3 Clare Jigs - Josh O' Loughlin and Máirtín Quigley

"Three jigs from County Clare played by Josh O' Loughlin on banjo and Máirtín O' Coigligh on guitar. The first two tunes are known as 'Christy Barry's Jigs' and they are followed by a tune known as 'Jimmy Ward's Jig'. The tunes are named after well-known Clare musicians. Enjoy!" Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of June 2013 by olochlaj.

Kilmaley Ensemble in honour of Paddy Murphy

"From the December 2007 launch night for Paddy Murphy - In Good Hands, an all-star line up: Manus McGuire, Maeve Donnelly (fiddles), Anthony Quigney (flute), Tim Collins, Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin (concertinas), Mick O'Connor (flute), Peadar O'Loughlin (fiddle) and Marie Quigney (keyboard). TUNES: The Maid of Feakle, The Chattering Magpie, & The Flax in Bloom." Posted on Youtube on the 13th of February 2008 by ClareMusic2000.

New music from County Clare

Recent additions to the traditional music collection at Clare County Library include recent recordings from the county’s musicians.

Vincent Griffin and friends: Traditional Irish music from the shady groves of Ayle, County Clare was recorded at The Tulla Courthouse where Vincent Griffin was joined by Seamus Bugler, Geraldine Carrig, Tim Collins, Ged Foley, Pat Mac and Padraic O'Reilly in a tribute to the fabled East Clare fiddler.

The knotted chord: traditional music from County Clare is flute player Eamonn Cotter's second solo release, coming twenty years after his first album.

Ennis accordion player Johnny McCarthy is joined by Alph Duggan on Steele's Rock: traditional music from the capital of Clare.

For the full list of CDs added to the library’s collection for borrowing so far this year see http://opac.clarelibrary.ie/search~S1?/ftlist^bib10%2C1%2C0%2C100/mode=2, and of course listen to Clare traditional music on our Music of Clare project.

Brian Boru’s Oak Tree

A magnificent oak tree in Raheen Woods, Tuamgraney, East Clare, is associated with Brian Boru who was reputedly born nearby. The tree is over 1,000 years old with a girth of 26 feet. The tree stands in one of the last surviving sections of Ireland's ancient wild oak forests - the forest of Suidain of the Sliabh Aughty Mountains. The National Monuments Service has listed the tree in its Archaeological Survey as a Ritual Site/ Holy Tree. Photographs of Brian Boru’s Oak are included in the Archaeological Monuments of Clare Collection in our Online Photographic Archive, a collection donated to the library by an anonymous donor.

Craggaunowen and The Brendan Boat

Craggaunowen and Tim Severin's Brendan Boat. Posted on Youtube on the 31st of May 2013 by ShannonHeritage.

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, County Clare

Posted on Youtube on the 31st of May 2013 by ShannonHeritage.

Doolin Cave in County Clare

"Boasting the world's third biggest (and the biggest outside South America) free-hanging breeze-formed stalactite, Doolin Cave is one of the most stunning attractions to be found in Ireland and it would be difficult to find a more exciting underground caving adventure in Europe. Thanks to the friendly and knowledgeable staff, visitors will be constantly learning about the geology and history of the cave as they navigate the winding paths and inclines, before eventually reaching the breathtaking Doolin stalactite. There is also a new Farmland Nature Trail for the kids, which is free and features pygmy goats, rare breeds of cattle, sheep and chickens, not to mention picturesque rural backdrops of the wildflower meadows." Posted on Youtube on the 29th of May 2013 by mydestinationvideo.

O'Brien's Tower at the Cliffs of Moher

"O'Brien's Tower was built in 1835 near the highest point of the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare in Ireland. It was built as a viewing point for tourists who were even then visiting the Cliffs. In effect it was the first visitor centre there." Posted on Youtube on the 20th of May 2013 by CliffsofMoherClare.

Help your child learn

Clare County Library has joined up with Clare County Childcare Committee and Clare Family Learning Project (Clare VEC) to host events in selected branch libraries to launch a new website developed by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) designed to help parents support their children’s education. Help My Kid Learn is a website where people can see that supporting a child’s literacy and numeracy development is a natural, easy and fun activity that can be integrated into any part of their day.

Parents of children aged 0-12 years are invited to a relaxed evening at the De Valera Public Library, Ennis, on Tuesday, 11th June where Executive Librarian Patricia Fitzgerald will give a talk on topics such as the importance of joining your local library and how to do this, extra library activities available to children throughout the year, the different categories of library books for children and how to find them and the availability of DVDs and Internet access for children. Mary Flanagan from the Clare Family Learning Project will talk about the importance of playing games to help with many areas of learning and how to have fun with numbers. There will also be a brief showcase of NALA’s Help My Kid Learn website. A number of coordinated events will take place in other libraries countywide. Tutors from Clare Family Learning Project will visit Scariff and Shannon on Tuesday June 11th while Ennistymon, Kilrush and Killaloe will have their events on Wednesday 12th June. There will be information packs available to take away from each library on the night. All events will be held from 6.45pm sharp to 8pm. For more information phone 065-6821616 or visit www.clarelibrary.ie.

In conjunction with the launch of the website a new six-part series called The Family Project has begun on RTE ONE. Airing every Monday night, from Monday 20 May, at 7.30pm, the series follows families from around Ireland working together to overcome educational issues that affect their lives. Once again this year, NALA has a free distance education service to run alongside the new TV series. The Freephone support line is 1800 20 20 65. http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie

Lough Derg Heritage Trail App

Lough Derg Heritage Trail App is an App that gives you detailed cycling and driving routes along the Lough Derg Heritage Trail. The App has detailed descriptions of all points of interest along the way and provides images and audio guides of the area as well as bike hire information. There is an accompanying booklet with detailed information and a map on over 90 heritage sites around the lake as well as 3 audio DVDs - available from the Heritage Officer, Clare County Council, email cmcguire@clarecoco.ie.

This app is an initiative of the Clare, Galway and North Tipperary Heritage Officers and The Heritage Council and is funded by the Heritage Council and the three local authorities.
Here are the links to the app for
i-phone and
android phones: