Thursday 29 September 2011

The Temple House Ceili Band



"One of Irelands' finest ceili bands playing some reels with some set dancing." The band included Kieran Hanrahan and Paul Roche from County Clare and this recording may date from the late 1980s. Posted on Youtube on the 17th of June 2007 by Stargreened.

QR Code for Library Anywhere – smart phone version of online catalogue

QR Code for Library AnywhereClare County Library has introduced a QR code for the Library Anywhere for mobile devices version of the library’s online catalogue. This can be read by smart phones and other mobile devices that have a QR code reader app installed and will bring people directly to the smart phone version of the online catalogue just by pointing the camera of their smart phone at the QR tag. QR codes are becoming more and more ubiquitous. Watch out for the library’s QR tag…

Village Carnival, Newmarket on Fergus



Village Carnival, Newmarket on Fergus . Posted on Youtube on the 4th of August 2011 by emmasams67.

In Kilkee Joe finds out why it is called an Electric Ray



"Taken in Kilkee Co. Clare on a trip with the Galway Sub Aqua Club. Joe finds out why they call it an Electric Ray. It is an Atlantic torpedo (Torpedo nobiliana)." Posted on Youtube on the 29th of August 2011 by thomasgsac.

Clarecastle Regatta "power" boat curragh racing



"Clarecastle Regatta sat 9th July. Curragh racing on the Fergus river with Tom Harvey, Maureen Power, Grace Power, Kerry Power, Chris Power... On their way to start line." Posted on Youtube on the 12th of July 2011 by tuandedannan.

Clare Caving Club 2011



"A slide show of the last 12 months caving." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of August 2011 by clarecastle2.

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Clare Culture Night 2011

Clare Culture Night 2011











On Friday September 23rd 2011, locals and visitors across the island of Ireland enjoyed the unique experience of Culture Night, a free night of entertainment, discovery and adventure that took place in a record 28 towns, cities, counties and islands in Ireland. Museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres opened their doors late into the evening welcoming people of all ages to taste and sample their cultural delights for free.

County Clare participated in Culture Night with an array of fine cultural activities around the county. Doing its part on the night Clare County Library hosted a recital in the De Valera Public Library in Ennis at 7.30pm. The recital, entitled Synge Songs was performed by Cathy Desmond (view Cathy’s blog at http://cathydesmond.blogspot.com/2011/09/culture-night-ennis-synge-songs.html ) on violin and viola with accompaniment on piano by Fiona Walsh, leader of the Ennis Gospel Choir. Together they played a selection of airs and ballads popular at the turn of the century in the time of J.M. Synge. The selection included ‘Down by The Sally Gardens’, ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ and ‘Anach Cuain’ amongst others. Also on the night Saoirse Glennon, who recently played Pegeen Mike in Ennis Players production of 'Playboy Of The Western World', read a poem by Synge's mentor, Yeats, and tenor and Balfe specialist, Tony Murray, sang ‘Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms’ one of Moore’s Melodies. The night was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Presidential Election - Are you on the Register of Electors?

To ensure you can vote at the forthcoming Presidential Election and Referenda on 27th October next, check the Register now at www.clarecoco.ie to ensure you are correctly registered. Any specific enquiries can be made to the Franchise Section, Clare County Council, on free phone 1800245426. The closing date for receipt of application forms to get on the Register is Monday 10th October next.

Monday 26 September 2011

Photographic Exhibition at Kilrush Public Library

Photographic Exhibition at Kilrush Public Library












The Kilrush Tidy Towns Committee is currently displaying 52 photographs comprising ‘Kilrush sunsets’, street scenes, flowers and animals, which were photographed by local people, who entered the competition during the summer. This colourful exhibition can be viewed at Kilrush Public Library from 26th September to 10th October.

Children’s Book Festival 2011 begins

Children's Book Festival 2011 Staff at Clare County Library are looking forward to welcoming book lovers from all over the county to a library near you during a fun packed month of October. Authors Oisin McGann, Nicola Pierce, Judi Curtin, Bob Burke and Dolores Keaveney will be here, with a special treat for gaelscoileanna when Bridget Bhreathnach will bring her newly published book Lúlú agus an Oúiche Ghlórach to the attention of 1st and 2nd classes in Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon.

Storytelling sessions come courtesy of the multi-talented Billy Teare and Kathleen O’Sullivan, and poetry will be presented in a novel and interactive way by Tony Maude through his sessions featuring a unique blend of songs, riddles, cats and Shakespeare!

Dr. Fred Freeman, a historian of Scottish song as well as a renowned bagpiper, brings his show Burns for Bairns to children of senior classes. His workshops provide an introduction to Scotland’s bard Robert Burns through singing, tapping-out rhythms, listening and questioning. Freeman’s presentation has been described by teachers from Longford to Letterkenny as an excellent means of linking history and folk music. His presentations will also highlight the poetry and music traditions common to both Scotland and Ireland. Dr. Freeman will also present a lecture to adults in Scariff Library on the evening of Friday the 21st October.

