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TRADITIONAL music is once again coming to the fore in north Clare this July and August with the beginning of a number of weekly events organ- ised by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eire- AMOR

The Seisiun series of Summer mu- sic, dance and storytelling evenings has opened for the summer in En- nistymon and Corofin, with crowds of local and tourists in attendance to soak up some traditional Irish atmos- je) aston

“We have a total of about 25 musi- cians each night. The evening starts at 9pm and goes on to Ilpm. Well, it’s Supposed to finish at 11pm but we would often run a few minutes over

because of all the talent on show,” said John Moloney from the Ennisty- mon Branch of Comhaltas.

“The first hour is structured. We have music, dancing singing and storytellers. Then at 10 we break for some tea and a bite of brac. The second hour is totally informal. We give people the chance to get up themselves and sing a song or have a dance. It’s totally casual and eve- ryone is welcome to join in in the oe (one

Ennistymon’s Teach Ceoil is the venue on Monday evenings, while the emphasis shifts down the road to Corofin’s own Teach Ceoil on Thurs- day evening. Indeed sessions will take place in 32 venues throughout the country during the months of

July and August.

The Seisiin series prides itself on achieving the highest level of authen- ticity and avoiding any of the gim- micks that are sometimes associated with traditional Irish music for tour- TSA

“It is a really authentic experience. It’s an old-fashioned trad night. It’s like being invited into an old-fash- ioned Irish kitchen for a cup of tea, a song and a dance. It’s great for the locals but it’s even better for the tour- ists. We had a group of Norwegians in last week dancing and singing away, continued john.

“We run classes here during the winter in music, step dancing and set dancing. The Seisitn gives the people doing the classes a chance to

show off their stuff. We would get a lot of their parents and grandparents in to have a look and see how they have been getting along and what they have been learning.”

Admission costs €10 including tea and light refreshments. For more information, contact John Molo- ney (Ennistymon) at 065 7071467 and Peggy Liddy (Corofin) at 065 toe LOre

A DETERMINED crew of 16 young- sters from Scariff and surround- ing areas took off last Thursday on a mission of mercy to help rebuild lives shattered by a natural disaster.

Fishbowl America is the name the group of young people and adults choose for their mission to work in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area MOD RML UDO Sb Seles m

The group from east Clare and south east Galway are all members of the highly active Fishbowl Youth

Club in Scariff.

The club has a history of interna- tional work and have previously been involved in or hosted eight interna- tional projects.

This however is their most ambi- tious to date. The 16 volunteers will spend two weeks helping to rebuild one of the worst affected areas in the Gulf Coast.

They will concentrate their efforts in the town of Bay, St Louis situated on the coast of Mississippi.

Prior to Katrina the town had up- wards of 8,000 residents but the

buildings in the area were completely decimated by the hurricane and even now, two years on from the disaster, only a handful of residents have been able to return to the area.

The group have spent the last year organising the trip and carrying out a number of different fund raising events around the county to help pay SDMA AYA

The youngsters have done every- thing from baby-sitting to busking and even as late as Wednesday, they were on the streets of Ennis, playing guitar, singing their hearts out and

collecting.

“Its been a long year but we’ve put everything we had into raising mon- ey to go,” said group member, Fiacra aah

“Some of our ideas worked out better than others but we got there in the end and we’re really looking forward to getting there and getting stuck in.”

AN incredible 92 years in the mak- ing, Irish-American artist Ruth Mc- Namara-Duff stages her debut Irish exhibition at the Kenny Gallery in Lahinch this week.

Born in 1915, Ruth has worked as a professional artist in California all her life.

It was during a trip to her ances- tral home in Clare, however, that the creative seed for her latest series of work was sown.

““T visited Ireland in 2000, and went to the Cliffs of Moher. I was amazed at the beauty of them. I said, ‘when

I get home I’m going to paint LOO Cliffs of Moher’. I didn’t do quite 100 of them but it was a great inspi- ration to me,” she said.

“T have done a number of oils and watercolours of the cliffs. Even though they are similar in lots of ways, they are all very unique and CHES Keno) 0 me

Ruth’s grandmother, Ella Kennedy, left Clare at age 14, during the fam- ine, and sailed to San Francisco on a mammoth voyage through the Straits of Magellan on the southern tip of South America.

It was there that she met fellow Clare emigrant James McNamara,

who worked mining for gold in Grass Valley, and the pair gave birth to sev- en children, including Ruth’s father Owen.

“This journey is almost like I’m completing their journey back to Clare again. It’s like the end of a large circle. In a lot of ways, this trip is for my father,” she said.

“T feel that I wasn’t born myself un- til I was 40. I don’t think that I really found myself until then. You do get a different perspective on life.

