The Temple House Ceili Band

"One of Irelands' finest ceili bands playing some reels with some set dancing." The band included Kieran Hanrahan and Paul Roche from County Clare and this recording may date from the late 1980s. Posted on Youtube on the 17th of June 2007 by Stargreened.

QR Code for Library Anywhere – smart phone version of online catalogue

Clare County Library has introduced a QR code for the Library Anywhere for mobile devices version of the library’s online catalogue. This can be read by smart phones and other mobile devices that have a QR code reader app installed and will bring people directly to the smart phone version of the online catalogue just by pointing the camera of their smart phone at the QR tag. QR codes are becoming more and more ubiquitous. Watch out for the library’s QR tag…

Village Carnival, Newmarket on Fergus

Village Carnival, Newmarket on Fergus . Posted on Youtube on the 4th of August 2011 by emmasams67.

In Kilkee Joe finds out why it is called an Electric Ray

"Taken in Kilkee Co. Clare on a trip with the Galway Sub Aqua Club. Joe finds out why they call it an Electric Ray. It is an Atlantic torpedo (Torpedo nobiliana)." Posted on Youtube on the 29th of August 2011 by thomasgsac.

Clarecastle Regatta "power" boat curragh racing

"Clarecastle Regatta sat 9th July. Curragh racing on the Fergus river with Tom Harvey, Maureen Power, Grace Power, Kerry Power, Chris Power... On their way to start line." Posted on Youtube on the 12th of July 2011 by tuandedannan.

Clare Caving Club 2011

"A slide show of the last 12 months caving." Posted on Youtube on the 24th of August 2011 by clarecastle2.

Clare Culture Night 2011

On Friday September 23rd 2011, locals and visitors across the island of Ireland enjoyed the unique experience of Culture Night, a free night of entertainment, discovery and adventure that took place in a record 28 towns, cities, counties and islands in Ireland. Museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres opened their doors late into the evening welcoming people of all ages to taste and sample their cultural delights for free.

County Clare participated in Culture Night with an array of fine cultural activities around the county. Doing its part on the night Clare County Library hosted a recital in the De Valera Public Library in Ennis at 7.30pm. The recital, entitled Synge Songs was performed by Cathy Desmond (view Cathy’s blog at http://cathydesmond.blogspot.com/2011/09/culture-night-ennis-synge-songs.html ) on violin and viola with accompaniment on piano by Fiona Walsh, leader of the Ennis Gospel Choir. Together they played a selection of airs and ballads popular at the turn of the century in the time of J.M. Synge. The selection included ‘Down by The Sally Gardens’, ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ and ‘Anach Cuain’ amongst others. Also on the night Saoirse Glennon, who recently played Pegeen Mike in Ennis Players production of 'Playboy Of The Western World', read a poem by Synge's mentor, Yeats, and tenor and Balfe specialist, Tony Murray, sang ‘Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms’ one of Moore’s Melodies. The night was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.

Presidential Election - Are you on the Register of Electors?

To ensure you can vote at the forthcoming Presidential Election and Referenda on 27th October next, check the Register now at www.clarecoco.ie to ensure you are correctly registered. Any specific enquiries can be made to the Franchise Section, Clare County Council, on free phone 1800245426. The closing date for receipt of application forms to get on the Register is Monday 10th October next.

Photographic Exhibition at Kilrush Public Library

The Kilrush Tidy Towns Committee is currently displaying 52 photographs comprising ‘Kilrush sunsets’, street scenes, flowers and animals, which were photographed by local people, who entered the competition during the summer. This colourful exhibition can be viewed at Kilrush Public Library from 26th September to 10th October.

Children’s Book Festival 2011 begins

Staff at Clare County Library are looking forward to welcoming book lovers from all over the county to a library near you during a fun packed month of October. Authors Oisin McGann, Nicola Pierce, Judi Curtin, Bob Burke and Dolores Keaveney will be here, with a special treat for gaelscoileanna when Bridget Bhreathnach will bring her newly published book Lúlú agus an Oúiche Ghlórach to the attention of 1st and 2nd classes in Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon.

Storytelling sessions come courtesy of the multi-talented Billy Teare and Kathleen O’Sullivan, and poetry will be presented in a novel and interactive way by Tony Maude through his sessions featuring a unique blend of songs, riddles, cats and Shakespeare!

Dr. Fred Freeman, a historian of Scottish song as well as a renowned bagpiper, brings his show Burns for Bairns to children of senior classes. His workshops provide an introduction to Scotland’s bard Robert Burns through singing, tapping-out rhythms, listening and questioning. Freeman’s presentation has been described by teachers from Longford to Letterkenny as an excellent means of linking history and folk music. His presentations will also highlight the poetry and music traditions common to both Scotland and Ireland. Dr. Freeman will also present a lecture to adults in Scariff Library on the evening of Friday the 21st October.

Michael Moylan’s Irish History Live show brings his audiences a museum full of artifacts. Try out the uniforms worn during the Easter Rising or examine the weapons of World War 2 in a hands-on show that’s guaranteed to fascinate children in senior classes in Ennis, Tulla, Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay libraries.

Music Workshops facilitated by John Lillis will focus on educating, entertaining and inspiring children in 5th and 6th classes in a musical environment. John is currently employed as the Music Project Manager at Clare Youth Service and has extensive and comprehensive experience of working with young people in musical environments. The workshop will feature hiphop and DJ culture and the class will use urban music as an introduction to current music technology and alternative ways of artistic expression. Building confidence and respect will be inherent in the workshop, as the children will be encouraged to create their own raps, perform their own music in front of others and work in teams to try and achieve the goals set out in the class.

Adrirenne Geoghegan’s illustration workshops will inspire participants to use everyday objects symbolically, suggestively and decoratively to produce amazing illustrations. Adrienne is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books. In her own words she sculpts her stories painting, drawing, building, constructing and assembling using a mixed media palette. Dogs Don’t Wear Glasses, Who Needs Pockets and Fancy That are some of the titles of Adrienne Geoghegan's published picture books.

And as usual there’s children’s puppet theatre. The world-renowned Miriam Lambert Puppet Theatre will perform The Gingerbread Man with the constant objective of the company to introduce young audiences to the imaginative puppet world, to entertain and stimulate. Having hosted Miriam’s production of the Goldilocks and The Three Bears in 2008, Clare County Library is confident that this will be guaranteed.
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