Friday 31 August 2012

Skazz playing at Kilmihil Fun Festival 2012

"Skazz playing at Kilmihil Fun Festival, Kilmihil, County Clare, 5th August 2012." Posted on Youtube on the 5th of August 2012 by Envirish.

The Fake McCoys play Weeping Willow

East Clare String Band The Fake McCoys play their version of the Carter Family classic at the opening of the Scarriff Harbour Festival 2012. Posted on Youtube on the 8th of August 2012 fakemccoys.

Three young fiddlers, Mullagh, July 2012

"Three young céilí band members from Cork play a selection of jigs at O'Looneys Bar, Moloskey, Mullagh, Co. Clare, July 2012." Posted on Youtube on the 19th of August 2012 by cerigarfield1.

Moy, Lahinch, & sea views of Cliffs of Moher

"Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland, Monday, August 6th, 2012 & Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland, Tuesday, August 7th, 2012." Posted on Youtube on the 17th of August 2012 by 6lakeside.

History of Ardnacrusha (Part 1)

Nationwide documentary on the history of Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power plant in County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 14th of August 2012 by Fishing140355.See also: The Building of the Shannon Hydro-Electric Scheme.

History of Ardnacrusha (Part 2)

Nationwide documentary on the history of Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power plant in County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 14th of August 2012 by Fishing140355. See also: The Building of the Shannon Hydro-Electric Scheme.

Equestrian Beach Trek at Doonbeg

"Nenagh Equestrian Beach Trek at Doonbeg Beach, County Clare: 29/July/2012." Posted on Youtube on the 1st of August 2012 by iffyob.

Motor racing on Corkscrew Hill

"Clare and Galway Hillclimb 2012 Video Report of round 3 and 4 of the Connaught Competition Engines Irish Hillclimb and Sprint Championship 2012 by Senan O'Connor Vantage Point Video." Posted on Youtube on the 22nd of April 2012 by VantagePointVideo.

Genealogy Workshop in Sixmilebridge Library













Clare Roots Society and Clare County Library combined to provide a most valuable workshop, ‘Genealogy for Beginners’, at Kilfinaghty Public Library, Sixmilebridge, during Heritage Week 2012. Experienced researchers and local historians Larry Brennan and Eric Shaw were on hand to provide advice and support to budding local genealogists, and to get them confidently started on their own family trees. The participants were delighted with the informative workshop and left with renewed enthusiasm for their own research projects. This event was one of a series of local history talks and workshops provided by Clare Roots Society in libraries across Clare to mark Heritage Week.

Thursday 23 August 2012

Micho Russell live in concert, Bad Oldesloe, Germany, 1993

"Homage to Micho Russell, with pictures from him in summer 1993 at his home in Doolin, a "Pure Irish Drops" concert in Bad Oldesloe, Germany, October 1993, and pictures from the fantastic landscape of the Burren. The tune Burrendreams is composed by Elonia, including the traditional 'The Little Isle'. All photographs are from Manfred B., who is also composer of Burrendreams." Posted on Youtube on the 20th of October 2009 by Elioniamusic.

Kilfenora Céilí Band - The Feargal O'Gara Selection - Glór, Ennis

"The Kilfenora Céilí Band performing 'The Feargal O'Gara Selection' during their concert at Glór in Ennis, as part of the Fleadh Nua Festival on May 26th 2012. This clip also features dancer Michael Donnellan and the West Clare Set Dancers, and formed part of a live web broadcast on www.LiveTrad.com." Posted on Youtube on the 28th of May 2012 by Livetrad.

Maura O Connell sings Shades of Gloria in Ennis

"Maura O Connell, singing Shades of Gloria at the Clare Connections, Love Live Music, Ennis concert, June 21st 2012, Abbey St Car Park Ennis." Posted on Youtube on the 23rd of June 2012 by fiona o sullivan.

East Clare Young Musicians, Feakle Festival 2012

"Video of the Young Musicians' Showcase, Feakle Festival, 2012." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of August 2012 by nytram1309.

Fishing At 'The Flats', Black Head, County Clare

"Just a quick edit from an evenings fishing! All shot on GoPro HD Hero 2. Music, Ratatat - Cherry." Posted on Youtube on the 15th of August 2012 by TradKayaker.

Saltwater fly fishing, County Clare

"Dozens of fish! Awesome Mind blowing fishing, a day spent Saltwater fly fishing in Co. Clare, Ireland. Warning not for the faint-hearted! Breathtaking scenery!" Posted on Youtube on the 16th of August 2012 by surethingsfly.

Illuminating talk on historic maps of Ennis

An enthusiastic group of over 70 people attended DeValera Public Library, in Ennis, on Tuesday, August 21st, for a talk by Ennis native Brian O’Dálaigh on the newly published Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 25, Ennis. Brian had dedicated 5 years of his time in researching and writing the comprehensive and invaluable introduction to the atlas.  In his talk, Brian traced the evolution of Ennis from its early O’Brien foundation, to the medieval period, and to the rise of Ennis as a market town and county town, and into the modern era. A fascinating selection of old and rare maps and photographs was used to illustrate the development of Ennis as well as highlighting aspects of the town which have been lost or changed utterly over the centuries. The new atlas, which is published by the Royal Irish Academy, is for sale in local bookshops and is a must for those who want to find out more about the town’s origins. The cartographic maps which accompany the atlas are a comprehensive collection of all maps produced of the town to date.  The Ennis atlas is number 25 of a series of historic town atlases of Ireland and only the fourth one on the western seaboard to be published – the others being Tuam, Sligo and Limerick.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Photographic Survey of Medieval Churches and Graveyards of Clare












We have recently launched a new collection on Foto, our online collection of photographs, which consists of a photographic record of the medieval churches of County Clare and their graveyards. The photographs are part of “A Church and Graveyard Survey in County Clare” carried out by archaeologist Simon Large for Clare County Council. The survey was an action under the Clare Heritage Plan and provides a clear picture of the state of County Clare’s medieval churches in 2011. The photographs record in detail the walls of each structure, inside and out – wherever possible – and show their overall condition as well as recording items of particular interest such as doorways, windows and other architectural features. The condition of any associated graveyards is also recorded. Over 500 photos have been added so far, with many more to follow, eventually covering all 170 medieval churches in Clare. Click here for the photos…

Monday 20 August 2012

'Ireland Reaching Out ' to expand in the Shannon Region


RTE's "The Business" with George Lee features Ireland Reaching Out. - The Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) programme is stepping up a gear and rolling out into the whole of the Shannon Region in the coming months. Following a successful pilot in East Galway, the Shannon Region will be the first region in Ireland to be mobilized under the initiative. With the support of Shannon Development, Clare County Council and LEADER, there is the potential for over 376 parishes to participate in the programme. In the last two months, Shannon Development has facilitated numerous meetings to put structures in place to enable community involvement. Working with the LEADER groups across the Shannon region, the Ireland XO programme will engage with all interested parishes. Anyone with an interest in their community, its history, tourism, business or genealogy, is encouraged to get involved and learn more about the project. More info…

Maura Mulligan – “Call of the Lark” – in Newmarket Library

Maura Mulligan visited Newmarket-on-Fergus Public Library on Wednesday, 8th August,  at 6.30pm to read from her memoir, Call of the Lark.  A group of 12 people came to hear Maura read from her book.  Maura spoke for about 30 minutes and then answered questions from the audience afterwards.  Maura is originally from Aghamore, Co. Mayo and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of seventeen.  She has had a very interesting and varied life.  On arriving in New York, she worked as a telephone operator, and even became a nun for a time.  Later she started up her own Irish language and dance school in New York, her adopted home.  Her memoir, “Call of the Lark”, can be borrowed from branches of Clare County Library.

On the previous day, Tuesday 7th August, Maura Mulligan met with the Newmarket Library Adult Book Club at 4pm, during one of their monthly meetings.  The book club which has been running for approx. 8 years and consists of 10 members, spoke with Maura about books in general and about Maura’s journey to becoming a writer.  Some of the members came to hear her read from her novel the following day.

