Wednesday 23 May 2012

Tulla Fleadh Cheoil, June 2008

"Music and dancing in front of the courthouse, Tulla County Clare." Posted on Youtube on the 10th of July 2009 by JoeTulla.

Friday 18 May 2012

Tulla Ceili Band at the official opening of the Feakle Traditional Music Festival

"The Tarbolton Set, 3th August 2011, Community Cetre, Feakle, County Clare." Posted on the 27th of October 2011 by Lrr31vre.

Yvonne Griffin, Ursula O'Dea, Caroline Tubridy, Miriam Collins, 1984

"Yvonne Griffin, Ursula O'Dea, Caroline Tubridy, Miriam Collins from County Clare, 1984." Posted on Youtube on the 17th of February 2009 by k4hx1.

Sheila & Bríd Ní Mhaonaigh play two jigs

Sheila & Bríd Ní Mhaonaigh (Meaney) from County Clare play two jigs, Pat Mckenna's & The House in the Glen. Posted on Youtube on the 17th of April 2008 by clarebannerman.

Jacqueline McCarthy & Tommy Keane on the Full Set

"The Full Set - Series 3 (RTÉ) featuring Tommy Keane (uilleann pipes) and Jacqueline McCarthy (concertina) with Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. First broadcast 11/9/09." Posted on Youtube on the 8th of january 2010 by agonybags1.

Steam Engine 186 approaching Ennis

"In fine form under a beautiful sky No 186 approaches Ennis during the RPSI's South Clare Railtour, 12th May 2012." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of May 2012 by TheFionnbarr.

Steam Engine 186 at Ballycar, near Sixmilebridge

"Again in fine form 186 tackles the climb at the disused station of Ballycar, near Six Mile Bridge. This introduced quite a few children to steam, as can be heard by the voices..." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of May 2012 by TheFionnbarr.

Maurice Sendak, author of Where The Wild Things Are, dies aged 83

Children’s author Maurice Sendak died on the the 8th of May 2012, renowned as the writer who changed the face of children’s books. One in particular, Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, made him internationally famous, selling over 17m copies. The book became a hit movie in 2009. For the first time Sendak painted a picture of children as they really were. No longer were American children clean and tidy, mannerly and well-behaved. Instead they were wild and angry, sometimes fearful and experienced real emotions both good and bad. He was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the Caldecott Medal, the Hans Christian Anderson Award and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1983. President Bill Clinton awarded Sendak a National Medal of the Arts in 1996 and in 2009 President Obama read Where the Wild Things Are for the Easter Egg Roll. Writing for The New York Times on May 9th, Margalit Fox tells how Sendak cherished the letters that individual children sent him. One such letter from an eight-year-old boy read: “Dear Mr. Sendak, How much does it cost to get to where the wild things are? If it is not expensive, my sister and I would like to spend the summer there.”

A Sea Eagle goes fishing on Lough Derg

"The Eagles swopped seats on the nest and the male went fishing. The Gulls and Grey Crow stopped him the first time, but, he went out again and although they were trying to put him off he persisted and caught a fish." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of May 2012 by clare virtually.

Ennis Riverwalk Sculpture Trail

Ennis Riverwalk Sculpture Trail, featuring the late Diarmuid Twohigk. "Documentary footage of the making and siting of the sculptures for The Ennis Riverwalk Sculpture Trail and The Ennis Seated Sculpture Trail. This video was created by the students in conjunction with the Ennis Multimedia Project." Posted on Youtube on the 16th of February 2012 by MsTriscle.

Friday 11 May 2012

Tulla Céilí Band - Feakle, late 1970s

The Tulla Ceílí Band playing at a dance in Feakle in the late 1970s. Posted on Youtube on the 17th of March 2012 by haraojimablacksnakes.

Sharon Shannon Band in Catalonia

Sharon Shannon and her band playing at the Festival Música Popular Tradicional Vilanova i la Geltrú, Catalonia, Spain. Posted on Youtube on the 19th of January 2012 by rectordepitalluga.

A literary summer

Last month’s Cúirt International Festival of Literature in Galway kicked off the summer’s literary festivals. The theme of this year’s festival was ‘Communication and Language’ and how readers engage with and absorb literature. Paul Durkan, John Banville and David Mitchell and Ruth Padel were some of those who gave performances.

The life and works of poet, short-story writer and playwright Dylan Thomas along with his ties to north County Clare are to be celebrated in a new international literary festival, to be held in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon from Friday May 18th to Sunday, May 20th. The three-day festival will feature lectures, poetry recitals, a documentary screening, and a history tour outlining Ennistymon's connections to the Welsh literary legend and other poets, including Brian Merriman. For further details see www.fallshotel.ie/eventsinclare.html

Next up is Listowel Writers’ Week which runs from May 30th to June 3rd. The line-up of speakers includes Germaine Greer and Patrick deWitt – Booker nominated author of The Sisters Brothers. The winner of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year award worth €15,000 will be announced on the opening night. See www.writersweek.ie.

The Dublin Writers’ Festival runs from June 4th to 10th. Leading science writer Richard Dawkins, 2010 Nobel literature winner Mario Vargas Llosa and author Jeanette Winterson feature on a programme which includes events for children in addition to workshops and film. For further information, see http://www.dublinwritersfestival.com/.

 The West Cork Literary festival which runs from July 8th to 14th celebrates the area’s maritime heritage and will include readings and talks based on all sorts of matters nautical, as well as a reading on an Irish Navy vessel. Talks by John McCarthy, Michael Parkinson, Anita Shreeve and Anita Desai are among the attractions for adults while Anne Fine and Alex Scarrow will entertain children. See http://www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie/

The 25th Hopkins Festival will be a unique celebration of poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and his interest in all the Arts. This festival, which takes place in County Kildare from July 21th to 27th ,will explore the universal appeal of Hopkins's poetry.

