The Lighthouse Keepers

A film by Katy G. Jones, completed Spring 2008.
Synopsis: "In 1919, Theresa Glanville was born in the lighthouse on Kilcredaun Point in County Clare, Ireland. In 2007, Theresa's granddaughter decided to visit the lighthouse. The film she made explores the ideas of family, place, immigration, and memory. She is a lighthouse keeper watching over her history, searching for identity in photographs and on the shore of the Shannon." Copyright Katy G. Jones

2010 IMPAC Award

Four Irish writers have been nominated for the 2010 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. 156 titles in total have been nominated for the €100,000 award - the world’s most valuable annual literary prize for a single work of fiction published in English. The nominations come from 163 libraries in 123 cities and 43 countries worldwide. The 156 authors come from 46 different countries. 41 of the books are translated from languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Icelandic, Serbian and Slovenian. 33 are first novels. “These are books that might not otherwise come to the attention of Irish readers”, says Deirdre Ellis-King, Dublin City Librarian. “The spread of languages and the number of books in translation continues to grow. This year at 41 novels, we have the largest number of books in translation to date.” The nominated Irish titles are The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (winner of the 2009 Costa Prize); Netherland by Joseph O’Neill (longlisted for the 2009 Man Booker prize); The Truth Commissioner by David Park and Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden. Indian writer Aravind Adiga is the most nominated author with 9 nominations for the Booker Prize winning The White Tiger. A Mercy by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry all received 8 nominations.

Writing in The Irish Times, Eileen Battersby said “where Impac has tended to triumph, and could well do so again this year, is by showcasing the best of international fiction in translation. The readers of the world’s participating libraries have presented the judges with a magnificent list of world-class contenders. The onus is now on that panel to select quality finalists reflective of this extraordinary longlist”. Dublin City Council will announce the shortlist in April 2010 with the winner being announced on 17th June. Previous winners of the prestigious award include: Man Gone Down by Michael Thomas (2009), De Niro’s Game by Rawi Hage (2008), Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (2007), and The Master by Colm Tóibín (2006).

Good stories travel well

The three novels of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium crime trilogy all sit in the Fiction Top Ten lists in France, Italy and Germany as well as in Ireland and England. The books were originally published in Swedish. The first book in the series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was published in 2005 shortly after Larsson’s death. Altogether, his trilogy has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide (summer of 2009), and he was the second bestselling author in the world 2008. Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling Twilight novels have also secured places in the Fiction Top Ten’s of both Germany and Italy. The first book in the series, Twilight, was originally published in the United States in 2005. The Twilight novels have gained worldwide recognition, won multiple literary awards and sold over 70 million copies worldwide, with translations into almost 40 different languages.

Becoming a Poet 2010

Faber Academy will launch its first poetry-writing course in Ireland this coming January. It is a six-month workshop-based course which ranges from the improvement of technical skills to putting together a first collection. Students will attend weekly workshops designed to develop an appreciation of the poetry canon as a source for writing, hone practical skills, while becoming better writers and editors of one’s own work. There will also be guest seminars given by well-known poets such as Ciaran Carson and Dennis O'Driscoll and by publishers to provide a unique insight into the publishing industry. Aimed at writers who aspire to publishing a first collection of poetry, the course consists of 24 two-hour evening sessions on Tuesdays and six full-day sessions on Saturdays. There are 16 places at a cost of €3,000 but one place will be given free – based on merit, not financial circumstances. The course will be held in The Hibernian Club on St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin. Click here for further details...

Learn a new skill with Clare VEC this winter

Learn a new skill this winter, and beat the winter blues. Clare VEC courses include Knitting, Computers, Art, Scriptwriting, French, Spanish, Sign Language, Cooking, Beauty, Flower Arranging and many, many more. Ennis Community College, Harmony Row (located on Lahinch Road Roundabout) is currently enrolling for many new courses. Log on to its website www.enniscommunitycollege.com for further details. Contact: 065-6848473, or call to the office Thursdays or Fridays 2-4pm.

