Billy to inaugurate new Rambling House feature

Billy demonstrating his Morse Code Skills at a Woodbine Books event in 2018.

Kilcullen's Billy Redmond is to be the first speaker in a new element of the Rambling House programme at Myshall in County Carlow, on Friday 5 April, writes Brian Byrne. He has been invited to talk about his experiences as a UN peacekeeper and communications specialist with the Irish Army.

Rambling House, also known as House of Stories, has a tradition of more than 40 years, taking place in 22 venues across Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford and Kilkenny. Billy has long been attending the events with his wife Carmel, usually playing a few pieces on his accordion and participating in the chat and companionship of the evenings, which also include contributions from the best traditional story-tellers in the region.

"This is a new segment of the nights, where people are invited to tell their own life stories" he told the Diary. "The MC, John Candy, asked me if I would do the first one. So I'll be telling people about the exciting and interesting life that I've led, as well as a communications section about the Morse Code, with a demonstration."

The invitation follows Billy's recent meeting with a researcher from Chicago, who is writing a book about Ireland's UN peacekeeping role in the former Belgian Congo during the 1960s.

The Myshall event kicks off at 8pm, though Billy says that in his experience people need to be there by 7.30pm in order to ensure getting a seat. "Any Kilcullen locals who want to come along will be welcome to enjoy the conviviality," he says.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy