Arts & Culture

OCEAN stories, written by children across Clare and Limerick have been compiled into a colourful new anthology to mark an international celebration of the seas. Produced with the support of The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme, An Ocean of Stories – An Anthology of Children’s Ocean Stories captures tales of adventure and imagination and highlight humanity’s reliance on the seas for survival. The book, published by Explorers Education Officer Carmel Madigan, includes over 50 stories, artwork and poems that were inspired by children’s ocean experiences. Its launch coincides with World Oceans Day on June 8. Patricia Orme, Joint Acting CEO of the Marine Institute, congratulated Carmel Madigan and the Explorers team on the launch of the book. “Carmel always puts the children first and this book has helped children find a positive place in a time that has been challenging for many in primary schools over the past year,” she said. “While we celebrate World Oceans Day – The Ocean: Life …

A RADIO play which prompts people to look at their lives before the Covid-19 pandemic will be broadcast this Saturday, June 5, with the support of Mountshannon Arts. To Myself; Before, will air on Scariff Bay Community Radio, and is a production of WayWord Theatre, founded by Clare-based artists Eavan Brennan, Siobhán Donnellan and Ruth Smith. As inspiration for the production, WayWord put out a call to members of the public inviting submissions in the form of letters asking what they would have told themselves had they known a global pandemic was on the horizon. According to the trio, the responses were as varied as they were surprising and encompassed a huge emotional spectrum. The radio play comprises pieces of text from the submissions and will air on Scariff Bay Community Radio on Saturday at 8pm. The special broadcast will include a live pre- and post-show discussion with the WayWord three. The work of WayWord Theatre is inspired by the …

A BIRTHDAY gift has been put to good use by a Sixmilebridge woman who has just donated €1,000 to Pieta House. Angie Togher, a native of Limerick, but living in the ‘Bridge for the last 38 years, fulfilled a lifetime ambition of writing a novel, after she retired from the health services. The book was set aside for some time and Angie thought no more about it until her family organised its publication as a birthday surprise. “They asked Dominic Taylor form the Limerick Writers’ Centre to look after the printing, but kept it all a complete secret until my birthday when they told me that publication was underway,” Angie said. “I was just delighted and got to pick the typeface and the cover before the book was printed.” ‘Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things’ tells the story of Hugh who is struggling to cope with childhood trauma and the death of his wife. He travels to Scotland, his wife’s native …

TWO East Clare artists have put their talents to great use as part of an art raffle which will take place in support of Mountshannon Arts in June. Mel White and Gilli Browne have joined forces to create the collaborative artistic due known as CocoNut. Together, they have created a stunning graphic painting of two fallow stags. Entitled ‘Fallow Me’, the piece takes its inspiration from Mountshannon Arts’ theme of ‘Regeneration’. Mel, also known as Maximillist, is described as a pop artist whose influences range from Andy Warhol to Frida Kahlo. She uses neon to bombard the viewer’s senses, while Gilli invokes movement and texture through palette knife techniques. “We decided to undertake this initiative to help raise much needed funds for the Mountshannon Arts Festival,” said Mel. “The arts offer an opportunity to experience something new or gain a new perspective which is represented in the festival theme ‘Regeneration’. Buying a ticket helps the festival, an important cultural amenity, …

CLARE Drama Festival stalwart Tom Hanley is among 15 actors and organisers chosen by RTÉ to feature in a special short film to celebrate Ireland’s vibrant amateur drama circuit. While May is, ordinarily, the month when the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival takes place in Athlone, the Dean Crowe Theatre will lie empty for a second year in a row due to pandemic restrictions. In existence since the early 1950s, the festival has been deferred to 2022. However, actors from a range of the regional festival locations, including Clare, have come together to mark what should have been the 69th RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival. Mr Hanley is among those to lend their voices and faces to a 2-minute film entitled ‘Interval’, a piece written by Joseph Hoban. Produced by RTÉ’s Tracey Diamond, the film focuses on the enforced ‘interval’ the pandemic created in the lives of people nationally and globally. It is a reflection on lockdown and the restrictions that have …

TWELVE projects across county Clare will share €76,000 under a special grant scheme run by The Heritage Council. The fund will help boost a post-Covid recovery, grow tourism, and enhance community spirit by supporting local heritage projects. Under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme, €76,030 has been allocated to community groups and not-for-profit organisations. Scariff Community Council received €12,000 to carry out a conservation/condition report on the Workhouse Water Tower in the town. Cuimhneamh an Chláir received €8,000 for ‘The Clare Oral History Podcast’ – a podcast series based on the oral history archive of Cuimhneamh an Chláir. Other recipients include: Labasheeda Projects Group; Scattery Island Heritage; New Quay Community Development Group; Dúchas na Sionna; The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group; Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary; Shannon Tidy Towns; Irish Seed Savers Association; Quin Tidy Towns and Ennistymon Tidy Towns. Chairman of The Heritage Council, Michael Parsons, said: “These schemes continue to provide a central focus for the work of The Heritage …

THE artist involved in a controversial public sculpture commission for Ennistymon has insisted there is nothing malevolent about his proposed Púca, and that it has real potential to attract and engage visitors, writes Fiona McGarry. Aidan Harte told The Champion that despite the Council’s decision to pause the project in response to public objections, he is hopeful that people will come to appreciate the design of the 2m high artwork. Mr Harte, who has studied sculpture in Florence in Italy, has told Clare County Council he is fully prepared to visit Ennistymon to engage with local people. “We can’t railroad or ignore people’s views,” he said. “This piece certainly isn’t disrespectful. Art is a matter of taste and I can understand that people don’t want art they don’t like, but this is an impressive piece when you see it in the flesh. “I think people will come to appreciate the craft that is involved. I’m more than willing to come …

CLARE’S library service has been warmly commended at the May meeting of the local authority, writes Fiona McGarry. Ennis area Councillor Ann Norton welcomed the return to some in-person services this month and also lauded the county Arts Office for its efforts to engage young people and children during the lockdowns. “The amount of activity that has been available from the Arts Office and the libraries has been amazing,” she said. As head of the Clare Crusaders Clinic in Barefield, Councillor Norton said that online story-telling and reading initiatives had been of huge benefit. “The seeds initiative was also a huge help,” she said. “It gave a chance to introduce younger children across Clare to horticulture. Getting the younger generation growing is a very positive thing. “Congratulations to all who kept people positive and showing that you can fend for yourself. Children have gotten to know what it’s like to feel soil between their fingers and long may that continue …