Russell Memorial Weekend 2015 in O'Connor's, Doolin

"Some sessions from the Russell Memorial Weekend in O'Connor's Pub in Doolin, County Clare. Musicians include: James & Carol Cullinan, Noel O'Donoghue, Kevin Griffin, Donie Nolan, Joe Carey, Francis O'Halloran, Sean Vaughan, Brian Mooney, Conor Byrne, Katie Theasby, Dave Harper, Gilles Tabary, Stéphane, Key, Yuka, Sarah, etc." Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of March 2015 by Tunes From Doolin.

Luka Bloom, Eoin O' Neill, Quentin Cooper & Friends - last night in Brogan's, Ennis

"The last night in Brogan's Bar, Ennis, February 12th 2015, with Eoin, Quentin, Barry, Noirin Lynch, Brid O' Gorman, Sean Murphy and many more with that great number You Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time..." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of February 2015 by Anthony OLoughlin.

Images of County Clare, January and February 2015, from The Clare Herald

"A selection of images from around County Clare submitted to The Clare Herald during January and February 2015. Email your photographs to theherald@live.ie." Posted on Youtube on the 4th of March 2015 by theclareherald.

Go for Life - Clare Local Sports Partnership

"This is a short video of the work that Clare Local Sports Partnership does with Older Adults in County Clare. If you are interested in setting up a group in your community, please contact Catherine 065-6865434 or email cathy@claresportspartnership.ie." Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of March 2015 by clarelsp.

Video tour of warriors, ladies in waiting and more at Craggaunowen Lúnasa Festival

"An inside look at the fascinating recreated medieval and stone age life and characters at this historic west of Ireland venue at Craggaunowen, County Clare during Lúnasa". Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of July 2013 by LuxuryHotels Ireland.

Championing Clare County Library

Clare County Library has launched a ‘Library Champions’ project. Clare Library Champions are people who love their libraries and want to be in the know about library events and activities. Anyone can become a library champion…you just have to love and use libraries! The aim of our project is to champion libraries and promote them as a place for all; a place where everyone is welcome and can avail of equal opportunities, regardless of age, gender, race, class or education. We want people to be aware of the library as being their resource and their gateway to knowledge, leisure and pleasure.

We put a call out to members of the public, including some well-known people in the community, to share with us what they love about libraries and we are delighted to have started receiving submissions, including from people such as Councillor John Crowe (Cathaoirleach Clare County Council), Rachael English (broadcaster and writer), Tony Griffin (all-star hurler), Mr. Donald J. Trump, and many more. You can read their glowing tributes to the library at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/champions/library_champions.htm.

We hope you too will join us in spreading that message. Becoming a Library Champion is very straightforward! All you need to do is write a short paragraph on what it is you love about libraries or how libraries have helped you in your life. We would also invite you to provide us with a photograph of yourself in one of our library branches or with a literary theme, e.g. enjoying a book in your favourite reading place. We then plan to put the short piece you have written on our website, along with your photo if you submit one. We may also use this material in the local press or as part of a library exhibition. You can submit your piece at your local branch library or email it to mailbox@clarelibrary.ie using the subject “Library Champions”.

World Book Day 2015 in Clare’s libraries

Over the past 18 years World Book Day has become firmly established as Ireland’s biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading. The aim of the celebration is to encourage children to explore the pleasure of reading and to this end all school children will receive book tokens that they can exchange in bookshops providing them with an opportunity to have a book of their own.

On the 4th, 5th and 6th of March 2015 children of all ages will come together to celebrate World Book Day in a variety of ways in Clare’s libraries.

Artist Alan Shoosmith from Tubber will host five workshops on book-based themes in Kilrush, Kildysart, Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Ennis libraries. Alan has a keen interest in watercolour painting and creative photography and has a great love of wildlife & nature which manifests itself regularly in his paintings. His World Book Day workshops for children will be based on two specific children’s writers. Young children will bring Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo to life under Alan’s expert guidance while older children can choose to re-create their favourite characters from the stories of Roald Dahl. Further details of Alan’s workshops for children are available from participating libraries.

