Month: July 2008

RESIDENTS in several housing estates in Shannon do not have ad- equate parking spaces, while oth- ers have a lack of vehicular access to the rear of their homes. That was the message delivered last week by county councillors in the Shannon area, who called for measures to be

taken to address the issue.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) said there was “chaos” in O’Brien Park on occasions.

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independ- ent) said that a similar situation exists in De Lacey Park and said that that estate, along with Purcell Park, Col- lins Park and O’Brien Park should be looked at.

“Every house now has at least two cars,’ he said.

Cllr Flynn said that some house- holders in Cill Cais were “crying out for an entrance to the back of their houses. These older parts of Shannon are isolated and for a lot of older peo- ple, they can’t get in the front or the back,” he said.

Clare County Council Senior Ex-

ecutive Engineer Donal Hogan said that communal parking is the way to go in future, in high density develop- Ne

“It would take an awful lot of funding to retrofit those particular situations. I can’t see myself getting money to put rear access roads to houses and there is a lot more than Cill Cais,” he said.

TWO Shannon men who are endeav- oring to run 12 marathons in as many months have reached the half-way mark and will take on their seventh challenge this weekend.

Darren O’Connell (32) and Alan Mullin (30) from Tullyglass, Shan- non, will run the Swiss Alpine marathon on Saturday. It is part of a challenge aimed at raising money for Cystic Fibrosis.

A friend of theirs died from the condition several years ago and they are hoping that the people of Shan- non will recognise their huge efforts in this challenge.

Over the past six months, the two have run in Zurich, Rome, Valencia

and Norway, along with a couple of runs in Ireland. After Switzerland, WEA SUUENiom alu IOM e(KIl ene stounbre Dublin, New York and Lisbon.

Their last run was on flat ground in Norway. Alan finished in four hours and three minutes, while Dar- ren came home in four hours and 12 minutes.

‘The marathon itself was fine. Get- ting there and home was a bit of a nightmare. We had to travel to two airports and it was tough going,” said PETE

Both have managed to come through the mammoth challenge relatively unscathed and despite nig- gling injuries, have both been lucky enough to stay in good health. This is important, given the high level of

intensity involved.

“The Swiss Alps this weekend will be pretty tough. It is the highest alti- tude marathon in Europe. It will be either very hot or very cold,” added Darren. The rest of the runs will be city marathons,’ he said.

While Alan trains in Dublin, where he is based, Darren does most of his training in Shannon and Cratloe. He also took part in the 10k run in Bun- ratty two weeks ago, in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital for sick children in Sate

Allied to the running, the two have also been raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. They have collected up to €7,000 so far and hope to increase this substantially, as the final runs Zhe) Keene

“We had two days of bag packing last week in Dunnes Stores (Shan- non) and collected €3,500. We were delighted with that. All of the money is going directly to Cystic Fibrosis. We are playing all of our expenses out of our own pockets,’ he added.

The duo will approach businesses in the Shannon area later this year, with a view to encouraging them to help out with funds. They will also hold a number of fundraisers, in- cluding a table quiz in the Oakwood Arms Hotel, Shannon, in October.

THE line up for this year’s Scariff Harbour Festival is promising to be one of the most exciting and varied Woe

Music, drama, comedy, family fun day, stalls and festival atmosphere is promised over the festival weekend, August | to 3 and in the run up to it.

In one fun event, The Floating The- atre Company, who operate from a restored barge are running week-long workshops in theatre, music technol- ogy, and art and costume design in the week before the festival.

The workshops, for children aged 10 up will be conducted by trained professionals and will culminate in a theatre performance incorporating the work of all the participants at the official opening ceremony on Friday, August 1, at 6pm in Scariff Harbour.

The theme of the voyage is an ex- ploration of the myths and legends of the Scariff and Shannon waterways, specifically the legend of “The Sons of Tuireann”’.

A nominal fee will be charged for each participant for the full week.

There are still some places remain- ing for the workshops so anyone 1n-

interested should call in to O’Meara’s Pharmacy to pick up a leaflet.

In another unique event, volunteer of the Niall Mellon Township In1- tiative, Gerry McNamara will recon- struct a typical township dwelling at his home on the Dock Road for visi- tors of the Scariff Harbour Festival to view.

Gerry is one of seven volunteers who have given their time and labour every year since the project started.

