Category: News

INFLATION is a word no-one wants to hear anymore but, for one Clare man, it’s a word that is music to his ears. At the weekend, Boris Hunka from Killaloe held the first concert ever to be put on in Ireland in an inflatable theatre.

Ireland’s first fully inflatable arts venue – the Pop-up Playhouse – was launched in Killaloe with performances by Juliet Turner and John Spillane as well as Size 2 Shoes, who were joined by soul six-piece Hunka Burning Love, fresh from their performance at the Europa League Final and the Killaloe Ballina Gospel Choir.

Musician and teacher Boris started looking into how a venue could be provided for the town without quite knowing what he was looking for, he told The Clare People .

“We (the music school) put on a lot of our own performances and that was the initial impetus. There really was no venue in Killaloe where you could stage a big performance. I started looking into how we could have one and it was one of those things on the net when you find what you’re looking for before you even know what it is you’re looking for,” said Boris.

Boris came across a company in China who specialised in making inflatable structures and he started cor- responding with them to see if they could provide something that would meet the requirements of a theatre.

“We were going back and forth for a long time but, eventually, they came up with a plan for what we wanted and it went from there,” he said.

The Playhouse takes the concept of the Spiegeltent – a mobile, stylish, portable venue – into the 21st century.

It takes the best part of a day to prepare the floor and lay it out flat on the ground but, once that is done, it takes just one hour to inflate and it can accommodate up to 500 people if all three sections are used.

“It’s also a structure which only requires financing when it’s actually being used. When it’s being stored on the back of a truck, it’s not using electricity or costing rates,” said Boris.

Leader funding helped pay for the structure, which cost less than € 60,000, as it will be used to provide rural communities with performances of music and theatre.

It is 15m wide, 27m long, 5m high, constructed out of .65mm fireproof PVC with an internal wall dimension of 1m – and can be assembled on any flat surface.

“On the outside, the structure looks part sci-fi, part inverted bouncy castle whilst on the inside it is an otherworldly feel with wooden flooring, velvet curtains, sound system, stage lights, vintage jukebox, inflatable sofas and an illuminated bar. The structure is also equipped with a fullsize cinema screen and a silent disco set-up,” said Boris.

Boris plans for the theatre to be inflated and running in Killaloe for the whole month of July while it will be also be visiting Lahinch, Kilkee and other venues over the summer.

The structure can also be used in smaller modules of one or two sections.

“I know this is the only one of its kind in Ireland and the Chinese manufacturers admitted they had never made one on this scale before. But now we have a theatre that can bring performances to small communities anywhere.”

COUNTY Clare’s spiritual heritage walks through the eyes of modern ecumenical Christians will take place during the coming weeks. Clare Christian Heritage walks, Ar bóthar na Naomh, has, in the past, attracted both local residents and people from further afield, including Northern Ireland and England.

The walks have a historical, archaeological and spiritual input, some of which is provided by expert guides and some developed through the skills of those who participate.

The organiser is Dr Rosemary Power, a historical and folklorist, who is also a local minister working on behalf of the Methodist Church.

The first walk will take in some of the most scenic parts of East Clare; Inis Cealtra, Holy Island on Lough Derg, on June 11. A White Sunday walk, entitled, ‘Walking the Shannon’, will take place the following day.

Walkers will move to the Burren on June 18 and 19. They will take in the stretch from Noughval to Kilfenora on June 18 and further parts of the Burren will be visited the following day. Both walks will end with an informal service in Saint Fachnan’s Medieval Cathedral Church.

On July 9 and 10, walks will take place in West Clare – Scattery Island and Loop Head. Both will close with celebrations in Kilkee Methodist Church. On July 30 and August 1, walkers will move to the Corofin and Parkanbinna areas.

Similar walks have taken place over the past two years and have attracted a wide range of age categories,from very young people to more mature adults. “This is our third year. We have always covered different parts of the countryside,” she said.

“It has been very, very positive,” she added. “I think sometimes that religion helps people to focus on what is valuable in life. People have lost the sense of belonging to the land and are hoping to get that connection back.

“There is a very positive sense of the strength of the spiritual in our lives and to explore our relationship with what is around us.”

According to Ms Power, the aim is to keep the pace of the walks relatively easy. Prayers will be said along the route, while singing will also form part of the events.

There will be regular breaks along the route and Dr Power will present talks on the historical importance of some of the places of interest along the way.

