Recession busting School Tour with Clare Museum

Clare Museum is launching “Recession busting School Tour of Ennis” in conjunction with local businesses. It is now possible to see Ennis on educational tour for less than €15 per person. The day begins with a FREE tour of the Clare Museum where children have the chance to learn about their local history and Irish culture with a guided tour of the museum. Age appropriate worksheets are provided and can be completed on the visit with other worksheets to be completed back in the classroom. A 'Teacher’s Pack' is also available allowing the continuation of the museum experience back in the classroom and there are online quizzes on our web site to increase computer skills for your children. This part of the tour takes 1hr- 1hr 30 min.

After the museum visit, there is a walking tour through the medieval streets of the town with Jane O’Brien of ‘Ennis Walking Tours. The tour is designed with children in mind and is filled with legends, mythology and ghost stories associated with town over a period of an hour. Participants can avail of a lunch deal at Supermac’s and the day concludes at ‘Ennis Leisure World’ where activities include bowling, quasar, astro-turf football and kiddies adventureland. The package is designed to market the town of Ennis to schools within the county and more particularly throughout Ireland. This package is available for primary classes from first to sixth classes and youth groups when booked through the museum. Click here for our opening hours and contact details...

Ceiliúradh Seachtain na Gaeilge i Leabharlann Chontae an Chláir

Tá áthas ar Leabharlann Chontae an Chláir bheith páirteach chun Gaeilge a cheiliúradh le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge, atá ar siúl idir an 1 agus an 17 Márta. Tabharfaidh Séamus Ó Riain, Cúntóir Leabharlainne i Leabharlann DeValera Inis, cuairt ar 11 leabharlann sa Chontae chun am scéalaíochta a chur i láthair do pháistí Rang 1 agus 2 ó na scoileanna cóngaracha. Eispearas ar leith a bheidh ann. Tabharfaidh Laoise Ní Chomhraí cuairt ar Leabharlanna in Inis agus i mBaile na Sionna, Dé hAoine, an 9 Márta. Cuireadh a leabhar Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa Pholainn, ar na foilsiú ag An Gúm curtha ar an ngearrliosta do dhuaiseanna leabhar na bpáistí de chuid Chomhlachais Léitheoireachta Éireann in 2011. Buailfidh Laoise le páistí ó Ghaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg i Leabharlann DeValera agus le páistí ó Ghaelscoil Dhonncha Rua i Leabharlann na Sionna. Labhróidh sí lena luchtanna éisteachta faoina taithí thaistil sa Pholainn agus sa tSeapáin atá mar ábhair a leabhair Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa tSeapáin agus Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa Pholainn. Beidh an-suim ag lucht féachana ‘sna hábhair chuimhneacháin a fuair sí ‘sna tíortha ar a bhfuil cuairteanna tugtha aici. Tá siad seo mar chuid dá cur i láthair agus taitneoidh sé seo le daltaí Rang 1 go 3, gan dabht.

Clare County Library is pleased to join in the celebration of all things Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge which runs from the 1st to the 17th of March. Séamus Ryan, Library Assistant at deValera Library Ennis, will visit 11 libraries in the county to bring his inimitable storytimes in the Irish language to children of 1st and 2nd classes from nearby national schools. Laoise Ní Chomhraí whose book Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa Pholainn published by An Gúm was shortlisted for the Reading Association of Ireland Children’s Book Awards in 2011 will visit Ennis and Shannon libraries on Friday the 9th March. Laoise will meet with children from Gaelscoil Mhichíl Chíosóg at deValera Library and with children from Gaelscoil Donncha Rua at Shannon Library. She will tell her audiences of her travel experiences in Poland and Japan which feature in her books Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa tSeapáin agus Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa Pholainn. Her young audiences are sure to be enthused by the many souvenir items from the countries she has visited which form part of her presentation and will undoubtedly appeal to the children of 1st to 3rd classes.
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Minister Officially Opens €1.6M Cultúrlann Sweeney In Kilkee

Photos Courtesy Eamonn Ward

The €1.6m redevelopment of a 1950s public library building in Kilkee has resulted in the delivery of West Clare’s foremost cultural and library facility. That’s according to Mayor of Clare Cllr. Pat Hayes who joined Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in officially opening Cultúrlann Sweeney at O’Connell Street, Kilkee this evening. The 8,299 sq-ft development, which is almost double the size of the original Sweeney Memorial Public Library, comprises additional library space, theatre and exhibition space, and multifunction spaces. The new theatre and foyer/gallery facilities have been designed to accommodate approximately 110 people, while the number of book titles in the library stock exceeds 12,500.

