John Joe Kavanagh (b. 1935) (part 1)

John Joe Kavanagh is a retired school teacher who taught at Dromahane for 30 years. He is a native of Brandon Creek in West Kerry, and has an amazing store of knowledge about his native place. On a tour of his adopted locality, the recording begins at Kilshanny Church of Ireland Churchyard where the old headstones are examined and the old families recalled. The meaning of the placename is explained as is the lore of the local saint. Next stop on the tour is at Carraig Bower, the seat of the Bolsters, who were millers, and who are recalled here. John Joe paid tribute to the late Daniel Healy, a local man who passed on his great knowledge of the families and the traditions of the area.