Lifestyle

WEST Clare has another feather in its tourism cap now a pathway improving access to Carrigaholt Castle has been opened. In glorious, sunshine last Saturday, during the annual May Weekend Oyster and Trad Festival Pat Dowling, CEO of Clare County Council cut the ribbon on the pathway gate leading to the iconic Castle. Among the group of locals and visitors gathered at the official opening were some of the Ukrainians staying in Kilkee. Mr Dowling made the observation that the Ukrainians relish their freedom and we are reminded of how important our freedom is. The opening of the pathway to the castle is symbolic, he said, of the freedoms we enjoy here. Also knows as MacMahon Tower House, the castle was built in 1480 and home to last Gaelic chieftain to rule on the Loop Head Peninsula. This new attraction for Carrigaholt, the Loop Head Peninsula and the county has been opened up for all to stroll down to the …

A VARIETY of mouth-watering events have been unveiled for the 2022 Burren Slow Food Festival this month. Slow Food Clare’s eclectic programme for this year’s event which takes place over the weekend of Friday, May 20 to Sunday May 22 will comprise tastings, talks, markets, a banquet and more besides. However, if you haven’t already got a ticket for Friday’s festival-opening seafood supper on Inis Oirr, you’ll have to wait for next year as it is sold out. On Saturday, May 21, the Pavilion in Lisdoonvarna will host the annual farmers’ market and showcase, the 2022 theme of which is dedicated to raising awareness about the concept of “GEOfood”. GEOfood is an international brand for food produced in UNESCO Global Geoparks (www.geofood.no). Sara Gentilini, inventor of the GEOfood initiative and project manager at MAGMA UNESCO Global Geopark in Norway, will join Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism Clare County Council and Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Slow Food Clare and the Burren Smokehouse, by video link …

THE Burren Ecotourism Network has shot a series of videos showcasing the charms of a number of North Clare’s beautiful villages. The video series, supported by Clare Local Development Council (CLDC) & LEADER, so far comprises videos of six villages with plans in train to include more. The videos, which are available to view on the Burren Ecoturism Network (BEN) social media pages, are narrated by locals or BEN members to give a true local flavour of the areas. The series, entitled “Villages of the Burren” will provide visitors to the area a brief overview of the diverse culture, history, music, food, and sustainable tourism ethos of communities across the Burren region. So far six films have been produced: Ballyvaughan, Doolin, Kinvara, Lisdoonvarna, New Quay and Ennistymon. There are plans to feature more villages such as Kilfenora, Corofin, Lahinch, Liscannor and Fanore in the coming months. Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of Burren Ecotourism Network said, “Each of the villages is unique …

WITH overseas tourism set to step up markedly this year, a recent delegation from Ireland set its sights on growing the Scandinavian market. County Clare was promoted to more than 50 top tour operators and travel agents from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland at Tourism Ireland’s 2022 Nordic trade workshop, which took place this week in Copenhagen. Twenty-five tourism companies from Ireland – including the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience – took part in the workshop, meeting and doing business with the Nordic travel professionals. The goal was to encourage them to extend their Ireland offering, or to include Ireland for the first time, in their brochures and programmes. The key message was that Ireland is open for business again and we cannot wait to welcome back Nordic visitors. Emer Mac Diarmada, Tourism Ireland’s Manager for the Nordic Region, said, “We’re really pleased that so many key Nordic travel professionals have taken the time to come and meet with our …

BUSY mum-of-three Geraldine Frost was raising a family, running a shop and holding down a job in a medical devices company, in the 1990s, when a routine blood test changed her life. As part of a routine medical, organised by her employer Analog Devices, high levels of a substance called creatinine were detected. “That can be a sign of kidney disease,” Geraldine explained. “I had been feeling very tired, but I put that down to being rushed off my feet. My mother had passed away, at the age of just 50, from kidney failure and, as it turned out, I was then diagnosed with a very rare type of kidney disease.” Because of her condition, Geraldine’s kidneys were no longer able to perform their normal function of filtering out impurities. This necessitated dialysis, a mechanical process to cleanse waste and fluid. The procedure, which has to happen several times a week, can lead to major restrictions in someone’s daily life. …

IT WAS a wonderful Easter weekend at two of Clare’s premier attractions – Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and Craggaunowen. The Clare Champion’s mascot Daisy certainly had a great time at both venues. We’re certainly blessed to have such great amenities on our doorstep in the Banner County.

Arlene Harris on the poignant process of sorting through the contents of her old family home – the famed Merriman Tavern – for auction this weekend SELLING the family home is always going to be a poignant experience, but going through its contents and organising them for auction is even more of an emotional wringer. And when you add to that, the emptying of a business which is choc-full of antiques and memorabilia, the task gets even harder. This is what I have just experienced, having emptied my parent’s bar, The Merriman Tavern in Scariff, for an auction which takes place on April 23. Growing up in this centuries-old stone building (where incidentally Eamon DeValera once made a speech from the room which later became my parent’s bedroom), I had a very colourful childhood. Week after week, the bar played host to everyone from Clannad and the Chieftans to the Wolfe Tones, Paddy Reilly, Christy Moore and Planxty. Finbar Furey …

John Galvin was beguiled by the cultural wealth, fabulous food and warm hospitality of the Mediterranean island. When we think of Malta, perhaps nothing immediately springs to mind, except for vague notions of sandy beaches and blue Mediterranean waters. Malta in fact is an intriguing mix of cultures, having spend much of its history conquered by other countries, only gaining its independence in the 1960s. We explored the islands as guests of Visit Malta, to mark the start of direct Ryanair flights from Shannon to Valletta. We managed to pack a lot into three days but I’d suggest that the delights of the islands should be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace. With two flights a week, it would be easy to tailor the perfect trip. Malta’s first capital, Mdina, gives the feel of an open air museum, with its narrow, traffic free streets and mix of architectural styles, dating back to medieval times. The ramparts impart breathtaking views of …