Changing Currents - O'Brien's Bridge Co. Clare Close Up!

"A Documentary done by the locals of O'Brien's Bridge County Clare Ireland. With History and a close up look at life in the village." Posted on Youtube on the 16th of June 2007 by peadarmurphy.

Knappogue Castle medieval banquet

"Highlights from the medieval banquet nights run in Knappogue castle in County Clare, Ireland. For more info please visit http://www.shannonheritage.com". Posted on Youtube on the 28th of February 2009 by wwwcelticvideocom.

Vote for your favourite Irish Book of 2010

The shortlist for the fifth Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards was announced on October 28th unveiling a typically eclectic range of titles including books by Colm Toibin, Joseph O’Connor, Sheila O’Flanagan, Cecelia Ahern, Ryan Tubridy, Shane Ross, Fintan O’Toole, Johnny Giles, Ruby Walsh, Derek Landy, John Boyne, newcomer Amy Huberman and children's author Sarah Webb. Established in 2006, the awards are dedicated to honouring Irish writers and Irish publishing. Extolling the virtues of the awards David Bunworth, MD at Bord Gáis Energy, commented "the new Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards is a fantastic event which celebrates the very best of Irish writing both at home and abroad. This year’s shortlist is a tribute to the talent and range that exists in Irish writing. It will be hard to choose one but I would encourage people to cast their vote and pick deserving winners.” From October 29th, the public are being asked to cast their vote on the best books of the last year via the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards website www.irishbookawards.ie or by post on a form to be found in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards Preview magazine. The preview magazines are available in public libraries and bookshops. Every person who votes will be in with a chance of winning one of five €100 National Book Token vouchers.

The award categories are the John Murray Show Listeners’ Choice Award; Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year; Ireland AM Crime Fiction Book of the Year; Eason Popular Fiction Book of the Year; IES Best Irish-published Book of the Year; Energise Sport Irish Sports Book of the Year; Newcomer of the Year; Argosy Irish Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the Dublin Airport Authority Irish Children’s Book of the Year – Junior and Senior Section. Voting takes place until November 21st with the winners announced at the Awards Dinner in the Mansion House on November 25th.

Click here for the full shortlist in categories...

Sharon Shannon & An Big Band - Cavan Potholes - Beo ó Dolans (Part 1)

"Sharon Shannon agus bannaí ceoil beo i Dolans. I measc na gceoltóirí tá Damien Dempsey, Declan O' Rourke, Dessie O' Halloran, Gerry O' Connor, Jack Maher, James Delaney, Jim Murray, Jon Kenny, Mary Shannon, Mundy, Paul Moore, Richie Buckle, Robbie Casserly, Roesy, The Brennans & Winnie Horan." Posted on Youtube on June 12th, 2010, by TG4gaeilge.

Quin Abbey

"Quin abbey was built between 1402 and 1433 by Sioda Cam MacNamara. The abbey is roughly 9 miles from Ennis town. A visitor centre is located near the abbey and the structure and grounds can be visited free of charge. The graveyard surrounding the abbey is still in use." Posted on Youtube on October 6th, 2010, by wwwcelticvideocom.

2010 Nobel Prize - Mario Vargas Llosa

Mario Vargas Llosa, the Peruvian novelist, has been awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature. The academy honored him "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt and defeat". The Nobel tends to be given as a lifetime achievement award — it goes to a writer, not to a particular work — and Vargas Llosa, 74, earned it with decades of critically acclaimed writing across literary genres. His works have been translated into 31 languages. In winning the Nobel, he joins an elite group of Latin American writers: Octavio Paz, Garcia Marquez, Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda. Vargas Llosa’s next book is based on the life of Roger Casement. Faber plans to publish the book in English early in 2012. The title of the book, The Dream of the Celt, is taken from a line in one of Casement's own poems.

