Saturday 24 December 2011

Happy Christmas to all from Clare County Library



Ennis Town - Share The Feeling. Santa Claus visits Ennis, "without doubt the friendliest town he's ever been to". Posted on Youtube on the 2nd of December 2011 by lahinchdreamcatcher.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, 1967, Kilrush



"Made in the town of Kilrush, Flea Ceoil captures the resurgence of interest in traditional Irish music in the 1960s when Irish folksingers like Dolly McMahon, who appears in the film were seen as part of a world-wide boom in folk music. Beautifully filmed by Bob Monks, Flea Ceoil is remarkable in its close attention to the small details that distinguish this vibrant musical community. The film was directed by Cork-born LouisMarcus, one of Ireland's most important and prolific documentary directors. It won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and other prestigious awards in Russia, Spain and Belgium."
http://www.aughty.org/pdf/irishtrad_film.pdf

"An overview of the traditional Irish fleadh or fair, shot in Kilrush, Co. Clare, at a time of revitalised interest in traditional music. Included is an examination of this type of Irish music and how it affects people who come to hear it. An Irish-language cultural documentary report on the annual Flea Ceoil traditional music festival at Kilrush, County Clare, in 1967. Cinéma vérité portrait of a traditional music festival being held in Kilrush, Co. Clare in 1967."
http://www.tcd.ie/irishfilm/showfilm.php?fid=60508

"The 'Fleá' (say 'fla' as in 'flat') is a moveable feast of Ireland's traditional music that takes place every summer over a period of about five days in a specially selected Irish town. In 1967 it took place in Kilrush, County Clare. This film of the event by Louis Marcus won awards at a string of international film festivals. In this broadcast by TG4, Ireland's television service in the Irish language, the commentary by Niall Tóibín, the celebrated actor and broadcaster, is in Irish with subtitles in English." Posted on Youtube on the 21st of December 2011 by muisire.

Friday 16 December 2011

Sharon Shannon, Mary Custy & Eoin O'Neill



Sharon Shannon, Mary Custy & Eoin O'Neill. Posted on Youtube on the 5th of August 2011 by gaeliccara.

Newcastle CCE Session in Doolin, 2011



"Members of Newcastle CCE attending the Willy Clancy Festival 2011 playing in Gus O'Connors Pub in Doolin." Posted on Youtube on the 11th of December 2011 by MickMcAstocker.

Budapest - If Radio Was King, live in Ennis



Ennis based band Budapest, live at Brandons, Ennis, on the 9th of December 2011. Posted on Youtube on the 9th of December 2011 by Snichty.

Solace - Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book of the Year 2011

SolaceSolace, the debut novel of Longford author Belinda McKeon, has been voted the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book of the Year for 2011. The public were asked to vote for their favourite title from the list of ten category winners announced at the recent Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2011 and Solace, which was named as Sunday Independent Best Irish Newcomer of the Year at the awards, topped the poll. Belinda McKeon was born in Ireland in 1979 and grew up on a farm in Co. Longford. She studied English and Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin (BA) and University College, Dublin (MLitt). She lives in Brooklyn, New York and in Ireland. Madeleine Keane, Literary Editor with the Sunday Independent, which sponsored the Newcomer of the Year category, added: “I’m absolutely delighted that Solace has won this important award which is richly deserves. Belinda McKeon’s novel is a beautifully wrought, assured and intensely moving debut. I look forward to more from this exciting new writer.” For further information see www.irishbookawards.ie

Thursday 15 December 2011

Martin Connolly plays two reels, 1990



"Martin Connolly, Killaloe, Clare. Great table tennis player, great soccer player, All Ireland Champion accordion player." Martin is playing two reels. The first is Martin Wynne's and the second is The New Mown Meadow. Posted on Youtube on the 7th of November by liammckeogh.

Aillwee Cave Official Video



"This is what you will experience if you visit the famous Aillwee Cave in Ballyvaughan, Co.Clare. Right in the heart of the famous Burren National Park." Posted on Youtube on the 8th of December 2011 by burrencrawler.

Surfing in Lahinch, December 2011



Posted on Youtube on the 10th of December 2011 by cab149.