Michael Moylan’s Irish History Live show brings his audiences a museum full of artifacts. Try out the uniforms worn during the Easter Rising or examine the weapons of World War 2 in a hands-on show that’s guaranteed to fascinate children in senior classes in Ennis, Tulla, Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay libraries.

Music Workshops facilitated by John Lillis will focus on educating, entertaining and inspiring children in 5th and 6th classes in a musical environment. John is currently employed as the Music Project Manager at Clare Youth Service and has extensive and comprehensive experience of working with young people in musical environments. The workshop will feature hiphop and DJ culture and the class will use urban music as an introduction to current music technology and alternative ways of artistic expression. Building confidence and respect will be inherent in the workshop, as the children will be encouraged to create their own raps, perform their own music in front of others and work in teams to try and achieve the goals set out in the class.

Adrirenne Geoghegan’s illustration workshops will inspire participants to use everyday objects symbolically, suggestively and decoratively to produce amazing illustrations. Adrienne is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books. In her own words she sculpts her stories painting, drawing, building, constructing and assembling using a mixed media palette. Dogs Don’t Wear Glasses, Who Needs Pockets and Fancy That are some of the titles of Adrienne Geoghegan's published picture books.

And as usual there’s children’s puppet theatre. The world-renowned Miriam Lambert Puppet Theatre will perform The Gingerbread Man with the constant objective of the company to introduce young audiences to the imaginative puppet world, to entertain and stimulate. Having hosted Miriam’s production of the Goldilocks and The Three Bears in 2008, Clare County Library is confident that this will be guaranteed.
More info...

Thursday 22 September 2011

Cross Road Dancing at Feakle Festival



"Cross Road Dancing outside Pepper's Bar, Feakle Festival 2011" Posted on Youtube on the 7th of September 2011 by wts121249.

Day Out in Spanish Point



"Took a trip to Spanish Point this weekend and ended up watching the Skyride Hibernia Clare Etape which had over 1,200 cyclists doing an 84mile cycle around Clare from Ennis to Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Lahinch, Spanish Point and back to Ennis over Mount Callan which is about 210 metres in height."

Posted on Youtube on the 25th of august 2011 by jono1955.

Clare - Stay the night



"A quick look at the different accommodation options for holidays in County Clare - castles, B&Bs, self-catering and mobile homes included." Posted on Youtube on the 13th of July 2011 by discoverirelanddotie.

Friday 16 September 2011

All Ireland set dancing champions from Clare



The County Clare team dance the final figure of the Plain Set after being announced winners of the over-18 set dancing competition in the Cavan Crystal Hotel at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2011. Music is played by Michael Sexton on box accompanied by Pat Walsh on piano. Posted on Youtube on the 20th of August 2011 by judetony.

Tulla Ceili Band at the Willie Clancy Summer School 2011



"The Tulla Ceili Band plays the Caledonian Set (the second one that night) for a full floor of dancers at a ceili in the Mill Marquee, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, during the Willie Clancy Summer School. Afterward, Martin Hayes plays two fiddle solos. The video ends before the second is over." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of August 2011 by SetDancingNews.

The Kilfenora Set with the Glenside Ceili Band



"At the Kilrush set dancing weekend, the Glenside Ceili Band plays music for the Kilfenora Set at an outdoor ceili on the town square. The first figure of the South Galway Set appears at the end of the video, but the camera was retired from duty then because of rain. Mary Clancy is the MC." Posted on Youtube on the 26th of August 2011 by SetDancingNews.

Michael Cusack Centre, Carron, County Clare.



The Michael Cusack Centre, Carron, County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 25th of March 2010 by hurlingtime.

Nell Galvin Festival, Moyasta, 2011



A session at the Nell Galvin Festival in Moyasta, County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 10th of September by TheBlackbirdTune.

Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award 2011

Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun LiThe winner of the 7th Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the world’s most valuable short story award worth €35,000, will be announced on September 18th.The six shortlisted books are Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun Li; Light Lifting by Alexander MacLeod; Saints and Sinners by Edna O’Brien; Death is Not an Option by Suzanne Rivecca; The Empty Family by Colm Tóibín; Marry or Burn by Valerie Trueblood.

Ireland is represented on the shortlist by Edna O’Brien and Colm Toibin. It is the first year that two Irish authors have been shortlisted. Beijing-born Yiyun Li was the inaugural winner of the award in 2005 for her first collection A Thousand Years of Good Prayers. There are two young debutantes, Canadian Alexander MacLeod and American Suzanne Rivecca. American novelist Valerie Trueblood is shortlisted with her first short story collection. The award is administered by the Munster Literature Centre and funded by Cork City Council. In honouring Cork’s literary genius and its most famous short story writer, it is hoped this award will achieve international recognition for the short story and highlight Cork’s important contribution to this literary art form. The award will be presented at the culmination of the Cork International Short Story Festival on Sunday September 18th.

