Serious Mischief's Samba Vibration Reggae, Live in Lahinch

"Serious Mischief, West Clare’s reggae heavy-hitters, are a five piece band of jazz trained monkeys, with no greater love than to fill dance floors with bass pulsations and hip gyrations. A mixture of reggae, dub, rock and Irish influences give their music a diverse quality. They have been playing up the highlands and down the lowlands of Ireland for more than three years. The many different styles are reflected in the live show, and their Thursday night summer residency in Kenny’s Bar, Lahinch is now a legendary night which still takes place. They are currently in the studio recording their first album, a follow-up to last years EP." More info...

Loop Head, 31st December 2009

Enjoy some of the sights and scenes around Loop Head on the crisp, bright and dry final day of 2008, courtesy of this video from Jratt2. "Loop Head is one of the best kept secrets on the Irish West Coast, and any visitor practically has the place to his/her self, winter or summer! Featured in this video are the Ionad Cois Cuain Memorial and The Five Pilots Memorial in Kilbaha..." Soundtrack: The Nomad performed by Donal Clancy.

Awful Library Books

Awful Library Books is a website developed and maintained by two librarians working in a medium sized public library in Michigan, USA. Titles featured include "What’s Wrong with My Snake?", "Do-It-Yourself Coffins (for Pets and People)" and "How to Deal with Parents and Other Problems". They are seeking submissions - email scans of covers to awfullibrarybooks@gmail.com

Frank McCourt 1930 – 2009

Frank McCourt gained national and worldwide recognition with the publication of his memoirs in 1996. Angela’s Ashes documents his life growing up in Limerick in a squalid tenement with an alcoholic father and a mother whose fate was unavoidably determined by the death of her beloved children and the relentless hardship of an almost unbearable existence. The Pulitzer prize-winner Angela's Ashes has sold several million copies, has been published in 27 countries and translated into 17 languages. Its publication angered many of McCourt’s contemporaries, who questioned his portrayal of life in Limerick in the 1930s. Despite the harsh realities of life that he endured as a young man Frank McCourt carved out a literary life for himself as a result of his love of books and learning. Angela’s Ashes was followed by Tis (1999) and Teacher Man, (2005). In 2007 he published a Christmas children’s picture book called Angela and the Baby Jesus, a fitting and unforgettable tribute to his beloved mother. All above titles as well as the film DVD of Angela’s Ashes are available from branches of Clare County Library.

My Heart's Tonight In Ireland (In The Sweet County Clare)

This performance of Andy's Irvine's song about the early days of Sweeney's Men in the 1960s in County Clare features a who's who of Irish musicians and refers to Scariff, Kilrush, Sixmilebridge, Kilkishen, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Liscannor, Kikee and especially Miltown Malbay where

My heart tonight is far away across the rolling sea
In the sweet Miltown Malbay it is there I'd love to be
So long ago and far away but nothing can compare
My heart's tonight in Ireland in the sweet County Clare

Dingle Film Festival - September 10th to 13th

The Dingle Film Festival will open on the 10th of September and close on the 13th. Venues this year include The Phoenix Cinema, one of Ireland's few independent cinemas, a purposely built Festival Marquee and The Cinemobile. Spirit of the Marathon, receiving its European premier in Dingle, will be screened to celebrate the Dingle Marathon which will be taking place on the same weekend as the film festival.The films director Jon Dunham will be flying in from the states and will be present at the screening. The films producer Mark Jonathan Harris has won two Oscars. It is expected that 2,000 people will be taking part in the marathon on Saturday 12th. More info at http://www.dinglefilmfestival.com/

Democracy and Dialogue Short Online Film Competition

Make a short film on Democracy & Dialogue and have your work screened at this year's Darklight Film Festival. The European Commission Representation in Ireland and the Darklight Film Festival invite you to make a short online film on the theme of 'Democracy & Dialogue' - and what it means to you. Online media is a powerful force in the 21st Century: using the internet as a forum for debate, individuals can bypass the established press, TV and radio, and let the power of their ideas make change. And this is where you come in. Make a short film, one inspired by the notion of Democracy & Dialogue. It doesn't matter if you record it on your mobile phone, a state of the art digital video camera, or create your own DIY animation - the idea’s the thing. Make it a comedy, a tragedy, a documentary, an animation - whatever takes your fancy. It's about self-expression. And if it gets people thinking, even better. The winning entry will win a state of the art HD Digital camera worth €1800 and have their work screened this October at the 2009 Darklight Film Festival. As this is an internet competition, your entries need to be uploaded onto a video hosting site - You Tube, Google Video, Vimeo... Once you do that, submit your link, along with your details, on the ‘Entry’ page. Entries must be submitted by email by 11 September. The winner will not only be selected on the basis of the best film produced, but also by the number of hits their video gets. 75% of the marks for the movie will be given over to creativity and imagination, and 25% for building an audience. More info at http://www.darklight.ie/democracy

