This article is from page 25 of the 2007-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
THE month of July attracts ex-Pats back to the west Clare peninsula, as a nine-day festival celebrates all that is good about its unique traditions and abuse
Many visitors to the peninsula now plan their holidays around the Loop- head Gathering Festival once the date is set in September. This year is no exception, as thousands of people are expected in the village.
The hard working committee have again embraced their heritage and history with a unique line up of ac- tivities, which includes the opening of yet another part of the remembrance garden and the launching of a book of recipes, old cures, and old household tips.
On Sunday the bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh will celebrate mass in the famous Church of the Lit-
tle Arc in Kilbaha before the crowd move to the Garden of Remembrance for the unveiling of two new pieces of oqUbholAbuss
The first piece reflects on the “yel- low men” who perished in a ship- wreck approximately 150 years ago and also remembers all who lost their lives at sea.
Entitled the teardrop it was designed by Michael McTigue.
The second pieces is “the flame of freedom” remembering all of those involved in Irelands movement for in- dependence throughout the centuries.
There is little superstition sur- rounding the festival organisers as it all starts on Friday 13 with the John Kelly Traditional concert in Kilbaha Hall at 8pm.
John Kelly was born in 1912 in Rehy and his earliest influence came from his mother and his uncle fiddle player Tom Keane from Kilclogher.
He played music at many local func- tions before moving to Dublin in 1945 where he remained until his death in 1989. He had a shop in Capel Street called the Horseshoe which became a meeting place for many traditional musicians.
He played regularly with his sons in Slattery’s of Capel Street, and accom- panied many well known musicians including the Dubliners.
John Kelly was also an original member of Ceoltoiri Cualann with Sean O Riada and later a member of Ceolt6iri Laghainn with Eamon De Buitleir.
On Friday a number of acts includ- ing John Kelly, Pat Good and Liam Kennedy, John Mc Evoy and Jacinta Peadar Crotty, Peter and Oisin Han- rahan, Deirdre Cotter, the Mc Don- agh Brothers and Marty Marrinan will bring song, music and dance to the stage.
The now traditional cultural parade with the theme “Rolling back the years” will take place on Saturday.
Visitors can also look forward to Currach racing, traditional music, dance and song workshops, music, Mass in the graveyard and many more activities during the festival, which will last until Sunday, July 22.
‘There is something for everyone in this festival all we need are the peo- ple and the weather to enjoy a great week of festivities on the Loophead Peninsula. There is a fishing boat working out of Kilbaha for day trips to keep you busy during the day and Dolphin watching and shore fishing from Ross. You can also take a walk around the famous Loophead Light- house and take in the panoramic view of the Shannon Estuary on one side and the broad Atlantic on the other,’ said Margaret Carey Considine, Sec- retary Loophead Gathering Festival.