“Right now, I am so eager to do things and to paint. I have a lot of canvases at home in my apartment and I know exactly what I want to do

with them.”

In total, Ruth has painted the Cliffs of Moher more than 60 times. She will show 15 pieces at the exhibi- tion, which she shares with Irish art- ists Tom Greaney, Roger McCarthy, Mary Horan, Michael Hanarahan, Deborah Donnelly, Marie Noonan McDermott, Carmel Madigan, Una O’Brien, Kate Beagan and Simone Walsh.

The exhibition features a wide range of styles and mediums and opened in Kenny’s Gallery Lahinch on July 21.

For more, check out www.lahin- chartgallery.com.

LAHINCH surfer Damien Conway added to his growing reputation with another finer performance in compe- tition at the weekend.

Irish international Conway was competing in the Inter Celtic Nau- tical Games in Brittany where he finished third in the under 18 long board section and fourth in the under 16 final.

Conway was a member of the Den- ny Irish Surf Team that traveled to France for the competition.

More than 700 competitors from 13 regions competed including the Isle of Man, Wales, Scotland, Brit- tany, Galicia, Asturias, the Basque country – Euskad1, Ireland, Cornwall

and Portugal, Normandy, the Canar- ies. The sports included rowing, sand yachting, surfing, kayaking, diving,

Rebates

The surfing contest kicked off on Sunday July 15 with two separate po- diums in operation. In the under 14 category James Garvey surfed first followed by larom Madden, both surfed well but were eliminated.

In the Ul6s Damien Conway won his heat and Aaron Reid finished 2nd, both surfers progressed to the semi finals.

In the Longboard final Conway was up against two surfers from Corn- wall and a Breton surfer. Surfing well Conway took third place and a bronze medal. In the under 16 final Conway competed against one surfer from Euskadi and two from Cornwall and although surfing well, finished fourth in a hotly contested final.

THE RAILWAY Bridge at Cratloe is a “ticking timebomb” it was claimed WT Lore) ©

But the cost of straightening out the treacherous bends on the ap- proach to the bridge and doing other works to make it safe would be in the order of one million euro, local councillors were told.

Cllr Cathal Crowe raised the mat- ter at a local area meeting of the council.

‘There is a 90 degree bend and a series of turns on the approach to this bridge that make it one of the

worst in the country. If ever there was a ticking time bomb, then this is one,” he said.

Cllr Crowe pointed out that there had already been an accident at the bridge, when a truck detoured be- cause of President Bill Clinton’s visit and became wedged under the bridge, demolishing part of it.

Senior Council Engineer, Sean Lenihan, said that the cost of rea- ligning the road and working on the bridge itself could be as much as one million euro.

“As far as Irish Rail are concerned, the bridge is operating perfectly well as a railway bridge so they will

not be putting any of their money into this. But what they have agreed to do is to get their designers to put the work in on the bridge aspect and if we get our designers to come up with a road plan, then we can look at where funding might come from.”

But the senior engineer warned that any solution to the problem will also depend on whether there may be other obstacles, such as whether the land is suitable for a road rea- lignment.

‘The engineers of days gone by had reasons for the way they did things and there may be reasons why the bridge and the approach is designed

the way it is. There may be obstacles or restraints we don’t know about and we won’t know until we look into it.”

In the meantime, the engineers agreed that they will see what meas- ures can be taken by way of signage or speed restrictions to warn drivers of the hazards.

Cllr Crowe recommended _ that there be “some sign which indicates to drivers to be prepared to stop. Lo- cal people are aware of the hazards if they meet another car but anyone who doesn’t know the area won’t be aware of that and there could be a dreadful accident”.

WHILE the poor weather is having a direct effect on the incomes of the thousands of people in the tourism and agriculture industries in Clare, it is also having effects, both directly and indirectly, on thousands more.

Reports on the ground indicate that Clare publicans have had a slower trade than normal so far this year, but only marginally so.

“Obviously it is down a bit but noth- ing compared to places like Dingle, where they are reporting close to a

50 per cent drop. It’s down a bit but not dramatically so, and it’s nothing that could not be levelled off with a good run at the end of the year,” said Michael Martin of the Clare Vintners Association.

“All we can do is hope for four or five good weeks and see what hap- pens. We were obviously getting wor- ried in June and at the beginning of July but things are starting to pick up again.”

However, those Clare people with shares in the C&C drinks group have lost more than 20 per cent of their in-

vestment in the company as its shares have plummeted in the last month.

In excess of €500 million has been wiped off the value of the company in a matter of weeks as a result of the poor performance of its headline product, Bulmers. Bulmers, or Mag- ners in the UK, is regarded by many consumers aS a Summertime drink and sales have been hit badly as a re- sult of the poor weather.