Ballyvaughan Story - War of Independence 1921

Seven minute animated documentary about the Irish War of Independence. Winner of Best Animated Film at LA Femme Festival 2006. Directed by Sara Pocock, narration by Jim Hyland, animation by Sarah Pocock & Ke Jiamg, with music by "Gogarty's Pub Musicians". Can also be seen at the director's website http://www.saraspot.net/animation.htm

"Synopsis: The year is 1921 and the village of Ballyvaughan in Western Ireland is engulfed in the Irish War of Independence with the British. When the IRA devises the assassination of two British marines, a 13-year-old girl must save the village from the English retaliation while discovering her own courage and inner strength. Based on a true story." For report of the attack see The Clare Champion, Saturday May 28th, 1921.

Fun Christmas things to make & do on a budget

The Clare Family Learning Project presents "Christmas Treats On A Budget" - fun things to do with your child - in Room 6, Adult Education Centre, Clare VEC, Ennis on Friday 13th November from 11am-1pm. Call Mary or Clare at 065 6897645 to book your place. Classes are free.

West Clare Fiddle Playing

The late John Kelly from Kilballyowen in south-west Clare, playing two reels (Ceathrú Cavan and The Wild Irishman) with his sons James and John Jnr. Copyright RTE (29th June 1977)

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage - County Clare

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is publishing part of its Building Surveys online, on a county basis, with most counties now online. The purpose of the Building Surveys is to highlight a representative sample of the architectural heritage of each county, and raise awareness of the wealth of architectural heritage in Ireland. The Clare section of the Survey was carried out in 1997 and is now partly online. It showcases four types of buildings: Courthouses, Banks, Pubs and shops and Mausoleums. See http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/highlights.jsp?county=CL

The NIAH has also published illustrated introductions to the architecture of each county, the Clare volume being just released.

Children’s Book Festival Celebrations at Clare County Library

Thousands of children all over County Clare visited their libraries in October 2009 to enjoy the varied programme of events organized to celebrate children’s books and reading during Children’s Book Festival. The celebrations began with the official festival launch in the Seán Lemass Public Library, Shannon, on the 3rd of October by Councillor John Crowe. Hundreds of young visitors along with their parents enjoyed non-stop entertainment in a four hour extravaganza of fun, including disco dancing, juggling and magic with the added attraction of a chocolate fountain. The hero of the day was Famous Seamus, who unicycled and juggled with hurleys and knives, all at the same time, to prove that men can multi-task after all. The launch kicked off a full month of children’s activities in Clare’s fifteen library branches where children met with authors and storytellers from Ireland and around the world, participated in print workshops, listened to the poetry of Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Paul Tubb and one of Britain’s best loved and most famous children’s poets, Brian Moses, who even inspired air-guitar displays from his young audiences! Children’s puppet theatre also featured in this year’s programme providing an opportunity for children to explore everyday issues in a fun atmosphere with lots of interaction from enthusiastic audiences. Overall this year’s festival was an oustanding success with reports from branches that some events could have been filled twice over.

Five authors, Sarah Webb, Enda Wyley, Meadhbh Ní Eadhra, Fiona Tierney and Kieran Mark Crowley toured the county during the month bringing their books to both the very young and older children and offering plenty of tips on how to become a writer and construct a story for children in senior classes. Sarah Webb brought children and parents together in a special event for pre-schoolers and their parents in Shannon Library designed to provide ideas for selection and sharing of stories with children from an early age. Poet and author Enda Wyley whose books for children (including The Silver Notebook) are published by O’Brien Press spoke with older children about how begin writing and how to translate everyday events into creative experiences by using the imagination. The children she met with in Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay, Lisdoonvarna, Kilmihil and Kildysart were all enthused by this writer’s personal experiences and her warm, charming personality. Appalachian storyteller Jerry Harmon told stories, played his guitar and sang songs from the southern mountains of America giving his audiences a chance to see a unique and very entertaining performance in what must have been a school day with a difference for the children whose teachers took them to the library. Andrew McKenna, whose stories are shaped by Australia’s local legends and millions of stories from all over the world gave an all encompassing performance inviting children, librarians and teachers to become involved in the enrichment of his tales.

Dog and String Theatre’s performance of Tales from the Forest had children from Ennistymon to Kilkee shouting at the King and searching for puppet characters among the bookshelves of their local libraries. Individual branches held fancy dress competitions for the best dressed book character, provided traditional games, storytimes and craft classes to the generous appreciation of children and parents in towns and villages in the county. Clare County Library is most grateful for sponsorship received from local industry and businesses for Children’s Book Festival. Please click here for a list of sponsors of this year’s Children’s Book Festival in Clare.