He has worked as a carpenter, constructing sustainable houses for shack dwellers in the Capetown area of South Africa at Imizamo Yethu,

Mfuleni and Freedom Park town- Sethe

The 2008 Building Blitz will take place in the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town and Gerry intends to travel again this year and needs to raise at least €5,000 to pay for the trip and to contribute to the cost of building materials.

There will be a sale on the day to raise cash for the cause and the or- ganisers are calling on all cake, bread and jam makers, green-fingered gar- deners and nursery owners to sup- port him by donating their produce for sale on the day.

IF EVER Guinness goes out of busi- ness, barman Joe Sciascia will be worth a fortune.

Joe would be the first to tell you he’s more of a collector than a bar- man, and he has what must be one of the largest collections of original Guinness and old advertising signs in the country.

He’s lost count, but there are up- wards of 5,000 pieces of advertising memorabilia, between signs, ciga- rette cartons, tobacco tins and other items passed over bar counters in years gone by.

So vast is his collection, that Joe quips that the Old Mill Bar in

O’Briensbridge, which he runs with his wife Kathleen and step-daugh- ter Clodagh “was bought so I would have somewhere to put it”.

The Old Mull recently won the Licensing World magazine’s, Bar Awards, in the Best Country Bar cat- OMe

Joe claims no glory for the win, “It’s the hard work that Kathleen and Clodagh put in – I’m no great shakes this side of the bar.”

Whatever about his bar skills, as a collector you wouldn’t doubt Joe. He started 25 years ago and has been scouring car-boot sales, markets and second-hand shops ever since.

“I find stuff everywhere and cus- tomers bring things in as well. I have

my own little museum here.”

Joe’s imagination was caught by the old advertising and he particu- larly loves his collection of “original – not reproductions” of the John Gil- roy Guiness ads, featuring the “See What One or Toucan Do” and “Guin- ness is good for you” themes.

Some of his signs are now almost a century old.

“Advertising and packaging was far more decorative before TV. It had to make a visual impression. It’s not like that anymore. You wouldn’t col- lect most of the packaging they use Old

Joe and Kathleen took over the pub ten years ago and since have invested €300,000 to bring it back to it’s old

(ey ule meso ate

“The old pubs are dying out. We wanted to keep the old character here and the old ads and signs fit in with that,’ said Joe.

The family is delighted with the AEN KOR

“It’s not one of these that you can go online and buy – there are a lot of those out there. The judges liked the place, though I’m surprised they saw anything, there were so many peo- ple here at the time. They arrived on Sunday when we were doing lunch.”

PEOPLE involved in the tourism business in east Clare have been celebrating, having — successfully completed a rural tourism course. The participants in the course were drawn from various sectors and were presented with their certificates at a special ceremony.

Meanwhile, the east Clare tourism organisation has welcomed the de- cision to extend the boundary of a tourism tax incentive scheme to take in the Lough Derg area as far as Kil- EW eyon

‘Tourism is an important part of our rural economy and we need eve- ry support we can get, particularly in the current challenging climate so

we were very pleased that this part of Clare is now included and quali- fies under the scheme,’ said Teresa Browne of the East Clare Tourism.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has just launched a new tax relief scheme for certain tourism facilities in the mid-Shannon area which includes areas in counties Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath.

The scheme is being managed by Failte Ireland and Shannon De- velopment. Projects eligible under the new scheme include; education tourism facilities, visitor attractions, cultural facilities, wellness and self development facilities and amenities, facilities for water-sports activities, outdoor activity centres, equestrian

facilities, certain restaurants and cafés, boat rental and inland cruising facilities, training facilities for ad- venture centres and registered holi- day camps. They can be new projects or refurbishment to existing ones.

Relief is available by way of capital allowances over seven years for qual- ifying construction and refurbish- ment expenditure. Capital allowance will be granted at a rate of I5 per cent per year for the first six years and 10 per cent for the seventh year. The qualifying period of the scheme is three years, but applications must be made within one year of the start of the scheme.

During the launch event the Taoi- seach announced a new board to assess projects submitted under the

new scheme. The board includes John King and Joan Reynolds, both of Shannon Development.

Full details on the new scheme can be found in guidelines issued by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tour- ism in consultation with the Muinis- ter for Finance which can be viewed and downloaded at www.arts-sports- tourism.gov.ie, www.shannondevel- opment.ie; and www.failteireland.ie.

A GROUP which offers support to polio survivors and which 1s spear- headed by a voluntary board of 11 people, including Whitegate man, Hugh Weir, is the most recent char- ity to avail of a special telephone net- working service which makes com- munication easier.

