North Clare

Corofin photographer, Kenneth O’Halloran has snapped up the top prize in a prestigious international competition.

A Burren Outdoor Centre instructor will travel to France in January as part of the Leonardo Da Vinci Work Placement Programme.

HAVING visited Clare with her father as a child, senior meteorologist Evelyn Cusack returned this summer to experience some of the county’s famous walking trails. The popular weather woman’s journey through North Clare will feature on Tracks and Trails and will be broadcast on RTÉ One at 7pm on Sunday.“We were thrilled when we found out that the Burren was to be included in the Tracks and Trails television series, produced by the Sherwin Media Group, and delighted too that Evelyn Cusack was to be the well-known personality to walk the route for the programme,” said Eimer McCarthy, rural recreation officer with Clare Local Development Company.“I was completely honoured to be asked to accompany Evelyn on her trek, to show her the Fanore to Ballyvaughan walking route and introduce her to some Burren experts we met along the way. “When the programme is aired on Sunday at 7pm on, it will be a fantastic boost for walking in Clare and …

The 11th Burren Charity Challenge takes place on December 27 and offers walkers, runners and cyclists the perfect way to fight the festive bulge.The challenge consists of a 5km or 10km walk, a timed 10km road race, a 37km bike race taking in Corkscrew Hill and the coast from Blackhead to Ballyvaughan or a duathlon, including a 37km cycle, followed by a 6km run.The charities to benefit from the event are the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard and the Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic.“There is something for all shapes and sizes, abilities and attitudes, not to mention generations,” explained organiser Fergus Glynn.There is an entry fee, which includes a t-shirt and post-race refreshments but organisers promise “very substantial discounts for families and groups”.“We’d absolutely love to see as many of you there as possible. Those of you that have been there before can vouch for the irreproducible Burren Challenge atmosphere and let’s face it, it is what brings you …

Corofin Dramatic Society will take to the stage in Ennis at the weekend in the hope of bringing home the title of MACE All-Ireland One Act winners. Corofin is the only group from Clare to make it through to the prestigious finals with their production of What’s for Pudding, written by David Tristram. “We picked this play because it because it is a good English comedy and I thought if I get the five people from our group that I have in mind for the role, if I get those they will do a fair job on it. I did get the actors and actresses I wanted and they did a great job. They did all the work and I did nothing,” said director Eileen Lahiffe modestly.Corofin Dramatic Society was founded in 1950 and has competed regularly on the three-act and one-act festival circuits since. The society was the winner of the one-act finals in 1993 with a play written …

MARY Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna held its FETAC awards presentation recently. While it has offered adult education awards for over a decade, this year the school’s first FETAC Level 6 graduates were conferred with their awards in business and in supervision in childcare.In response to what it says is “a huge demand in the greater North Clare area” the school has been offering adult education courses for the past 14 years. Beginning with FETAC Level 5 awards in tourism and business, the range of courses has been extended and now includes business studies, childcare, community and health services and art, craft and design. In the interim, hundreds of adult learners have received FETAC Level 5 awards and many have progressed to third-level education and employment.Following their success at Level 5, many students expressed an interest in being able to undertake a Level 6 course locally. With this in mind, the school added on the two Level 6 courses. A further …

A PAINTING discovered in Ennistymon depicting one of the most outspoken priests of the 19th century has been returned to Tipperary more than 140 years after it was removed.The painting was found as author, Tim Boland researched his new book, Fr John Kenyon, The Rebel Priest. The book is the first in-depth study of the career of controversial priest, Fr John Kenyon.Fr Kenyon came to national prominence as a polemicist for the Young Ireland movement and was a long-time friend and confidant of several of its leaders, including John Mitchel. He held controversial views on several subjects, including the contribution of O’Connell to Irish life, the use of physical force and slavery and he was always prepared to defend his views in the public press. His outspoken opinions led him into conflict with his bishop and he was twice suspended from clerical duties.Mr Boland, a retired teacher, explained he was drawn to Fr Kenyon’s story while researching for his masters …

A FORUM aimed at eradicating the stigma of mental illness in rural Ireland will be held in Ennistymon next week.The speakers include Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State with responsibility for disability, older people, equality and mental health and Limerick TD Dan Neville, president of the Irish Association of Suicidology. Well-known Clare speakers are community activist and doctor, Billy O’Connell GP, as well as psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee.“This evening is a public event open to all,” explained event organiser, Ally Carr.“The goal is to eradicate the stigma, which quite sadly is still prevalent with mental illness. Our pre-occupation historically with institutions as a nation has not helped and is still somewhat resonant. With changing cultural and community patterns in rural Ireland we as citizens must address this epidemic,” she added.According to Ms Carr, the forum is to be “an open and honest discussion about depression, anxiety and suicide”.She explained the reasons behind holding the event now. “At any one time at …