Lifestyle

BERTIE Conroy’s eyes twinkle with delight when you ask him to outline the trials and tribulations of his boating years on the River Shannon and the Grand Canal.

It’s a place where myths, history and culture blend seamlessly with a modern economy built around tourism, financial services and aeronautics. It’s the Isle of Man, created when, according to legend, Fionn Mac Cumhaill threw a fistful of earth at a Scottish enemy and it fell short into the Irish Sea.

MICHAEL Galvin is still getting to know his 14 Welsh ponies. One of his prizewinners, Hope Carrick, nibbles at a sop of hay, while at the same time keeping an eye on its owner.  He might be small in stature but ‘Bobby’ as Michael calls Hope Carrick, who is up to 12 hands in height, has plenty of attitude.

East Clare dog, Mollie, is a finalist for Ireland’s Best-Loved Dog as part of a national competition organised for World Animal Week.

PARTEEN’S Dan Mooney cut a strange sight on Tuesday, as he spent two and a half hours searching a haystack before he recovered a darning needle, at Bunratty Folk Park.

CLARE is bracing itself for the biggest fashion event of the year, which is taking place next month. Ennis Fashion Fortnight runs from October 9 to 22 and is set to be bigger and better then ever before.

About 30% of all Australians are of Irish birth or descent. Many emigrated freely but many are descended from convicts transported there in the early years of the colony.

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