The Clare People Archive

AN OUTING involving 27 members of one family would be a big enough deal if the family were going down

the road for a picnic.

But 80-year old Eileen Springer from the US took the family outing concept to a whole new level when she brought the clan back to Cratloe, Galway and Kerry to revisit the fam- ily roots.

The Chicago octogenarian has wanted to give her family a gift of joining her on a trip to Ireland for

many years, her daughter in law Kit- ty Springer explained.

“This is something my mother in law has wanted to do for a long time. There’s so many of us that the easiest thing to do was to hire a bus to bring us all around,” said Kitty.

The party is made up of several generations, consisting of Eileen’s six children, their spouses and a gag- gle of grandchildren.

Eileen’s father, Patrick Cherry came from Cratloe and her great- erandfather from Galway, so the grand Springer tour started in Crat- loe last week.

“Her father, Patrick, came to the US in 1924 to become a priest but left before taking his final vows. He met and married Elileen’s mother in New York and the rest is history,’ said Kitty.

This trip was Kitty’s third visit to Ireland but she hadn’t been here for 33 years.

‘| have many cousins here and now this time, there were two new gen- erations to meet.”

The Springer family on tour visited east Clare, Galway, Kilkenny and the Dingle Penninsula, Kitty explained.

“We even got to kiss the Blarney

stone – you can imagine how much noise there was after that with 27 of us all gabbing away.”

The week-long visit finished with a visit to Bunratty Castle where the Springers enjoyed a banquet and me- dieval entertainment before flying home via Shannon.

ARTISTS may endlessly search for their muse but this month, Clare County Council is searching for art- ists.

The local authority has announced that it is currently seeking applica- tions from artists for places at the award-winning ‘Tulla Stables Stu- dios.

“The Tulla Stables Studios is an ideal studio resource for artists of all disciplines,” stated Ms Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare Arts Officer.

“It comprises of six studios each with power and water, four with a mezzanine for storage, an exhibi- tion/workshop spaces, toilets and showers. Provision has been made for broadband in each of the studios. The facility is alarmed and has pri-

vate parking.”

The original building was bought by Clare County Council in 1950 and had been used as a store until it was restored and developed into an arts facility by the Arts Office of Clare County Council with support from Clare County Council and the De- partment of Arts, Sports and Tour- ihe0e

Tulla-based architect Siobhan Mulcahy was the design leader on the Tulla Stables Studios project, which was constructed by local con- struction firm Matthew Sheedy & Company.

In January of this year, the devel- opment was named the ‘Best Public Building’ in Ireland. The title was bestowed on the studio at the an- nual Local Authority Members As- sociation (LAMA) awards hosted by

RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan. The Tulla Studio was nominated alongside Cork University Maternity Hospital, Longford Court House, Erasmus Smith House in Tipperary, Johnston’s Central Library in Cavan and Lady Lane Library in Water- ford.

“The Tulla Stables Studios has played a crucial role in keeping art and, more importantly, artists in the local community,” stated Ms Mulc- ree

Commenting on the invitation of applications from artists wishing to take up residency at the studios, she stated, “Interested artists are being given until July 6 2007 to submit their applications. Artists must sub- mit a current CV and a typed cover letter including the proposed use of the studio or gallery/workshop

space, any specific requirements they may have in terms of equipment, the length of time the studio is sought for, and any proposed community involvement or projects.”

Studios will be let initially from September 3, 2007 for a 12-month period. All applications will be placed before an independent selec- tion committee who will make rec- ommendations on the allocation of studios to artists. Final approval of allocations rests with Clare County Council.

Applications should be submitted to: “Tulla Stables Application’, The Arts Office, The County Library, Mill Road, Ennis.

Further information is available from the Clare Arts Office at tel: 065 6846267, fax: 065 6842462 or ema1l: arts @clarelibrary.1ie.

CLARE is the most supportive county and the Burren one of the most inspiring sites for writers, ac- cording to an author who will soon bring a unique writing course to north Clare.

