Festival set to celebrate tall tales

The ancient art of spinning yarns and tall tales will be celebrated in Sneem, Co Kerry, at the weekend.

The picturesque village will host the inaugural Sneem International Storytelling and Folklore Festival from Friday to Sunday.

Festival chairman Batt Burns, who has developed an international reputation as a seanchaí, will be joined by many other storytellers.

“We will be celebrating a rich oral tradition that goes back to pre-Christian times in south Kerry,” he said.

“But, as well as that, we want to pass on the tradition to a new generation of storytellers who will have the opportunity to listen to masters of the craft during the festival.”

Storytellers at the festival will include Cork’s Pat Speight, Liz Weir from Northern Ireland and Tom McDermott from Texas.

The programme features adult and children’s workshops, a storytelling pub trail and opportunities for people to swap stories on the village green.

There will also be lectures and a 7km looped walk, with a stop at an 18th century farmhouse where participants can listen to a storyteller.

Arts and heritage minister Jimmy Deenihan will officially open the festival on Friday, followed by a performance by Cork singer Seán Ó Sé and storytellers.