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Pianist, Aoife O’Sullivan with baritone Dr Gavan Ring and Professor Muiris Bric of University College Dublin at the recital on Sunday in Knightstown.
A VERY touching event took place in Knightstown on Valentia on Sunday, Armistice Day, the day which marked 100 years since the end of World War I.
Kerry County Council, in association with Creative Ireland and RTÉ Lyric FM, organised a commemorative recital at St. John the Baptist Church at which a great crowd gathered to acknowledge the significance of the date.
Renowned pianist, Aoife O’Sullivan, and international star baritone and Kerryman Dr Gavan Ring along with Professor Muiris Bric of University College Dublin, presented the historical context for the recital which acknowledged the efforts of Kerry men who volunteered to fight in World War One.
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Songs by both British and Irish composers were included in the recital which was set to poems by W. B. Yeats, Oscar Wilde and Francis Ledwidge. The songs remembered the 700 Kerry soldiers that died in the Great war.
People travelled for miles to be at the Recital and the feedback from the crowd included very moving tributes to the families involved.
“There was a sense of acknowledgement and remembrance of a time in our history that has not been forgotten. It was beautifully executed by the artists involved and we are very grateful to everyone and to the parish church for helping to make the event possible”, said Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer at Kerry County Council.
