Festival helps to make history come alive

IT’S another world as far as children of today are concerned — a place apart with smoke curling from the chimneys of thatched houses, horses ploughing and homely women in aprons baking bread.

Up to 700 Kerry youngsters, more accustomed to the internet and play stations, are getting a taste of how their ancestors lived, worked and ate in simpler times when the horse was still king in a land that had yet to see electricity. Muckross Traditional Farms, outside Killarney, provide a realistic insight into times that are long gone.

The five-day Feile Chultuir Chiarraí, run by Muckross House trustees and Kerry County Council, is a well-established annual event, featuring workshops in which the children actively participate.

As the aroma of freshly-baked cakes filled the air, Toddy Doyle, manager of the farms, explained that the idea is to give the kids a hands-on feel about what rural Ireland was like long ago.

“They get a chance to turn a butter churn, make butter balls and then taste the butter on bread they help to bake.”

Country ways of the 1920s and ’30s are authentically re-enacted on the farms, with working animals and skilled crafts people.

A harness-making workshop is conducted by Barry Richardson and Neilly Cahill, whilst baking on the open fire (a far cry from the more familiar microwave) is demonstrated by Eileen Lehane and Mary Cahill. Children are also helping with butter-making which is in the expert hands of Peggy Reidy, Joan Collins and Kitty Brennan.

Differences between the dwelling houses of today and yesteryear are explained by Annie O’Connor and Jimmy Crowley, hosts a music workshop.

At the end of their visit, the children are asked to take part in a competition by drawing a picture or writing an essay, and the winning entries will be posted on the Muckross website.