Arts & Culture

A lifelong friendship with Irish actor and singer, Richard Harris, is featured in a new book written by well-known Kilkee fisherman, lifeguard, diver, restaurant operator, and Marine Rescue Centre founder, Manuel Di Lucia. The 83 year old has published a new book about his action-packed life living in the West Clare popular seaside resort. Entitled “You Will Only Live Once”, it will be launched in Sheils’ Showrooms, Ennis on June 14 at 5.30pm. The proceeds of the book will be divided between the RNIL, Kilrush and West Clare Cancer Centre in Kilkee. His thirty years of fishing experience proved very useful when Mr Di Lucia and his wife, Doris, opened a seafood restaurant in 1973 in a premises owned by film star and friend, Richard Harris, which the couple were looking after at the time. “Richard Harris came one day to see us with a friend. We made lunch for him with lobsters, crayfish and crabs. He said that is …

Clare singer, Sionnáin Michelle Shannon, will host a series of free events this weekend entitled Soundscapes and Seascapes or Fuaimdreacha agus Muirdreacha. The events, which will take place at Cleadagh, close to Spanish Point, aim to connect people to the sounds of the natural world using song and the Irish language. The free workshops, which will take place from 2pm to 5pm on May 24, 25 and 26, are designed to help people to deepen their relationship with the natural landscape, as well as to themselves and to one another by exploring the power of silence and sound. “It will be an immersive, sensory, bilingual experience down by the ocean between Spanish Point and the White Strand. There is a lovely cove that I have been going to for many years now and the experience will be happening there,” said Sionnáin. “We will be spending three hours down by the ocean and really connecting to the soundscapes and seascapes. That …

After an uncertain 12 months, when it looked for a time like it would be forced to leave Ennistymon, Salmon Poetry began a new chapter in its existence this week in the former Daly’s Pub. More than 550 people from all over the world collectively donated in excess of €50,000 to the North Clare publisher and bookshop earlier this year, to help them secure their future in Ennistymon. Having previously been based in Galway and Liscannor, Salmon Poetry has made Ennistymon its home for the past 11 years. Over that time, the North Clare capital has been transformed, with scores of artists, musicians and artisan food producers relocating there – making it one of Ireland’s cultural and artistic hotspots. Salmon Poetry’s position in the heart of that movement came into doubt last year, when owner Jessie Lendennie, was told that she would have to vacate their current headquarters and book shop on Parliament Street, as the landlord intended to use …

ENNIS’ Harmony Bro Choir hit the right note and impressed judges at this year’s Cork International Choral Festival to take first prize in the national competition for Lower Voice Choirs. The choir, conducted by Michael Hennessy scored an impressive 85.33% to take the title at the prestigious festival, one of the largest international festivals in the country.   More than 5,000 people attended this year’s Cork International Choral Festival over the May Bank Holiday with choirs from 14 countries participating in the five-day festival.  Renowned as one of Europe’s most prestigious choral events, audiences were treated to world-class performances from national and international choirs and had front-row seats to some highly contested competitions. Participants also enjoyed engaging workshops with leading conductors in stunning venues throughout the city.  Some of the highlights included the popular Afternoons in the Atrium at Clayton Hotel, the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy competition which was won by Brigham Young University Singers (USA) and the Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra. …

FLEADH Nua’s legacy of showcasing the very best of traditional music, song, dance, storytelling agus Teanga ársa na nGael in Ennis over the past five decades is to be quite literally be etched in stone. This year’s Fleadh Nua, running from May 25 to June 3 marks the Golden Anniversary of the festival’s arrival in Ennis back in 1974, and organisers have planned some very special events to mark this momentous occasion. These include the unveiling of a specially commissioned commemorative stone created by sculptor Mike McTigue celebrating 50 years of the Fleadh Down in Ennis opposite Clare Museum in co-operation with Clare County Council. Chairman of Fleadh Nua’s organising committee Frank Whelan tells us they are very excited to have a lasting monument to Fleadh Nua’s huge contribution to the cultural life of the county town. The 50th Fleadh down in Ennis promises an exciting programme of events planned to mark the Golden Anniversary with Frank saying, “We are …

This year’s Fleadh Nua, running from May 25 to June 3 marks the Golden Anniversary of the festival’s arrival in Ennis back in 1974, and organisers have planned some very special events to mark this momentous occasion. These include the unveiling of a specially commissioned commemorative stone created by sculptor Mike McTigue celebrating 50 years of the Fleadh Down in Ennis opposite Clare Museum in co-operation with Clare County Council. Below are a selection of images from Fleadh Nua over the years from The Clare Champion image archive.

Ennis singer and producer, Jennifer Stratton, has today launched her debut single entitled Fairytale. This release shows remarkable progress for Stratton, who first took up song writing and music production just a year ago. Within that time and working with her coach, Gemma Sugrue, she has changed from being an absolute beginner into a confident artist bringing her first single to market. A native of Donegal, she has been living in Ennis for the last number of years and recently decided to pursue a path in writing and producing her own music. Fairytale is the first step on that journey and she now has several tracks and collaborations in production and due for release later in the year. The song is now available online on all the usual social media and music streaming platforms under, Jennifer Stratton Official. Listen here

Over 40 years since its last presentation of John B Keane’s epic drama, Corofin Dramatic Society is putting the final touches to its 2024 production of The Field. Under the direction of John Clancy, the society will run with a string of six performances in Corofin Community Hall on May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. All performances will commence at 8pm. Immortalised in Jim Sheridan’s 1990 film of the same name, which featured Richard Harris in the lead role of local tyrant, the Bull McCabe, The Field is one of Keane’s best known and most respected works. The play takes its audiences deep into 1965 rural Ireland where they come face-to-face with the lust for land and the lengths to which some people will go to get what they want. Set predominantly in the local pub of Carraigthomond, The Field is a story of greed and deceit; of abuse of power and complicity, and of the challenges faced …