Meanwhile, people who suffer from mental illnesses such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), are not adversely effected by poor weather

condition. SAD is a form of depres- sion brought about by the change of seasons and affects roughly three per cent or almost 4,000 people in Clare.

“From our own experience here in Clare, it does not seem that there is an increased incidence of SAD dur- ing times of bad weather,’ said Denis Creedon, Director of Nursing for the Clare Mental Health Service

“Indeed, we haven’t heard of any weather-related increase in any men- tal health issue as a result of the weather, not in Clare at least,’ Ms Sie (oy ecy-s(ee

. We expect to make the right appointment. First of all we are look- ing for someone inside the county. That would be our preference – to get someone from within the county to

take over the management job with a management team preferably from within the county. We need a physi- cal trainer as well and he may have to be got from outside the county”.

The re-habilitation of Clare foot- ball begins in earnest next weekend when the club championship finally gets underway.

Any prospective manager will no doubt be traversing football venues across the county getting a close look at the resources available. Mc- Donagh says the board has plenty of time before making a decision, as the favoured candidates will already be intimately familiar with the club scene in the county.

Among those tipped to be in the frame are current selector Kieran Kelleher who guided Ennistymon to the intermediate championship in 2005. Former Clare captain Barry Keating, who along with Kelleher was part of Paidi O Sé’s backroom, is another expected to be involved.

Clare’s first and only football All Star Seamus Clancy, who has been making impressive strides with last year’s Intermediate champions and Munster finalists Corofin, 1s also tipped to form part of the team.

“We won’t rush into it until we have to get someone right for the job,” add- ed McDonagh. “We could get some- body and it may not work out. Any- body from within the county knows the football. They would know every footballer in Clare and they would be at all the matches anyway”.

The Chairman was also remaining tight-lipped on possible candidates but said consultation will take place with clubs before any final decision is taken.

‘“We’ve approached nobody yet. We are seeing who is interested and who isn’t. We may have to go to the clubs with it and get the clubs to see if there is anyone within their own system willing to get involved”.

On Paidi O Sé’s troubled tenure as Clare manager, McDonagh praised the Ventry man’s commitment to the job. O Sé’s appointment as Clare boss was announced in a whirlwind of publicity at a press conference in the Temple Gate hotel in late Novem- ber. He departed quietly, away from the glare of the spotlight, after de- feat against Antrim in the semi-final of the Tommy Murphy cup, before a handful of supporters in Cusack Park.

By then though the writing was on the wall. The nadir of a dire season occurred in May when Clare lost to Waterford in the Munster quarterfi- nal. McDonagh said O Sé had given as much as he could to Clare foot- ball.

“The bottom line is Paidi is a man with eight All-Irelands. He’s won All-Irelands as a manger. He was an exceptional manager with Kerry and I’m disappointed it didn’t work out in Clare, but he gave it as much as he could”’.

McDonagh also flatly denied sug- gestions that the appointment of a high-profile manager such as O Sé came at the wrong time for Clare football.

“No way. This thing that he was appointed too soon is coming from different angles. The bottom line is that we had to get a manager and we went for a top class manager at the time”’.

The search is still on and as the weeks unfold, the identity of O Sé’s successor should become clear.

THE much-loved Lambert Puppet Theatre from Dublin will take cen- tre stage at Scariff GAA Park on Saturday, August 4. This is part of an amazing afternoon of family fun organised in conjunction with Scar- iff Harbour Festival. Renowned pup- peteer Conor Lambert will entertain young and old with two showings of his unique 45 minute adaptation of ‘Punch and Judy’.

“This is comedy improvisation and stand-up at its best,’ said Karena O’Brien one of the organisers of the Family Fun Day, a day of entertain- ment and games which starts at 12 noon and runs until 4pm on the Sat-

urday of the bank holiday weekend. “Puppetry is enjoyed by everyone, it captures the imagination but most of all it gives audience participation a whole new meaning,” she said.

To add further colour to the after- noon, Toons and Balloons, a Ballina, County Mayo-based company has promised to provide a breathless afternoon’s entertainment. Bouncy castles, giant slide, bungee rodeo bull, shoot-out football game, giant twister game, costumed characters, air-dancer clown, novelty races and a wheel of fortune are among the fun events expected.

According to Joan Crotty, also a member of the organising team, a fantastic line-up of events is prom-

ised. “Our own Brendan McNa- mara, former All-Ireland Hurling medal winner and Munster Poc Fada Champion will stand in goals for our hurling penalty shoot-out. For the older children and adults there’s a rodeo bull, jumping sausages and pillow bash,” she said.

The Family Fun Day is sponsored by Supermacs.