The Merriman Short Story Competition

The Merriman Short Story Competition is dedicated to the memory of the late Maeve Binchy, who was a life-long supporter of Cumann Merriman and a regular visitor to the Merriman Summer School. In 2005 Maeve wrote a special short story for the Brian Merriman bicentenary celebrations. The story, entitled A Week in Summer, was read by the author at that year’s Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare and was recorded live. A limited edition of the story was subsequently published in CD and booklet form. Maeve generously donated the royalties from the US edition to Cumann Merriman, and she agreed that her donation be used to award a short story prize. A prize of €1000 will be awarded to the winning short story, which must be original, unpublished and unbroadcast. Entries should be not more than 2,500 words in length and set in Ireland. Stories may be written in Irish or English. The competition is confined to writers born or living on the island of Ireland. The closing date for entries is October 31stth 2012. The Merriman Short Story Competition is being run in association with the Ennis Book Club Festival, Clare County Library and the Irish Times. The winning story will be read at the 2013 Ennis Book Club Festival and will be published in the Irish Times.
Read A Week in Summer by Maeve Binchy here...
The Merriman Short Story Competition Guidelines:

  1. Entries, in English or Irish, must be the original work of the author and must not have been previously published or broadcast.
  2. The story must not exceed 2,500 words
  3. The story must be set in Ireland and can be on any subject, by any writer of fiction born in or living on the island of Ireland. Translated work is not within the scope of this competition.
  4. Manuscripts must be typed, and only one story per entrant will be accepted. Manuscripts will not be returned.
  5. The entrants’ names should not be written on the manuscripts but should be written on a separate sheet, along with the title of the story and full contact details (address, telephone numbers, email address). Writers’ names will not be revealed to the judging panel.
  6. All entries must be received by 5 pm on October 31st  2012. Entries may be submitted by email or in hard copy. Entries received after this deadline will not be considered.
  7. There is an entry fee of €10 to cover administration costs.
  8. Hard copies, accompanied by cheque or postal order for €10 (made out to Cumann Merriman Teoranta) should be addressed to Merriman Short Story Competition, Clare County Library, Mill Rd., Ennis, Co. Clare.
  9. Email copies in pdf format should be sent to merrimanshortstory@gmail.com.  Accompanying entry fees (cheque or postal order) must be posted to the address above.  Entries for which fees have not been received will not be considered.
  10. The winner will be notified in February 2013, and will be invited to attend the Ennis Book Club Festival in March to read their story (or have it read, if that is their preference)
  11. The winning story will be published in the Irish Times after the festival.
  12. The Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into concerning the judging or merits of any entry.

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 25, Ennis - Public talk and official launch













Part of map of The county of Clare, 1787, by Henry Pelham.

The Royal Irish Academy’s Irish Historic Towns Atlas project traces the development of Irish towns through its series of publications. It is part of a wider scheme with similar atlases for over 480 European urban centres. The newly-published Ennis atlas, no. 25 in the IHTA series, traces the growth of the town from its early O’Brien foundation at Clonroad, to the medieval town that developed around the Franciscan friary, to its function as an early modern market and county town through to the twentieth century. Over 15 early maps and old views are presented in colour on A3 sheets with additional thematic maps and illustrations in the accompanying text. An extensive topographical gazetteer documents over 1,200 entries for Ennis and is accompanied by an essay explaining the urban morphological development of the town. Also included is a CD-ROM of the publication where the text is word searchable and the maps and images are in high resolution allowing for detailed examination.

To mark the publication, author and Ennis native Brian Ó Dálaigh will deliver a talk in Ennis on the history and development of the town and present material from the atlas. This talk will take place in the DeValera Public Library, Ennis, on Tuesday 21st August at 7.00 pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.

On Friday 24th August, the Mayor of Ennis Councillor Peter Considine will officially launch the Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 25, Ennis at a ceremony in the Civic Room of Ennis Town Council, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis. The ceremony commences at 7.00 pm and will be attended by members of the Royal Irish Academy, local elected representatives, business and community leaders, members of the local press and media, and local historians from throughout Co. Clare. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the reduced rate of €25 (retail €30) at both the public lecture and the launch ceremony.

Heritage Week talks - Clare County Library and Clare Roots Society

Clare County Library and Clare Roots Society join forces during Heritage Week 2012 to present a series of talks in branch libraries around the county on the subjects of genealogy, family research and local history. The public talks are presented by the Clare Roots Society whose members are experienced and dedicated researchers in the fields of heritage, local history and genealogy.

