West Clare

THE 40th Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, which starts on Saturday, will feature the unveiling of a new bronze bust of the famed piper.

THE largest ever flotilla of boats to visit Kilrush Marina sailed from Limerick City to Kilrush on Tuesday and spent a few days enjoying the delights of West Clare and the Shannon Estuary as part of the inaugural Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) Limerick/Shannon Estuary Rally.

INDEPENDENT town councillor Mairéad O’Brien was elected Mayor of Kilrush at last Friday’s AGM in the town hall. Councillor O’Brien succeeds Councillor Ian Lynch. The new deputy mayor is independent Councillor Paul Moroney.

IN his final speech as Mayor of Kilrush, Councillor Ian Lynch revealed plans to stand for a seat on Clare County Council in 2014.

KILRUSH Town Council has recently applied for grant funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Grant Scheme with a view to progressing with the proposed sports complex on the Cooraclare Road in the town. However, it will be several months before any feedback is forthcoming regarding the success of the grant application. The matter was raised at last week’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council by town Mayor Ian Lynch, who asked that the town council call a public meeting to update local people on the status of the project. “I wish to confirm that two applications for grant funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Grant Scheme, for proposed works on the Cooraclare Road Sports Project, have been made recently by both Kilrush Town Council and by Clare County Council,” Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry replied. “As part of this process, we sought letters of support from the various sporting organisations, who would be utilising this facility and we explained to each …

THE Willie Clancy Summer School is celebrating its 40th anniversary next month, and the Kilfenora Céilí Band can hardly contain their excitement. The summer school, formed by Martin Talty, Muiris Ó Rocháin and Harry Hughes, in honour of renowned uilleann piper Willie Clancy, has grown in stature over the years, welcoming musicians from across the globe to join in the festivities.   In many ways, the band represents the entire concept of the week, as both have encouraged young performers to play. The birth of the North Clare band stretches back 102 years, and similar to the Miltown festival, they have always tried to encourage and nurture up-and-coming talent for the next generation.“The festival started at a time when traditional music certainly didn’t have the status that it has now,” John Lynch, leader of the Kilfenora Céilí Band stated. “Muiris, Harry and Martin have to be commended for the brave, bold and innovative summer school model that they founded and …

NEWLY elected Mayor of Kilkee, Councillor Claire Haugh, is furious the 111-year-old town council may cease to exist in 2014 if local government reforms result in small town councils being abolished.

A FUNDRAISING stroll in the hills of Ayleroe will take place on Sunday, June 24. The hills of Ayleroe nestle into the landscape on the banks of the Shannon River between Kildysart and Labasheeda.