The Post Polio Support Group, a national organisation with almost 750 members around the country is using the Commmunity Network system to keep in touch and for tel- econferencing.

Community Network Ireland is a unique service specifically for the voluntary sector, linking groups by phone so that people can be part of a support group regardless of their mo- bility or geographic location.

Supported financially and techni- cally by BT, the service also allows colleagues in the voluntary sector to stay in touch and attend meetings by providing them with an operator-led conference call service.

The Post Polio group has a number of members in Clare including Hugh in Whitegate and some in Killaloe.

Hugh said, “Many of our members

have decreased mobility and are get- ting on in years.

“They find it difficult to get out to our support group meetings, especial- ly during the winter months which can be very isolating for them.”

The Whitgate man added that the, ‘“PhoneChat, the name we gave to the service, allows polio survivors chat together on a regular basis and is a good example of peer support in ac- none

“The group can share information, exchange ideas or even just listen to each other.

“Working with Community Net-

work Ireland allows BT to offer its unique professional expertise to help build these communities through bet- ter communications,’ a BT spokes- man said.

Carmel O’Connor, Corporate and Social Responsibility Manager, BT added, “Not only is this service the first of its kind in Ireland, it’s a sim- ple and straightforward service that helps create opportunities for social inclusion and positive community engagement so that no matter where you live, what age you are or how mobile you are, you should not feel isolated or alone.”

that St Michael’s Community Col- lege in Kilmihil is the only second- ary school in the county that does not have traffic calming measures.

“Flashing lights need to be put d1- rectly in front of the school and on the approach,” he said.

He said it was a health and safety concern to have a school of approxi- mately 300 students and no measures to reduce the speed of on coming meena blen

Cllr Curtain was a teacher in the school for 29 years, before he retired. The mixed school is close to a junc- tion and on a local road with the ac- quired speed limit.

Cllr Curtain said that he has raised the issue on a number of occasions at County Council area meetings and would be doing so again next week.

He had been told that there was no funding as yet assigned to the project but funding would be sought.

Cllr Curtain believes that the issue is urgent, however, and must be ad- dressed immediately and certainly before the students return to school in September. “It is an immediate concern relating to road safety,’ he said. The area meeting will take place in Kilrush on Monday next.

THE Kilrush Art Group is making history as well as beautiful paintings this year.

The talented group are in their 25th year and are looking forward to an- other successful exhibition begin- ning at the end of the month.

A mixture of founding members and new citizens welcomed to the town from abroad makes up a dy- namic group with a variety of sub- jects and techniques.

For the first time ever the exhibi- tion will display work in ink, thanks to its newest member Annette Pasz- Zkowsta.

The Polish national has settled in the west Clare capital with her part- ner and baby and brings a new lease

of life to the group.

Avril Brand also brings an inter- national flavour to the group. The South African born artist will exhibit a number of paintings inspired by her homeland.

Cheetahs, lions and other animals not usually seen in west Clare will now adorn the walls in the Kilrush Library thanks to her vivid paint- TbNTSaSe

The number of new Irish in the group bring with them not just their talent but stories of their home Ee TiteKe

The Kilrush Art Group was formed by Connie Farrell. Three of the origi- nal members – Breda Clancy, Dodo Kelly and Jackie Black – are still painting with the group.

Of the 15 members in the club a

dozen will be exhibiting.

The paintings include acrylic, oil, water and ink and prices range from €65 to €1,/00.

“There is quite a few people that follow our paintings and will be some of the first through the door,’ said group member Pauline Dunleavy.

Many of these collectors follow the works of these keen amateurs and each year add a new painting to their growing collection.

The paintings that make up the 2008 exhibition feature scenery, ab- Stract, humans and for the first time ever animals.

Most if not all of the scenery paint- ings are inspired locally.

“You can’t go outside the scenery in west Clare. It is breath taking,” said Ms Dunleavy.

The Kilrush Art Group meet every Friday evening for three hours, and have a tutor visit twice a year. Some- times the group venture to east Clare for classes and workshops.

All new members are encouraged to join the sociable and friendly club by contacting Pauline in Anchor Crafts, Kilrush.

The exhibition opens in Kilrush L1- brary on Thursday, July 31, and runs until August 22 during library open- ing hours.

