Regional

THE rain might have beaten The Blizzards but the King Guaire Rí-Rá Festival has been hailed a great success and there is already speculation the festival could become an annual event.Although the performance by The Blizzards, the headline act at the RiVibe Youthfest and Sunday’s family sports day were called off because of persistent rain, spirits remained high for the other events that took place over the weekend.  

The class photograph taken at the recent Kilrush CBS 1959-2009 50th anniversary celebration in Kilrush. Sixteen of the original class of 27 attended, while all members of the class were represented by a family member. Peadar Nugent, who organised the event, produced a booklet, which includes a biographical piece on each of the 27 ex-Kilrush CBS students. Back row, from left: Tommy Connors (England), Joe Taylor (Tralee), John Cussen (Kilkee), Flan Kiernan (Dublin), John Doyle (Australia), Michael Donnellan (Sligo), Senan O’Driscoll (Limerick), Peadar Cunningham (Kildare), Don Hamilton (Ennis – for his brother George, Spain) and Peadar Nugent (Galway). Middle row, from left: Alice Crotty (Dublin – for her husband Martin RIP), Jane Coughlan (Kilrush – for her brother Kenneth Humphries, London), John Saunders (Kilrush), Con O’Leary (Kildare – for his brother Fr John, Peru), Seosaimhín Uí Dhomhnalláin (Lahinch – for her husband John Donnellan RIP), Dympna Reidy (Kilmihil – for her brother Joe Devine, Florida), Brendan Daly (Cooraclare – for …

UP to 100 cyclists will pedal a 35km spin around Cooraclare and Cree this Saturday, in the sixth annual Michael Garry Memorial Cycle.The cycle, which is in memory of the late Cooraclare postman and GAA figure Michael Garry, will leave Cooraclare church at 1.15pm before heading for the Danganelly Tavern via Brisla and on towards Cree.

THE seventh annual Nell Galvin Traditional Music Weekend will be tinged with sadness in Moyasta this weekend, as the late Peadar Crotty is remembered. Peadar, who was a co-founder of the festival and committee chairman, passed away suddenly on August 19 last.After consulting with his family, the committee decided to press ahead with the weekend festival and they are endeavouring to ensure that it will be a celebration of Peadar’s musical life.

THE announcement earlier this year that allotments were being made available to greenfingered gardening fans in the Ennis area was met with great enthusiasm. Back in May, over 40 allotments were allocated to individuals and groups, with the produce now being successfully harvested. The allotments are the first of many projects which are planned to be developed by the newly established Clare Environmental Education Centre, which is based at Cappahard Farm on the Tulla Road. The idea behind the centre is to educate the general public on many different aspects of the environment and the issues that impact on it.

MARGARET Boland is very proud of the fact that although she will hit the 100-year mark on Friday, her hair remains untainted by even a fleck of grey. Making this yet more noteworthy is her revelation that her head of black, curly hair has never benefited from a drop of dye.

THE new €1.04 million childcare facility in Mountshannon, developed by the local community council, is expected to open at the end of September, it emerged this week. Catering for 50 at full capacity, the new state-of-the art building includes a créche and facilities for pre-school and after school for children in Mountshannon, Whitegate and the surrounding areas.

CLARE County Council has granted planning permission for a skate park to be built immediately adjacent to Shannon Leisure Centre to the rear of the children’s playground. In the planner’s report, four issues were set out as significant in relation to development including the principle of development/compliance with policy, access to recycling facilities, proposed associated works and traffic safety and visual amenities.