Regional

COROFIN-based artists and book binder, Éilís Murphy continues to fly the flag for an age-old and fascinating craft, with her latest handcrafted book Words about Words. The beautifully handmade, limited-edition work of art is a kind of illustrated dictionary of rare words, many of which have fallen out of use. It explores the language of lexicography, using 26 collages to bring to life esoteric terms, from ‘abecedarian’ to ‘zeugma’. “I love resurrecting obscure words, giving them a new life through illustration,” Éilís said, describing Words about Words as “an ABC picture book for adults”. Earlier this year, Éilís’s expertise and creativity were rewarded with a €10,000 RDS Craft Awards bursary. She was one of five emerging Irish craftspeople awarded a bursary for the development of their craft. “Each book is unique by virtue of hand-painted paste paper, which gives the cover the chalky texture of a painted canvas. This paper decoration technique has been used by bookbinders since the middle …

THE pupils of sixth class at Scoil na Mainistreach, Quin-Dangan, have outlined a highly ambitious vision for the future of their area, focusing on the need for better recreational amenities and road safety. In a submission the forthcoming County Development Plan for 2022-2028, the school has recommended a number of enhancements and upgrades from which the community of Quin, young and old, would benefit. The community centre, which is beside Quin’s world-famous abbey, has been earmarked by students as a potential tourism centre, “which not only could give information on the history of Quin and its wonderful structure, but also create employment through guided tours tying in with the famous Wild Atlantic Way”. Significantly, the 287 boys and girls of Scoil na Ministreach have also spotted the potential for a digital hub at the same location. “This particular site would also be ideal as a digital hub for our village which is centrally located and has the capacity to be …

COVID-related issues are among the topics that Gort Family Resource Centre can offer counselling support with. It is urging people to come forward if they need support with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, relationship difficulties, stress, grief, bullying o illness. The centre offers low-cost professional counselling face-to-face and by phone. The service, which includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is described as confidential, respectful open and non-judgemental. Appointments can be arranged by calling 085-7706674. Details of all of the supports offered, including support programmes, family support, social welfare advice, homework and after-school club, and more, are available from 091-630902 or 085-2022066.

A TALENTED Lahinch-based film-maker has scooped a top national award from the Irish Professional Photographers and Videographers Association (IPPVA). Gavin Gallagher, from Barefield, and the founder of Dreamcatcher Films, had the honour of taking the title of Wedding Videographer of the Year, fighting off stiff competition from all over the country. “We won the award for a six-minute film and another for a 60-second Instagram edit,” Gavin told The Champion. “We have an amazing team here and we just can’t believe it, we’re delighted with the win.” The honours are all the sweeter because they come at the end of a very difficult year for everyone who provides wedding services. “We lost 70 weddings this year,” Gavin said. “It has been a crazy year and the award means so much with everything that’s happened. It’s really rejuvenated us and we’re looking forward to 2021. Couples who had have to defer their weddings and cope with so much uncertainty have been …

LOCKDOWN has been put to good use by Mounthsannon musician and researcher Cliodhna Donnellan, who took advantage of the period to record a debut album and to revisit a CD released in memory of her late father. “For everybody involved in the arts, this has been a very different year,” said Cliodhna. “The slow down gave me an opportunity to just go for it in terms of the album and I recorded it in six weeks. It was probably at the back of my mind for two years though.” Finding time for a solo project was all the more important, given Cliodhna’s recent PhD studies at the University of Limerick (UL) and her long stint with the Mountshannon Trad Festival. “I was working part-time and studying at UL, looking at how traditional musicians can enhance their own performance experience,” she explained. “In terms of the festival, I had established that and coordinated it for ten years and it was winding …

A QUILTY fishing crew got a shock last month when they caught the first ever confirmed electric ray in Irish Waters. Skipper of the MFV Emma Elizabeth, Tommy Galvin, was out with a crew including his son Thomas, fishing crayfish at the back of Mutton Island when the rare Marbled Electric Ray – otherwise known as a Torpedo Marmorata – turned up in their nets. “We knew straight away it was something you wouldn’t see every day,” Tommy told The Champion. “It was a brownsih colour, around two feet long and weighed around five kilos or so. Thomas got a bit of a shock from it, but strangely I didn’t. We were very cautious with it. Of course, we wear boots and gloves so that would cut limit the charge.” A keen watcher of sea life, Tommy got some expert advice to help identify what his unusual catch might be. “I got in touch with marine biologist Kevin Flannery, who …

A KILLER stalking the world famous Camino de Santiago, and picking off pilgrims for who-knows-what gruesome purposes, is the central character in a new novel penned by Ennis man Anthony Galvin. An author, actor and children’s entertainer, Anthony has a rich and varied life experience to drawn on for a series of crime novels set in far-flung and glamorous locations. Already well-known for his appearances, which bring joy to children across the country, the Cork resident has also clocked up more than 20 winters in Arctic Finland, working closely with none other than Santa Claus. While crime writing might seem to be something of a departure from his ‘day job,’ Anthony sees it as an exploration of other aspects of his creative impulses. And, it is certainly not his first foray into publishing. The gregarious Banner man has clocked up a string of factual books, many of which focus on crime and history. “Around eight to ten years ago, I …

A TULLA-based environmental and climate activist is hoping to “herald a new era for County Clare,” through an ambitious submission the County Development Plan (2022-2028), calling for ‘organic’ and chemical-free status for the area. Swiss national Cornelia Wahli is the driving force behind a number of high-profile initiatives including Operation De-Plastification and the Slim Your Bin Challenge. She has now asked the local authority to declare a the County Clare “organic, chemical-free and GMO-free”. Ms Wahli told the council she hopes that in 2050, at the age of 33, her granddaughter will “live in a county, in a country, on a planet that is still green and capable of supporting comfortable and enjoyable life”. In the submission, seen by The Champion, Ms Wahli said, “an organic, chemical-free and GMO-free County Clare is able to solve and combat a wealth of serious and damaging environmental threats, such as water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution, species extinction, habitat loss and loss of …