CLARE’S amateur photographers are being encouraged to take part in Top Oil’s annual competition.The theme of the competition this year is ‘fuelling creativity’ and it is open to all amateurs who can capture a shot in keeping with that, which has been taken in Ireland.Twelve winning images will be selected for Top Oil’s 2014 calendar with one overall winner landing the cover image. The overall winner will also receive a €1,000 voucher.New this year is a people’s choice selection and fans of the company’s Facebook page will get the chance to vote for their favourite image, which will be chosen from a selection of shortlisted images.Anyone interested in entering should upload their pictures to topphotocompetition.ie. Each shot should be no lower than 2MB in size and should be of as high a resolution as possible. Entrants must be willing to have their pictures published in the calendar if chosen.The closing date for entries is May 31.  

Galway Film Centre and RTÉ have announced two cash awards of €9,500 each under their 2013 Short Film Awards. The awards will be given to the two best scripts submitted to Galway Film Centre and the deadline is 12 noon on Friday, April 12. The best scripts will be short-listed for interview and two winners will be awarded the prize money to produce a short film, as well as the use of equipment and facilities from Galway Film Centre, and a commitment from RTÉ to screen the finished film. Application forms are available on request from info@galwayfilmcentre.ie.The submitted script should be as close to a final draft as possible. The winning scriptwriter will work with the assistance of a professional script editor to finalise and polish the script before shooting. €9,000 will be awarded towards the production costs and €500 will be used to hire the services of a script editor to work with the writer.The Short Script Award competition, …

Three Clare arts organisations have received a funding boost of more than €200,000 through the Arts Council. The three beneficiaries are Glór Irish Music Centre, which will receive €86,000, Salmon Poetry receiving €42,000 and Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy awarded €80,000. The Arts Council said it chose to invest a total of €208,000 in these three Clare-based organisations due to their proven track record of delivering great arts experiences for people all over the county and beyond.The funding comes through the Arts Council’s three main annual grants programmes. In addition, people in Clare will enjoy the arts through Arts Council funding for touring, projects and bursaries for talented artists throughout the year.The Arts Council offered the following annual funding for the period to the end of March 2014 to The ever-popular Scoil Samhraidh celebrates its 40th year this year, and is held annually since 1973 in memory of the piper Willie Clancy, it is also Ireland’s largest traditional music summer school. …

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has launched its second call for applicants under its micro loan fund for creative industries. Following a very successful first call in June of last year, the fund has already disbursed €120,000 to creative businesses in the Western Region and is now looking to increase its disbursals over 2013.Creative industries are defined as occupations and industries centred on creativity, for the production and distribution of original goods and services. There are 12 creative industries that make up the creative sector and businesses from these sectors are eligible to apply: advertising; architecture; art/antiques trade; crafts; design; digital media; fashion; internet and software; music, visual and performing arts; publishing; radio and tv broadcasting; video, film and photography. The fund is designed to support creative industries, which, based on extensive WDC research, is an area of burgeoning growth potential within the region. “Access to finance is an issue for Creative Industries and, as such, the fund seeks to …

Kilkishen’s Colin Crehan overcame the challenge of Wexford’s Galen Riordan to take the minor singles crown, which was played in Abbeylara over the weekend. Having trailed 11-5 in the first, Riordan showed great skill and composure to bring the scores level at 11-11.

St Joseph’s, Tulla  4-13   Scoil Mhuire Trim 0-5 St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla, completed an historic double when they won the O’Neill’s All-Ireland junior post primary D camogie final at St Brendan’s Park in Birr on Saturday.

Shannon Gaels/Kilmihil 4-6   Corofin 1-6 Shannon Gaels/Kilmihil recorded their fourth victory in U-16B when they accounted for Corofin on Saturday at Kilmihil.