Gerry Kennedy is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland, a founder member of Heritage Inchicronan, and an active member of Clare Roots Society. On Tuesday 21st August Gerry presents two talks in North West Clare entitled ‘Starting Your Family Tree’. The first session takes place in Ennistymon Public Library at 11.00 am, and the second session will be in the Dr. Patrick J. Hillery Public Library, Miltown Malbay, at 3.00 pm. Experienced Clare Roots Society members Fiona de Buitléir & Eric Shaw will host two sessions in East Clare called ‘Genealogy for Beginners’. Both of these talks will take place on Wednesday 22nd August, commencing in Killaloe Public Library at 11.00 am, followed by another session in Scariff Public Library at 3.00 pm. Thursday 23rd August sees two events take place in South Clare at the libraries in Sixmilebridge and Shannon. Clare Roots Society stalwarts Larry Brennan and Eric Shaw present their informative talk ‘Genealogy for Beginners’ at 11.00 am in Kilfinaghty Public Library, Sixmilebridge, and again at 3.00 pm in Sean Lemass Public Library, Shannon. Also on Thursday 23rd August, Gerry Kennedy will present his talk ‘Starting Your Family Tree’ at 7.00 pm in Scariff Public Library. Kilrush Public Library hosts Paddy Waldron’s presentation ‘Genealogy for Beginners’ at 11.00 am on Friday 24th August. The final talk in the Heritage Week series is a lecture by Paddy Waldron called ‘Myles of Myles Creek’, which explores aspects of Kilkee’s colourful history. This talk takes place in the Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee, on Friday 24th August at 7.00 pm. This talk is being presented in conjunction with Kilrush & District Historical Society. Please note the correct date and time, which may differ from other publicity. All talks last approximately 1 hour. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Wolf Hall sequel favourite to win the 2012 Man Booker Prize

Hilary Mantel, who won the 2009 Man Booker Prize for her novel Wolf Hall, has made the longlist for this year’s prize with its sequel Bring Up the Bodies. The bookmakers’ favourite to win the 2012 prize, Bring Up the Bodies is the second part of a trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII and concentrates on the three weeks in which Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, is arrested, tried and executed for treason. Last year’s longlist was criticized for ‘dumbing down’ the prize after judges shunned the literary elite and admitted they had opted for a shortlist which was ‘accessible’. This year’s list is equally controversial with four debut novelists being longlisted at the expense of established writers and former Booker Prize winners such as Ian McEwan, Pat Barker, Howard Jacobson, Peter Carey and John Banville. The 12 nominees, which include Will Self, Michael Frayn and Deborah Levy, were selected from 145 titles. The shortlist of six authors will be announced on 11 September, with the winner of the £50,000 prize named on 16 October. Last year's winner, The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes, went on to sell more than 100,000 copies, while Wolf Hall has sold over 200,000 copies.

The Booker longlist:  
The Yips by Nicola Barker  
The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman  
Philida by André Brink
 The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng  
Skios by Michael Frayn  
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce  
Swimming Home by Deborah Levy  
Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
 The Lighthouse by Alison Moore  
Umbrella by Will Self  
Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil  
Communion Town by Sam Thompson
For further information see http://www.themanbookerprize.com/

Friday 10 August 2012

Andrew MacNamara, Martin Hayes, Mark Donnellan & Jim Corry at Tulla Trad Festival 2007

"The week-end finished on a very high night with a most memorable Céilí on Sunday night at Minogues with Andrew MacNamara, Martin Hayes, Mark Donnellan & Jim Corry." Tulla Trad Festival. Posted on Youtube on the 25th of April 2008 by noracat07.

Eoin O'Neill, Quentin Cooper and Tom Healey in Liscannor

"Eoin O'Neill, Quentin Cooper and Tom Healey in Liscannor. Tom came over from Hastings to County Clare and had never joined any irish sessions before. We had great fun playing music. Here we have banish Misfortune and Whelan's jigs. Lia did the camerawork." Posted on Youtube on the 30th of July 2012 by burrencrawler.

Chris Droney, Michael Kelleher, Francis Droney & Aine McGrath in Lisdoonvarna

Chris Droney, Michael Kelleher, Francis Droney & Aine McGrath play at a Riches of Clare session in Lisdoonvarna on the 24th of july 2009. Posted on Youtube on the 4th of August 2009 by bflatflute.

Dolphinwatch at Carrigaholt

"Dolphinwatch, Carrigaholt, County Clare, Ireland, on the Loop Head Peninsula at the Mouth of the Shannon. The home of over 100 bottlenose dolphins." Posted on Youtube on the 2nd of august 2012 by MrThundere.

Killaloe Canoe Polo

Canoe polo in Killaloe, County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 9th of July 2012 by Canoe polo.