Irish Fiddle Lesson with Tola Custy from Online Academy of Irish Music

Irish Fiddle Lesson with Tola Custy from Online Academy of Irish Music. Posted on Youtube on the 5th of May 2012 by irishmusicacademy.

Concert's Final Tune at Éigse Mrs Crotty 2008

"Grand final at Teach Cheoil with Bláthnaid ni Caba, Katie O'Sullivan, Ernestine Healy and Jack Talty." Posted on Youtube on the 1st of October 2008 by handstrapz.

Scuba Dive in Doolin

Posted on Youtube on the 30th of April 2012 by atlanticdivingschool.

Paidraic does the Cliffs of Moher ROAR!!!

"Tales of love-struck witches, awesome sunrises, and 300 million years of stress-relief at the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare." Posted on Youtube on the 28th of February 2011 by discoverireland.

Discover Ireland - Cliffs of Moher

Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of May 2012 by discoverireland.

Kayak Surfing in Lahinch

Posted on Youtube on the 6th of May 2012 by rossiter8.

Thursday 10 May 2012

Niamh Sharkey - Laureate na nÓg

President Michael D Higgins presented Niamh Sharkey with her Laureate na nÓg medal to mark the beginning of her two year term as Children’s Laureate on the 8th of May 2012. Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council with the support of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland, Poetry Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It was established in 2010 to mark and promote the role and importance of literature for children and the honour was first granted to Siobhan Parkinson. The position is held for a period of two years, during which time the Laureate will hopefully reach a wide and diverse audience throughout Ireland and internationally. Niamh Sharkey is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Her books have won numerous awards including the prestigious Mother Goose Award for the Best New Illustrator and The Bisto Book of the Year for her first two Picture Books; Tales of Wisdom and Wonder and The Gigantic Turnip. Her most recent picture book, On the Road with Mavis and Marge won the 2010 Junior Book of the Year award at The Irish Book Awards and was shortlisted for the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. Niamh’s books have been translated into over twenty languages. Tales from Old Ireland was included in the International Board of Books for Young People Honour Book List in 2002. She has exhibited her artwork many times both in Ireland and abroad. She is a member of Illustrators Ireland and twice she has created the image for the National Children’s Books Festival. "It is a great honor to be chosen as the next Laureate na nOg. I am a picture book maker so my focus as Laureate will certainly be visual as well as literary. I am going to get to do even more of what I love most - promoting quality children's literature and encouraging children to read, write and draw. I have lots of ideas that I hope will inspire creativity in children of all ages. I'm very excited and can't wait to get started". (Niamh Sharkey, May 8th 2012) Children in County Clare were treated first-hand to Niamh’s writing and illustrations when she toured our branches during Children’s Book Festival 2007. During her presentations, she read from her much loved stories and gave a step by step demonstration of how she created her favourite characters in picture books such as The Gigantic Turnip, The Ravenous Beast and Santasaurus.

Friday 4 May 2012

Kilfenora Ceili Band live at The Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival April 2012

"Live at The Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival April 2012..and the sun shone!" Posted on Youtube on the 1st of May 2012 by chilledbynature.

Poulnagollum Ballyshanny Cave – Kilfenora

"On the 27th April 2012 Robin Sheen, Damien Werner & Quentin Cooper had a look around the spectacular (If a little dirty) Poulnagollum Ballyshanny Cave in Kilfenora. It has some stunning views both into and out of the cave. We surveyed the cave, to find it's about 200m in length. The very end of the cave can only be accessed by the thinnest of people. A great location for practicing rope techniques. The terminal sump chamber yet needs diving to a conclusion." Posted on Youtube on the 29th of April 2012 by burrencrawler.

Christy Barry and Luka Bloom playing some reels

"Christy Barry and Luka Bloom playing some reels. Video taken in Magnetic Music Cafe in Doolin! The reels are: Palmer's Gate, The Mountain Road and Come West along the Road." Posted on Youtube on the 16th of August 2011 by MagneticMusicCafe.

Clare's Tigh Na Coille Folk Music Troupe in New York

"Tigh Na Coille Folk Music Troupe from County Clare, Ireland, in New York. 2012 New York area Creative Connections tour highlights. Creative Connections is an international cultural exchange organisation, teaching awareness, understanding, and appreciation of other cultures to young people around the world." Posted on Youtube on the 2nd of May 2012 by drlittell.

The Gig Rig, Fleadh Nua Ennis, 2011

"Ceol na Leanaí from Cashel playing with students from the Irish traditional music institute Newmarket on Fergus CCÉ Tradraighe on the gig rig at Fleadh Nua 2011." posted on Youtube on the 26th of June 2011 by PRAK14.

Paragliding at Gleninagh, The Burren

"Magnificent day at Burren's Gleninagh Mt. I waited for this day so long and finally condition was perfect to fly this spectacular place. Me and Mark (freefly.ie) had plenty of hours soaring above this beauty full site." Posted on Youtube on the 12th of April 2012 by skyjack1ifly.

Glór: National Lottery Good Causes

"National Lottery funding supports Glór Theatre in Ennis Co. Clare. The theatre is the West Coast of Ireland's premier event venue for drama, film, music, comedy, musicals, exhibitions, ar workshops and much more." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of April 2012 by IrishNationalLottery.

Moylussa Mountain, East Clare, 2012

"Moylussa - 532 mts - the highest mountain in county Clare." Posted on Youtube on the 27th of April 2012 by garcinos.

Clare & Kerry, April 2012

Posted on Youtube on the 29th of April 2012 by kentwaller.