“The focus will be on both religion in the wider spiritual sense and the valuing of the religious of the past and exploring the spiritual in our lives today,” she said.

“It is ecumenical – open to people of any Christian tradition,” she said.

Anyone looking for further information on the various walks should contact Dr Power on 087 9888 508.

TEACHERS and parents along with students past and present gathered on Sunday to celebrate the official opening of the recently renovated 16-classroom Barefield National School.

Completed last year, work on the latest extension at the school included the construction of eight new classrooms, six special education teaching rooms, a general purpose/sports hall and multi-purpose rooms, stores, offices, toilets, boiler room, separate external store and a new roadside drop-off zone, as well as a new sewage system.

Work on an initial eight-classroom school was completed in 1997 with previous developments taking place at the site in the 1950, 1993, 1995 and 1996. The school has been a part of community life in Barefield for 115 years. Sunday’s ceremony was attended by staff, members of the board of management, parents association, local priest Fr Jerry Carey and local politicians.

Ronan Connolly, chairman of the board of management, said, “We are justifiably proud of having played our part as the Executive of the school who saw this project through to fruition and I thank all my fellow Board members for their countless hours of unselfish and voluntary dedication in achieving this outcome. We only could do so, however, as a result of the huge level of support and guidance we received from all of the relevant stakeholders who have vested their time and energies in this project.”

Mr Connolly also paid tribute to the work of principal John Burns and said that the school building project “exhibits very clearly all the wonderful attributes of the Irish meitheal concept and the force which a volountary community of parties working together can generate”.

He continued, “We were fortunate indeed to receive the necessary Government funding to allow this very positive development to proceed at a time when our country is sadly blighted with so much financial pain and negativity and the new school represents a wonderful beacon of hope for the future”. Michael Butler, chairperson of the parent’s association, said, “As parents of the children who attend Barefield National School, we know how fortunate we are to have such a dedicated team of people who look after our children’s education and development on a daily basis. Up to now, the conditions were not as we would have liked them to be. Now, however, with the opening of the new school, we can be truly proud of what is a first-class and future-proofed environment in which they will receive their education.” John Burns, principal, said that a striking feature of life at Barefield National School has been the “continuing generosity displayed by parents over the decades in supporting a range of activities at our school”. He said, “Barefield National School is a focal point for our community, educating generations of girls and boys since 1895. Our school’s close link with our community has always been an important feature of our growth and development over the years.”

FORMER pupils of Barefield National School fondly recalled their schooldays as the school marked its latest milestone on Sunday.

Sr Kitty Baker attended the school between 1925 and 1932. Her thoughts are contained in a memorial booklet produced by the school to mark the official opening of a new school extension. Sr Baker recalled walking five miles to school often through fields and bogs.

She said, “We had nice teachers, Master O’Riordan and Mrs O’Driscoll. The Master was a very good singer and he taught the choir. Mrs. O’Driscoll taught us sewing and knitting which I loved. I was not too good at the Irish but I was good at arithmetic and the teacher often gave me a pencil or a rubber as a reward. My sister Nelly was the best in her class.”

Sean Howard, who attended the school in the 1930s, explained his family’s long connection with the school. Sean, whose grandchildren now attend the school stated, “Barefield school has always been very near and dear to me and my family. My grandfather, John Howard, was the headmaster in Barefield National School from circa 1864 to 1907. In the early years, the school was located in the grounds where the church now stands and in later years (1895) the ‘new school’ was built in Drum- quin.”

John Butler lived in a cottage in Ballymaley with his father, mother and brother, Michael. He was a pupil at Barefield National School in the 1960s.

“Back then, rural electrification had not arrived in Barefield so we did not have electricity or running water, just candles and oil lamps and we carried water from a spring well for drinking and cooking and took water from a barrel off the roof for washing etc”, he recalled.

Bríd Baker was a student at the school from 1983 to 1991. “The highlight of the year had to be our sports evening. We paraded from the school behind the marching band up to the small sports field where all the events took place. A boys and girls relay team were picked from this to represent the school in the parish sports competing against Doora National School and Knockanean National School,” she recalled.

AN ENNIS man who has played an active role in youth services in Clare for over 10 years has been elected to the board of Youth Work Ireland.

Glen Guilfoyle became involved with Clare Youth Service (CYS) as a young child participating initially in the Summer Camps Programme before joining his local youth club as a teenager. He was an active member of the Cloughleigh Youth Club where he excelled in debating.