Irene Graham, from Wicklow, has been running courses since estab- lishing The Creative Writer’s Work- shop in 1991 and the Burren is one of three places that she brings aspiring writers to.

Her next retreat course will run in The Burren College of Art from July 7 to 10 and she explained why her techniques are particularly success- ful in helping people to write.

“The courses are based on right brain/left brain learning, which is very powerful and helps to show people how to tap into creativity and imagination. We also look at the el- ements of storytelling. You have to know the rules before you can break them and the course helps you to think like a writer.”

She added that the idyllic north Clare setting is very inspiring and attracts a lot of people from other countries as well as budding writers from Ireland.

“It is a great setting and partici- pants have ranged from 20 to 80 years old. Clare is great and so many people are interested in it. Siobhan Mulcahy is an excellent Arts Officer and the book festival in Ennis early next year 1s going to be a very noted event too.”

Several former students of Ms Gra-

ham, who studied creative writing in Los Angeles, have gone on to get work published.

“A girl I taught years ago has just had three books accepted by Mills and Boon and another student now has a Hollywood literary agent but a lot of people might just keep journals or want to leave a memoir for their family. Not everyone wants to write a bestseller.”

Further information is available on 086 2523428 or at Wwww.thecreative- writersworkshop.com.

THE Ballyvaughan Farmers’ Market goes against the grain of mass pro- duction by selling high quality, local produce every Saturday in the town.

The market is held weekly from 10am to 2pm _ outside St John’s Hall and has gone from strength to strength since its revival three years ago by Michael Costello.

Committee member Finola Cos- tello said that the market has been set up again in the same spot as a previous one in the 1960s- making it a local institution and a strong draw for tourists.

“It runs from May to Christmas every year. Everyone supports eve-

ryone else and we all buy from each other too so it creates a great sense of community. Not all the custom- ers are from around here- you would get everyone from backpackers and visitors to farmers and people out for their morning walk. Last week, three buses full of people showed up so it just keeps getting busier. Sometimes I am selling from boxes because people arrive early.”

She added that each member’s €20 annual fee and €5 weekly fee goes into a community fund that is used for projects such as new tarmac for the hall carpark.

Each of the 22 regular stalls has something different to offer.

“We have a mix of baking, fresh

vegetables and fruit, herbs, plants, cheeses, crafts, jewellery, sauces, honey and preserves as well as re- freshments and hot food sometimes. The only condition is that you have to produce what you sell yourself and live within a 30 mile radius of the town.”

The market also has an internation- al flavour with some of its members sharing traditions from their home felts ewe

‘“There’s an American woman who makes very popular cookies and an Australian who bakes these amazing Lemington cakes, which are like a sponge cake dipped in chocolate and coconut. We had a girl from Thai- land last summer who made hot Thai

food. They give the market more va- riety too.”

Mrs Costello said that the commit- tee of eight are always open to new ideas and members.

“Everyone is welcome. We are hoping to add fresh and frozen meat to the list of goods in the next few years. There is no competition be- tween us and we all help to set up. It’s a great laugh and a lovely way to meet people too,” she said.

AN ‘X’ or more accurately, a cross, marks the spot in the Burren with the official launch of a community art project designed to highlight local farming and conservation issues.

The Cross Land initiative takes the form of the coppiced shape – each arm stretching 60 metres long and 1.5m wide – cut through an area of dense hazel wood just off the side of the Tubber road.

The shape was designed and creat- ed laboriously by hand by Kilnaboy based artist, Deirdre O’Mahony and volunteers as part of the Ground Up programme by the county arts of- fice.

It was launched at Cassidy’s Pub in

Carron last Saturday after a gather- ing in the Burren Research Centre and marked with the presentation of several aerial shots of the cross to lo- cal people.

“The shots had to be taken using kite photography 300 feet up be- cause the shape is only barely visible from a height on the road itself,” said Ms O’Mahony, a painting lecturer in the Galway/Mayo Institute of Tech- nology.