The project was funded by Clare County Council, in association with the Charitable Commissioners of Ireland, as well as the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Mayor of Clare Cllr Pat Hayes said: “The official opening of Cultúrlann Sweeney represents the completion of one of the biggest infrastructure projects to be undertaken in the West Clare area in recent years. The facility will greatly enhance the social infrastructure of the area and will help the future development of Kilkee and its environs.” Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, paid tribute to the project construction and design team which he said had contributed to the further enhancement of the range of services now being provided by Clare County Library and the Clare Arts Office. Helen Walsh, County Librarian, thanked the public “for their patience and understanding during the redevelopment process”. “The project has led to an improvement in the standard and range of independent functions within the building, allowing for different activities to occur independently. This new facility will play an important public and social role within the town”, she added.

The Sweeney Memorial Library building dates to the 1950s and was designed to provide multipurpose functions, including library, theatre, cinema, and a dance-hall and lecture room. According to Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Services, Clare County Council: “The main reason behind the redevelopment of the previous building was that it did not sufficiently address modern accessibility requirements, nor did it possess efficient heating, advanced stage technology and the expanding functions of a modern community library”. Commenting on the structural changes to the building, Ms. Kinsella stated: “The primary changes to the internal layout are the separation of library and theatre functions within the existing building by incorporating a new first floor level auditorium. The new side extension contains the new floor space and exhibition gallery, the provision of lift access to the upper level, the new entrance foyer, and the upgrade of existing electrical and heating systems”.

The Architectural Services Department of Clare County Council, Architects Andrea Goble & Ruth Hurley, carried out feasibility studies, devised the concept design, developed the brief, and designed the Part 8 Planning application. The brief for the project was developed in conjunction and consultation with dozens of groups, including Clare County Library, Clare Arts Office, Clare County Council, Kilkee Town Councillors, Area Councillors, Kilkee Civic Trust, and drama and community group representatives from the Kilkee area. The library service was temporarily relocated to Kilkee Community Centre during construction, which commenced in January 2011. L&M Keating Ltd. of Kilmihil carried out the contract for the refurbishment and extension to the original public library building. The project design team for the Detail Design, Tender and Construction stages included Denis Byrne Architects (Architects), Malachy Walsh & Partners (Structural Engineers), Matt O’Mahony & Associates Ltd (Mechanical and Electrical Engineers), and O’Reilly Hyland Tierney (Quantity Surveyors). The Project Management team were Clare County Council’s Helen Walsh (County Librarian), Siobhan Mulcahy (County Arts Officer) and Andrea Goble (Architect).

Cammoge Ferry Disaster, 1849

Cammoge Ferry Disaster 1849 by Moc on Mixcloud

On December 12th 1849, at Cammoge Point, Clarefield, County Clare, 41 people were drowned when their ferry boat capsized within feet of the shore at the mouth of Poulnasherry Bay on the Shannon Estuary. They came from the Parishes of Kilballyowen and Moyarta and had travelled earlier to Kilrush on the 12th of Dec to seek relief at the Workhouse. As none was forthcoming they made the last ferry back to Cammoge in a starving and destitute condition to meet their doom within yards of the shore. In this radio programme we hear their story as told by local historian Paddy Nolan Kilkee, Ciaran O'Murchadha historian Ennis who has written extensively on The Great Famine, Cristóir Mac Cárthaigh archivist, folklorist UCD Dublin, Michael Burke folklorist, farmer, and fisherman, Carnacalla Kilrush. It is about a dark time in the history of West Clare coming to the end of The Great Famine of the 1840s. In making this programme many thanks are due to Sallyann Marron Coore Mary Hamilton Carnacalla Derrick Lynch, Mullagh, and Pat Talty Coore, and also staff and management at Raidió Corca Baiscinn. Further support and material from Clare Library, The Manse, Ennis, and Anne Finnucane, Kilkee Library, Kilkee. The programme was produced by Michael O'Connell for Raidió Corca Baiscinn. This programme was made with the support of The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Ronan Browne & Peadar O'Loughlin - Curragh Races, Swallows Tail

Ronan Browne & Peadar O'Loughlin play the Curragh Races and Swallows Tail. Posted on Youtube 22nd of April 2009 by k4hx1.