He participated in national and international youth exchanges and represented the youth service at a number of international conferences. As a teenager, Glen was active as a senior member ( junior leader) in the youth club and volunteered with the youth cafe ‘Elmo’s Attic’ and the Summer Camps Programme for several years.

At 18, Glen became an adult volunteer with the Cloughleigh Youth Club and the HUB Cafe, which is an alcohol- and drug-free project for over18s. He remained an active volunteer throughout his years at college where he studied economics, sociology and politics.

He worked as the Welfare Officer in NUI, Galway Students’ Union from 2002 to 2003 before serving as the Welfare Officer for the Union of Students in Ireland from 2003 to 2004. Here he was responsible for representing and lobbying on behalf of third-level students as well as coordinating campaigns across 50 colleges.

He joined the staff of Clare Youth Service in 2005 where he worked primarily in Club Development and as an outreach worker on a number of projects targeting ‘hard to reach’ and ‘at risk’ young people. He has worked on both rural and urbanbased projects as well as in the area of volunteer support and training.

He left CYS late in 2010 and is currently working in a community-based youth project in Limerick City.

The board of Clare Youth Service proposed Glen for the YWI board. Margaret Slattery, CEO said, “Glen is a strong candidate and will be a real asset for the board of Youth Work Ireland. His wide experience of the realities of volunteering and working in the sector combined with his education and prior work experience make him an ideal candidate.”

As a co-ordinating and development agency for youth services throughout the country, Youth Work Ireland has, since 1962, sought to give voice to the needs and aspirations of young people, to support and encourage trained volunteers and staff and ultimately, to improve the quality of life for young people in the context of community based youth services.

A WEEK after the Queen’s historic state visit to Ireland, a city bearing the Royal Charter has emerged as the biggest obstacle to the € 30m windfall that would come to Ennis if it plays host to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2012. The Clare People has learned that moves are being made within elements of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to bring the traditional music festival to Northern Ireland for the first time in its history, with Derry emerging as a possible venue to play host to the 2013 Fleadh.

Sources within Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann have told The Clare People that any decision to bring the Fleadh to Derry in 2013 when it will be UK City of Culture could scupper Ennis’ 2012 bid.

“If it goes to Derry, the chances of it coming to Clare in 2012 will recede,” one Comhaltas insider revcaled this week.

“This is because the usual thing is for a town to get the Fleadh two years in a row, but giving it to Derry will strengthen Cavan’s bid to be given the Fleadh for a third year in 2012 before they would then hand over to Derry the following year.”

The precedent for Cavan to be given the Fleadh three years in succession is there as Tullamore hosted the festival in 2007, ‘08 and ’09, but Ennis is still seen as favourite to host what would be the 62nd staging of the event.

“Ennis put in a great bid,” the Comhaltas member revealed. “And it’s between Ennis and Sligo, unless this Derry thing takes off and happens, which is now a real possibility. But Comhaltas could be split on the issue. There are elements who want to bring the Fleadh to the north and the good- will of the Queen of England’s visit to Ireland in last week could strengthen that view, with traditional music seen as another bridge between Ireland and Britain.

“However, there are elements of Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann in the north who don’t what the festival in Derry in 2013, principally because it’s the British City of Culture and principally because the Fleadh is an Irish festival,” the spokesperson added.

The Ennis bid to host the 2012 Fleadh, which would be worth an estimated € 30m to the county, was launched in April when the local committee that draws together the local branch of Clare Comhaltas, Clare County Council, Clare GAA, Ennis Town Council and Shannon Development met with Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann chiefs.

The Clare submission identified 25 venues in Ennis that would facilitate the 2012 event that would cater for up to 200,000 music lovers from across the world, with new Clare County Council headquarters on New Road designated as the hub of operations.

Ennis previously hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 1956 and 1977.

THE founder of a local charity shop has started a new project aimed at giving disadvantaged children a chance to play music. Mary Moroney of the Somalia Shop is looking for donations of musical instruments.

Founded by Mary in 1992, the shop, which trades in second-hand goods, supports local and international aid organisations, including Clare Haven House, the Clare branch of Alzheimer’s Ireland, and others. Mary explained that while money has been raised for charities operating in Africa and Eastern Europe, the shop has also been strongly supportive of local causes and groups.

She said, “With the recession hitting hard down here, we are committed to helping our local causes. In fact, we’re trying to bring some joy to under-priviliged children by collecting and donating musical instruments. We hope to continue with this project for some time.”

