The ‘rambling house’ tradition is an old one. Most common in rural Ireland, it involved visiting a designated dwelling, where musicians, and therefore entertainment, was provided. Depending on ‘the house’, cards would also be played, rings thrown and stories told.
‘Rambling houses’ are part of Ireland’s past, however, that great social hub in Knockadea, T.O. Park (Tom O’Flynn’s Park) is doing its best to keep the flame alive.
We visited T.O. Park for the first time this year on Wednesday, 7th February, to drop in on ‘rambling house’ activity. While the crowd wasn’t enormous, those in attendance were comfortably seated and enjoying music by Martin Collins (Doon, Co. Limerick), Matt Cahill from Mitchelstown and young Eoin Lynch from Ballygiblin. For most of those present, Eoin was ‘a new man’ and in keeping with natural curiosity, the audience were interested in who he was, where he came from and who he was related to.
Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition
