Wednesday 30 November 2011

The Road of Souls - Short Film Trailer in Corofin



"The Road of Souls is about a moment in time that captures the imagination of an eleven year old boy. The story follows Patrick as he discovers a stranger in his life has more to offer than he first thought. Set in County Clare in the 1950s, the film is a charming tale of childhood memories and the moments that we remember forever." The premiere of The Road of Souls will take place on December 1st at 7pm in Teach Cheoil, Corofin, County Clare, by invitation only. More info... Posted on Youtube on the 29th of November 2011 by mixedbagmedia.

Thursday 24 November 2011

Willie Clancy interview in Doolin, 1971



"Witty interview with Willie Clancy, 1971, Doolin." Willie Clancy is being interviewed about his uileann pipes. Also included are the late Packie Russell, and the late Muiris Ó Rocháin and his wife Úna. The reel he plays at the end is called The Ravelled Hank of Yarn, and he's playing it on a Taylor set of pipes from circa 1890. Posted on Youtube on the 14th of November 2011 by asalater.

Paul Smith, Michael Hackett, Deirdre Scanlan, Lena Ullman and Leon Agnew - Killaloe



Paul Smith, Michael Hackett, Deirdre Scanlan, Lena Ullman and Leon Agnew play three reels in Reddan's bar, Killaloe. The reels: The Laurel Tree, Feeding The Birds and Johnny Henry's. Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of August 2011 by liammckeogh.

'Down at the Willy Clancy Week' - Song



"Grace Kelly, the winner of the Central Hotels Songwriting Competition, performs 'Down at the Willy Clancy Week'. Recorded live at the Central Hotel, Miltown Malbay, County Clare on the 30th of October 2011." Posted on Youtube on the 4th of November 2011 by blagit23.

Clare Museum Christmas Card Exhibition Appeal

Christmas Card










The Clare Museum is seeking any old Christmas cards or decorations with a little personal story for a new seasonal temporary exhibition on Christmas Past. The cards can from anywhere in the world or from Clare itself. Cards with an interesting greeting or a personal memory are welcome to help the museum get into the spirit of Christmas. All cards and decorations that are loaned will be returned in the New Year. Also on the subject of Christmas Cards, there will be workshops on Christmas card making at the museum at 10am and 3pm daily from 13th to 23rd December. Booking is essential. Contact curator John Rattigan at 065-682-3382 or Paula McNamara, Education Officer at 087-793-3799.

The Burren – Culture & Community



Posted on Youtube on the 16th of November 2011 by BurrenBeoTrust.

Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards – The Winners

How to be a Woman by Caitlin MoranA 40 minute programme of the highlights of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards will be shown tonight, Thursday 24th November, at 10.45pm on RTE 1. The 10 category award winners were announced at a gala dinner on November 17th.

The winners are:
RTE Radio John Murray Show Listeners’ Choice Award:
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran.
Hughes and Hughes Irish Novel of the Year:
Mistaken by Neil Jordan.
Ireland AM Crime Fiction Book of the Year:
Bloodland by Alan Glynn.
Eason Popular Fiction Book of the Year:
All for You by Sheila O’Flanagan.
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Senior:
The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey.
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Junior:
The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge.
International Education Services Best Irish-Published Book of the Year:
Connemara: a Little Gaelic Kingdom by Tim Robinson.
Argosy Irish Nonfiction Book of the Year:
Easy Meals by Rachel Allen.
Irish Sports Book of the Year:
Inside the Peloton by Nicholas Roche.
Sunday Independent Best Newcomer of the Year:
Solace by Belinda McKeon.
President Michael D Higgins graced the evening as Guest of Honour and presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to fellow poet Seamus Heaney. The Crannóg Bookshop carried off the Bord Gáis Energy Bookshop of the year award, with a prize of €5,000 worth of electricity from Bord Gáis. The public are being asked to vote for their favourite book of the year from the winners of each of the award categories. Voting closes at midnight on December 8th. Five lucky voters selected at random will each win €100 of National Book Tokens. Vote now on irishbookawards.ie.

Tigh Na Coille Ceíli Band play two reels: Miss Monahan's & Miss Mc Donald



"All-Ireland Under-18 Céilí Band champions Tigh Na Coille Ceíli Band from Co. Clare playing a selection of reels: Miss Monahan's and Miss Mc Donald. They were recorded at the Munster Fleadh Cheoil in Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick in July 2007." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of June 2008 by comhaltas.

Emerald Surfwear Movember Fancy Dress Surf Morning in Lahinch



"Our main monkey, Q The Monkey, headed down to Lahinch, Co. Clare for the Emerald Surfwear Movember Fancy Dress Surf Morning. Big choppy surf, awesome costumes, great craic, sunshine, and all for the great Movember cause, to raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer. With a busted knee the monkey man was restricted to a bodyboard, but that didn't stop him getting stuck in with all the other heros (and superheros) and capture some of the action on his trusty GoPro HD helmet cam. Enjoy the vid and grow a mo for Movember!!" Posted on Youtube on the 31st of October 2011 by GnarlyAdventure.

Kilkee Moments project – animation



"Thanks to Laura Maye who kindly volunteered to create this fantastic video in support of our Kilkee Moments project. See & LIKE our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KilkeeMoments. The Kilkee Moments project is in aid of the Kilkee Marine Rescue Service which is a voluntary emergency life-boat service that services the coastline from Spanish point to Loop Head." Posted on Youtube on the 7th of November 2011 by KilkeeMoments.

Thursday 17 November 2011

The Prehistoric Piper - animation



"This 6 min animation/movie was made by Ber Dowd and uilleann piper Blackie O Connell for the Anon is Anall group show exhibition in the Rowen Tree cafe , Ennis as part of the November Trad Festival 2011." Posted on Youtube on the 16th of October 2011 by forager10.

The Making of the Prehistoric Piper Animation



"A short behind the scenes film of the making of the Prehistoric Piper animation movie with artist/animator Ber Dowd and musician/uilleann piper Blackie O Connell. Filmed by Fergus Tighe in October 2011 for Carmel Doherty's Anon is Anall 3 artist/musician project Ennis County Clare." Posted on Youtube on the 27th of October 2011 by forager10.

Tulla Junior Ceili Band 2010



"Tulla Junior Ceili Band have been together for the last 5-6 years. Their music is full of natural lift and rhythm, a brand of music that invokes joy in you and makes you want to dance... Mary McNamara has been the nurturer and guiding spirit of these young musicians and her passion and comittment to the East Clare style of music is very evident with this band." The band members are Sinead Mulqueen (Piano), Aisling Lyons (Drums), Brian Donnellan (Concertina), Aisling Hunt (Accordian), Iomar Kearney, Lisa Walsh, Eimear Donnellan (Flutes), Sorcha Costello, Sorcha Crimmins, Tim O'Connor (Fiddles). The Tulla junior ceili band won the under 15 ceili band competition in Cavan in August 2010 at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. Posted on Youtube on the 14th of July 2010 by CustysMusic.

Inis Og Ceili Band 2009



"Inis Og Play at the opening of Corofin Trad festival 2009. Musicians are - Box: Caoilfionn Mulhern; Fiddles: Therese McInerney, Shona Lynch, Sharon Howley, Eimear Airkins; Keyboard: Padraic O`Reilly (tutor); Banjo: Keith O`Loughlan; Drums: Edward McMahon; Flutes: Brian O`Loughlan, Conor Connole, Elaine Corbit; Concertiana: Catriona Killeen. Tunes are Cooleys and The Wise Maid (reels)." Posted on Youtube on the 26th of June 2009 by xxfiddlexxchickxx.

Dinny McMahon at the Cliffs of Moher



"Dinny McMahon, a tourist guide at the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland." This footage is possibly from the early 1970s. Posted on Youtube on the 6th of November 2011 by 25pappy.

Eimear Arkins, Damien O'Reilly, Brian O'Loughlin & Keith O'Loughlin in Shannon library



Eimear Arkins, Damien O'Reilly, Brian O'Loughlin & Keith O'Loughlin in Seán Lemass Public Library, Shannon, on Friday July 17th 2009. Posted on Youtube on the 3rd August 2009 by bflatflute.

Eamonn Cotter, Conor McCarthy, Oisín MacDiarmada & Padraic O'Reilly at Sixmilebridge library



Eamonn Cotter, Conor McCarthy, Oisín MacDiarmada & Padraic O Reilly at Kilfinaghty Public Library, Sixmilebridge, on the 1st of August 2009. Posted on Youtube on the 4th of August 2009 by bflatflute.