Double Up On Summer Entertainment

If you and your friends are enjoying what’s on offer at the cinema this summer, why not stop by your local library and borrow the books that inspired some of the best movies this year? You will find copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Coraline at the library, and if you’re a Hannah Montana fan you might like to read Miles to Go. In her book, Miley Cyrus gives the reader an account of her life up to now that’s both entertaining and sometimes quite sad. Read about how she coped with growing up with a famous dad, her school experiences which I’m sure are not all that different from your own, and about how she came to be where she is today. There’s no shortage of Harry Potter books to choose from at your local library and with the current showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, now might be as good a time as any to begin reading all seven in the series. Don’t forget The Tales of Beedle the Bard also by JK Rowling and if you’ve already read all these, check out Clare County Library’s extensive collection of fantasy novels that may be just what you need to fill the void since the final Harry Potter book was published. Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book was one of last year’s biggest publishing successes. Coraline, written by the same author is also well worth reading if you like to explore family situations that are just a bit different from the norm. Reading the stories behind these movies will bring an added dimension to your appreciation of them so why not double up on the enjoyment this summer. Popcorn goes just as well with a good read!

Are we there yet? Facing the future anew - Merriman Summer School 2009

Every generation has decisions to take about its future, its priorities, its place in the world. For this generation of political leaders, policy makers and citizens these decisions appear more complex than they have done for a long time. The quickly assumed certainty of the so-called Celtic Tiger period has given way to a worrying uncertainty about tomorrow. This is the focus of the School in 2009. What are the challenges we face? There will be a little retrospection and Diarmaid Ferriter, noted historian and writer, will offer an insight into the context of half a century ago to set the scene for the rest of the school which will look to the future. Education is, as ever, a key issue and a determinant of so much of what is possible. Tom Collins, Professor of education at NUI Maynooth will consider the imperatives of educational policy. Maureen Gaffney, well known to readers and listeners as a psychologist and commentator, will consider the psychological and social character of the changing context. We do not live in isolation and a sub-theme in the School will be our relations with others. Lord Paul Bew - who is Professor of Politics at Queen’s University Belfast will look at developments in Northern Ireland and between the two jurisdictions on the island. Noel Dorr, former Secretary-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and well known to Merriman Schools, will look at the issues that face Ireland in shaping its foreign policy in a world whose centre of gravity may be changing significantly. Brigid Laffan, Principal of the College of Human Sciences in UCD, will address the issue of Ireland’s place in Europe and, specifically, its place in the EU. Cherishing the children of the nation equally has been something of a slogan since its first use more than ninety years ago. It means different things to different people. But children have been very much in the thoughts of everybody in recent times. Emily Logan is the Ombudsman for Children and will reflect on the state’s policies and priorities in their regard. Literature and culture will not be overlooked and Cilian Fennell will consider where our sense of self is finding contemporary expression. Nor will the topic that has dominated our consciousness for much of the past year - economics – be overlooked. The science that has seemed more dismal than usual in recent times has assumed a more central place in our lives. Frances Ruane is Director of the Economic and Social Research Institute. She will be joined by John McHale, just returmed from Canada to become Professor of Economics in NUI Galway, and Michael Smyth, Head of the School of Economics at the University of Ulster. Together they will reflect on the future focus and direction of policy in this vital and pressing area. And to reinforce the reality that we are not shaped by bread alone. Seán Freyne, Professor Emeritus of Theology at Trinity College, will look at issues facing religion. The School will have the well-established elements of Renew Your Irish with Eoghan Ó hAnluain, seminars in Irish and English given by academics, journalists, senior figures in the public service and covering topics such as the relationship between Ministers and senior civil servants, Arts policy, language planning, the library in the digital age, the future of the media, Gaeltacht development, the position of the vulnerable in current circumstances and developments in Northern Ireland. The midday poetry readings – Cúirt an Mheán Lae – that have become a tradition since their introduction in the bicentennial school in 2005 will feature again when poets will include John F Deane, Enda Wyley, James Harpur and Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh.
Merriman Summer School 16-22 August 2009.
Venues: Clare Museum and Glór Theatre, Ennis.
Further Information: www.merriman.ie 086 382 0671
Download summer school programme (PDF file)

Vanessa Daws at Courthouse Gallery

The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, presents Escapade, a mixed media exhibition by Vanessa Daws from 17th July to 7th August. "Vanessa’s work is an eclectic mix of brightly coloured paintings, sculpture, drawing and animation. She is inspired by art where the viewer can discover aspects of the work that they can manipulate, manoeuvre or peer into. As children we look at the world differently, creating our own stories and mythology parallel to the ordinary world; as we grow older this world gets put to one side. Vanessa’s art work explores possibilities of access to these parallel worlds and allows the viewer to temporarily escape the mundane. Interactive art and participation plays a major role in her own work. This comes from years of working in community arts and having the desire to make art accessible for everyone to share, respond to and enjoy. Since moving to Ireland in 1997 Vanessa has been working in community arts starting out as a volunteer to designing for art groups such as Macnas in Galway and St Patrick’s Day Festival, Dublin. Since 2007 she has been concentrating on pursuing her own visual art practice." For further information, please contact Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery on 065 707 1630 or ennistymoncourthousegallery@gmail.com.
Gallery opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 5pm. No admission fee.