Rás Clár 2012 A1/A2 Race

"Rás Clár 2012 A1/A2 150K Race, winner was Seán Lacey of Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes (Carlow). Hosted by Dolmen Cycling Club, Ennis, County Clare. Video camera is Adrian O' Connor of Black Umbrella Photography. Motorcycle driver, Kevin Cooper. Tech support & photography, Jill Leonard of Black Umbrella Photography." Posted on Youtube on the 2nd of August 2012 by blackumbrellaphoto.

Kilrush Operatic Society Photos 1951 - 1966

"Series of photographs from Kilrush Operatic Society shows from 1951 to 1966 inclusive set to excerpts from their 1963 production of Bizet's Carmen." Posted on Youtube on the 29th of April 2012 by franciedonnellan.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Kilrush 2012

Posted on Youtube on the 6th of April 2012 by artvaarkdesign.

Kildysart Focus Group Wren - St Stephen's Day 2011

Kildysart Focus Group celebrating the Wren on St Stephen's Day, 2011. Posted on Youtube on the 20th of January 2012 by wayfarer4591.

Thursday 9 August 2012

Genealogy Information Day in Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee.

A Bridge to the Past – Genealogy Information Day - Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee, Saturday 11th August.




The Irish Ancestry Research Centre (IARC) will hold an introductory seminar from 11am to 3pm in Cultúrlann Sweeney Theatre, Kilkee on Saturday 11th August 2012. The day will include a number of talks given by members of the IARC team, Dr David Butler & Lorna Moloney. The topics covered will include how to conduct ancestry research online, the sources required to create a family tree that are available to researchers and the best ways to care for and preserve your family records. Each session will be followed by a question and answers session. IARC will also provide information relating to their educational initiatives such as the Certificate in Family History and Genealogical Methods, which is accredited by the University of Limerick and is offered both on campus and online and the Winter Workshop Series encompassing topics such as ‘The Tithe Applotments’, ‘Griffith’s Valuation’ ‘Exploring Irish Wills’ and ‘The 1901 and the 1911 Irish census’. The cost of the introductory seminar is €15 per person. €10 concessions are available to OAPs and students. To book your place please call Cultúrlann Sweeney Theatre 065 906 0769. For further information contact IARC 061 518355 or email deborah.clifford@irisharc.org

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Summer Activities in Scariff Library

Children in Scariff were treated to a week full of fun activities at Scariff public Library running from 23rd to the 27th July. The library held a creative art workshop lead by Isabelle Gaborit along with an exciting Bird Talk presented by T.V. bird expert Jamie Durrant. The library was transformed into a fairy wonderland when staff member Samantha Morrissey entertained children with stories, games and fairy cake decorating. Mia Foley introduced children to the art of felt making with her session “felt bug making” and on Friday 27th July 30 children aged between 8-12 years battled it out at a “Horrible Histories” table quiz lead by staff member Aileen McDonagh. Overall the week was a huge success with approx one hundred children attending.

Friday 3 August 2012

The Céilí Bandits in Brogans Bar, Ennis

"The Ceili Bandits (Eoin O'Neill, Quentin Cooper, Yvonne Casey, Ger Hoyne and Jon O'Connell). Recorded in Brogans Bar, Ennis, Co. Clare, as part of the TG4 TV show 'An Samhradh Linn' (translation - Summer with us). Aired on July 26th 2012." Posted on Youtube on the 28th of July 2012 by Willie Cummins.

Peter (Peadar) O'Loughlin, Kilmaley Clare

Posted on Youtube on the 21st of July 2012 by liammckeogh. "Peadar O'Loughlin is an Irish flute, fiddle, and uilleann pipes player from Kilmaley County Clare, Ireland who has been an institution in Irish music since the late 1940s and is best known for having played on the highly influential 1959 LP "All-Ireland Champions - Violin" (with Paddy Canny, P. Joe Hayes, and Bridie Lafferty), which was one of the first LPs of Irish traditional music. He has also performed in the Tulla Céilí Band and Kilfenora Céilí Band and recorded duet albums with uilleann piper Ronan Browne and fiddler Maeve Donnelly. His unique flute style earned him All-Ireland champion titles in 1956 and 1957. It is characterized by strong rhythmic flow with sparse ornamentation, occasionally punctuated by unusually long silences which emphasize the rhythmic structure of the tunes". (Ref Wikipedia).