Bulgarian Ambassador to Ireland visits Clare County Library

Bulgarian Ambassador to Ireland visits Clare County Library












Picture shows the Ambassador with his wife, Sylvia (centre), a group of people from the Bulgarian community in Ennis, Helen Walsh, County Librarian, and the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes.

Clare County Library was honoured to host a visit from the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Ireland, H.E. Mr Emil Yalnazov. The Ambassador visited De Valera Public Library in Ennis on Tuesday, 13th September to give a talk and presentation surrounding an exhibition currently being held there entitled 'The Power of Civil Society: the Fate of Jews in Bulgaria during the Holocaust'. Mr Yalnazov originally presented the exhibition to Holocaust Education Trust Ireland (HETI) on behalf of the Republic of Bulgaria State Institute for Culture and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. HETI has been kind enough to provide the exhibition for display in branches of Clare County Library, earlier in the year in Shannon and currently in Ennis until 1st October 2011. The exhibition demonstrates how the collective voice of the people of Bulgaria prevented the deportation of its Jewish population to the concentration and death camps of the Third Reich.

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Sylvia Yalnazova, the Ambassador spoke to an audience that included secondary school students from Coláiste Muire in Ennis, members of the Clare Active Citizenship Network and members of the approximately 40 strong Bulgarian community living in Ennis. The Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes, was also in attendance. Mr Yalnazov spoke about the exhibition and took questions from the audience. He then went on to give a visual presentation of modern day Bulgaria and the many attractions on offer there, including its rich and varied landscape. Afterwards Mr Yalnazov presented County Librarian Helen Walsh with a number of books and material on Bulgaria for the library service in Clare while, in turn, Mayor Pat Hayes, on behalf of Clare County Library, presented the Ambassador with a collection of books produced by Clare Local Studies Project (CLASP). Ms Walsh noted that it was an honour for Clare to host the Ambassador’s visit and a rare opportunity to receive such an insight into an exhibition being held by the library while Mayor Pat Hayes told the students in attendance that they were "privileged to have the opportunity to experience such a unique history lesson". The Ambassador said he enjoyed his visit to Clare and was delighted to return having holidayed there before.

Clare - Live the active life



"We all know the West of Ireland is a mecca for outdoor adventure and activities. Here's what you can do in Co. Clare in particular." Posted on Youtube on the 13th of July 2011 by discoverirleanddotie.

John Philip Holland (by suttler)



"College exercise - animation about John Philip Holland, Irish born inventor of the modern submarine." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of June 2009 by suttler.

Tom Lowe, big wave surfer - Aileens, County Clare



"Science in Sport user Tom Lowe and his buddies surf Aileens off Ireland's west coast." Posted on Youtube on the 4th of august 2009 by scienceinsport.

Swan in Ballyvaugan



"Swan in Galway Bay in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland, May 2011." Posted on Youtube on the 27th of May 2011 by lindarzoska.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

James Patterson - world’s top-selling author

According to Forbes magazine’s annual list of the highest paid authors, James Patterson was the world’s highest paid author with earnings of $84m in the year to April 2011, selling more than 10 million books. Declaring that the golden era of books is over due to a fall of 23% in the sales of adult hardback books in the first half of 2011, Forbes attributes Patterson’s continued success to his diversification into the young adult market and his "riding the strong updraft of the fast-growing e-book category". Patterson, who has published over 80 books, is most famous as the creator of the detective Alex Cross. He signed a 17 book deal with his publishers, Hachette Book Group, in 2009 and working with a team of co-authors has published 10 books since then. He has new books planned for every month between now and Christmas. Patterson branched out into the young adult market a few years ago with his Maximum Ride and Witch & Wizard series. A film based on his Alex Cross series just went into production. In addition to all of this, Patterson has sold over 1 million e-books.

Another prolific author Danielle Steel was second on the highest earning author list, earning $35million. Horror and suspense writer Stephen King was third and Janet Evanovich was 4th earning $22m with her Stephanie Plum mysteries. Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight vampire novels, only earned $21m (half of the previous year's total) but she only published one novella last year – The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner of which 2.3 million copies were sold.

J.K Rowling, who only earned $5 million last year did not make the top ten list. The last book in her Harry Potter series was published in 2007 and the final film in the series came out this summer. However, her earnings are expected to increase as her book will be made available in e-format through her virtual online bookstore Pottermore. However, two authors for children did make the top ten list. Rick Riordan is author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series which has been adapted for the big screen and Jeff Kinney, creator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, has earned $17million from his books and film spin-offs. Dean Koontz, John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks were the other authors on the top ten highest-earning author list according to Forbes magazine.

World's top-earning writers:
James Patterson, $84 million
Danielle Steel, $35 million
Stephen King, $28 million
Janet Evanovich, $22 million
Stephenie Meyer, $21 million
Rick Riordan, $21 million
Dean Koontz, $19 million
John Grisham, $18 million
Jeff Kinney, $17 million
Nicholas Sparks, $16 million
Source: www.forbes.com