THE Eigse Mrs Crotty festival will be relying on the saying that 13 is lucky for some as the 13th year of the TTA eB Ne sll molocar mee materalhy| ey

The traditional music festival has grown to incorporate music, sing- ing and dancing workshops, open air céili, a Mrs Crotty memorial con- cert, singing sessions, recitals and a vibrant session trail.

Each year the festival welcomes more and more returning visitors to the annual event, which honours one of the town’s best-known daughters.

This year, as had been the trend for the last decade, organisers are hop- ing for even more visitors to the west Clare capital for the five-day festi- Vee

A unique atmosphere can be expe-

rienced in the market town, as the open air céili in the square become the focus on the event. This year “At the Racket” will headline at the Mrs Crotty memorial concert, which will also feature Dympna O’Sullivan and friends, Conor McEvoy and Padraic O’Reilly. The Eigse Session Trail is a new venture added to the festival this year.

The pubs in Kilrush will welcome sessions led by Tom Carey, Eamonn Cotter, John McEvoy and John Wynne, Chris Droney and Jacinta McEvoy, Dympna O’Sullivan, Joe Carey and Des O’Halloran, Paddy O’Donoghue, Mark Donnelan and Cyril O’Donoghue. There will be many other sessions ongoing in town throughout the festival.

Singing has grown to take a central part in the Eigse Mrs Crotty pro- gramme. Tim Dennehy, who is well

known for his classes at the Willie Clancy Festival will bring his sing- ing workshop to the mix and also lead what is considered a very popu- lar singing session in O’Brien’s Bar.

This year the festival will also be adding a sean nos singing workshop with Eamonn O Donnchadh.

The concertina workshops and mas- ter classes have been the backbone of the festival since it began and have been growing since. This year fiddle, flute, traditional and sean nos sing- ing, set dancing and sean nos danc- ing will be part of the line-up.

The open-air céili at the Square are warmly welcomed by the people of Kilrush and visitors to the festival as it hails the opening of the festival on the Wednesday evening. Céili also play an important part of the festi- val right up to the two ceilis on the LUTITOE Me

The five-day festival would not be possible without the hard work of the local committee and the influence of the talented Mrs Crotty.

Born Elizabeth Markham in 1885 near Cooraclare, Mrs Crotty, was the youngest of the large Markham fam- ily. By the time of her death in 1960 she had become recognised as one of Ireland’s foremost exponents of the concertina.

She married Miko Crotty and to- gether they established Crotty’s Pub- lic House in the Square, Kilrush. It was from this House of Music that Elizabeth Crotty’s reputation quietly erew. Ciaran MacMathuna’s first ex- cursion to rural Ireland in 1950s with RTE’s mobile unit was to record her talent for the first time.

The festival celebrating her legacy has grown steadily since the first weekend of music in 1995.

This year the talented singer wal be joined by Anthony Kearns of the

Irish Tenors.

This has been described as a real coup for the area as Anthony now spends much of his time performing in the States.

Described as a true lyrical tenor, he has an incredible agility and flexibil- ity of voice and the ability to colour notes gracefully and beautifully.

Kearns has a deep love of opera and a devotion to the genre, and feels that French and Italian operas best suit his voice.

His work includes a variety of music from the classics to traditional music. He was born in Kiltealy in County Wexford at the foot of the Blackstair Mountains.

The Wexford man came to promi- nence in 1993 when he won “Tre- land’s Search for a Tenor”.

After winning the competition, Anthony studied for three years with voice teacher, Veronica Dunne, at the Leinster School of Music.

He has toured Germany, Italy, Ire- land, and the United States to an en- thusiastic response and this August he will join Ms Nathan in Labash- rere

Regina’s career in opera, concert and recital has taken her from her native Ireland across Europe, and as far as Kuala Lumpur and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

She has appeared in some of the most famous opera houses in the world and sung major lyric soprano roles throughout her career.

A devoted recitalist, Regina’s tal- ents also embrace everything from classic Lieder to traditional Irish

eyes

She recently performed at the American Embassy in Dublin for the fourth of July party in front of 1,500 guests

SW stoma Come Dletlkmm sll mereyeCom Keyxcls sles for a must hear performance in St. Kieran’s Community Centre, La- basheeda on Saturday, August 9.

Accompanying music on the night will be provided by piano player Mairéad Hurley.

Due to seating requirements there are a limited number of tickets and those interested are asked to ensure they get their tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets cost €35 and are available from Paul at 065 6826578; Patricia at O87 6370223; Liam at 087 2220289 and John at 087 2941556.