Paddy Canny plays Garret Barry's Jig & Brian O'Lyn

"The first jig is named after a 19th-century blind piper from Inagh, County Clare, some of whose music is still being played." Posted on Youtube on the 27th of July 2012 bu muisire. "Paddy Canny (1919–2008) was born in the townland of Glendree in County Clare in 1919, the youngest son of Pat Canny and Catherine MacNamara. Pat Canny was a noted local fiddle player, and taught the instrument to his three sons, Paddy, Mickie, and Jack. Paddy also learned techniques from a blind fiddle teacher named Paddy McNamara, who would board with the Canny family in winter and hold lessons in their home. By the time he was in his late teens, Paddy was performing at local crossroads dances, céilís, and weddings. In a career that spanned over six decades, Canny was instrumental in popularizing Irish traditional music, both in Ireland and internationally. He gained initial fame in the late 1940s as a founding member of the Tulla Céilí Band, which made its first appearance on RTÉ Radio in 1948 and had positioned itself as the top céilí band in Ireland by the late 1950s. Canny captured the All Ireland fiddle championship in 1953 and was featured on the landmark 1959 recording, All-Ireland Champions: Violin. Although he stopped performing for large audiences in 1965, he returned briefly in the 1990s to record his critically acclaimed solo album, Paddy Canny: Traditional Music from the Legendary East Clare Fiddler." (Ref Wikipedia)

Set Dancing in Quilty County Clare in the 1960s/70s

Caledonia Set, Quilty, County Clare, in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Music by the Quilty Céilí Band. Posted on Youtube on the 6th of April 2008 by griffind2000.

Joyful young Irish set dancers in Spanish Point

"Joyful young Irish set dancers in Spanish Point in County Clare in July 2012. These particular set dancers attracted a lot of attention because of their youth and exuberance. The adult in the shorts is their teacher. Irish set dancing is considered to have a positive effect on the symptons of Parkinson's Disease. A joy to behold and lots of fun." Posted on Youtube on the 25th of July 2012 by billluttrell1.

Mix tape Hiphop showcase Ennis

"Clare Youth Service & Ennis Street Festival present: Friday 6th of JULY, at Glor, Ennis, 4-7pm. Line-up: LETHAL DIALECT Sam Lavery Daryl Feeley Bubba J Vito DJ EBM mynameisjOhn Kooki & ETG Danmaster Griff Evan Murphy Plus more." Posted on Youtube on the 23rd of July 2012 by SergioArmanie.

“The Railway Line to Ardagh” - Mullagh, County Clare

The Railway Line to Ardagh” composed by Paddy Faley, recorded in Moroneys Bar Mullagh, County Clare, on the 3rd of July 2011. Posted on Youtube on the 10th of July 2011 by miccj.

Rás Clár 2012 (A3 Cycling Race)

"Rás Clár A3 Race, Barefield, Ennis, County Clare. Hosted by Dolmen Cycling Club, which was won by Clare man Barry Sutton. Motorcycle cameraman, Adrian O'Connor of Black Umbrella Photography. Motorcycle driver, Kevin Copper. Barry Sutton was in every break of the day and his efforts payed of with this Epic win in his home town of Ennis Co, Clare." Posted on Youtube on the 1st of August 2012 by blackumbrellaphoto.

Kayaking at Mountshannon, County Clare

Kayaking at Mountshannon, County Clare. Posted on Youtube on the 23rd of March 2012 by elmagnifico11111.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Derek Landy and Marita Conlon McKenna for Children's Book Festival 2012













Children’s Book Festival is the biggest celebration of books and reading which takes place in Ireland every year. Each October thousands of events take place in libraries, schools, bookshops and arts centres all over the country to bring children one of the most varied and exciting programmes of events available. Approximately four thousand children visit Clare library branches each year. Headlining this year’s festival are authors Marita Conlon McKenna and Derek Landy who will meet with hundreds of school children from all over the county. Other visiting authors include Alan Early whose first book Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent has received extensive media coverage and has been hailed as the Irish Percy Jackson. Alan Nolan will be here as well with his graphic whodunits for 10 to 14 year olds including The Big Break Detectives Casebook, Death by Chocolate and Six Million Ways to Die published by O’Brien Press, and there’s more… Lots of authors for children to meet, workshops to take part in and amazing stories to enjoy from world famous storytellers they are guaranteed to love. You will find details of all events at your local library in September and make sure to visit our website too where you will find our full festival programme and other services to children (http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/services/childrens/childser.htm).