Murmuration of starlings over Killaloe

"Starlings in flight Killaloe County Clare". Posted on Youtube on the 17th of February 2012 by SpiritofKillaloe.

Josephine Marsh & Ger Hoyne in Brogans Ennis

Josephine Marsh and Ger Hoyne in Brogans, Ennis. Posted on Youtube on the 13th of February 2012 by TheTownieontour.

Patrick Gale - 'A Perfectly Good Man'

Patrick Gale talks about his new novel 'A Perfectly Good Man' which has its Irish launch at the Ennis Book Club Festival on March 2nd 2012. The Ennis Book Club Festival is a wonderful social and literary gathering bringing together book club members and readers from all over Ireland and beyond. Supported by Clare County Library, the festival includes author readings, discussions, workshops and walking tours through the narrow streets and lanes of Ennis. There are sessions on running book clubs, advice on reading lists, poetry, events as Gaeilge, and an opportunity to compare notes and meet with other Book Club members. Over the years the festival has attracted wonderful authors and speakers including Edna O'Brien, Nuala O'Faolain, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, Lionel Shriver, Joseph O'Connor, Paul Durcan, Peter Sheridan, Paul Murray, Anne Enright and Patrick McCabe to name but a few. Click here for the Ennis Book Club Festival 2012 Programme.

Clare County Library Celebrates World Book Day 2012

World Book Day will be celebrated in Ireland and the UK on Thursday the 1st March and author visits along with book themed art and craft sessions will take place in almost all of Clare’s fifteen libraries. The official World Book Day website is bumper packed with games, videos and an opportunity to watch the biggest authors and illustrators together live and online.

Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna, Shannon and Sixmilebridge libraries will present author readings by Maeve Friel. Maeve will bring her books to life for young readers introducing them to Tiger Lily, the heroine of her latest series who is a contemporary young Don Quixote, someone whose head is so full of stories she wants to roam the world in search of adventure and become a heroine herself. Her Witch in Training books are inspired by a famous old-fashioned hardware shop near where she lived in Ludlow, where you could buy anything from a watering-can to a wood-burning stove. One autumn, someone put a bunch of spiky broomsticks at the door with a cardboard sign "Birch Besoms £4.99. Flying Lessons Extra" and Jessica the heroine of the Witch In Training series was born. Maeve will explain what happens when Jessica is given a broom by the owner of a hardware shop, Miss Strega, who turns out to be a witch-trainer!

Artist Alan Shoosmith is a self taught artist working mainly in watercolour, He has worked regularly with groups through the Embrace Programme since it began in 2002 and was appointed co-ordinator for this scheme with Clare Arts Office in July 2008. Alan is a regular visitor to libraries in Clare on World Book Day where he facilitates children’s workshops based on books and reading. Children and indeed their teachers are invited to come along dressed as their favourite book characters to take part in this year’s classes which take place in Scariff, Killaloe, Kilrush, Kilmihil and Miltown Malbay libraries. Library staff are looking forward to welcoming young book lovers to their branches to join in this fun celebration of all that’s good about books and reading. Contact your local library for details of events.

Patrick Ourceau, Blackie O'Connell, Padraig Rynne, Anna Colliton, and Geraldine Cotter at Catskills Irish Arts Week

"Catskills Irish Arts Week 2011 #18 Tues Concert Highlights. Concert Performance Clips: Patrick Ourceau, Blackie O'Connell, Padraig Rynne, Anna Colliton, Geraldine Cotter." Posted on Youtube on the 25th of January 2012 by TimRaabNorthern.