Sean McCarthy
Sean was born in Listowel on July 5th, 1923. He was one of ten children in his family. He attended Listowel Primary School, where his teacher for a time was Dr. Bryan McMahon, who once said of Sean, “He was always a special person, I’ll even go so far as to say he was unique.”
Born in Greenville, Listowel, his early years took him to England and the United States, but in 1964, he returned to Kerry, purchasing a holiday home in Finuge that later became his permanent residence.
Sean McCarthy played a pivotal role in the Irish Folk Music Revival of the 1960s in both the UK and the USA. His songs were recorded by legends such as Christy Moore, Danny Doyle, Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, Johnny McEvoy, The Wolfe Tones, and more recently by Red Hurley, Margo, Don Stiffe, and Peggy Sweeney. In recent years, Sean McCarthy’s songs have enjoyed a remarkable revival, with contemporary artists such as The High Kings, Chasing Abbey, Meadhbh Walsh, and others bringing his timeless ballads to new audiences.
Among his best-known works are Shanagolden, Red-Haired Mary, Step It Out Mary, In Shame Love, In Shame, and My Kerry Hill—songs that continue to receive regular airplay on both national and local radio stations.
Upon settling back in Kerry, Sean became deeply involved in Listowel Writers’ Week and the local community in Finuge. He continued writing songs and contributed regularly to RTÉ’s Sunday Miscellany and Thought for the Day, as well as The Rambling House on Kerry Radio. He also penned the widely-read article series McCarthy’s Women, published in The Kerryman, which insightfully highlighted the vital role of women in Irish society, remarkably ahead of its time in the late 1980s.
In 1994, a local committee was formed in Finuge to honour Sean’s memory and cultural impact. They decided to erect a bust of Sean at Finuge Cross and establish an annual festival focusing on original ballad composition and storytelling.
Since then, over 1,500 original ballads have been submitted from across Ireland. Thanks to generous support from IMRO and long-time sponsors Mike and Sue Nilsson of Palm Springs, California, the festival continues to offer substantial prizes, helping to keep this unique tradition alive.
Over the past 25 years, many of Ireland’s most renowned ballad singers and songwriters have graced the festival, including Liam Clancy, Jim McCann, Danny Doyle, Sean Keane, Brendan Grace, Francie Conway, The Furey Brothers, The Kilkennys, Mickey MacConnell, Pete St. John, Brendan Graham, and Philip King.
Storytelling is another key element of the festival. The Mick McCarthy Storytelling Competition draws talented participants from all over the country and is generously sponsored by Lionel McCarthy—Sean’s nephew and son of Mick McCarthy. Mick owned The Embankment in Tallaght from 1963 to 1985, a cornerstone of the Irish folk revival and a launching pad for artists like Christy Moore.
The Sean McCarthy Weekend Festival, now in its 32nd year, remains a unique and heartfelt tribute to one of Ireland’s cultural treasures. Rooted in the folk traditions of North Kerry and sustained by a dedicated committee and loyal supporters, it continues to honor Sean’s extraordinary legacy in music, song, and storytelling.