SLIABH Luachra’s long-serving ambassador to Killarney is to be honoured for his dedication to the promotion of his native area and its great traditions.
Jimmy O’Brien will receive a prestigious lifetime achievement award at the annual Patrick O’Keeffe traditional music festival in Castleisland at the weekend.
The retired Killarney publican is a living legend and he has been a true friend to a whole generation of musicians, singers, dancers and wordsmiths who have performed in his landmark public house for the past half century.
The affable octogenarian will be presented with the award, by broadcaster and piper Peter Browne, during a Johnny O’Leary memorial concert in the River Island Hotel on Sunday night.
Jimmy was born in Lyretough, Kilcummin and grew up in a house where traditional music, song, dance and storytelling were to the fore. In his childhood, he learned numerous songs and poems from his uncle, Paddy Coakley, and they were to remain with him all his life.
He qualified as a mechanic and worked in the former Culloty’s garage on College Street, Killarney before spending over two years in America with his future wife, Mary Cronin, who passed away several years ago.
After they were married they were blessed with three children, Anne, Siobhan and James.
Jimmy returned from New York in 1961 and bought a pub previously owned by Con Healy on College Street which he operated for an incredible 52 years. The landmark building, painted a very distinctive and patriotic bright green and gold, became a real home from home for lovers of traditional music and song in the true Sliabh Luachra tradition.
Legendary musicians that performed in the bustling hostelry included Seán Ó Riada, Ciarán MacMathuna, The Dubliners, Johnny O’Leary, Seán Ó Sé, Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford, Garry MacMahon, Jimmy and Paddy Doyle and, more recently, Liam O’Connor.
Jimmy also ran a trophy and medals business on the upper floor for several years and his pub became a great gathering spot before, after and even during big GAA matches.
It was standing room only on the magical days that Killarney played host to Munster Championship ties and some of the greatest players from several counties made a beeline for Jimmy’s when they arrived in town.
It was also one of the late great Con Houlihan’s favourite pubs and he loved to sit at the counter and talk football with anybody with even a passing interest in the game.
The walls of the no-frills hostelry were decorated with football and hurling memorabilia, including dozens of nostalgic photographs, framed newspaper cuttings, match day programmes and other material which earned the pub a reputation as a mini GAA museum. Pride of place went to a framed photograph of Jimmy’s great pal and Sliabh Luachra neighbour, Ambrose O’Donoghue, hoisting the Sam Maguire high over his head after the 1984 centenary All-Ireland final.
Jimmy ran the pub with his son, Jim, until he retired and the building was sold in June 2013.
