High King visits Dingle

The Last High King
of Ireland

Dingle received a very distinguished guest last Saturday as the town embraced the the King of Tory Island, Donegal native Patsy Dan Rodgers, who is considered to be the last surviving High King of Ireland. Accompanied by his wife Caitlín, King Patsy was received in West Kerry by manager of Ionad an Bhlaoscaoid, Mícheál De Mordha.

O'Flaherty's Pub in Dingle became the unlikely location for a royal visit, as local musicians Fergus Ó'Flaitheartaigh on the banjo, Maidhic Dainín Ó'Sé on the bosca ceoil, Franc Ó'Conchúir on the guitar and Eric Marini on the bodhrán performed a very special session in Patsy's honour.

Artist and musician Patsy Dan Rodgers was one of the leading campaigners against the Government's plans to resettle the residents of Tory Island on the Donegal mainland following storms in 1974 .

Patsy Dan is also one of the original members of the Tory School of Art and in recent years Patsy's artwork, mostly portraying island, has sparked a renaissance of artistic expression on the island along with with fellow artists Anton Meenan and Ruari Rodgers.

Patsy Dan's contributions to his island's culture and well being have been recognised by his fellow islanders who bestowed on him the title of King of Tory, making him Ireland's last and only remaining high king.

Maidhic Dainín Ó'Sé, author and musician, said that it was a great experience to see Mr. Rodgers in O'Flaherty's Pub in Dingle, which is considered by many as one of the country's best musical pubs.

"We enjoyed a great session with Patsy Dan" he said.
"Its not every day you get to sit down and have a pint with the King!" he enthused.