“The idea for the cross shape itself came from a conversation with the farmer whose land we used when he called the marginal scrubland ‘cross land’. The reference is really a part of the local vernacular so I suppose making it part of the land can sym- bolise hope.”

The Cross Land was the result of a two-year local consultation process, based at Cassidy’s, with local people and it highlights several issues ac- cording to Ms O’Mahony.

‘The original issue was the spread- ing of the scrubland and it wasn’t be- ing cleared by wild goats because of a lot of culling in the past few years but there were other factors. Another was the impact of part time farm- ing and the fact that marginal land, which used to be grave, is not any- more.”

She said that a recurring topic was the challenge faced by farmers based in a Special Area of Conservation, regulated by “so many different agencies’.

“I spoke to people and I was in Cas-

sidy’s two evenings a week. With the help of Robert and Michelle, I posted information up in a snug so it could be read by the customers. One other thing I noticed was the lack of com- munity focus because you would be lucky 1f two or three people showed up a night.”

She thanked everyone in the area and also Burren Life for their help with The Cross Land before adding, “I hope that it makes a tiny piece of the rich local knowledge and co-op- eration visible.”

IT WAS “Lights, camera, action!” for Tubber National School last Wednesday night as a five minute film made by pupils made it through to the national finals of the FIS Pri- mary Schools Film Project.

A Lesson Learned, which was about early 20th Century educa- tion, beat off stiff competition from Holy Family Senior in Ennis, Scoil Chriost Ri in Cloughleigh, Kilrush National School and Barefield Na- tional School to be the Clare winner in the competition’s fifth year.

FIS gives students and teachers

the chance to explore the school curriculum through the medium of film and Digital Video technology and winning films will compete at the National FIS Film Awards at the HELIX, Dublin City University in October.

Principal of Tubber National School, Ann Comyn said, “The stu- dents have managed to produce a wonderfully creative piece of work that should be a source of pride for them and their parents.”

She added that the screening held at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis gave the children the opportunity to celebrate and share the work they

had been doing since February.

“They thoroughly enjoyed the whole learning experience and in most cases have realised that there is a lot of hard work and planning involved in film-making.” The chil- dren took on all aspects of the film- making process including set design, music, editing and directing.

The film subjects varied and the joint first runners up were: Are You Right There Michael, a historical drama documentary on the West Clare Railway by Kilrush NS and Dear Mr Examiner, an adaptation of a sixth class poem by Scoil Chriost Nee

The project was facilitated by the Clare Education Centre in associa- tion with the Department of Educa- tion and Science and the National Film School.

“The films produced by the children demonstrate what can be achieved when creativity and modern technol- ogy are combined,” explained Brid Talty, regional schools ICT advisor at Clare Education Centre.

Ann White of the National Coun- cil for Technology Education and competition judge said that the over- all standard was exceptionally high and for Tubber National School “the journey is just beginning”’.

KILKEE is preparing for a busy end to the tourist season this summer as it plays host to one of the biggest events in the Irish music calendar.

With names like Fun Lovin’ Crimi- nals, Ocean Colour Scene, Kila, Re- public of Loose and The Blizzards confirmed for the three-day concert, businesses in the town are expecting a huge crowd.

Cois Fharraige 2007 is expected to attract up to 4,500 people every night from September 7 to 9.

Hailed as Ireland’s first surf and music festival the three-day event will also include surfing competi- tions at the picturesque Doughmore lerereKOae

Sponsored by Sony Ericsson and MCD the concert will feature live music from the best of Irish and in- ternational acts.

The music element of the festival will be staged in a Khayyam tent, with a capacity of 4,500 people each night, overlooking the Atlantic Coast in Kilkee.

Some of the three-day line up for

Cois Fharraige has been confirmed with many more acts due to be an- nounced during the coming weeks.

On Friday the Fun Lovin’ Crimi- nals, The Blizzards, Roisin Murphy and Majella Murphy will take to the Sexes

Saturday will see Ocean Colour Scene, Republic of Loose, The En- emy, 28 Costumes, and The Kinetiks take to the stage.

