Noel Hill - "March Of The Kings Of Laois" and "Kitty Lie Over"

Noel Hill from West Clare (on the concertina) with Brian McGrath (on keyboards) playing "March Of The Kings Of Laois" and "Kitty Lie Over" (aka "Paddy's Return") on Geantraí, TG4, on the 19th of August 2007. Posted on Youtube by TG4gaeilge on the 9th of December 2007. http://noelhill.com/ and Brian McGrath

Fifty best cookbooks of all time

The Observer Food Monthly has recently published its list of the fifty best cookbooks ever. The panel of judges was made up of cooks and cookery writers including Raymond Blanc, Simon Hopkinson and Prue Leith. The chosen books ranged from The Constance Spry Cookery Book, published in 1956 and containing the original recipe for coronation chicken, invented for Elizabeth’s ascent to the throne in 1953, to Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty, published in 2010 and containing vegetarian recipes such as pear crostini and scrambled smoky duck eggs on sourdough. The list contains books on clearly defined subjects such as Dan Lepard’s The Handmade Loaf on bread-making using wild yeast to Escoffier’s classic reference work The Complete Guide to the Art of Modern Cookery containing 5,000 recipes for everything from salads to jams. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/15/top-10-best-cookbooks for the complete list.

Aftermath wins Dagger award

The first set of winners of the Crime Writers’ Association’s Dagger Awards was announced in July. The CWA also announced the shortlists for its remaining Daggers, which will be awarded in October at the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2010.

Ruth Dudley-Edwards took home the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction for Aftermath: the Omagh Bombing and the Families’ Pursuit of Justice. This is the story of how the families of ten of those killed in the bombing decided to pursue those suspected of their murder through the civil courts. The book is an account of how these families – who had no knowledge of the law and no money, and included a cleaner, a mechanic and a bookie – became internationally recognised, formidable campaigners and surmounted countless daunting obstacles to win a famous victory.

Ariana Franklin won the CWA Dagger in the Library for her Mistress of the Art of Death series. The award is given for the body of an author's work, not for an individual title and is awarded to a writer nominated by library users and chosen by a panel of librarians, all of whom work with the public.

Johan Theorin won the CWA International Dagger for The Darkest Room, translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy. The Crime Writers’ Association’s International Dagger is a competition for crime, thriller, suspense or spy fiction novels which have been translated into English from their original language, for UK publication. Theorin beat off competition from best-selling author Stieg Larsson to claim the award.

Earlier in the year Val McDermid was awarded the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award in recognition of her work over more than 20 years. For the shortlists for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and Gold Dagger see http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/2010/index.html

Kilfenora Ceili Band on the Late Late Show

The Kilfenora Ceili Band on the Late Late Show on the 13th March 2009 featuring Michael Donnellan Dancer, Sharon Shannon and Kieran and Mike Hanrahan. Posted on Youtube on the 14th march 2009 by lafpat.

Clare Stories: a reading by Eddie Stack in the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon.

Ennistymon native and award winning Irish writer Eddie Stack will read from his books at the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, on Wednesday 25th Aug at 8.30pm. Eddie Stack emigrated to San Francisco in the 1980s and there he founded "The Island", an Irish journal. His books include The West: stories from Ireland, for which he received a Top 100 Irish American award. The seven stories in this collection are set in the West of Ireland. From the opening tale, "Time Passes," to the final story "Derramore," these pieces reveal the soul of a community-its hopes, dreams and schemes. Stories from The West have been read worldwide on radio, and the book has been released on CD which also features the music of Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill. Eddie is currently working on a book about the culture and traditional arts of Doolin. On Wednesday at 8.30 in the Courthouse Gallery Eddie will read stories that are set in Clare and the reading coincides with the publication of a new editon of his classic book The West. The cover of this edition features a painting of Blake’s Corner, Ennistymon, by Phillip Morrison. www.eddiestack.com and ballylara.wordpress.com/

Make Friends With Reading during Clare County Library’s Children’s Book Festival

Marking its twentieth consecutive year, this October’s Children’s Book Festival is encouraging young people across Ireland to make friends with reading, with hundreds of exciting book-themed events and activities taking place nationwide. The fun kicks off on Friday 1st October in County Clare when world famous author Darren Shan visits Glór Theatre in Ennis to meet with hundreds of fans from Clare’s schools. An amazing line-up of authors will tour the county’s branche libraries during October, including Bisto Book of the Year winner Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Bob Burke whose Third Pig Detective Agency was also shortlisted and Celine Kiernan who will bring her books in The Moorehawke Trilogy to life for teenage book lovers. For the entire month of October a non-stop programme of readings, puppet theatre, art and craft workshops and several other surprise events will take place in all branches of Clare County Library. Tom Donegan, Ireland’s CBI Programme Officer says, "We're delighted to be showcasing such a strong contingent of Irish authors and illustrators in this October’s programme, including both new names and familiar faces. In such a challenging year, it is also incredibly positive that we are able to maintain the festival as a truly national event. It really is testimony to the creativity, talent and enthusiasm to be found around Irish children's literature at the moment, from the artists and publishers who produce the books, to the teachers and librarians who do so much important work on the ground." CBF brochures with full events listings will be available through all branches of Clare County Library by mid September.

James Cullinane, Carol Talty & Dermot Byrne (1987 )

James Cullinane, Carol Talty and Dermot Byrne from the first series of THE PURE DROP, recorded in Ostán Dún an Oir in Baile an Fheirtéirigh, Co Kerry, in December 1987. Playing the reels 'Farewell to London' and 'The Glen Road to Carrick' are Clare musicians James Cullinane of Kilnamona on fiddle, with Carol Talty of Ennis on piano, and Donegal man Dermot Byrne, who lived in Shannon in the 1980s, on accordion. (This recording is from the programme Come West Along the Road, TG4). Posted on Youtube on the 17th of February 2009 by k4hx1.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney’s The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are currently among the most popular titles borrowed by children through Clare County Library. The books which give a humorous account of Greg Heffley's life as a wimpy kid trying to manage the trials and complications of middle school are also illustrated by the author. The first book of the series has been made into a movie by Twentieth Century Fox, and will be released in cinemas nationwide on the 25th of August 2010.

Ballina-Killaloe Winter Morning

Posted on Youtube on the 10th of July 2008 by Svanhilds

"Corpus Christi Procession"- Kilrush

"A nostalgic look back to Kilrush of yore with a glimpse of the June 1960 Corpus Christi Procession. Original filmed by local chemist, James A. Doyle and destined for the bin. Recovered by, his nephew, Richard Doyle and edited by: Michael A. Donnellan. The soundtrack is taken from the Easter Sunday Mass of 2007, which was sung by the Kilrush Church Choir under the direction of Gerardine Rush." Posted on Youtube on the 11th of October 2009 by franciedonnellan.