Librarians Anonymous - introducing Buzzbee

Martin Hayes and friends in Pepper's, Feakle

Recorded in Pepper's Bar, Feakle on the 9th May 2009 by BAUDRY88 and featuring renowned Clare fiddle player Martin Hayes:

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!