Other festival events on the day include a Street Arts and Craft Fair, horse-drawn harbour tours and open- air traditional music session on the fair green throughout the afternoon with Doug Gibson on mandola, Ged Foley on fiddle, Paul Smith on flute and Clare Carey on mandolin.

Later in the evening, there will be

a Gaelic Football exhibition match when the Ballymacnab Round Tow- ers Football team from Armagh will take on west Clare. Traditional mummers from Co Fermanagh will take to the streets around 9pm while Rock Band Alter Ego and Mysteri- ous Ways, a well-known U2 Tribute Band will perform on the Fairgreen.

Launched in 2003, the annual Scariff Harbour Festival is an open- air, Street-based event showcasing the many attractions and amenities accessible from Scariff. Its aim 1s to promote the leisure and pleasure potential of Lough Derg, the inland waterways and the east Clare coun- tryside both among local people and visitors from further afield.

BUSINESSES in north and west Clare stand to lose millions in rev- enue due to bad weather over the summer periods.

Expert insiders claim that tourism numbers have already dropped by as much as 25 per cent in coastal areas this year, while numbers in Ennis and Shannon are reportedly on a par

to last year’s figures.

‘The impact could be as much as 25 per cent year-on-year. The de- crease is in the domestic market, the people have just not been coming,” said Michael Vaughan of Vaughan’s Lodge in Lahinch.

“It’s a problem from Kilkee right up to Lahinch, Liscannor and Bally- vaughan. It is hitting the hotels, the restaurants and the holiday homes.

In living memory, I cannot remem- ber a summer as bad as the one we are having.”

Indeed, the poor numbers holiday- ing in the west have seen a number of hotels being forced to drop their rates, despite large increases in ex- penditure due to inflation and in- creased fuel charges.

“I don’t think people are being let go yet. But extra people are not be-

ing taken on in the same way as they would in other years,’ continued Mr Vaughan.

“The CSO figures show that the people between 35 years and 45 years are not holidaying in Ireland and that is the sector who we are missing on the ground.

“It is thought that people in this age group may not be coming on holidays because of the increases in mortgage interest rates.

“I don’t think that this will have a long-term effect on the tourism product in Clare. It is an industry of swings and roundabouts, things op- erate on a cycle and will usually level themselves off over the course of a year or a few years.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Clare Tourism Forum told

AS THE Quilty fairground stalls cranked up after the final whistle, you could forgive the supporters for not rushing down to queue for the rides. Both sets of fans remained in the stand, taking in what was an entralling game and wondering if it would be decided by extra time and as the teams warmed down out in the field, both sets of management seemed content with a draw.

One man who kicked every ball on the sideline was selector James Hea- ly, a former Clarecastle dual player who now puts all his efforts into top- pling the magpies (Doonbeg, that 1s) as part of the Lissycasey revolution.

“Well we were worried because Doonbeg had a very, very good first half. In the secod half we improved and got a lucky goal but we are lucky to get out of it with a draw in the end.”

Doonbeg’s midfield dominance was also on Healy’s mind and he re- flected on how well the magpies did in the middle of the field.

“They troubled us. Doonbeg have a

very, good midfield unit with Frank O’Dea and Conor Whelan, both county lads and you know we strug- gled in a lot of sections in the field but we got it together in the end and we were fortunate to get the draw.”

The main talking point from the game was definitely the Nigel Dil- lon save with ten minutes remaining. A suberb full length block which he scrambled to the side and while the umpires were certain that it was not a goal, there were several Lissyca- sey appeals that perhaps the ball had crossed the line.

“Well there was questions whether it was a goal or not and some people were Saying it wasn’t but at the end of the day, we are very happy with the draw after trailing for most of the match.”

Doonbeg manager Tommy Tubri- ChVMM I ccWoee exe [UE DORM KETsIBASECCLO MMU AONE BEls draw even thugh his side seemed to have the game wrapped up, only for a defensive mistake to let Lissycasey back into the game.

“The goal I suppose came late but they were unfortunate that they could have had a goal got before that but

we are delighted because it is great preparation for our championship fixture this weekend and that’s what we are now really focused on.”

Lissycasey’s fightback was a worry for the long serving manager but now that the Cusack cup has been settled until after the champonship, he is adament that the emphasis is now firmly on winning back the Jack Daly trophy after six famine years, a barren run which 1s alien to the high standards which they set themselves in Doonbeg.

“They got on top in the second half for a while but we got it together again. We had a few injuries coming into the game so we came through the game alright without them but hopefully they will be back for this weekend’s championship, starting with Ennistymon on Saturday.”

On this showing, you wouldn’t bet against a repeat of this fixture in the championship final come October.