Lifestyle

ClARE Sports Partnership and Clare Local Development Company are co-ordinating a weekend of county-wide walking to celebrate National Trails Day on October 2. More than 10 guided walks and an orienteering event are to be organised by walking clubs and guides across the county.

THROUGHOUT the last fortnight, Tanzanian priest Fr Appolinaris Msaky has been visiting Ennistymon as a guest of Pat and Neilius O’Doherty.

PASSING motorists would have had to let their imaginations loose if they were to make the connection between what was happening at the West Clare Railway Station in Moyasta and the sinking of the Titanic 99 years ago. In recent weeks, Mayo-based Gmarsh Productions have been shooting some parts of a documentary in Moyasta, on the sinking of the Titanic. Jackie Whelan, who has been the driving force behind re-establishing the West Clare Railway, says the publicity will help in marketing the attraction nationwide. “First of all we’ll get a lot of publicity out of it that you couldn’t buy. We’ll feature in the credits as well as the crew paying their way, back here,” he stated. Jackie feels the Slieve Callan steam engine is a huge attraction for film-makers and visitors. “That’s the only steam train of its kind in the world in operation now. There’s nothing else like that in Ireland or any other part of the world. …

LACK of access to overdraft facilities or bank loans is still an issue for the small business community locally and continues to have a serious effect on trading and business operations.

ISAAC Butt is recognised as the founder of the first Home Rule movement in the Westminster Parliament but his background was completely different.

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Anyone passing Cooney’s in Quilty on Thursday, September 1, might have been tempted to park up and drop in. Upon entering, the visitor would have learned that those partying in the middle of the day were nearly all over 90 years of age.Some of the senior citizens who attend the ClareCare Daycare Centre in Miltown Malbay were on a day out, under the supervision of Cait Ní Loinsigh.Among those present was 95-year-old Bridie Carey from Craggane, Quilty, who farmed all of her life.“I was farming since I was a child. I loved it. It was tough sometimes but at the same time I was interested in what I was doing,” Bridie told The Clare Champion. Bridie has fond memories of saving hay but not so benign recollections of long days saving turf in the bog. “Footing turf? I used to hate it. I’m telling you, it was tough on the back,” she grimaced.Bridie also clearly remembers hand-milking cows but says …

FRIDAY, September 9. The Town Hall in Lisdoonvarna was dimly lit and fairly stuffy, with only half the ceiling fans working. Shay O’Callaghan was onstage, providing the raucous soundtrack to the dancing, a mash-up of nostalgic melodies. The black curtains hung limply, contrasting with the blue, red and white of the walls rather meekly. Overhead, windows threw dapples of light on the floorboards, illuminating the dancers that limbered through them but also highlighting the glumness of the hall. While the dance floor had its attendees, they were sparsely arranged. The guys taking money at the door admitted that numbers weren’t looking great so far. Average age: probably around 60. All in all, love wasn’t really in the air. As I was to find out, or perhaps, as I should have already known, that isn’t so much the point of the festival anymore. Matchmaking, an age-old tradition and a prominent idiosyncrasy of our cultural backlog, is quite obviously dying out. Willie …