Mary added that the shop are always looking for donations. She said that there are also plans to hold an auction at the shop in the coming weeks.

For more details on the music project or any of the work done by the Somalia Shop, contact Mary at 065 6824882.

RUAN musician Tara Breen is living the dream she never had – within the space of five days, she’s showcased her considerable talents as one of the hottest prodigies in traditional Irish music before two of the most recognisable figures in the world.

On Thursday, the 21-year-old played before the Queen of England in Dublin Castle, while on Monday she moved down the road to College Green to play for US President Barack Obama.

“I can’t believe it really,” she told The Clare People on Monday. “To get the opportunity to play before one of them was great, but to be one of the few people for both the Queen and President Obama is unbelievable.

“I feel very privileged to have been given the chance. To be honest, I’m still in shock over it and it probably won’t sink in for a couple of weeks that I got the chance to play for them. It’s certainly a great memory to have,” she added.

The invitation to perform before Queen Elizabeth came from legendary traditional and folk musician Dónal Lunny, whose 2010 TG4 talent show called Lorg Lunny first exposed Ms Breen’s talents to a nationwide audience.

The programme led to the formation of the Ciorrus, a traditional group that also includes Clareman Dermot Sheedy that launched its debut album at last year’s Ennis Trad Festival.

“We got the call for the Obama gig,” Breen told The Clare People . “We were just told to be there at 3.30pm to play on College Green at 5pm. Coming so soon after playing for the Queen, it’s great.

“It was absolutely brilliant to play before the Queen. I don’t usually get nervous before playing a gig, but was petrified beforehand. Once we started, the nerves went and I really enjoyed the performance. Afterwards we got to meet her and I found her very ordinary. We were introduced to her and shook her hand. She had the banter with us and said she loved the music and the dancers,” she added.

THERE’S was no chance for President Barack Obama to echo the famous words of “seeing old Shannon’s face again” – used by President John F Kennedy on the runway of Clare’s international airport as he left Ireland in 1963 after his historic State visit.

The airport link was still present in Moneygall on Monday on the double. President Obama spoke of drinking Guinness in Shannon when he made a whistle-stop visit to his ancestral home during his brief one-day stay in Ireland, while a former Scariff Garda told of his brush with the Kennedy clan at the airport 44 years ago.

Garda Mick O’Dwyer was on duty in Shannon in 1967 when President Kennedy’s wife, Jackie, daughter Caroline and son John Jnr left Ireland through the airport after holidaying in Waterford.

“There was a massive crowd and we were trying to hold them back,” he re- called of the Kennedys’ visit.

“She (Jackie) had a hold of the two children by the hands and the young fella, John Jnr, had a small plastic bucket with seashells and a book. He passed by me and this little book entitled Spr ings of India n Wisdom

THE first step towards the establishment of the first all-Irish secondary school in the county is being taken by the Clare Vocational Educational Committee, on foot of a mounting campaign by Irish language enthusiasts.

As part of this process, Clare VEC has embarked on a wide-ranging consultation process with members of the public on the future status of Ghaelcholáiste an Chláir in Ennis, an arm of Ennis Community College that has catered for the needs of those wishing to receive secondary education through Irish for nearly two decades.

The move by Clare VEC is in direct response to a decision taken last year to accept in principal a proposal to create a new standalone secondary school in Ennis where every subject would be taught through the medium of Irish.

“The Gaelcholáiste currently shares resources with Ennis Community College such as the science lab and music rooms. But it is short of space and, because of its reliance on the facilities of the community college, it is challenging to provide an Irish-speaking environment and the provision of all subjects to Leaving Certificate through Irish,” a VEC spokesperson

“Clare Vocational Education Committee is exploring several options to further develop and expand Gaelcholáiste an Chláir if there is sufficient demand,” the spokesperson added.

As part of the VEC survey to take place between now and deadline date of June 17, respondents are being asked their views on whether the Gaelcholáiste “should establish independent status and move to its own campus”, or whether the school “should remain as it is, operating within Ennis Community College”.

This project to establish all-Irish secondary education was born in 1993 when Ghaelcholáiste an Cháir opened. Since then the school has built up to a full 6 year secondary cycle with an annual intake of approximately 30 pupils.

The project was initiated by parents and involved polling parents of potential pupils as well as supporting the Vocational Education Committee and Department of Education to find the way to fund the project.