The John McKenna Traditional Irish Music Society was originally established in October 1978 by people in the local area.
The aims of the society were:
- To honour the memory of John McKenna
- To foster, nurture and encourage traditional Irish music in the parish of Inishmagrath and the surroundings areas.
- To arrange for existing musicians to play and share their music on an informal basis.
- To promote Irish traditional music amongst young people in the locality.
- To erect a fitting memorial to John McKenna.
The Society ran a successful day event with traditional music; dance and song on the second Sunday in July each year. The Society hosted successful music competitions each year.
In September 1980 a memorial was erected to the memory of John McKenna, opposite St Patrick’s Church, Tarmon. The memorial was sculpted by Jim Joe McKiernan from Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.
Unfortunately due to rising insurance costs and lack of funding the annual event had to be abandoned. In time the Society faded into obscurity in the early 1980’s.
The John McKenna traditional Irish Society was reformed in 1995 by members of the local community which included some members of the original society. The ethos of the society remains the same as the original Society with few alterations. The main objective of the Society continues to focus upon the promotion of traditional Irish music within the community. The reformed Society also added some ambitious goals including the purchase and restoration of the house where John McKenna was brought up in Tents, Tarmon. This project was successfully completed in 2008.
The reformed John McKenna Society held its first annual traditional weekend festival in 1995. The festival was a great success and has continued to grow from strength to strength since. In recent years the festival progressed from a three day event to a four day event such was the demand for concerts and other musical activities. The festival consists of a range of activities such as concerts, music sessions, work shops with musicians, music competitions and activities for children. The atmosphere from the festival spreads to the pubs in Drumkeeran which makes for a lively weekend.
John McKenna’s homestead at Tents, Tarmon is a prominent feature of the festival with an annual session held after Aifreann na Feile each year. The picturesque setting of the cottage – overlooking Lough Allen and surrounded by the rugged mountainous landscape of Drumkeeran and neighbouring Arigna makes this a truly unique event. The cottage in Tents is also used by the current Artist in Residence Niall Keegan and his predecessor Jesse Smith.
The Society runs weekly music classes for children and young people in the area. There are currently forty children undertaking music classes in an array of different instruments- the flute exceeding other instruments in terms of its popularity. These classes have proved hugely successful with many of the young people whom have progressed going on to participate in the Fleadh Ceoil and various other traditional music occasions.
There are frequent informal music sessions held in the pubs in Drumkeeran and neighbouring areas. This assists in keeping the rich culture of traditional music alive in North Leitrim.
The Society remains committed to the continual nurturing and development of interest in Traditional Music in the area.
