merrion street

Jimmy Deenihan TD Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht officially opened the Annascaul Tom Crean International Festival in Annascaul, Co. Kerry. The festival will take place from 21st June, to 23rd June.

This is the inaugural year of the festival and the programme of events schedules to take place includes a 10 mile Endurance Walk, an opportunity to attend theatre for a performance of 'Dance with Death – Tom Crean's Journey, or if you feel like 'picking up a drum and having some fun' you can do so at the Drum and Dance workshop. The festival is very much about celebrating the life and achievements of a very famous proud Kerry man.

Festivals are essentially community events but it takes leadership and drive to take the first step and convince the community to embrace the project and give it their full commitment. Minister Deenihan congratulated Eileen Percival and her very active committee who embraced her dream of celebrating the iconic figure of Tom Crean in his home place.

"I know that this has been a dream of Eileen's since she came back home fourteen years ago. Well, Eileen your dream has come true and you and your committee can be proud of your work here in Annascaul. I have no doubt that the Tom Crean festival will become an important event in the calendar moving into the future. This really is the beginning of greater thing to come." said Minister Deenihan