Regional

THE population in the parish of Killaloe dropped by an alarming 33% as a result of the devastation caused by the Famine, according to historical records.The combination of a lack of food, employment and hope for a better future combined to reduce the number of people living in Killaloe parish from 8,007 in 1841 to 5,606 in 1851.While the town of Killaloe lost 191 people through emigration, like a lot of areas in the West of Ireland, the rural townlands in Killaloe parish were the worst hit by the ravages of the Famine. The devastating impact of the Famine in the locality was outlined by Una Kierse during her address at a local commemorative event as part of the National Famine Commemoration events, which are being held throughout the county between May 3 and 12.Over 60 people attended a reading account of an emigration scene at the Pier Head, Killaloe on Sunday with wreath-laying, music, song and prayer.It was fitting …

CALLS have been made for Killaloe to be recognised in a new commemorative coin, which will be issued by the Central Bank to mark the Brian Boru Millennium in 2014. Killaloe was once the capital of Ireland when Brian Boru reigned supreme at Kincora, until his death at the battle of Clontarf in 1014.Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, confirmed in the Dáil that the 2014 millennium of the Battle of Clontarf will be marked with the issue of a €20 gold coin.Minister McGinley said the Central Bank will shortly submit its recommendations for the 2014 collector coin programme to the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan for approval. The Central Bank’s plans would involve the issue of a small gold coin with a weight of 0.5g and likely issue a limit of 10,000.Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara said the commemoration of the Battle of Clontarf and Brian Boru is good news.“I am …

THE East Clare village of Bodyke remains on a high this week following the success of its first ever festival, which drew up to 1,000 people.The Bodyke Gathering saw an estimated 1,000 people come through the village over the May Bank Holiday weekend to take part in the various events organised.“It was absolutely beyond our wildest dreams. It went exceptionally well. We are here nine years and we never saw the likes of it.“I wasn’t here at the time of the Bodyke evictions stone, which President Hillary unveiled, but the people are saying the gathering at that wasn’t half of what we had here,” according to Susan McMahon of the organising committee.Chairperson of the Bodyke Gathering Committee, Colm Wiley said, “There was up to 1,000 people in Bodyke over the weekend. We had a great turnout.”Ms McMahon said among the highlights were the sporting events organised on Sunday at the GAA field. She described the response as “phenomenal”.The event’s launch …

MEMBERS of East Clare Tourism signalled their strong opposition to plans for the extraction of water from Lough Derg at their recently held annual general meeting. Members voted unanimously to oppose the move.“The members strongly believe this would be detrimental to tourism in the Lough Derg area,” a spokesperson for the group said. It was also agreed that appropriate representations to Government on the matter will be undertaken over the coming months.The meeting also discussed the recent visit of Bobby Kerr, formerly of Dragon’s Den, and a film crew to Tuamgraney as part of a forthcoming television programme.The crew and Mr Kerr were brought to Reddan’s Quay, Tuamgraney by yacht and then on to East Clare Heritage tourist information point, where they were given a lecture on Brian Boru and the history of the Lough Derg area.Footage from the visit is due to form part of a television programme on the Lough Derg area that Mr Kerr will be presenting …

MOUNTSHANNON Community Council has been nominated by Clare County Council to represent Clare in the 2013 IPB Pride of Place Competition.The East Clare village has been selected as one of three nominees to represent the county at the annual all-island competition, which is run by Co-operation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border.The competition aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society.Clare was represented in last year’s Pride of Place by the Clare Sports Partnership and Cuimhneamh and Chláir.“In Clare we have a wealth of community focused groups and projects that provide services in keeping with the aims and objectives of Pride of Place. This year, we are delighted to nominate three local projects which we feel have in their own way contributed immeasurably to their respective communities,” Nicola Cullinan, Clare Pride of Place co-ordinator, said.Mountshannon Community Council is participating in Category 1 for population centres of up to 200 …

THE square in Carrigaholt teemed with people and rain last Friday night as the Crack’d Spoon Theatre Group staged a re-enactment of Famine scenes.The actors were dressed in costumes contemporary to Famine times at the event, which marked the start of the National Famine Commemoration in West Clare. Part of the scene involved the local landlord family being introduced to the crowd and sitting down to dinner, while impoverished children and their families looked on. The civic reception was staged by local landlords Westby, Burton and McDonnell for Crofton Moore Vandeleur and his wife, Grace Toler.As Carrigaholt was the last port of call for the ill-fated immigrant ship, The Edmund, intending passengers were depicted queuing for tickets in the square. Research in the lead-up to the Famine Commemoration has thrown light on twilight vigilantes variously named The Rockites, Lady Clare Boys, White Boys and Terry Alts, which were agrarian secret societies who met after dark and dressed in terrifying costumes …

KILKEE town councillors have expressed concern at the derelict state of a number of buildings in the town, while they have also highlighted issues relating to the dumping of rubbish.At Monday’s May meeting of the town council, Councillor Elaine Haugh Hayes asked that Clare County Council “force” the owners of a derelict petrol station on the Kilrush Road, “to enhance the forecourt”, while she also noted the state of the Ocean Cove Hotel.“This site is deteriorating at a rapid pace,” Councillor Haugh Hayes claimed.“The site on the way into Kilkee is a huge eyesore. Something needs to be done with it. These sites are going to have to be looked after. Their condition is affecting the rest of places that are open,” she added.In reply, Kilkee town clerk John Corry said Clare County Council is looking into derelict site concerns in the town.“I spoke with the area planner on this matter. She said that the sites are contained as Opportunity …

  HAVING called time on his own boxing career, Marty Hannan established the Shannon Boxing Club late last year and the next Katie Taylor or Bernard Dunne may be training in Smithstown under his direction. Having been involved in amateur boxing for many years in clubs in Ennis and Limerick, Marty finally turned professional but couldn’t make a living because the crowds buying tickets for fights were way down. “Within six months, four shows were called off. When you’re a professional boxer, you’re self-employed, your work is your training and you’re relying on the fight night to get paid and if it’s called off, you get nothing. That happened so many times and to be honest, I fell behind in bills,” he says of his abortive pro career. He is now self-employed, running a company that works with fitness instructors and personal trainers. And since last year, he has been working on bringing boxing to Shannon. “Marie Rowland would always …