This article is from page 30 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
THEY are going to have a lot to shout about in Kilkishen next weekend.
The third annual Clare Shout Festi- val takes place over three days in the east Clare village from Friday next September 19 to Sunday September 21.
While the highlight of the festival will be the Clare Shout Competi- tion on Saturday night, a packed programme has been organised for the whole weekend, starting with a cheese and wine reception in the lo- cal GAA clubhouse on Friday night at 7.30 pm.
The opening lecture will be de- livered by Seamus MacMathuna of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann on ‘Clare Heroes of the Bow and the Caman’, a tribute in song, in music
and in words to the hurlers and mu- sicians of the Banner County. That takes place at 8.30 pm on Friday in the local GAA clubhouse.
The main event of the weekend will, of course, be the Clare Shout Competition on Saturday night in the village street. This year there will also be a competition for those under 16 and that takes place on Sunday be- tween 2 and 6 pm in the local GAA nto ee
Other events of the weekend will in- clude traditional music and singing, a spectacular fireworks display, photo competition, puppet show, novelty races for children and for their par- ents, a dog show, magician, fortune teller, hurling skills competition, turf packing, clothes line dash, parade led by Tulla Pipers’ Band, face paint- ing, welly throwing, snail racing and
much more.
The history of the Clare shout is shrouded in mystery but is believed to date back to pre-Celtic times in Ireland. Older people in parts of Clare recall watching people of an even older generaton facing the set- ting sun on fine autumn evenings while giving vent to a double-echo shout. This has led to the theory that the Clare shout may have been a form of autumnal worship in pagan times.
The shout is unique to Clare. It was a rallying cry that echoed around Clontarf when Brian Boru led the clans of Dal gCais into battle against the Danes on Good Friday 1014.
It was also raised as a war cry by the men of Clare’s Dragoons at Fon- tenoy and on other European battle fields. In later years it greeted the great Liberator Daniel O’Connell
when the people of Clare elected him as the first Catholic member of the British House of Commons.
The Clare shout was a particular favourite of the former President and Taoiseach Eamonn de Valera, TD for Clare for over 40 years, who was fas- cinatd by its unique double echo.
The famous shout got a great re- vival as Clare hurling shot to the top once again in the mid-nineties.