Lifestyle

  THE Great Irish Famine wasn’t just down to potato blight and the current crisis in East Africa isn’t solely the result of drought, according to Newmarket man Dr David Nally. A lecturer at the University of Cambridge, his book Human Encumbrances: Political Violence and the Great Irish Famine has recently been published.Dr Nally believes while famines are sometimes explained away as the result of simple crop failures, there are generally less obvious causes. “My point is that famines are rarely natural catastrophes. That’s something I strongly emphasise, questioning the sense that famines are caused by an absolute failure in food. That’s rarely the case, that food is completely wiped out.”Even as people starved to death in Ireland food was being shipped out of the country, while Africa still has resources that could be used to feed its population. “Right throughout the Irish famine exports continued. We constantly hear about the Irish living in a pig and potato economy, that …

BLUE McDonnell from Castlelawn, Ennis, was one of 10 people honoured at the Irish American Civil Awards in Los Angeles.She was presented with her award by Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Vilcaraigosa, which she won for her work as an advocate for homeless children. Blue has worked for School on Wheels in the city for three years and volunteered for eight years. The organisation is dedicated to tutoring homeless children in LA.

The sun may not have been shining but the style certainly was as the women of Ireland descended on Ballybrit for ladies day at the annual Galway Races Summer Festival. Gone was the fascinator of previous years as the hatinator reigned supreme, a trend particularly noticeable in the Anthony Ryans Judging Marquee where 50 women were shortlisted for the Best Dressed Lady title.In the end it was Suzanne McGarry from Sligo who took the coveted prize with Sieglinde Mullers, sporting a design by Galway milliner Edel Ramburg, getting the nod for best hat. Suzanne wore a red vintage dress, accessorised with a Lina Stein designed dome-shaped cream and black hat with pearls and handmade silk roses. The judges were on the look out for a Best Dressed Lady with an innate sense of style who could put together a winning ensemble, appropriate to both the wearer and the occasion.“The style is unbelievable. It is the greatest group of best dressed …

Results(First placed only)HORSE CLASSESChampion yearling colt or gelding: Noel O’Shea, Kilofin, Labasheeda. Champion yearling filly: Cyril Stephens, Cranny, Kilrush. Scariff yearling filly qualifier: Tom Newell, Kilcahill, Tuam, Galway. Champion two-year-old colt or gelding: Seamus Lehane, Ballard House, Ballymacowne House, Clonakilty, Cork. Champion two-year-old filly: Kieran O’Gorman, Brookfield House, Clonakilty, Cork. Best three-year-old colt or gelding to make a hunter/showjumper or eventer: Seamus Lehane, Kilcahill, Tuam, Galway. best three-year-old filly to make a hunter/showjumper or eventer: Michael and Rachel Lyons, Kilmastule, Birdhill, Tipperary. Champion young horse of the show De Valera Cup: Seamus Lehane, Ballard House, Ballymacowne House, Clonakilty, Cork. Best ridden hunter four-year-old and upwards: Margaret Jeffers (Debbie Boylan) Ballykelly House, Drinagh, Wexford. The Pat and Eileen Fitzgerald yearling colt or gelding: Michael O’Callaghan, Cloncolman, Lissycasey. Best half bred light weight or heavy weight brood mare with foal at foot: Cyril Conway, Lissycasey. Best colt foal to make a showjumper or eventer: Sean Jones, Scariff. Gain colt foal all-ireland qualifier: …

JAPANESE knotweed is a tenacious invasive plant species that is infesting the county at an extraordinarily fast rate and becoming an increasing nightmare for landowners, developers and those responsible for the safeguarding our environment.  Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) grows like a triffid forming tall dense thickets that exclude other vegetation; shuts out the light at the edges of woodlands and forestry; eliminates native plants in hedgerows; damages flood defence structures along rivers and can seriously damage buildings and concrete surfaces.  In February 2011, The Irish Times reported that Japanese knotweed is taking over unfinished housing estates in Kerry and threatening serious damage to building by growing through concrete and tarmac.  In the UK, it is estimated that its clearance costs £1.5 million each year. How to spot Japanese knotweedIn the spring, Japanese knotweed shoots are dark red in colour and quickly form bamboo-like stems from which sprout green leaves shaped like shields. It can reach up to 3m and more …

RECORD crowds turned out for the All-Ireland Currach Championships in Doonbeg on August Bank Holiday Monday to see Maharees, Kerry, win the men’s open currach race. They held off the challenges of top oarsmen from sClare, Galway, Donegal and Limerick to take the Blue Riband. In second spot was the Clare/Kerry crew comprising Sean Honan, Doonbeg, Thomas Blunnie, Kilrush and Brian Kennedy, Kerry. Third place was filled by the Doonbeg trio of Eoin and Alan Honan and Kieran Browne. Honours in the ladies’ open race went to Gweedore, Donegal, with Carraroe, Galway and Dingle filling second and third. In the Fear agus Bean Race, Clarecastle duo Eamonn Enright and Kerry Power were second behind Maharees and Rosses, Donegal were third. The Naomhog ladies was dominated by Rosses, Gweedore and runners-up were Clare/Kerry quartet, Leah O’Sullivan, Anne Potter, Eileen and Bríd Quirke. The third crew home was the Kilkee/Doonbeg combination of Lilian O’Donnell, Geraldine Kelly, Mary and Teresa Stanford. The top …

Kildysart Agricultural Show Society held their 69th annual show last Saturday with a large number of entries in all sections.Amongst the winners was the Quickpark Champion Young Horse of the Show, Michael O’Callaghan, Cloncolman, Lissycasey.The All-Ireland two-year-old filly final was won by local exhibitor Gerard Grace, Rusheen, Kildysart. The Shannonside League finals also proved to be a big attraction in the show jumping arenas.In the cattle section, there was a very large entry from various parts of the country. There was a big interest in the Young Handler competition which was won by Elaine Clancy of Moloskey House, Mullagh, with Jack Devitt from Inagh taking second place and another Inagh girl Rachel Hehir taking the third spot.New to this year’s show was a vintage display of cars, tractors and farm machinery. There was a threshing demonstration held which was enjoyed by young and old alike. HORSESBest registered Irish draught mare stinted or with foal at foot: 1. Hughie Murphy, Swinford, …

Record numbers attended this year’s ninth annual Scariff Harbour Festival, which saw people literally dropping from the sky to attend.  The festival has gone from strength to strength and this year was no exception with crowds coming out in force for each of the events organised. Among the highlights were free concerts in the town square with Mundy and Paddy Casey, a special church concert with the Three Tenors, a dramatic sky-diving display, family fun day, a reading by poet and writer Dermot Bolger and the annual Waterways Ireland Cross Border Young Anglers’ Competition. In addition, there was street theatre with Jim and Dr Nick, who performed on stilts, horse and wagon tours, boating tours and crafts fair. A presentation was made to retiring Scariff parish priest Fr Pat Sexton, while tributes were paid to Scariff TD Michael McNamara and Mayor Pat Hayes. At the official opening, festival chairman Mike Rodgers said, “Like many other places, we here in Scariff …