Miltown Malbay Library will host an interactive storytime for the children from the nearby ‘Spraoi’ Montessori school on the 5th of March at 11.30am and Ennistymon Library are making plans for a books “lucky dip” fun day. Art workshops for children will take place in Killaloe and Scariff libraries compliments of local artist, Grace Burton and library staff in other branches are seizing the occasion to visit local schools to showcase what’s on offer for children through the public library service. For details on what’s happening in a library near you to celebrate World Book Day 2015 contact your nearest branch library.

Seachtain na Gaeilge in Kilrush Library

As part of the celebrations for Seachtain na Gaeilge, forty-five children from St. Senan’s Primary School in Kilrush attended a very entertaining and educational storytime ‘as Gaeilge’ with Maura Falsey in Kilrush Public Library. The children listened to a story about Teidi and took part in a cómhrá gaeilge, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

International Women’s Day in County Clare

Join Me on the Bridge
The Clare Women’s Network is holding a gathering on Bank Place Bridge on Saturday 7th March from 11.30am to 12.30pm as part of the international ‘Join Me on the Bridge’ campaign that is celebrated throughout the world in conjunction with International Women’s Day. The ‘Join me on the Bridge’ campaign started in 2010 when women from Rwanda and the Congo joined hands across a bridge between the two warring countries, to say NO to war and YES to peace and to show how they could build bridges of peace for the future. Please join us on the day to show your solidarity with these women and all who disproportionally suffer the effects of war. More info from Sarah Ferrigan 0656828731

International Women’s Day lunch
The Clare Women’s Network together with Clare Immigrant Support Centre will host a lunch with music, song, poetry and discussion on Saturday 7th March from 1pm to 4pm at Ennis Community Development Project, Clonroad Business Park, Ennis. 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action to which 189 countries throughout the world signed up. Mary Robinson was instrumental in outlining 12 critical areas of concern for women and we will be looking at what impact, if any, the Platform had on the lives of women in County Clare. Please join us for an uplifting afternoon and you are welcome to bring some food to share. More info from Orla Ni Eili 0872385990 or Sarah Ferrigan 065 6828731

Music on Sunday
On Sunday 8th March there will be music, plus beauty, hairdressing and cancer care consultations from 3.00pm onwards in The Local, Newbridge Road, Ennis. See Facebook page WONDER WOMEN IRELAND.

Pride of Place 2015

Clare County Council invites expressions of interest from local communities, projects or housing estates who wish to seek nomination to the Co-Operation Ireland All-island “IPB Pride of Place” competition 2015.

This annual All-island competition, which is run in conjunction with local authorities North and South, aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society along with generating awareness, respect and inclusion for every facet of society.

All applicants will be informed by end of April as to whether they have been nominated to compete at All-island level.  If they have been nominated they will be visited for adjudication over 2 - 3 hours, in the months June to August.

This year the All-island awards ceremony is being hosted in Ennis by Clare County Council, in November. 

Clare County Council may nominate one group only per category and a maximum of 5 groups overall.

The following categories apply: -

Population Category 1 up to 300 people

Population Category 2 between 300 to 1000 people

Population Category 3 between 1000 to 2000 people

Population Category 4 over 2,000 people

Category 5 Theme Category, “Age Friendly Community Initiative Enterprise”

Category 6 Theme Category “Young People in the Community Initiative.”

Category 7 Theme Category “Community Health Initiative”

Category 8 Housing Estates (not population specific)

Category 9 Islands and Coastal Communities (not population specific)

Category 10 Urban Neighbourhoods (not population specific)

The Expressions of Interest will be assessed, per category, based on the Co-Operation Ireland criteria available on request from this office.

Groups interested in being considered for nomination are asked to submit a written expression of interest, detailing their preferred Category with a one page typed A4 summary setting out their proposal to:

Philomena O’Connell,

Pride of Place Coordinator,

Tourism & Community Development Department,

Clare County Council,

New Road,

Ennis,

Co Clare. 

Closing date for receipt of expression of interests is 4.00pm on Friday, 27^th March 2015.