{morfeo 157}

WILLIAM Winder had plans. He wanted As in his Junior Cert. He wanted to climb Machu Picchu. He wanted to be a world-class golfer or an internationally renowned DJ, or maybe all these things. He was a son, a big brother, a cousin, a friend. He was a 15-year-old boy and on June 3, he took his own life.

DOTTED among the customary bright colours, the enclosure at this year’s Ladies Day at the Galway Races was peppered with plenty of duck egg blues, pale pinks, mint greens and various shades of nude. Metallics also featured as did lace, the latter in abundance. As well as the dandelion hats that have been emerging in recent years, big structured hats were everywhere and this was reflected in the overall winner.

August 5: Jesse Owens’ long jump record lasted for 25 years and Bob Beaman’s record set at the Olympics in Mexico lasted for 23 years.

The 2012 Kilrush Traditional Music and Set Dancing Festival got underway on Wednesday in the West Clare town and a host of events continue culminating this weekend in a new concertina competition for over and under 16s.Events kicked off on Wednesday with a seisiún at Teach Cheoil and other local establishments followed suit with sessions from 10pm. Speaking about this year’s festival, Vincent O’Halloran of the organising committee explained the annual event attracts visitors from the UK, New Zealand and Australia – many return visitors, as well as a regular local following. “We have a steady following and many come back every year and the numbers are holding. We try to add to the programme every year based on the limited resources we have. This year we added the concertina competition and we have some big prizes in that. We decided to hold it to try to encourage the young musicians to get involved as there are a good few …

The VIEWfinders Film Festival, which opened in Ballyvaughan for the first time in March of this year, is to return for one special screening this month in preparation for a new schedule in 2013.The festival, organised by Kerry resident and Burren College of Art graduate Róisín McGuigan, is due to return in August next year and not March as planned. In preparation there will be a special screening on Saturday, August 25, at 8pm in the Burren College of Art giving the public a flavour of what to expect in 2013. The film being shown is Certified Copy and it is the first European film from Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami.Speaking about the change of dates and about the festival itself Ms McGuigan said this special screening will help to mark the festival on the calendar ahead of next year’s event as well as being a nice thing to see during the inclement summer weather. She explained the reason for the …

As the busiest ever programme for Clare Heritage Week is announced, a host of arts events take place over the coming week aimed at the promotion of the county’s heritage. On Saturday, August 18, at 7pm, a photographic exhibition will be launched at Parliament Street in Ennistymon in conjunction with Built Heritage Collective (Ireland).Meanwhile on August 20 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, St Cronan’s 10th century church in Tuamgraney will be the venue for the Celtic Traditions Folk Concert, which is being held as part of the Spirit of Lough Derg series of events during Heritage Week. The concert will showcase the best of folk music and dancing from Kate Purcell and an array of local musicians and dancers.Noted local historian Brian Ó Dálaigh will be at the de Valera Public Library in Ennis where he will discuss the background to the newly published Royal Irish Academy Ennis Atlas on Tuesday August 21 at 7pm.Frances Madigan will lead a stroll through …

This September, the Tulla Trad Festival marks its sixth year and as in previous events, this year’s festival offers a jam packed programme.  A parade through the Main Street will get the show on the road on Friday, September 7 at 8pm, led by the Chapel Gate Wrenboys, 2011 All-Ireland champions. This will be followed by the official opening at Tulla Courthouse by Paula Carroll of Clare FM, and will again feature the Wren Boys. Later that evening there will be a Power Session in the Powerhouse at 9.30pm led by Mick, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy, while dancers will be catered for in John Minogues where the opening céilí gets underway at 10pm with music by Danny Hunt and band. The festival continues on Saturday, September 10, when a host of workshops will get underway at St Joseph’s Secondary School and the tutors this year are all masters in their own fields.Registration for these classes takes place at 10.30am at …