Sharon Shannon, Kevin Griffin, Pádraig Rynne, Eoin O' Neill, Mary Shannon and Mary Custy on Geantraí

Eoin O Neill (Bouzouki), Kevin Griffin (Banjo), Mary Custy (Fiddle), Sharon Shannon (Accordion), Mary Shannon (Banjo), and Pádraig Rynne (Concertina) in 1996. . A set of reels from Geantraí on TG4 recorded in Ennis in 1996. Posted on Youtube on the 6th January 2010 by maspeth46thstreet.

Padraig Rynne aged 11

Pádraig Rynne aged 11 playing at a concert in Ennis, Co. Clare. Three reels. August 1991. Posted on Youtube on January 14, 2010 by maspeth46thstreet

Download free audio books - NetLibrary Clipper collection

Clare County Library is delighted to announce a new service that allows registered library members to download electronic audio books for free. All you need is a PC with broadband internet access, and you can download the selected eAudio book, play it on your PC or transfer it to your MP player, iPod or even your mobile phone. You may download and 'check out' up to ten audiobooks at a time for a 'loan' period of three weeks. Audio books may be renewed once. Each title offers unlimited availability and simultaneous access for all borrowers, so every library user can download all the latest bestsellers at the same time, making waiting lists a thing of the past. Access more than 550 bestselling Clipper Audio titles and download them in the comfort of your own home. Click here for more info...

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Lisdoonvarna

Lisdoonvarna is holding its first ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday 13th March. The parade kicks off at 1pm with traditional music and dancing in the Square, bringing back the old tradition of set-dancing in the Square in Lisdoonvarna. This will be followed by the parade which has over 40 floats already registered. The Parade will proceed through the Main Street of Lisdoonvarna at 2pm from the town’s newly refurbished Town Hall Pavillion. There will be a stage set up at St. Enda’s National School where there will be commentary on the parade with special guests. There will be a Tug of War Competition in the town also, where everyone is welcome to compete. Not forgetting the children, there will be organised races and Tug of War for them all, and pubs will have music and sessions on that night in order to carry on the party.

Teen Week 2010

Clare County Library is pleased to announce Teen Week 2010. This year for the first time, Clare County Library is organising a Spring programme of events exclusively for teenagers. Teenagers in Ennis are invited to take time out from a busy school schedule and join in library entertainment sessions with a difference, which are on offer from the 22nd to the 25th of March inclusive in the library’s first ever specially designated Teen Week. Events kick off on Monday the 22nd with a Graphic Novel Design Workshop presented by artist Elida Maiques who has previously worked at the creative writing centre Fighting Words, based in Dublin and founded by Roddy Doyle. Elida’s workshop at deValera Library, Ennis, will take students through the process of graphic novel creation on two consecutive mornings. Through the workshops they will explore writing a graphic novel script, creating storyboards, graphic novel page layout and illustration. On March 24th, author Roisin Meaney will provide a three hour creative writing workshop for teenagers. In this hands-on, interactive workshop, students will share their writing with others on the course. They will work on creating interesting and original 'Opening Lines' that contain something that would pique a reader's interest and make them want to know more. Story settings will be explored with emphasis on the importance of including detail in writing and making it come alive for the reader. They will work on character creation and preparation of character profile, plots and ideas for a story, coloured with lots of personal experiences from Roisin Meaney’s own writing. On the afternoon of the 25th of March, DJ Conor Quaid from Spin South West radio station will present a media careers talk for Leaving Cert, pre-Leaving Cert and TY students, beginning at 2.15pm. Conor is co-presenter of the Zoo Crew show which goes out weekdays on Spin South West from 18.45 to 21.45. The show has been nominated for national and regional awards for best music show. He has also taught Media and Radio at Crescent College Comprehensive in Limerick. In radio he has worked for commercial, community and student stations. During his talk to students Conor will cover how best to approach a career in the media, what an employer will be looking for and in general discussion of a life in media followed by a question and answer session. All events will take place in DeValera Library, Ennis. The library is currently taking bookings from schools and interested individuals. To book places for any of the above events please contact Clare County Library tel.065 6846266 or email mailbox@clarelibrary.ie

World Book Day 2010

World Book Day, which takes place this year on Thursday 4th March, is a UNESCO designated day for the celebration of books and reading and is a partnership of libraries, publishers, booksellers and other interested parties who come together to promote the value of books for the betterment and enrichment of all. On World Book Day in Clare a Library Information Point will be set up at Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir at New Road, Ennis. Children are of course included in activities for World Book Day as libraries in the county host art classes on Thursday March the 4th, facilitated by Clare artists Alan Shoosmith, Krystyna Pomeroy and Rosaleen Henchy. The theme of the classes will be Draw Your Favourite Book Character and library staff are asking all young budding artists to come along to the sessions dressed as their favourite book character. Storytimes for young children will also take place in some branches on the day. Check Library Events for details.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010

