Mural memento to celebrate memory of local trad musician

A MURAL of celebrated traditional Irish musician Des Carty on the side of the Dragon Inn pub in Tallaght village was unveiled last week.

Local artist Geoff Tracey painted the striking mural in memory of the well-respected musician, and also as part of a goal of the recently founded Tallaght Tidy Towns group to deliver a new street feature.

Des Carty was a skilled trad musician who was well-known in Tallaght and outlying areas, and he taught many musicians how to play the fiddle, tin whistle, banjo and mandolin.

The Tallaght Tidy Towns group, which was formed by Tallaght Community Council (TCC) last month, wanted to recognise the musician’s lasting impact on other musicians in the area.

Tara De Buitléar, voluntary PRO of TCC, said: “Des Carty, who lived in Tallaght village, taught hundreds how to play traditional Irish music during his lifetime.

“The Des Carty School of Music continued that work after he passed away.

Many local musicians can attribute their musical talents to Des Carty.” The new mural was designed in collaboration with the Carty family and is located on the side of The Dragon pub with the permission of pub’s proprietor, Shay Murphy.

Ms De Buitléar added: “The Des Carty mural combines our goal of honouring Tallaght cultural heritage, enhancing our village and increasing awareness of our history.

“It is a special part of the Tidy Towns project for us – it symbolises Tallaght talent past and present. “It was expertly designed by Geoff, a present-day talent, to showcase a musical legend from our past.

“We hope it is enjoyed by all who pass it for the quality art piece that it is, but also that it prompts a new generation to be aware of the musical talent Des Carty was.”

The project was supported by Amazon Web Services in Communities as part of their ongoing support of Tallaght Tidy Towns projects, with TCC adding that they wanted to extend their thanks to them.

TCC previously celebrated the life and work of Des Carty with a lively tribute show in Café Aon Scéal in Tallaght village last September on Culture Night.

The event was organised by local historian and TCC heritage officer Albert Perris, on behalf of TCC.

Mr Perris previously told The Echo: “It was for the 25th anniversary of Des Carty’s passing, and he would have been quite well-known in his day, – a lot of the fine trad musicians around South Dublin would’ve been trained by him.

“And I was also thinking of the music that was in Tallaght village in the 1930s.

“There is a music heritage in the area that started in the 1930s with Sean Dempsey.”

That heritage continues through Des Carty’s eponymous music school, which was established in 1997 and is currently based in Rua Red, where budding trad musicians can fine-tune their skills.