Clare history seen through faces

FACES of Folklore, the latest outreach project of Cuimhneamh an Chláir, has been recording the memories of Clare’s oldest citizens over the last year. The project aims to enhance awareness of some of the people, who over the last two centuries have been central to the collection and preservation of the county’s folk voluntary group.
Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin recently met the executive committee of Cuimhneamh an Chláir and officially launched the Faces of Folklore project. The project highlights three individuals; one, a collector and the other two, bearers of tradition, who, according the group, collectively represent the importance of recording and most importantly retaining the traditional heritage and identity in Clare. 
The three people featured in the pamphlet are Professor Seamus Ó Duilearga, who collected folklore in Clare over a period of 14 years from 1929. According to Frances Madigan, a member of the group’s executive, Prof Ó Duilearga inspired, motivated and directed the collection of Irish oral tradition by the Irish Folklore Commission. From 1929-1943, he gathered folklore extensively in Clare. “Until then, the county had been largely omitted from Irish folklorists’ study of language and lore. Ó Duilearga’s affinity with the people and folklore of Clare developed into a deep affection during his years in the county. Without the work, dedication and vision of Ó Duilearga, the stories and native language of County Clare, as he put it, would have “lingered and died on the lips of my old friends”.
In addition, to O’Duilearga, two Clare people, Stiofán Ó hÉalaoire from Doolin and Bríd Bean Uí Choisteala from Kilbaha, are included.  The latter two were identified and recorded in the 1930s and 1940s by members of the Irish Folklore Commission. 
A caption on a photograph taken in the 1930s, describes Bríd Bean Uí Choisteala as the “blind wife” of John Costello. This unfortunate reduction of one of Clare’s finest storytellers is now finally addressed. Mrs Uí Choisteala of Kilbaha, Loop Head, was one of those tradition bearers who, possibly on account of her gender, has been omitted from public knowledge. In 1942, 1943 and 1950, Tadhg Ó Murchú, on behalf of the Irish Folklore Commission, collected much of Bríd Bean Uí Choisteala’s lore and noted her as one of the finest storytellers in West Clare. 
“The master storyteller of Corcomroe,” is how folklorist and Irish language enthusiast, Prof Ó Duilearga described Stiofán Ó hEalaoire of Ballycullaun near Doolin.
Stiofán was already in his 70s when he was discovered as a storyteller by Ó Duilearga, who first met him in the house of Anthony Malone in December, 1929 by open hearth firelight. He was a well-spring of rich lore, tales and a repository of the Irish language dialect of County Clare. Ó hEalaoire was described by Prof Ó Duilearga as “one of the finest Irish speakers I have ever known”.
According to Ms Madigan, “Without the work of committed folklore collectors, we may not have known anything about these people or the amount of stories of lore that they transmitted to record. The identification and recording of Ó hÉalaoire and Uí Choisteala reminds us that there are fascinating people across the county, often with tremendous stories to tell and only waiting for someone to listen.  We hope that with Faces of Folklore, we can raise awareness of these people as well as the broader work of our group,” she explained.
In launching Faces of Folklore, Mayor Curtin endorsed the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir.  “I’ve been aware of the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir for the last two years and strongly support it. It is absolutely vital to collect the remaining fragments of folklore and oral tradition of our older people. The group has collected a vast amount of material in less than two years, which for a voluntary group is phenomenal.” 
Mayor Curtin went on to say that with Faces of Folklore, the group is illustrating their determination to make an impact beyond collection. “It’s been clear since Cuimhneamh officially launched that they have been committed to creating an enhanced interest amongst the people of Clare in the oral heritage of the county. This is vital to ensure that the material collected is made available to the people of the county and I hope that people across Clare will continue to support their great work. They have shown their commitment and ability to work with communities right across the county and I hope that it continues to grow and be recognised. I am aware that their work is creating an interest across Ireland also and that they have been invited to speak at numerous conferences on folklore and oral history. With Faces of Folklore, they are showing that they also have a respect for those who made similar efforts in the past,” he said.       
The Faces of Folklore pamphlets, which were supported by a grant from Oifig Gaeilge an Chláir, will be distributed across the county by Cuimhneamh an Chláir Cuairteoirí and will be available shortly to download through the group’s website, which is in redevelopment. 
Cuimhneamh an Chláir would be interested in hearing from anyone who remembers or knows relations of either Stiofán Ó hÉalaoire from Doolin or Bríd Bean Uí Choisteala of Kilbaha.  Anyone wishing to contact the group can do so by emailing clarememories@eircom.net or by ringing Tomás Mac Conmara on 087 9160373.