Regional

THE Burren Food Fayre will take place as part of this year’s Winterage Festival, as producers and chefs come together to showcase the food of the area at one of the region’s most iconic farming events. This year’s event will be held in a marquee on a farm at the start of the Cattle Drive near Lough Bunny on Sunday, October 30. It will include, tastings, cooking demos, storytelling and music with plenty of opportunities for people to meet sample and purchase the products before and after the cattle drive is complete.   The Burren Winterage Festival, which is organised by Burren Beo, celebrates the ancient custom of out-wintering cattle on the upland areas of the Burren. It has developed into a five-day festival, which begins on Wednesday, October 26, features a range of farming, heritage, cultural and family events, concluding the following Sunday. “We are delighted to be hosting this year’s event at the Winterage Festival,” said Jarlath O’Dwyer, …

THE ancient and unique farming practice of out-wintering cattle in the Burren will be celebrated this month at the annual Burren Winterage Weekend festival. The festival takes place between October 26 and 30 in Corofin and various locations across the Burren region. Co-ordinated by local landscape charity The Burrenbeo Trust, this year’s festival features a wide range of farming, heritage, and cultural events. Among these will be several Burren farm walks, a Tea Talk on farming and archaeology, book reading and discussions with bestselling authors James Rebanks and Jane Clarke. There will be ‘transhumance’ cheese tasting, a butter making workshop, a children’s creative nature-writing workshop and much more. A day-long Burren Winterage School will be held on the theme of Education for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, Farming for Nature Networking Day and National Farming for Nature Awards. The flagship event of weekend, the Community Cattle Drive where hundreds of people will be invited to join a local farming family …

REMEDIAL works at Derg View in Scariff are due to get underway shortly, following the appointment of a contractor by Clare County Council.  The matter was raised by Councillor Pat Hayes who asked the recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District for an update on works at the recently-taken-in-charge Factory houses estate on the Connaught Road.  “Residents are looking for an update,” he said. “Proposals on the takeover got full support a while back. These areas are very much in your view point when coming into town. The local community has done a lot of work to maintain the area. Work is now needed on footpaths and roads. In the green area, there are obstacles to be addressed in terms of sewers and drains.” The Caher man welcomed a written response from Kieran O’Donnell who said the Planning Department is currently assessing tenders for the works. “A preferred contractor has been identified and it is planned that this contractor will …

DANGEROUS dips on a stretch of road in North East Clare have been highlighted by a local councillor who lives close by.  The condition of a stretch of road between Killanena and Dromindoora was criticised by Councillor Pat Hayes who called on officials of the Killaloe Municipal District to included on the works schedule for 2023.  “There is dipping in the road,” Councillor Hayes told the most recent district meeting. “A small section was done a few years ago, but it now needs an overlay to make it safe. It is a very well-trafficked route. A big amount of Galway-bound traffic uses it. The road, in general, is quite good, but a section has dipped and it’s quite dangerous. That needs to be addressed.” The motion was seconded by Councillor Tony O’Brien and supported by Cathaoirleach, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan. “There is definitely a need for black top on the R461,” Councillor O’Callaghan said. “Those tar-and-chip jobs on many roads are …

A WHITEGATE boy has gone to extreme lengths to help a number of charities working with children.  Ten-year-old Donnacha Hayes has been growing his hair for the last three years so that, once cut, his locks can be made into wigs for children with cancer. In the process, he has also been fundraising for The Dyslexia Association of Ireland and The Children’s Grief Centre, based in Limerick. Next month, Donnacha’s long, blond tresses will get the chop, at a public event in Mountshannon, and he is already considering whether to let his hair grow out again.  Donnacha’s mum, Orla, told The Champion her youngest son has always been very kind and considerate of others, and decided to undertake his fundraising campaign when he was just seven. “Maybe it’s because he has dyslexia, but Donnacha has always seen himself a bit different,” Orla said. “For that reason, he’s always been really kind and thoughtful.” In an interview with Scariff Bay Community …

THE ability of Clarecastle’s coastal flood barrage, built in the middle of the last century, to protect Ennis and its surroundings needs to be examined “urgently” a local councillor has insisted. Councillor Johnny Flynn has urged the local authority to prepare a report on the barrage in light of the current “climate crisis”, while renewing his call that the critical infrastructure be moved. Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan has acknowledged that the barrage is a “key piece of infrastructure” saying the benefits of Ennis’ flood defence schemes “absolutely depends on a fully functioning and optimally fit for purpose barrage.” The monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard that the council are in the process of commissioning engineers to prepare a brief for the appointment of experts to carry out a structural assessment of the barrage. Speaking at the meeting Councillor Flynn outlined he was “very concerned” about the historic barrage which was designed and build in the mid 20th century …

WAKING up to the beauty of nature is the theme of a new exhibition that will open in Kinvara next week.  The show by artist Nicole O’Donnell is entitled ‘Awakening’ and will run at the Courthouse, in conjunction with Kinvara Area Visual Arts (KAVA) from October 20 to 26. Nicole is a Galway-based artist who has a Masters Degree in Creative Practice and an Honours BA in Contemporary Art, from the School of Design and Creative Arts, at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU).  “As a visual artist who grew up in the West of Ireland, my practice is influenced by the wilderness of the Irish landscape, daily observations and the natural world to create imaginative landscape paintings that deal with themes of experience of place, memory and are inspired by the endless complexity found in nature,” Nicole explained. She added that her solo show, ‘Awakening’, “means “an act or moment of becoming suddenly aware of something”. “This collection of works …

A MOTHER and daughter volunteer duo from Scariff attended national Foróige’s 50th Volunteer Conference and were commended by the Minister for Children.  Tracey and Jane Doyle are long-time volunteers with Scariff Foróige and, at the Tullamore Court Hotel in County Offaly, last weekend, they also met keynote speaker, David Coleman. The popular broadcaster and author is a leading clinical psychologist and spoke about communication strategies for reaching teenagers. Tracey and Jane flew the Clare flag, alongside 120 delegates from 16 counties at the annual Foróige Volunteer Conference.  “Foróige volunteers have helped create communities that are vital to our society. The value of the contributions that are made by these volunteers cannot be overstated,” said Minister Roderic O’Gorman. “Not only does volunteerism positively impact our communities but it can provide people with a sense of purpose, improving their own wellbeing, enhancing their empathy and allowing them to connect with young people in their communities. Foróige has to be commended for the innovative …