Regional

THE Burren and Cliffs of Moher region of North Clare has been awarded the prestigious designation of membership of the UNESCO-supported Global Geopark network at the 10th European Geoparks Conference in Langesund, Norway.The Burren now becomes part of a unique group of world locations that form part of the Global Network of National Geoparks. The award is the culmination of a long application process that was coordinated by Clare County Council through the Burren Connect project, with the support of the Geological Survey of Ireland and Shannon Development. There are currently 78 Geoparks in 26 countries worldwide.Accepting the award, Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes said, “As part of this UNESCO-supported initiative, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher region now enjoy global recognition for this unique landscape. Global Geopark status is in recognition of the established network of specific sites of geological interest, a group of environmentally-conscious tourism businesses and a busy annual calendar of community-based events and activities. I …

A LAHINCH production company is behind the new TG4 series Farraigí na hÉireann, which began on Tuesday. Ken O’Sullivan and his wife, Katrina Costello spent a full year filming for the programme, following sea creatures through their seasonal changes from feeding, mating, breeding and birth of their young.The couple set up Sea Fever Productions in 2006 to produce ocean-themed and wildlife documentaries and this, their most ambitious work to date, will be shown over the next five weeks on TG4.Producing an Irish ocean wildlife series has been a life dream for Ken and Katrina. Many years of development and two years of production have resulted in Ireland’s first dedicated ocean wildlife series, bringing the Irish magical underwater world into the living rooms of people in Ireland.According to Ken, who is the producer, director and cameraman on the project, “Waiting for suitable sea conditions in which to film can be difficult in Ireland but when the seas are calm, the diving …

THE renowned film producer, lecturer and theatre director, Lelia Doolan, will launch the 17th Lady Gregory Autumn Gathering this weekend.“Both Ms Doolan and Lady Gregory have a lot in common. Both were or are rebels and both promoted the arts as entertainment but also as a means to express a political opinion or to spotlight a struggle. Lady Gregory is credited with writing most of the explosive nationalistic play, Cathleen Ní Houlihan, with WB Yeats, who later wondered ‘Did that play of mine send out/certain men the English shot?’” mused Marion Cox, one of the organisers.At the recent Galway Film Fleadh, co-founded by Ms Doolan, her film, Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey, won critical acclaim for its portrayal of Bernadette McAliskey, a veteran of the Battle of the Bogside during the Northern Troubles.“Ms Doolan began her career in RTÉ. She had a battle royal over her insistence that an RTÉ crew should be sent to Vietnam to ensure that …

GORT man Eric Daly is hoping for revenge this weekend. The GMIT student will challenge for the vacant IKF European Superlightweight Full Contact Kickboxing title this Saturday before a home crowd against Sarwar Hamid, who fights out of Brighton in England.The pair last met in a studio in Norwich for the launch of an online television station dedicated to martial arts and in that exchange, it was the Briton that came out on top.“He beat me in the last round of that so this is a rematch of sorts. I know what he is like to fight so I am better prepared this time but then again he knows what I am like too. He is a nice lad and a good fighter so it should be fairly enjoyable, especially from the audience’s perspective. I am looking for revenge or payback,” Eric told The Clare Champion.The event has a further special significant for the South Galway man because he is …

A tempest of creative energy is about to be unleashed in Kilkee in mid-October (14 and 15) with the inaugural Play Wrighters’ Festival of Kilkee. In what’s primed to be a key west coast event on the literary calendar, a clarion call is going out to writers around the county to set fire to their imaginations impelled by the incendiary times we live and record the consequences in pieces of transformative theatre. Hosted by The Stella Maris Hotel and The Greyhound Bar, play readings and writing workshops will be the main features of the two-day event with political activist/writer John Arden and his wife Margaretta D’Arcy taking centre stage. They will read two extracts from their acclaimed treatise to George Moore.  Leading the local literary charge is drama activist Jenny Walsh Bassett, who has spread her contact net wide and bagged some big fish, cultivating her friendship with the Galway-based dissident writer Arden and his wife and artistic collaborator the …

A band with strong West Clare connections has made it to the final two of a national competition and is now looking for the public’s support to see them interviewed in the country’s best-known music magazine.Swords drummer Ian Frawley is from Kilrush and singer Diane Anglim’s father is from Kilmihil. They are joined by Jarlath Canning in the alternative-pop trio. Swords is one of two bands remaining in contention for the coveted exposure in Hot Press magazine.“We are constantly looking for good opportunities as a band. Good, credible opportunities for gigs and getting our music out there. We saw the competition in Hot Press and submitted one of our tracks, Chasm. There was a judging process, completely based on the songs, and we are now down to the final two, which is open to public vote and we really need people to vote for us online once every day,” explains Cappa man Ian. Winning the competition, Ian believes, will be …

ENNIS is set to play a key part in plans by the National Roads Authority to maintain the country’s motorways during the winter months.