Arts & Culture

A new art project, commissioned by Clare Arts Office, in two secondary schools in County Clare delves into the significance of myth through the experience of youth culture. Keystone has been commissioned by Clare County Council to celebrate and mark 20 years of Artist in Schools programming by Clare Arts Office. The curatorial framework Art School, directed and curated by Jennie Guy, has been invited to deliver the project by artists Mitch Conlon and James Moran, with co-curator Fiona Gannon. The project will take place over the course of 2022 and 2023 in Coláiste Muire (Ennis) and Scoil Mhuire (Ennistymon) in County Clare, providing an opportunity for fifth-year students to work with the artists to explore the significance of myth within local youth cultures. As a duo, Mitch and James are interested in local history, community activism and theatre. These modes of performance and thinking provide an opportunity to activate old with potential for new directions. Building on Clare’s rich …

DERMOTT Petty’s hugely popular play about the Rineen Ambush and its aftermath returns, by popular demand, to Miltown Malbay next Saturday night, November 26. After a sell-out performance in Miltown in October, Dermott and The Ballycartoon Players have been invited back to West Clare with Two Days in September.  Doolin-based playwright Dermott weaves the story, of the events of September 22 and 23, 1920, in film and theatre form. The drama and traces the ambushing of a British Army convoy by the Mid-Clare Brigade of the IRA. It follows the aftermath of revenge and the sacking, looting and burning of the villages of Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay by the Black and Tans.  “West Clare in 1920 was recovering from a land war, famines, World War 1 and Spanish influenza,” said Dermott. “While a beautiful part of the world it had a troubled past, a proud people and a yearning for change. While Ireland had many revolutions, the War of …

CLOSE to one million people have attended over 8,000 performances in glór, which this weekend celebrates its 21st birthday. On Saturday, the Ennis cultural venue celebrates 21 years in business and in that time has welcomed 950,000 people to over 8,200 ticketed performances and events. To celebrate reaching its milestone birthday, glór is collaborating with broadcaster and producer Áine Hensey to present a 21st birthday concert this weekend. This Saturday, a generation of younger Clare musicians and performers will take to the glór stage this Saturday to echo the opening night performance and to celebrate in true Clare style. The anniversary concert will once again raise the roof and feature a host of special guests from Clare and beyond, celebrating our creative community through music, dance, and word. The concert will also feature just some of the many recent collaborations that glór is very proud of. Compered by Therese McInerney, the concert will feature some of Clare’s finest musicians and …

ENNIS Players are going on tour. Due to popular demand and having performed a completely sold out Supper-theatre run in The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis Players have announced a very special performance of ‘One-Acts on Tour’ in North Clare this weekend. The Players will perform two one-act plays in Hotel Doolin on Sunday, November 27. Speaking about the event, Mary Curley, Chairperson, said, “We in Ennis Players are delighted with the return of our very popular one-act season, as we have missed our audiences for the past two years, and look forward to welcoming the people of Clare and further afield to our performances.” The Players will take to the stage performing Elysium Nevada by Barry McKinley and Trapped by Barry Woods. Set in a retirement village in the sweltering Nevada desert, Elysium Nevada by Barry McKinley tells of two residents reflections on life, youth and how they got there. They are joined by a mysteriously silent woman whose presence adds …

A COMMEMORATIVE plaque to the late Pat Liddy, acknowledging a lifetime of work for Cois na hAbhna and Comhaltas will be unveiled in Cois na hAbhna this Friday by Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú Ard Stiúrthóir Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Pat Passed away on Monday, December 21 2020 in the middle of the Covid pandemic and, although his funeral mass at Clooney Church could only be attended by close family members, many made the journey from all over the country to line the roadside in a fitting Guard of Honour to a man whose parting gift to all of us was the legacy of a living tradition that is Cois na hAbhna. From the time he became a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the 1960s Pat was very active. He set up a number of branches throughout County Clare, but it was in set dancing that his true passion could be found. Along with his wife Nora, he ran the hugely …

FROM the stunning scenery of the Flaggy Shore to the unspoilt splendour of Mullaghmore, these are just some of the locations that are featured in a brand new book showcasing some of the very best walks to be enjoyed in the Burren. Written by Patrick McGinley, Tim O’Connell and Eddie Joyce, the ‘Our Burren Walks’ Guidebook is being sold in support of Clarecare Family Support Service which provides a range of supports to children and parents in County Clare. Keen and extensive outdoor walkers and adventurers, Patrick, Tim and Eddie regard many of the walks in the Burren as spectacular as those anywhere in the world and they are pleased to have the opportunity to share some of their interesting Burren experiences with readers of ‘Our Burren Walks’. Patrick tells us they are hopeful the book will inspire others to get out and explore all the Burren has to offer. He says there are “dozens of reasons” to go out …

THE very first creative writing award in honour of legendary Tuamgraney author Edna O’Brien was presented at Scariff Community College.  The inaugural winner of the Edna O’Brien Creative Writing Award, which was initiated by teacher Shulagh Colleran in collaboration with Ms O’Brien’s family, was Sixth Year student Emily Chen. Emily’s poem ‘They Say’, is a highly creative reflection on the importance of trees and forests in sustaining human life. Described by judge and fellow poet Luke Morgan as outstanding among all of the entries, ‘They Say’ emerged as the clear winner. “It’s creative, it’s daring and ambitious, and it’s topical,” Mr Morgan said. “Congratulations to the poet who wrote it, I am very jealous!” Ms Colleran said that all kinds of writing are encouraged and the aim is to develop the competition year-on-year. “We want all students at Scariff Community College to look at the trophy and to think, ‘I’d like to win that before I leave the school’,” Ms …

CUAR, the Irish chamber music ensemble founded by Neil Ó Loclainn from Ballyvaughan, will play in Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee this Thursday. Neil’s talents have been recognised by some of the greatest traditional musicians from Clare in terms of his groundbreaking work. Cuar explores composition and improvisation within the framework of Irish traditional music, playing new music written especially for them. Citing influences as varied as Tommie Potts, Tony MacMahon, sean-nós singing and uilleann pipe music, on the one hand, and the Karnatak (South Indian) music tradition, composers Morton Feldman, Béla Bartók and downtown jazz on the other, the music creates a boundary-less style rich in melodic detail. Together they forge a unique sound. The group has been featured at festivals and events throughout Ireland and Europe including Paris Jazz Festival, Jazzy Nights Brussels, Galway Jazz Festival, Féile na Bealtaine, Dingle, Masters of Tradition, Bantry, Kaleidoscope Night Dublin, and NUI Galway Arts in Action concert series. They are currently touring Ireland …