Tag Archives: doolin

The rich history of one of Clare’s most influential traditional music families is being pieced together for the first time in a new online archive of sound, images and memories. The Russell’s of Doolin archive was launched at last month’s Russell Festival and tracks the life, music and stories of Micho, Packie and Gussie Russell. The archive is the brainchild of local musician and co-organiser of the Russell Festival, Charles Monod, who has spent the last year conducting interviews and sourcing images, audio and video about the famous Doolin brothers. Charles came to traditional music comparatively late in life, but once he was bitten by the trad bug, he was hooked for life. Originally from Switzerland, he came to Doolin for a summer as a teenager, but like so many lovers of traditional music, he found it difficult to leave. “When I came here for the summer I started playing the tin whistle as something to do. My aim was …

THE annual survey of coasts and inland waterways by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) shows Lahinch and Doolin both deemed ‘littered’, with Mountshannon also slipping, to ‘moderately littered’. According to the An Taisce report for Lahinch while the main beach area was “generally fine” it was the prom, rock armour and carparks which brought down the overall litter grade. “Heavy levels” of litter including drinks cans, fast food wrappers, cigarette butts and dog fouling were reported. Marine litter such as fishing crates, nets, ropes etc along with food items was found trapped in the rock armour near the promenade. An Taisce adjudicators found a filled black sack discarded by a ‘Big Bell’ bin with other items accumulated on top. While older bins looked “tired” with a risk of their contents being taken out by birds highlighted. The report also noted the “freshly presented” dog fouling facility was in “very good order”.  Meanwhile the An Taisce report for Doolin pier …

DOOLIN is the destination for a unique poetry performance on Saturday night next (March 25). Fiddle and Bow Collection will host Leitrim’s Stephen Murphy, whose exciting and authentic work is attracting huge attention.  A reading as part of Listowel Writer’s Week went viral, capturing the hearts and minds of thousands who saw video clips. John O’Connor, who has organised a Wild Atlantic Way tour for Stephen described the live performances as “incredible”. “I’ve never seen anyone to establish such a strong connection with an audience and he does everything straight out of his head,” he said. “It is quite something to witness.” Originally from rural Leitrim, Stephen is a bard in the truest sense of the term. His live performances have seen him previously called “the highlight” of the Electric Picnic by Kitty Holland in The Irish Times. He was hailed as a “poet of our age” by Irish Independent columnist Billy Keane, and “a splendid, gifted and courageous young …

A LETTER from a major international company supporting an application for a communications tower in north Clare has warned service will suffer if planning is not granted. Vodafone has supported the planning application by Vantage Towers Ltd for a 30-metre mast at Gortaclob, Doolin. The telecommunications giant said it plans to use the structure if it is granted planning permission and in its supporting letter stated that failure to progress it “could have a negative future impact on network subscribers enjoying future technologies”. Vantage has sought permission for a 30-metre lattice telecommunications support structure, with antennae, dishes and associated equipment at Gortaclob, Doolin.  In the application Vantage Towers said the proposal would improve the service in the area. “There is a clear deficiency in basic 4G coverage especially towards Doolin to the southwest of the proposed site, and the surrounding regional road network, with substantial areas of fair and fringe.” The company claimed current customer demand is not being met …

“WHO will you save?” a member of the Council asked, during a discussion on which Clare village will be put forward first tor a slice of a €50 million fund for wastewater infrastructure.  Councillor Gerry Flynn was speaking in support of a motion from Councillors Joe Garrihy, Shane Talty and Bill Chambers. The three West Clare members asked for clarity on the funding criteria.  Councillor Garrihy welcomed the national funding allocation “as a first effort to address lack of provision of waste water treatment in rural areas”. “I commended the Chief Executive and Council staff for pushing this,” he said. “We are now looking for the criteria, targets and the bar that towns and villages have to meet to put themselves in the frame for this funding. Has there been a town or village in Clare selected? There are four in Clare waiting: Doolin, Carrigaholt, Broadford and Cooraclare.” The Lisdoonvarna said Doolin’s economic development is held back due to lack …

A COUNTY councillor has said you’d be as well off sending a proposal to Dustin The Turkey as Irish Water for all the response you would get. The quip by Councillor Shane Talty came in the context of his proposal of a feasibility study into the prospect of linking a wastewater system for Doolin to the existing one in Lisdoonvarna. Councillor Talty made the suggestion about the potential project at the West Clare Municipal District meeting on May 3. This study was promised to Doolin Tourism when the Lisdoonvarna scheme was installed over 20 years ago, he noted, and Councillor Talty put forward the motion “in the absence of action taken by Irish Water.” The proposal comes after an announcement by the government last week that there will be a series of schemes to address towns and villages with wastewater management issues, though Councillor Talty claimed the narrative in Clare involves the funding from such schemes going to Broadford. Councillor …

EXPANDING the benefits of the West Clare Railway across North Clare is the aim of a motion tabled by Councillor Joe Garrihy at the local municipal district earlier this month.  The Lisdoonvarna man called for plan to link Corofin, Carron, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Liscannor and Lahinch with a greater range of walking and cycle routes “to ensure these settlements and communities have appropriate attractive and safe linkage to the overall West Clare Greenway in progress and the Green Road to the Burren, Fanore and Ballyvaughan”. Councillor Garrihy also asked that cycle and walking connectivity from from North Clare to County Galway through Bellharbour, New Quay to Kinvara and Boston/Tubber area to Gort be progressed. “Cycling and walking amenities are among our most successful tourism offerings,” he told the meeting.  The motion was backed by Cathaoirleach, Councillor Cillian Murphy who agreed with the potential that connectivity to the West Clare Greenway offered.  Councillor Joe Killeen agreed with the huge benefits of …

THE condition of a North Clare cemetery has been branded “a thundering disgrace”, amid concerns over arrangements for its upkeep and maintenance. The Holy Rosary Cemetery in Doolin is one of two local burial grounds and is located around a mile from the centre of the village. Among those who visit the graveyard are fans of Micho Russell, and before the pandemic, the late musician’s grave was the site of a wreath-laying ceremony during the Russell Festival Weekend. “At this stage, the grass is growing over the walls from the outside in and the inside out,” local man John Flaherty told The Champion. “Grass is cut in part of the cemetery and it’s just left there. The other side is out-of-hand altogether.” Mr Flaherty acknowledged recent clean-up efforts, undertaken with the support of the county council, but expressed concerns over long-term arrangements. “Councillor Joe Garrihy helped us by getting gravel to put on the paths,” he said. “A few months …