Meet the Cavan man embracing sobriety and community spirit who will unveil Ireland's largest drum at Féile na Bealtaine

Irish Independent

01-05-2025

Gearoid Teevan needs no reminding of the ups and downs that passage in time has brought with it as he battled with the rigours of alcohol and substance abuse.
Now, approximately a decade and a half later, this self-assured and uplifting Cavan businessman is setting his sights on instilling those very same virtues that helped turn his life around at a day of spiritual healing this coming Sunday.
Féile na Bealtaine is part of what is being billed as a 'soulful and celebratory' day at Drummany Spirit, set on 19 acres of land in the lakelands area of Milltown in county Cavan.
The day will see a whole host of attractions from Sean Nos dancing and Irish music to old style craft demonstrations including butter and bread making to even the likes of a drumming workshop.
The inclusion of the latter will equally form the fitting backdrop to the unveiling of Ireland's largest community drum, An Ruaille Buaille Druma.
Spanning 13 foot round and capable of being played by up to 30 people at any one time, its creation is the best part of two years in the making.
'I love drumming myself and the benefits that come from it for my own personal reasons and I know there are so many others out there who are capable of getting the same benefits through a guided drum circle,' Gearoid told the Irish Independent ahead of this weekend's eagerly awaited showcase.
Its origins were spawned from the successes of Gearoid's own Healing Spirit Festival, an alcohol and drug free festival he has continued to host since 2021 and on the same 19-acre parcel of 'hallowed land' he inherited from his much-loved late uncle, Jim Teevan.
Thanks to the input of Swanlinbar based master carpenter Micheál Ó Raghaill and artist Claire Falconer, the drum's genesis came courtesy of the proud father of three's own desire to instil a sense of unity among communities by offering up a unique musical and spiritual experience.
'I have no doubt the conversation I would have had with Jim, he would say to me: 'You are mad in the head', but that's fine,' asserted a passionate sounding Gearoid.
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'For me, everyone can participate. You don't have to be a musician. I had an auntie of mine who was in her 80s and with her smaller drum I just said: 'Come on, you can play along with me'.
'Her reply was that she couldn't, but when I said to follow what I was doing, she did and the smile just appeared across her face. She had never done it before in her life, but when she was in a space where she was encouraged and guided to do it, that's what happened and that's the effect it has.'
The day itself will also see the official opening of Bridget's Cottage, a beautiful old style Irish residence which lay derelict for years, but which has now been brought back to its original glory by Gearoid.
The cottage, which has been thatched and lovingly restored, is over 300 years old and showcases how our ancestors lived.
For some, it might seem more trouble than perhaps it's worth. Yet, for Gearoid, his sense of appetite to make a real and lasting difference runs much deeper, so much so he is now all but intent on parking his own business interests as a scaffolding contractor in order to help others.
'I am going to focus more on this type of work as it is very much needed,' he maintained.
'What society and communities at the moment are dealing with is a disconnection. People are grasping in all directions to try and find a bit of peace in their souls and what often happens is that it then manifests into addictions, prescription or substance (abuse) to get some relief from the turmoil they are going through. What this is all about and what I am doing is to try to solve all that by reconnecting people.'
From the evidence of his own 15-year path to redemption allied to what lies in store this Sunday, it's an aspiration you wouldn't bet against him realising.
To find out more and to book your place at Féile na Bealtaine on Sunday, May 4 click here.