Wedding proposal at Cliffs of Moher



"FDNY Firefighter proposes on top of the Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland surrounded by his fellow bagpipers of the FDNY Emerald Society Bagpipe Band." Posted on Youtube on the 4th of December 2011 by IrishAisle.

Corkscrew Hill, May 2011



"Corkscrew Hill, The Burren, County Clare, Ireland, 29th May 2011". Posted on Youtube on the 7th of July 2011 by fcoulombeau.

Christmas Crafts Fair at Shannon Library

Christmas Crafts Fair at Shannon Library










The 26th annual Shannon Public Library Christmas Crafts Fair ran from Thursday 1st December to Saturday 10th December and featured work from craftspeople from around the Shannon area. This year participants sold artwork, jewellery, knitwear and knitted items, cards, handcrafted bags, handpainted glassware, Christmas decorations, homemade cakes, sweets and buns, wooden crafts, personalised gifts and other handmade items. Business was steady with a lot of people taking advantage of the opportunity to buy unique handmade gifts from the items on display. Craftspeople and their customers are already looking forward to next year's Christmas Craft Fair in Shannon Library!

Clare’s Christmas Past Exhibition At Clare Museum

Clare’s Christmas Past Exhibition At Clare Museum Visit the Christmas card and decoration exhibition at Clare Museum. Take a tour through Chistmas past and experience the traditional crafts and skills of the festive session. Runs from the 13th to the 23rd of December. Tour available for groups and families with advanced booking. Contact 065-682 3382 or claremuseum@clarecoco.ie

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Glass painting at Scariff Library

Glass painting at Scariff Library









Scariff Public Library held a Christmas Craft Workshop on Wednesday 15th December. The group, lead by Natalie El Baba, enjoyed an hour long festive glass painting session.

Monday 12 December 2011

Engage: The Fall & Rise of Matt Hampson - Winner of the Irish Sports Book of the Year

Engage: The Fall & Rise of Matt Hampson Engage : The Fall & Rise of Matt Hampson by Paul Kimmage has won this year’s williamhill.com Irish Sports Book of the Year award. Engage won the award ahead of runners-up Life, Death and Hurling by Michael Duignan and One Hell of a Ride by Paul Carberry. Irish sports writer Kimmage won the overall williamhill.com international award in 1990 for A Rough Ride: behind the wheel with a pro cyclist. The winning book focuses on the life of former English rugby international Matt Hampson who was paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed during an England U-21 training session in 2005. The book details Hampson’s promising career through his rehabilitation and into his new life raising money and helping spinal injury victims along with his hope to coach England one day. Tony Kenny, Head of International PR for William Hill said; " Not only is Paul an excellent writer and story teller, he also connected perfectly with a story of true human triumph in the book. Matt Hampson’s story is an inspiration to everyone who has read it and without Paul’s unique skill this story may not have touched as many people as it will over the coming months and years." Runner-up Life, Death and Hurling by Michael Duignan looks at Duignan’s life as an Offaly hurler where he won two All-Ireland medals along with his tragic struggles off the field. The other runner-up was Paul Carberry’s One Hell of a Ride, which recounts his Grand National victory and his life as a two time Champion jockey along with his battle with alcohol and his countless injuries and broken bones.
The other shortlisted titles were:
Without a Shadow of a Doubt by Joe Kernan
A.P. McCoy by Tony McCoy
Inside the Peloton by Nicolas Roche

Thursday 8 December 2011

Angela (Crehan) Crotty and James Keane



"Angela came to visit us in Queens, N.Y. this week and we had a mighty time sharing old stories, lots of laughs and rakes of tunes..." Angela Crotty is the daughter of noted fiddler and composer Martin Junior Crehan, and wife of the late flute player P.J. Crotty. She is accompanied by James Keane on the button accordeon. Posted on Youtube on the 22nd of October 2011 by IrishMusicTherapy.

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Christmas Craft workshop at Scariff

Christmas Craft workshop at Scariff








A Christmas Craft workshop was held at Scariff Public Library on Wednesday 7th December. A group of seven adults enjoyed a relaxed and festive card making session lead by artist Natalie El Baba.