On Sunday Kila, Tom Baxter, Buf- falo Souljah, Delorentos, The Wom- bats, and Amy MacDonald will en- tertain the crowd.

In addition, a carnival of water sport activities will take place in Kilkee Bay over the three-day weekend.

As County Clare has fast become a Mecca for champion surfers across the globe these activities will include an official Surfing Event on Dough- more beach in Doonbeg on Saturday, September 8 in association with the West Coast Surf Club. Further de- tails for entry to the surfing event can be found on www.coistharraige. com. Tickets for Cois Fharraige Surf Festival will go on sale on Friday site. ¢ mee nce b OO

FOR the fourth year in a row the

West Clare Show has attracted world-

renowned show jumpers and horses. Among the impressive line up were

Francis Connors, Cian O’Connor and Ronan Tynan. Despite the famous names in the Grand Prix line up, the winner of the €6,000 first prize was Kilrush bred horse Sarah’s Sparky E, the mount of Tipperary man Brendan

Ryan.

Up to 3,000 people came to Tully- brack to enjoy the day with the rain obliging everyone by staying away. The last race – the Future Young Event Horse- finished at 8.30pm.

A YOUNG woman with “chronic” drug problems has admitted produc- ing broken glass in the course of as- saulting a supermarket manager in Killaloe.

Anne Marie Fitzgerald (31) a single mother-of-three, of Clarisford Estate, Killaloe admitted assaulting Antho- ny Robinson, manager of Super Valu, Killaloe on March 2, 2006.

She also pleaded guilty to produc- ing a broken bottle in the course of the assault.

Garda Pat Ryan said he was called to the scene. As he went into the shop he saw Fitzgerald strike out at Mr Robinson.

He said that another individual known to the accused had taken two bottles and left the shop without paying. As Fitzgerald was doing her shopping she saw the other individu-

al being brought back into the shop.

She then got involved and held up a piece of broken glass to Mr Robin- son, saying “Ill cut you, b*****d.”

The garda said the accused de- clined to make a statement saying she was on medication and did not remember a lot.

Fitzgerald told the court, “I accept I had a chronic drug problem. I’m with Slainte now. I go every Wednesday. Since February I haven’t touched a

drug. I’m moving out of Killaloe be- cause | feel it is my downfall.”

Judge Sean O Donnabhain said it was positive to hear that the accused was currently on a drug treatment programme.

He adjourned the case for a year and ordered her to continue with the treatment and report to the super- intendent in Killaloe every month. “This 1s very much by way of a last chance,” said the judge.

A YOUNG man who did a 360 de- eree handbrake turn in a west Clare village last week was spotted by an off-duty garda who was on his way home from work.

Declan Carmody (26) of Caher- calla Estate, Ennis, was convicted of dangerous driving, arising from an incident in Cooraclare village on Tuesday last, June 19.

Garda John Reidy told Ennis Dis-

trict Court on Friday that he was driving near the funeral home in Co- oraclare at 10.05pm. He said he saw a car “shooting” over the bridge and doing a 360 degree handbrake turn.

The car continued up the main street and overtook a vehicle which had indicated to turn right. Garda Reidy eventually caught up with the car in Kilmihil village.

Defending solicitor, Stephen Nicho- las, said his client had just returned from the UK – where he works – and

was driving a hired car.

He said Carmody accepted that his driving was “absolutely utterly un- reasonable and not acceptable.”

“He should not have done this 360 degree turn. His conduct driving through the village was not accept- able,’ said Mr Nicholas.

Carmody had initially faced two charges of dangerous driving but one O) ME Nato eo DuUoh MAE KRU li (Oleh, 20m ahaa isle SIF rer

The court was told Carmody had

been disqualified from driving in the UK courts, but his solicitor said he did not believe this resulted in a ban in Ireland.

“It wasn’t a deliberate flaunting of the law. He genuinely believed he wasn’t disqualified to drive in this country,’ said Mr Nicholas.

Judge Joseph Mangan jailed Car- mody for three months and disquali- fied him from driving for five years. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.