Launch of cultural initiative

One of the most ambitious cultural initiatives in recent years, Cuimhneamh an Chláir, will be launched next week.

Formed earlier this year, Clare’s oral history and folklore group has its genesis in a gathering of young history enthusiasts with a shared concern that, with the passing of the current elderly generation, the county was losing an irretrievable part of its history and identity.
The group members have set about digitally recording, documenting and archiving the memories, experiences, customs, traditions and practices of the county from the local population’s own perspective.
Since February, these cuairteoirí, or volunteer recorders, have already conducted more than 50 interviews with Clare’s older generation, including two 105-year-olds, one of whom, Margaret Hoey, passed away just two weeks after her life story was recorded.
Since their formation, Cuimhneamh an Chláir has recruited and professionally trained 25 volunteers, who have been visiting some of Clare’s oldest citizens in order to record their unique insight into a fading way of life. 
Edel Greene, the group’s secretary explains that at a recent training workshop Age Action Ireland, in addition to acknowledging ‘cuairt’ as an excellent means of documenting memories, strongly endorsed the cuairteoir programme as a method of combating social isolation and for building community development.  
“The resurrection of cuairt will help to build social cohesion in communities across Clare by enhancing connections within towns, villages and townlands in the county and by highlighting the presence and the value of elderly people who reside in different parts of Clare,” she said. 
Ms Greene pointed out, however, that the primary aim of Cuimhneamh an Chláir is to record the precious memories of the elderly while they are still with us.   
Other initiatives already underway include the Raheen Day Care Centre Oral History initiative, where every ­second Friday, members of Cuimhneamh an Chláir conduct reminiscence sessions with the clients of the Day Care Centre.
In addition, they have commenced the RAPID Oral History Initiative with members of the Travelling Community in Ennis as well as a project on old Irish words used by the elderly, Focail an Chláir. 
Discussions have also taken place with NUI Galway and the Irish ­Immigrant Support Group in Chicago on a major oral history initiative with elderly Clare immigrants in Chicago.
RTÉ commentator Marty Morrissey will launch the initiative on Monday night in The Temple Gate Hotel at 7.15pm and Paula Carroll, who presents the Kitchen Sessions on Clare FM, will act as MC. 
In addition, leading Clare traditional entertainers will perform and national and international folklore experts will address the launch.