Thursday 10 November 2011

A murmuration of starlings on Lough Derg



"A collection of starlings is called a murmuration. A film by Liberty Smith and Sophie Windsor Clive. Music by Emmett Glynn and band." Shot on Lough Derg, County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of November 2011 by HayseedOfTurnip.

Road Safety Authority ad featuring Kilkee



"Road Safety Authority commercial with a positive message about the number of lives saved equaling the population of a small town." Kilkee, County Clare, is the featured town. Posted on Youtube on the 28th of October 2011 by supersixtyeight.

1821 List of Freeholders - 35,000 names added to website

1821 List of FreeholdersWith the addition of the 1821 List of Freeholders, Clare County Library has added c.35,000 names of Clare people from the early 19th Century to its website. This List of Freeholders contains the names of landholders who were registered to vote in County Clare in 1821. A freeholder was a man who owned his land outright (in fee) or who held it by lease which could be for one or more lives (for example, his own life or for the lives of other people named in the lease). A significant percentage of the population was entitled to vote in the time period covered by this list (1796-1820), when both Catholic and Protestant 40 shilling freeholders qualified for the franchise. A 40 shilling freeholder held a freehold worth at least 40 shillings per anum above the rent, enabling the inclusion of substantial farmers in the voters’ list. In 1829 the franchise level was increased to 10 pounds (there were 20 shillings in a pound), thus barring the 40 shilling freeholders whom Daniel O’Connell had mobilized and consequently confining the vote to landlords. Because of destroyed records and the lack of census material covering the 19th Century, Freeholders’ Lists are an invaluable census substitute. This 1821 List provides a range of information about people and land ownership: Name of freeholder; Address of freeholder (Place of Abode); Location of freehold (Situation of Freehold); Name of landlord; Value of freehold (given in either shillings (s) or pounds (l)); Names of other lives associated with the lease i.e. generally tenants (Names of Lives or other Tenure); Date of freeholder’s registration. The names of the freeholders are given as they appear in the original document i.e. by Barony, and arranged by the first letter of the surname, the names being entered chronologically as each freeholder was registered. Each Barony is also arranged alphabetically by the location of the freehold, i.e. by townland. In addition, separate alphabetical lists of all Freeholders, Tenants and Landlords - c. 35,000 individuals in all -are provided.

Clare County Library was kindly given a copy of the List of Freeholders by the Bishop of Killaloe, Rev. Kieran O'Reilly. This rare publication was unearthed by Ennisman Louis Quinn while doing research in the bishop’s residence at Westbourne House, Ennis. The List was transcribed and proofread by volunteers Joan Birtles (Australia), Dwaine O’Donoghue (Canada), Peter Beirne & Brian Doyle (Ennis), Elaine Pratt (UK), and Mary Cecilia Murphy, Ruth Ver and Kevin O'Brien of the Buffallo Irish Genealogy Society, USA. The project was managed by Executive Librarian Maureen Comber, and the data converted for the website by Jackie Dermody, Staff Officer (Library) of the library's ICT & Information Services Department. Clare County Library is grateful to all for helping to make this resource available.

Click here for the 1821 List of Freeholders.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Exhibition in Clare Museum: Remembering the Fallen of Clare

Exhibition in Clare Museum: Remembering the Fallen of Clare







A temporary exhibition at Clare Museum listing the Clare people who died in the Great War will be launched on 11th November, Remembrance Day. The exhibition is based on information compiled by local historian Peadar McNamara in 1988 from the Clare Champion, Saturday Record, and personal communications. The exhibition has been recently updated through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission archives and currently lists 655 soldiers from Clare who died in the ‘war to end all wars’. However, the exhibition may not be complete. It is suspected that up to 700 Clare people died in the Great War and that there are still other soldiers to be remembered that are unknown to researchers. Such information can be submitted to the Clare Remembrance Committee, c/o Fr Tom Hogan or Canon Bob Hanna, and the Clare Museum. The exhibition is to be launched by John Quinn writer and former RTE Broadcaster, Canon Bob Hanna and Fr Tom Hogan at 2pm on 11th November at 2pm and will run until 30th November. For further information please contact: John Rattigan, Curator or Paula McNamara, Education Officer at 065-6823382.

