reason, it attracted a huge attendance. Although the entrance fee was 6d., the takings at the gate amounted to £100. This tells us that the attendance was in excess of four thousand.

Up to 1950 it was customary to fence in the Feis field, so as to keep out those who wished to get in free. For this purpose Ditchmen, as the were known at the time, were recruited. Around the years 1919-1921, this job was carried out by Volunteers from the Kilcorney and Rathcoole districts. For years a huge 'meithdall' of men would assemble on the Saturday preceding the big day and would apply themselves to fencing, setting up stages and preparing the place. Kilcorney Creamery had a sawmill and were generous with loans of timber for the numerous side events.

The side shows were colourful and imaginative. Over the years the range of sporting events included flag races, bag races, boot races, wheelbarrow races, three legged races, egg and spoon races, pillow races, tug-of-wars, football and camogie matches, clay pigeon shooting, cycle races, cross-country races, and other events. In later years one of the main side show attractions was the shooting competition, using pellet air guns. After 1973 a licence fee of twenty pounds was imposed on pellet guns. The arms dealers, like Murrays in Cork, stopped stocking them. Afterwards this event was replaced by a sheaf tossing competition. In 1973 Gerald Bourke form Kilcorney won first prize, and this was the springboard from which he launched a very successful weight-throwing career.

During the war years, 1939-1945, petrol was rationed and the only forms of transport were bicycle or horse and trap. These were lean years for feiseanna in general. Kilcorney Creamery had a long cart that was drawn by two horses. One particular year, with the help of the local Gaelic League, railings were nailed all round the cart and the driver, Peter Barrett from Bolomore, set off on Feis morning to collect all the competitors, along with their parents, and transported them to the Feis. The horses were put grazing in Twomey's field during the event, and were tackled up again in the evening to take everyone home. The names of many great people who contributed in music, song and dance still live on, though many have long since departed this earth. Amongst them, and those who gave Feis orations, are people like Joan Denise Moriarty, the Internationally famous Irish Ballet director, who played the bagpipes at the Feis in 1930, Neilis Cronin, the famous Uilleann piper who founded the Cork Volunteers Band, Roger Keily N.T. of Cullen, the legendary freedom fighter and one of the 'Men of the South', Andrais Ó Muimhneachain, Peadar Ó Hanrachain, and Amhloimh Ó Loingsigh - three great organisers for the Gaelic League, Seamus Ó Se of the Cork County G.A.A., the noted Piper 'Whelan' from Australia, the famous Paddy Tyres, Professor of Irish at U.C.C. who also played senior football with Cork in 1955, to mention a few.

The Feis ceili was another wonderful event and took place on the night of the Feis. For most of the dances during the 40's the local band, the 'Western Rovers' supplied the music. The band consisted John Buckley, Rathcoole, and Eugene McCarthy, Glenleagh, on Accordion, Eugene Corbett and Seán Ó Buachalla, Kilcorney, on the Fiddle, and Danny Connell, Rathcoole, on Drums.

Ned Bennett, a native of Newmarket, but who spent most of his life in Flintfield, Kilcorney, held dancing classes every Sunday in Kilcorney Hall and produced many local winning stepdancers at the Feis. Ned died in 1949 aged eighty. The Feis committee donated a perpetual cup in his memory for Stepdancing, known as the 'Bennett Memorial Cup' and is much sought and battled for every year since.

In 1995, due to the unpredictability of the Irish weather, the organisers of the Feis decided to move the Feis indoors to the Kilcorney Community Centre where it continues to be held on the last Sunday of May each year.

No doubt the founders and committee of 1910 must be present in spirit yet, and proud to see the new generations of young people coming back year after year to sing, dance, and recite, thereby keeping alive the richness of the past, ó ghlún go ghlún. The Feis committee are very grateful to the many helpers, supporters and sponsors without whom Kilcorney Feis could not continue.

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