East Clare

CLARE County Council has confirmed it is at an advanced stage of negotiations to secure the purchase of Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) on Lough Derg. It is understood that a purchase price has been agreed between Clare County Council and the landowner and it is now at a stage where the council is seeking funding from Government to purchase the island. Ger Dollard, director of services with Clare County Council, confirmed that the acquisition of the island has been under consideration for a number of years and that an opportunity recently arose to bring the site into public ownership. “We are fully aware of the significance of this location and would be anxious to see it forming part of the local tourism product and be available to the wider public. We are conscious of the strong heritage, environmental and conservation considerations associated with the island and, for that reason, have commenced the preparation of terms of reference for a visitor …

A new €2 million stimulus package is being invested to progress the objectives of the new five-year Lough Derg marketing plan. Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced this funding will be spent on implementing some of the key recommendations of the “Roadmap for Experience Development and Destination Marketing Plan 2014-2017” for Lough Derg, which was launched earlier this year. Minister Kelly made the announcement at the launch of a brand new website dedicated exclusively to the promotion of the Lakelands Lough Derg region. Tourism attractions in Clare will be marketed in a more coordinated fashion with the help of a new website, which is designed to make a big splash for Lough Derg. Visitors to the region with information on places to visit, events, accommodation providers and restaurants, special offers, and land and water based activities by visiting www.discoverloughderg.ie. The website is one of a number of marketing initiatives being rolled out over the coming months and during 2015 to …

TULLA Vintage Organisation (T.V.O.) will hold the second Pat O’Halloran Memorial this Sunday September 7 giving the East Clare community an opportunity to check out the best vintage models around. The event is once again being staged in O’Halloran’s Field, Church Road, Tulla, from 12 noon and this year’s main beneficiary is Sláinte an Chláir, which will see funds donated staying in the East Clare area. A display of vintage tractors, classic cars, motorbikes will parade through the town led by the Tulla Pipe Band from 1pm, while a host of stationary engines will be on display throughout the day at O’Halloran’s field. Due to the success of the Vintage Day last year and to the generous support of you the people; Tulla Vintage Organisation was in a position to donate €4,290 to the Jack and Jill Foundation and €4,290 to the Tulla Tidy Towns Committee. Tulla Vintage Organisation also held a fundraiser through the sale of their DVD on …

THE 70TH annual Scariff Show took place last weekend and the competition was as fierce as ever for this milestone year. Among the events was a special dog category event, helping East Clare Musical Society select a suitable dog actor for their forthcoming production of Annie. Four candidates were selected to play the role of Sandy and, after a trial period working with these dogs, one lucky canine will be selected to perform in December. The shortlisted entries included Jessie, owned by Paul Brooks; Monty, owned by Eleanor Walsh; Sammy, owned by Caroline Ford; and Muffy, owned by Holly Sturton, who will play the role of Annie for the production. The top four dogs will work with a trainer, once rehearsals begin. Chorus rehearsals begin on Tuesday at 8pm in the music room at Scariff Community College. Anyone interested in getting involved are asked to come along, new members are always welcome.   Carol Byrne

CON Fada Ó Drisceoil will be the host for the Tulla Trad Festival celebrity concert, which is the main highlight of this year’s festival. Con, a  songwriter and accordion-player from West Cork, is renowned for writing comic songs on a wide range of subjects, from Shakespearean tragedy to unwelcome percussionists and the wildlife of County Clare. In 2009, he received the composer’s award at Gradam Ceoil TG4. Among the celebrity guests taking to the concert stage on the weekend after next are Darren Breslin, June McCormack, Michael Rooney, Tim Collins, Edwina Guckian, Edel Fox and Neil Byrne. There is huge demand for places at the workshops, which are a very important element of the Tulla Trad Festival. The organisers have warned that places are filling up rapidly in most workshops, which feature top-class tutors. For details about the festival, visit tullatradfestival.ie. Carol Byrne

THE official opening of the 12 O’Clock Hills Project which has developed looped walks in these scenic East Clare hills will take place on Sunday, September 14 at 1pm. The 12 O’Clock Hills recreational and heritage project is based at Knockanuarha hill, which is located 5km to the southeast of Kilkishen village. The main summit stands at 309 metres or 1,014 feet above mean sea level, and there is another peak about 10 metres lower and 400 metres away to the west/south west. From the 12 O’Clock Hills much of County Clare is on view including West Clare, the Burren and the Shannon Estuary while locally Kilkishen village, Cullaun Lake and Steele’s Turret are prominent. With a little effort, the town of Ennis and many of the villages of East Clare will reveal themselves. With so much on offer from this vantage point the committee felt it was something worth developing on to share with the public. The project was …

EAST Clare is all set to  host the inaugural Sliabh Aughty Furnace Festival  celebrating the region’s rich history with the iron industry. Hidden on the western shores of Lough Derg, in the foothills of the Sliabh Aughty mountains are the remains of four blast furnaces. These furnaces are a witness to an industry that changed the landscape here forever. They were built 300 to 400 years ago to smelt rich local iron ores together with charcoal made from the oak woodlands there. These hidden gems have recently been brought into focus again, due to the efforts of local historian, Gerard Madden and Dr Paul Rondelez. The two have been working on a publication to publish a transcription of 80 hitherto unknown letters, written between 1693 and 1701, primarily on the iron works of Scariff and Woodford. The festival also follows a very successful visit to the area by the Historical Metallurgy Society earlier this year. The festival will take place on …

A SCARIFF man who was missing in London has been found and is in good health. John Dowdall was found by police staying in a hotel in the Paddington area of the city on Wednesday night. He is now staying with relatives in London and is said to be in good spirits. Mr Dowdall had left his home place without informing relatives living locally. He checked into a hotel in London on July 31 but left it on August 7, leaving his belongings after him. On  Tuesday of last week it was established that he was alive and efforts to find him bore fruit late yesterday evening.