Monday 7 November 2011

Scan the ISBN on a book and see if Clare County Library has a copy



LibraryAnywhere’s new barcode scanning feature is available in both the iPhone (and iPod Touch, iPad, other iOS products) and Android apps for Library Anywhere. It lets you quickly scan the ISBN on a book and see if Clare County Library has a copy. So if you’re in a bookshop or in a friend’s house you can now easily check to see if Clare County Library has a copy of a book you’d like to read.

Here’s how:
Download the LibAnywhere App to your smartphone or other mobile device and open it. If the phone can determine your location the app should automatically detect that Clare County Library is your local library service. If the phone does not determine your location you can find Clare County Library by selecting Ireland, County Clare and Clare County Library. There are three dots in the top right hand corner of the App. Tap them and select “Scan a barcode” from the drop down menu. This opens a barcode scanner. Scan the ISBN code from the back cover of the book and it searches Clare County Library’s catalogue to see if the book is in the library’s bookstock. If it is it will give you details of the branches where the book is held and you will have the option to request a copy.

The Library Anywhere book scanner is unique in that it searches not just for the exact ISBN you give it, but for any other editions of that title that might be in the library. So you can scan a paperback book with the “now a major motion picture!” cover, and Library Anywhere will find the hardcover edition of the same title, if that’s what the library has.

Spooky end to Children's Book Festival in Scariff Library

Spooky end to Children's Book Festival in Scariff LibraryChildren's Book Festival came to a spooky end in Scariff Public Library when children were treated to Halloween storytime and colouring and had their faces adorned with spiders, bats and a few tigers were let loose too! The festival may have come to an end but it may well have left a few budding authors and composers in its wake. Judi Curtin was a great hit with Scariff and Mountshannon National School who even held their own interview session with the popular author after her talk in the library. Whitegate National School sung along with Tony Maude on his guitar. We are all looking forward to next October already!

Get Crafty at Halloween - Autumn Art and Craft Session in Killaloe

Get Crafty at Halloween - Autumn Art and Craft Session #2

Get Crafty at Halloween - Autumn Art and Craft Session #1





















On Friday November 4th, local artist Nathalie El-Baba ran a “Get Crafty at Halloween – Autumn Art and Craft Session” in Killaloe Public Library. The target audience was 4-7 year olds. On arrival the participants got busy colouring a variety of pictures, whilst Nathalie prepared the crafts. Then they all got stuck in (literally) to making a leaf shaped window mosaic on acetate using glue and lots and lots of coloured paper. The end products were very creative, colourful and impressive. The process of making this mosaic was quite simple and even the youngest child succeeded in making it all by themselves! They finished off the session creating pictures from soft chalk pastels which again they had great fun smudging and messing. All in all it was a most worthwhile, fun and creative session and the kids were all delighted going home with their creations.

Summer Reading Challenge – A Class Act!

Tony Baloney and Magoufis entertain children who completed the Summer Reading Challenge at deValera Library











A summertime spectacle of reading has ended for children at Clare’s library branches. Over 500 children from all over the county were presented with certificates in Shannon, Ennis, Scariff, Ennistymon and Kilrush Libraries at special celebration ceremonies held throughout October for children who completed the Circus Stars Summer Reading Challenge 2011. The annual summer reading programme attracts readers of all ages every year who sign up at the beginning of July to read six books or more during the holidays. This is a very positive initiative to promote literacy and is run by librarians in every branch in Clare. It is just one of the many exciting schemes public libraries have developed to encourage a love of reading, and to increase confidence in this most important of skill for children. This year’s entertainment in the five presentation centres came courtesy of the multi-talented Tony Baloney, one of Munster’s top conjurors, along with his resident assistants Magoufis and Leroy! A native of Ennis, Tony Baloney has travelled the world with his hilarious show, which for the library performances included ventriloquism, puppetry, circus skills and storytelling along with lots of magic. He was especially pleased to be invited to perform in libraries saying: “As a child the library was one of my favourite places to hang out, and I heard my first proper storyteller in the Ennis branch.” Congratulations to all our young members who completed the 2011 Summer Reading Challenge.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Libraries rock! – Children’s Book Festival 2011

Oisin McGann at Ennistymon Library










Libraries rock! Staff at Clare County Library are confident that this is the opinion of thousands of children who attended music workshops and several book-related events during the month of October. Children’s Book Festival 2011 has drawn to a close for another year. The month long celebration of books and reading saw thousands of children from primary schools in Clare attend a bumper programme of events including live history workshops, children’s puppet theatre, art and craft sessions, music and author visits by some of the best writers for children in Ireland today. Poetry workshops also featured in this year’s line-up. Children were introduced to the great artistic creators including Shakespeare, Hemmingway, the Scottish bard Robert Burns and to the art of Claude Monet through the multi disciplinary sessions delivered by Tony Maude from London and Dr. Fred Freeman from Edinburgh. Both artists’ shows included an excellent mix of poetry, art, literature and music to the delight of their young audiences.