Lady Chatterley’s 50th Anniversary

Nov 2nd, 2010, marks the 50th anniversary of the acquittal of Penguin Books by an Old Bailey jury on the charges of obscenity for publishing an uncensored version of DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Though privately published in Italy in 1928, only a censored version of the book was legally available in Britain and the United States until the 1960s. Only a year before the trial, Roy Jenkins had secured the passage of a new Obscene Publications Act, leaving a crucial loophole – the question of literary merit – through which works might escape prohibition. And in May 1960, Penguin saw its chance, announcing its plans to publish 200,000 paperback copies of the complete work at just 3s 6d each. On November 2, after just three hours’ deliberation, the jury acquitted Penguin Books of all charges. Almost immediately, the book became a best-seller. Penguin will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the trial with a new edition of the notorious novel.

Limerick ( European City of Sport 2011) Fireworks Ceremony

Limerick, European City of Sport 2011, Fireworks Ceremony,
October 23rd, 9.30pm, Limerick City Centre.
To celebrate and to welcome the European City of Sport to Limerick, and to welcome all visitors, the City will be putting on a fireworks display which will light up the skies over the majestic Treaty City following the International Rules game between Ireland and Australia at Limerick Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening. King John’s Castle provides the stunning backdrop to this breathtaking display where dazzling colours and explosive effects will be unleashed over the magnificent River Shannon. Supported by Limerick City Council, GAA County Board and Shannon Development. More details...

Space Hop Summer Reading Challenge at Scariff Library

There was great excitement in Scariff Public Library on Friday 1st October at 7pm as children were presented with their certificates for completion of the Space Hop Reading Challenge. With readers as young as age four taking part, books of all kinds were read and enjoyed over the summer holidays. Magician Paul Beattie amazed both children and adults with a 45 minute magic show as bags of goodies were enjoyed by the successful Space Hoppers. A great night was had by the 80 strong crowd of children and parents. Well done to everyone and also a big thank you to parents who encouraged children to participate in the challenge and ferried them to and from the library.

‘Biodiversity on Blackhead’ - Burrenbeo Trust November Walk with Clare’s Biodiversity Officer, Shane Casey

‘Biodiversity on Blackhead’ - Burrenbeo Trust November Walk with Clare’s Biodiversity Officer, Shane Casey, at 2pm on Sun 7th November 2010. Meet .5km before Murroughtouhy layby going west (OS51. N14.9 W11.4). Everyone welcome. Free for members and donation from non-members. More information contact trust@burrenbeo.com or 091 638096.

Shane Casey’s first education of the Burren and its ecology began as he grew up on his family’s farm in Blackhead. Seeing the intricate relationship between the Burren’s ecology and the local farming systems encouraged him to study Agricultural and Environmental Science in UCD. Understanding that the future of the Burren rested on the viability of these farming systems, Shane went on to study Rural Development, focusing on target market analysis for Burren lamb as his dissertation. Before his current position as Clare Biodiversity Officer, Shane worked as an agricultural and environmental advisor in south Galway , and then as a social research officer with Clare County Council. His current role involves education and awareness of biodiversity, both within and beyond the Burren. This walk is open to everyone. It is free for Burrenbeo Trust Members and a donation from non-members. It is advised to be of a reasonable level of fitness, and to wear comfortable and sensible walking shoes or hiking boots with a good grip as much of the Burren’s terrain is uneven, and to be prepared for Irish weather - warm and waterproof clothes are recommended

Directions:

Coordinates
OS51. N14.9 W11.4

From the East (Ballyvaughan)
In the centre of Ballyvaughan take a right at the ‘Tea Junction Café’ and go out the coast road (R477). Continue along this for approx 10kms around Blackhead passing the lighthouse on your right. Continue another km and you will see two gates opposite each other. This is where the walk begins.

From the West (Lisdoonvarna)
From Lisdoonvarna take the R477 Coast Road heading towards Fanore. Continue on this approx 16kms going through Fanore village. Another 5kms past the Fanore post office there is a layby called Murrooghtoohy. Continue past this another .5km until you reach two gates opposite each other. This is where the walk begins.