Seachtain na Gaeilge, running from 5th to 17th March, is an international celebration of the Irish language with the emphasis on fun and participation. The library seeks to actively promote the speaking of the Irish language each year through a programme of events planned with children and teenagers in mind. Visitors to library branches this year include the author, Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé who will meet with secondary school students in Ennis and Ennistymon libraries and Ros na Rún actor Máire Breathnach who plays Mó in the popular TV soap. Máire will host a chat session with questions and answers from young aspiring actors in Ennis, Scariff, Miltown Malbay and Ennistymon libraries on the 4th and 5th of March. Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin from Spiddal Publishers Futa Fata will bring his unique entertainment show to children of gaelscoileanna and the children from Kilkee National School in Shannon, Ennis, Kilrush and Kilkee Libraries on the 11th and 12 of March. His show will be based on the books and CDs of rhymes and songs, Gugalaí Gug and Peigín Leitir Móir which are widely used by national schools all over Ireland. Tadhg has worked in television in Ireland for twenty five years, as scriptwriter, presenter and producer. His work has been recognised by a number of Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards, for projects including the RTÉ arts series Cúrsaí Ealaíne, which he presented for five years. The TG4 teen comedy drama series Aifric, which he created and wrote, has also won three IFTA awards for best young people’s programme. Scealaíocht do dhaoine óga is a regular feature of the Library’s Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations and this year library staff members Teresa Carmody-O’Shea and Seamus Ryan will tour many of the fifteen branches in the county to bring some of the best picture books in the Irish language to junior classes from primary schools. Alan Titley will read on Saturday 6th March in the Old Ground Hotel from 11.30 am to 1.00 pm. Pléfidh Alan Titley, Ollamh na Nua-Ghaeilge agus Ceann na Roinne i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh, litríocht na Gaeilge agus léifidh sé ón úrscéal Gluaiseacht a foilsíodh le déanaí. Is údar é de chúig úrscéal, na céadta scéalta, roinnt drámaí agus filíocht.

Ballynacally Parish Graveyards Transcription Project

Members of Ballynacally ICA handing over the Ballynacally Graveyards Transcription Project to Clare County Library. L-R: Maureen Corbett; Mary Hester; Teresa Carmody-O’Shea, Staff Officer, Clare County Library; Mary Hill; Mary Hogan; Mary Rynne.

Some years ago, a group of volunteers from Ballynacally I.C.A. took on the project of transcribing and publishing details of the gravestones and burial plots in three graveyards in Ballynacally Parish - those of Kilchreest, Clondegad and Killea. The three graveyards combined contain over seven hundred headstones with burials from a wide area. The Heritage Council provided financial support through its grants scheme. P.J. Carmody of Clare County Council assisted with the map making and aerial photographs. At Killea Graveyard the group was assisted by Martin O’Sullivan whose help was invaluable. The undertaking took five years and a published book of the transcription has been produced and is available to buy from Mary Hester at 065 6832210 or Mary Hill at 065 6838463. The transcriptions have been donated to Clare County Library to add to the list of transcribed graveyards on the library website. To date, inscriptions from over thirty Clare graveyards have been donated and all of these are available on the library website, many with accompanying photographs. Making these elusive records available is an invaluable aid to genealogists and family historians searching for their ancestors.

Mullaghmore on a frosty winter morning

"Mullaghmore on a frosty morning in Clare, Ireland." Posted on Youtube on the 7th of October 2010 by wwwcelticvideocom.

Never open a book with weather - Advice for aspiring writers

Elmore Leonard’s latest book entitled Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing is due for publication this month. Rule 1 is "Never open a book with weather", but his most important rule is one that sums up the 10: "if it sounds like writing, rewrite it". The Guardian newspaper asked some of the most esteemed contemporary authors for any golden rules they bring to their writing practice. Michael Morpurgo advises living a full and varied life so as to keep your well of ideas full. Joyce Carol Oates recommends keeping a light, hopeful heart but to expect the worst. Colm Toibin advocates staying in your mental pyjamas all day. Helen Dunmore says to reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite and if it still doesn't work, throw it away. In which case Margaret Atwood suggests that prayer might work. For further advice see http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one