Where it all began. The homeplace of Francis O’Neill is a beautiful secluded part of West Cork in the highlands above Bantry. The little bridge is still there along with the original farmhouse. A plaque commemorates the famous son and I believe the bridge is still a location for Pattern dances as in O’Neill’s time. A testimony to the strong community spirit and to the great man’s legacy is the bronze statue in his likeness. It is erected about a mile away in a wide open glen, surrounded by a ring of hills. Here Francis O’Neill forever plays his tunes to anyone passing by.
Some tunes collected by O’Neill related to these places:
Castle Donovan
Humours of Tralibane (Last of the set)