Stepping up for Oireachtas na Samhna in Killarney

There was a time when hosting Oireachtas na Samhna in Kerry meant sound-proofing a school hall with blankets so that Ireland’s top sean-nós singers could be heard competing for the Corn Uí Riada.
Nowadays, the popularity of this multi-million euro enterprise means Ireland’s National Events Centre in Killarney is required to accommodate the exuberant dancers, the actors, poets, singers, and musicians, amid the 10,000-plus who come to celebrate Irish language and culture — or just soak up the atmosphere.