This article is from page 37 of the 2007-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 37 JPG
KILBAHA is a small west Clare vil- lage that is proud of its history and traditions.
The tight-knit community has now made that unique history avail- able to tourists and visitors with two projects that bring the past to life and celebrates the creativity of the areas many artists.
Looking out on to the Atlantic is the newly completed Garden of Re- membrance and the year old Five Pi- lot Memorial.
The projects are the brainchild of the Kilballyowen Development Company and the work of the Rural Resourse Development Scheme.
Local men Eddie Fennell, John O’ Dwyer, Gerard Collins and Pead- ar Keniry are proud of the stonework that will ensure the two projects live
on for generations to come.
The beautiful stonewalls are built from local stone, with limestone flags underfoot.
The top of the wall is encrusted with beach stones giving the struc- ture a rope like effect.
The men’s stonework skills were also used to create a water feature in the shape of a milk churn at the front of the garden, and an open fireplace at the back.
A bog oak tree from Tulagher Bog makes up the centre of the bronze Diarmuid and Grainne sculpture.
The piece representing the two lov- ers whose story is part of the Loop- head folklore was designed and cre- ated by father and son team, Jim and Seamus Connolly.
Along the right hand wall, that has been created to look like a scroll, is the wroth ironwork of local man and
former teacher Paddy Murray.
The ironwork is made up of eight pieces reflecting seven moments in history for the peninsula.
Not surprising the Little Arc Church makes up part of the sequence under the title of “Religion”.
“Fishing” features artic explorer Captain Michael Brennan, while “music” features the late John Kelly and the Clare Set.
Two of the scenes depict traditional farming methods, with the scene on the “Irish language” featuring por- traits of Seamus O’Dea and Eugene O’Curry.
“Emigration” tells its own stark sto- ry aS women on the shore wave good bye to their sons and daughters.
It is his final scene entitled “Sport” that begins to tell a lot of the penin- sula’s hidden history. Depicted in the iron is Peter Foley who was a record
holding weight thrower from 1889.
Yet to be added to the garden are two pieces by Michael McTigue, re- flecting the history of the “yellow men” who perished in a shipwreck approximately 150 years ago and all who lost their lives at sea.
The second pieces is “the flame of freedom” remembering all of those involved in the Irish move towards Independence.
The Sides family, who have a hol1- day home nearby, donated the piece of land on which the garden was een ne