North Clare

A local representative has roundly criticised the ongoing “fiasco” at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon.“It is a sad situation when two derelict buildings can override health and safety and traffic and the community,” said Councillor Richard Nagle.

The building of a new pier in Doolin moved a step closer to reality this week when Clare County Council sought tenders for the design and building of the project. The tender documents were published on Monday with the deadline for responses set for May 13 next.

FROM building improvised wind turbines using plane parts to making Super 8 films of his family, from providing the amplification for the Corpus Christi procession to shying away from mundane tasks on cars in favour of trickier jobs with radios or even toys, Gilla Skerritt was a unique man. This month North Clare pays tribute to one of the area’s great characters.

THE inaugural Michael Howley Walk, Run and Cycle takes place in Ennistymon on Sunday, April 21 from 10am in memory of the late Michael from Ballyvraneen, who passed away on March 29, 2012, at the age of 49.

Luka Bloom, Martin Hayes, Donal Lunny, John Spillane, Steve Cooney and Hermitage Green are amongst the acts lined up to perform during the inaugural Doolin Folk Festival which takes place from June 14 to 16. The three-day festival will take place on the grounds of Hotel Doolin. The Doolin Folk Festival line-up also includes Scullion, We Banjo 3, Iarla Ó Lionaird, Andy Irvine, Fidil, I Draw Slow, Beoga, Socks in the Frying Pan and JP Trio with more acts expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The festival will also feature food stalls, a traditional crafts fair and a farmers’ market. Musician and event promoter Conor Byrne, explained the festival will feature “traditional and folk musicians, who have had a connection with the area over the years as well as up-and-coming, cutting-edge folk and trad acts to the village thereby reviving Doolin’s reputation as a hub for trad and folk musicians”. Commenting on the decision to host a folk …

HUNDREDS of people, almost all the children of the parish between 1967 and 2006, have been members of Kilnamona Youth Club. This weekend they will celebrate their shared experience in the Old Ground Hotel for a reunion celebrating four decades of the organisation.

DETAILS have been announced of a new festival honouring The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien’s links with The Burren and how the world-famous karst landscape and Celtic legends of the West of Ireland region may have inspired his masterwork.

HEAVY rain and flooding in parts of North Clare earlier this year have caused the earth to move in Dromore Wood. A local man, out for a walk in the area noticed a large piece of marsh, approximately 18 metres by 11 metres, had washed up on the shore of Black Lake, which forms part of Dromore Lake.