Region to roll back the years
Once the manor house of the powerful Aldworth family, who resided there until 1927, it is now the James O’Keeffe Institute, headquarters of the community-based integrated rural development company, IRD Duhallow.
Dedicated to the memory of the late farm family and agriculture industry leader James O’Keeffe, the mansion is being continuously restored to its former glory by IRD Duhallow as a centre for various community activities.
It will provide an imposing backdrop for the official opening of ‘Discover Duhallow — A Day of the Region’ programme of 70 cultural, sporting, educational, musical and recreational events which will be held in 21 communities in the region.
Wearing a top hat and cape, Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan will arrive from Kerry in the role of Daniel O’Connell to perform the opening.
Waiting to greet him will be IRD Duhallow chairman Michael Twohig, who will portray John Philpott Curran, the legendary barrister, parliamentarian and wit, who was born in Newmarket.
Acting as the lord of the house will be the former Cork county manager Noel Dillon, with Kerry politician Cllr Breeda Moynihan Cronin playing the role of Lady of the Manor.
Others in period costumes will represent a butler, housekeeper and workmen in the fields, while a downstairs boardroom will be turned into an old style parlour.
IRD Duhallow, which covers an area with 30,000 people, is the only Irish partner in the latest initiative, which is based on a concept created in Germany in 1999.
It involves bringing groups together to celebrate their culture and traditions and to revive events from their past and is expected to inject up to €1m into the region’s economy.
Delegations from Leader companies in Scotland and Holland are travelling to Duhallow to see at first hand how the event is being organised.
* www.irdduhallow.com/day-of-the-region
