North Clare

A TEAM from Ennistymon has been named among the finalists for this year’s national Student Enterprise Programme. BEA Scrubs from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon, the brainchild of Áine Hennigan, Eimear Lernihan and Bríd Áine Rouine, will represent Clare in the junior category final on May 18. The Local Enterprise Office initiative has seen over 300,000 Irish students take part over the course of its 20-year history. The announcement of the finalists took place at The Helix in Dublin, the venue for this year’s finals, with this year’s Ambassador, All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Limerick’s Sean Finn. Over 24,000 students took part in the Student Enterprise Programme this year, which began in September 2021 and returns to a physical National Finals event for the first time since 2019. From over 24,000 student enterprises, the top five businesses in each of the three categories, Senior, Intermediate and Junior have been selected to go forward to the final at the Helix on May 18 where …

The new location for the controversial Púca statue that was rejected by the people of Ennistymon has been revealed. Clare County Council confirmed today that the Michael Cusack Centre, situated in the heart of the Burren, has been selected as the new home for Aidan Harte’s work. Two applications from Michael Cusack Centre, Carron and Ballyvaughan Community Development Group were subject to an adjudication process in which representatives of both groups presented their case for hosting the artwork to an independent panel of judges. The judges noted in their citation: “While both applicants put forward compelling arguments for hosting the sculpture, the operators of the Michael Cusack Centre demonstrated how there would be mutual added value to both the installation and the community-run visitor attraction, the location of which was historically named ‘Poll a Phúca’.” “Michael Cusack Centre demonstrated compatibility to bringing the Púca to its natural home, confirming the interpretative element and story that will be told through the …

A VARIETY of mouth-watering events have been unveiled for the 2022 Burren Slow Food Festival this month. Slow Food Clare’s eclectic programme for this year’s event which takes place over the weekend of Friday, May 20 to Sunday May 22 will comprise tastings, talks, markets, a banquet and more besides. However, if you haven’t already got a ticket for Friday’s festival-opening seafood supper on Inis Oirr, you’ll have to wait for next year as it is sold out. On Saturday, May 21, the Pavilion in Lisdoonvarna will host the annual farmers’ market and showcase, the 2022 theme of which is dedicated to raising awareness about the concept of “GEOfood”. GEOfood is an international brand for food produced in UNESCO Global Geoparks (www.geofood.no). Sara Gentilini, inventor of the GEOfood initiative and project manager at MAGMA UNESCO Global Geopark in Norway, will join Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism Clare County Council and Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Slow Food Clare and the Burren Smokehouse, by video link …

BURREN in Bloom, the annual celebration of the Burren’s rich biodiversity returns this May. The event, running from Thursday, May 19 to Sunday, May 22 will include a range of guided walks, evening talks and family events to coincide with the UN International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22. Áine Bird, Coordinator of Burrenbeo Trust says, “Burren in Bloom is more than a celebration, it is an important reminder that the wonder of the Burren’s wildflowers must not be taken for granted. “Careful management and continuation of the ancient practice of winterage by hundreds of farmers in the Burren, the scientific and economic support they receive, and the informed pride of the local community in our natural heritage – all play a crucial part in keeping the Burren blooming each year.” This year, the festival will start with an online talk on the evening of Thursday, May 19 on ‘Nature as a partner – changing attitudes to nature and …

A North Clare family from both sides of the Atlantic will be reunited next week in Doolin for the Ireland premiere of an award-winning documentary about their family history. This film, showing on May 4 at Hotel Doolin, highlights the story of a traditional Gaelic clan of the Burren, the O’Dubhdaboreinn. The film, called ‘Burren Girl,’ (www.burrengirldoc.com) follows the quest of Irish American Rita Davern as she searches ancient records and wanders the Burren interviewing friends and distant relations to learn more about the land and people her grandmother left behind in 1887. Ms. Davern, who produced and directed the film, said, “I am excited to bring this film back home to the Burren, where the my family’s story began more than 1200 years ago. “Twelve people from the extended Davern branch, and a few filmmakers will also come over from Minnesota for the premiere. They are excited to finally meet the Davorens they encountered in the film. “Our ancestors …

CBS Ennistymon held a CD launch in the town this week to kick off the school’s annual arts week which is packed as ever with workshops, performances and outings. The CD, launched in the Cheese Press on Monday, features three original songs written by the students, namely “The Burning of Ennistymon”, “Summer in Lahinch” and “Inis Oirr”. English teacher Eimear Griffey explained that the songs were written about places and feelings close to the students’ hearts, having learned about the local stories from their history teacher, John Galvin. She said, “We kept the songs about simple things, things the students could draw inspiration from through their own experience. “We were lucky enough to get the funding to take part in the Creative Engagement programme, and this was what this particular group decided to do with it with the help of our artist in residence John O’Connell.” Both the lyrics and the music were composed by the students, and Eimear attributed …

SCOTTISH company Prestwick Aircraft Maintenance whose sole client is Ryanair is set to open a Shannon base, where up to 200 people will be employed.  The aircraft maintenance company provides services to the Irish carrier’s aircraft and will take on a hangar that had previously been used by Lufthansa, but has been vacant more recently.  It would be a significant jobs boost for Shannon, and it is understood that Shannon Group and Prestwick Aircraft Maintenance are close to signing a contract.  The company already employs around 500 at Prestwick Airport in Scotland and around 1,300 at other locations around Europe. Clare TD Joe Carey said that getting the company to Shannon is very welcome. “This is very positive news for Shannon and the whole aircraft maintenance sector locally. The Mid West had a blow last year when Lufthanasa Technik Shannon announced they were to cease operations, but thankfully Atlantic Aviation Group came in and acquired a large part of that …

As part of the Creative Engagement Programme 2021-22, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon has been exhibiting work completed by its Transition Year and fifth year students. The exhibition, named ‘Transcendence in the Landscape – Painting with Emotion and Memory’, was created in response to the local environment of the students, with help from artist Sara Foust. Alongside the art teacher Ellen McMahon, the students collaborated with Sara through a range of workshops carried out throughout the duration of the project. Ellen said, “The school gets involved in the Creative Engagement programme every year. It involved the full group of TYs and five fifth year art students. “Sara came up with a plan for us and the workshops took place out at her gallery, before moving out into the landscape to make work from that with Sara’s work as inspiration.” Each of the workshops focused on the different aspects of Sara’s work, including concepts and processes, application of paint and her use of …