Music making of a more modern genre was enjoyed by 5th and 6th class children who took part in the workshops of John Lillis. Six sessions of non-stop entertainment featured beat-boxing, scratching and a very informative hands-on lesson on the techniques employed by a successful D.J. Authors Bob Burke, Nicola Pierce, Oisin McGann, Judi Curtin, Dolores Keaveney and Bridget Bhreathnach travelled the county with all library branches hosting at least one author event for their local schools. Judging by the attention paid to the stories of these writers and the questions that went on well after their presentations ended, the future of writing in Clare looks extremely promising.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival was The Irish History Live Show presented by Michael Moylan. Children in Ennis, Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay and Tulla were transported back to the Easter Rising of 1916 or to The Second World War which began in 1939. Michael successfully takes the printed pages of the history books and brings them one hundred per cent alive with his traveling museum of clothes, replica weapons and artifacts of the period which children are encouraged to try out as an integral part of his spell binding presentations. The number of times that this event features in the Library’s Children’s Book Festival programme is testament to the appeal of Michael’s show year after year.

The Library service is extremely grateful to all sponsors of the annual Children’s Book Festival, many of which are local businesses here in Clare. A list of 2011 sponsors is on display in all its branches and on the library website. You can be assured that the number of children attending events increases year on year and through your contribution you are facilitating community based education and a continuing liaison between two of the most important cornerstones of education: primary schools and public libraries.
Photo above shows Oisin McGann at Ennistymon Library

Ennis Music Project Mixtape Battle Extravaganza



"Highlights of stage one of the Mixtape Battle Extravaganza competition run by Ennis Music Project in association with Clare Youth Service." Music: "Genki Shank" by Adebisi Shank. Posted on Youtube on the 20th of October 2011 by CYSMusicProject.

Tulla Ceilidh Band, Willie Clancy 2011, Miltown Malbay by Shona McMill



Shona McMill writes:

"I didn't know I would be filming anything but simply heard the music coming from the hall and followed the sound. I only had my wee camera in my pocket but there was such a HAPPY atmosphere in the place that I wanted to capture images from it as best as I could. The sound is very poor (and at the venue it was excellent) - indeed, when the film switches over to photos its because I laid my wee camera at Martin's feet and went off and got my other camera to take photos of the band (and I maybe squeezed in a happy wee dance too!). Anyway, please be aware, it is with the greatest respect that I tried to take photos and film the people there. Having been to Clare before (and loved the place) this felt almost like being home again, the absolute favourite evening of my holiday! For me, this night was EXACTLY as musical evenings used to be at the Shetland Fiddlers Association in Edinburgh - when I was a child, learning to play the fiddle by ear (it was all about loving the music and having fun!). Playing for dancers is a wonderful experience and certainly what I prefer (to performing in concert style) - dancers and musicians, everyone coming together to have an excellent time and, even although this film is such poor quality - I think (and hope) it does reflect what a wonderful evening it was and just how much folks were enjoying themselves at this midweek ceilidh during the festival. MY GRATEFUL THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE for letting me film. And to see more photos from the night, please visit my Ireland album on my Shona McMillan Celtic Reflections page: http://www.facebook.com/shonamcmillan.celticreflections". Posted on Youtube on the 13th of July 2011 by ShonaMcMillan.

Michael Sexton and Pat Walsh play reels at a céilí in Ausberg Germany



"Michael Sexton and Pat Walsh Play Reels at a Ceili in Ausberg Germany at a set Dancing weekend 22nd June 2008. Michael Sexton on box from County Clare. Pat Walsh on Keyboard From County Cork." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of June 2008 by setdancing.

Killoghill Cave, Moneen Mountain, the Burren



"A new cave found on Moneen mountain, the Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland". Posted on Youtube on the 2nd of October 2010 by burrencrawler.