Friday 2 December 2011

John Doyle and Martin Hayes at the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat



"Fantastic Irish musicians John Doyle (guitar) and Martin Hayes (fiddle) perform their spellbinding musical duel at the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, on Night 2." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of November 2011 by WayfFromOYAN.

Clare historian longlisted for Longman-History Today Book of the Year Award

The Great Famine: Ireland's Agony 1845-1852 Dr Ciaran O Murchadha’s book The Great Famine: Ireland's Agony 1845-1852 is among the 20 titles chosen from over 100 nominated books for a place on the longlist for the Longman-History Today Book of the Year Award 2011. His first book Sable Wings Over the Land: Ennis, County Clare, and its wider community during the Great Famine was published by CLASP Press in 1998. In recent years he has researched, written, and lectured widely, both in Ireland and in the United States, on the Great Famine and other aspects of Clare's history. Formerly a lecturer in History at NUIG, Dr. Ó Murchadha currently teaches in St. Flannan's College, Ennis. The award is organised jointly by the publishers Longman and History Today to foster a wider understanding of, and enthusiasm for, history. A prize of £2,000 is being given for an author’s first or second book, written in English between October 1st, 2010 to September 30th, 2011, on any aspect of history. The winning book will have contributed significantly to making its subject accessible and rewarding to the general reader of history and will display innovative research and interpretation in its field. A shortlist will be announced in December. Click here to view the complete longlist...

Thursday 1 December 2011

Cliffs Of Moher, Ireland



Posted on Youtube on the 26th of November 2011 by pacoruiztrujillo.

Ger Hoyne sings "School Days Over" at Ennis Trad Festival



"Ger Hoyne, accompanied by Quentin Cooper on Banjo, sings "School Days Over" in Brogan's Bar, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, on Monday night, 14 November, 2011, the last night of the Ennis Trad Festival." Posted on Youtube on the 25th of November 2011 by thissongforyou.

The Australian Ant & Dec surf in Lahinch with no wetsuits!



"These guys are huge in Australia mate, it's Hamish & Andy!" Posted on Youtube on the 2nd of February 2011 by lahinchsurfschool.

All Ireland currach championship, Doonbeg 2011



Posted on Youtube on the 6th of October 2011 by thasobrien1.
More info: (Clare Champion article...)

The Burren Geology & Landscape



"A description of Geology and landscape in The Burren. This video is part of a Cd Rom developed by One Production for the Burren Connect Project with Images and Text provided by Burrenbeo. The Narration is by Pat Costello with music by Chris Droney." Posted on Youtube on the 16th of November 2011 by BurrenbeoTrust.

Science week workshop at Kilrush Library

Science week workshop at Kilrush Library












On Friday 18th November Kilrush Public Library hosted a science workshop entitled ‘Magic, Science or Mystery’, presented by Paul McCrory. Paul’s knowledge and experience of communicating science to children of all ages was clearly evident throughout the duration of the highly interactive show. One hundred children from the local primary schools thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out the science behind the magic tricks.

Judi Curtin at Scariff Library

Judi Curtin at Scariff Library









Author Judi Curtin entertained an audience of 90 children at Scariff Public Library on Monday 24th October. The author spoke about her interest in books, how and why she started writing, and also answered questions about her childhood and career. The session was very interactive with Judi chatting and joking with the children from Scariff National School, Mounshannon National School and Ogonnolloe National School. The group also enjoyed hearing a chapter from one of Judi’s books Alice in the Middle and also had an opportunity to collect autographs from the author after the session.

Michael McCormack, Kilrush & Ten Years in Wellington

Ten Years in Wellington












Michael McCormack, born in Kilrush, County Clare, is a well known artist in Wellington, New Zealand. He studied painting and art history at the Crawford College of Art in Cork. He has since painted in places such as Honolulu, India and Thailand and has spent the last ten years as an artist in Wellington. He has recently published a book ‘Ten Years in Wellington’, which depicts a selection of his paintings of this beautiful city. Michael has very kindly donated a copy of his new book to Kilrush Library where he held his first art exhibition in October 1991.