Riches of Clare Concert June 2015 - John Kelly, Sheila Garry, Aiobheann Murphy, and Brian Mooney

"John Kelly, Sheila Garry, Aiobheann Murphy, and Brian Mooney performing at The Riches of Clare concert on June 10, 2015 (09)." Posted on Youtube on the 10th of June 2015 by Niamhaines.

Riches of Clare Concert June 2015 - Seanie McGrath, Kieran Kissane, Kieran Hehir, and John Maloney

"Seanie McGrath, The Kierans - Kissane & Hehir, and John Maloney performing at the Riches of Clare concert series on June 24, 2015 (08)." Posted on Youtube on the 30th of June 2015 by Niamhaines.

Old Shanakyle Graveyard in Kilrush with historian Ciarán Ó Murchadha

Historian Ciarán Ó Murchadha talks about Old Shanakyle Graveyard in Kilrush, County Clare, in which three large burial pits are filled with victims of the Great Famine and subsequent evictions, dying as a result of starvation, disease and cold. Posted on Youtube on the 3rd of July 2015 by Brooksvideocom.

Hell Of The West Kilkee Triathlon 2015

"The Kilkee Hell of the West Triathlon is an Olympic Distance Triathlon which is up and running since 1985 – making it one of the longest continuously running triathlons in Ireland and in the World. Organised by the Limerick Triathlon Club, this race falls annually on the last weekend in June. Hell of the West starts with 1500m in the relatively calm waters of Kilkee’s horse shoe bay, but with a 44km cycle against the winds of west Clare and a 10km hilly run along the rugged coastline of Loop Head – this race is one for your calendar. The route stays the same annually." Posted on Youtube on the 7th of July 2015 by VideosOnTheNet.

An Post Cycle Tour de Burren 2015

"Over 2,200 cyclists from all over the world traveled to Ballyvaughan, County Clare, for the the 2015 An Post Tour de Burren on the 20th June. Filmed by Seanchas Productions." Posted on Youtube on the 23rd of June 2015 by Clare Sports Partnership.

Bunratty Folk Park - a short video by Vito Werner

"A short movie about Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare, Ireland." Posted on Youtube on the 14th of July 2015 by Vito Werner.

The Clare Coastal Architectural Heritage Survey

If you’re on the County Clare coast this summer and wonder about the background of the signal towers, lookout-posts, lighthouses, piers, bathing shelters, fish ponds or any of the many structures around the coast, have a look at the Clare Coastal Architectural Heritage Survey.

The Survey, compiled by Sarah Halpin & Gráinne O’Connor, will provide you with an explanation and history of the structure. There are many more excellent publications available on the Heritage of Clare section at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/heritage/downloads.htm covering subjects such as Geology, Trees, Shrubs and Hedgerows, Bats & Birds, Shopfronts, Stone Walls and Ironwork.

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/heritage/pdfs/clare_coastal_architectural_heritage_survey_2008.pdf

Record sales for Go Set a Watchman

Go Set a Watchman, the long-awaited follow-up to Harper Lee's classic novel , was released yesterday. The story takes place 20 years after events in To Kill a Mockingbird.

The book was Waterstone’s biggest pre-sale ever, beating JK Rowling’s final Harry Potter book in 2007. Pre-orders of the novel were outselling EL James’ Fifty Shades Of Grey by more than three times over the weekend. Fans queued up in bookshops across the world on Monday 13th July in anticipation of the novel’s midnight release.

Clare Museum Recognised for its High Standards

Clare Museum was among seven of Ireland’s museums which were this week recognised for high standards of management, care of collections and visitor services by the Heritage Council under its Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI).

Clare Museum’s relationship with MSPI goes back several years having first applied for initial assessment under MSPI when the Programme was launched in 2007, with the initial assessment to benchmark the museum occurring in November of that year. However, participation of the Ennis-based museum went into hiatus following cutbacks in January 2008 when the economic crisis began to loom large and public services across the board were deeply affected.

With improved circumstances, the museum became active in the programme again in February 2014 with participation led by the curator, John Rattigan. Crucial to the delivery of Interim accreditation was the dedication and co-operation of staff members Tomás Mac Conmara and Darren Higgins and volunteer Jakub Kacprzak, and relevant training provided by the Heritage Council. Indeed, the process also required the support of Clare County Council’s management and elected representatives in the adoption of policies and a Strategic Management Plan.

The specific Standards of the MSPI are based on thirty-four minimum standards in relation to Management, Care of Collections and Visitor Services. These are divided into seven categories:

1. Constitution and policies
2. Museum management
3. Caring for the collection
4. Documenting the collection
5. Exhibition (long term and temporary)
6. Education
7. Visitor care and access

A panel of assessors, drawn from senior museum professionals based in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain was appointed to review applications for accreditation. Two assessors reviewed the museum’s written application in the autumn of 2014, conducted a site-visit and submitted a written report with their recommendations to the Programme’s Advisory Group. The Advisory Group reviewed the assessor’s reports before making its recommendations regarding the awarding of accreditation to the Heritage Council. The Heritage Council then reviewed the Advisory Group’s recommendations and confirmed the awarding of accreditation.

The citation which accompanied the award to Clare Museum stated:

‘Clare Museum submitted a high quality and thorough application and the Museum strove hard to complete any outstanding matters in particular, the Museum regularised the questions about collection ownership, documentation and disposal policy. It has also prepared a sound Strategic Management Plan, something it did not have in 2007. The preparation of an SMP is one of the more onerous tasks of the MSPI scheme and the Museum is to be congratulated on presenting a sound and sensible plan. Clare Museum is to be congratulated on the very high standard of the Collection, Disposal, and Loan policies submitted. It is also to be commended for already achieving two Full Standards in advance of its application for Full Standard accreditation. Also commended are the Curator’s studies for a Post-graduate Diploma in Museum Practice and Management at the University of Ulster. It is clear to assessors that Clare Museum has approached the scheme in a professional manner and that it conducts its business in a similar fashion.’

It is intended to apply for Full Accreditation in September 2016.

The image above shows Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gealtacht Heather Humphreys with Michael Starrett Chief Executive of the Heritage Council at the presentation of an award for interim accreditation under the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland to Cllr James Breen Mayor of Clare and John Rattigan of Clare Museum. Photograph: Gary O'Neill.

Catholic Parish Registers in the National Library of Ireland now online at registers.nli.ie

The National Library of Ireland has made images from its collection of Catholic parish register microfilms available on its website http://registers.nli.ie. The registers contain records of baptisms and marriages from the majority of Catholic parishes in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 1880. These registers are considered to be the single most important source for family history researchers prior to the 1901 census. The registers may be searched by parish and are not indexed. Transcriptions of some Clare parish registers may be seen on Clare County Library's website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/bmd/index_bmd.htm.