Raising the rafters to re-roof Scariff barn

THE next few weeks will see a number of top-quality concerts in the East Clare area.
This weekend, Feakle-based band Torc will raise the roof at Ryan’s Bar in Scariff as part of a fundraiser to re-roof the barn at Scariff Community Garden.
The event takes place this Saturday night in Ryan’s with a selection of acts taking to the stage to perform. Among them is the Feakle band, Torc, who will play for the first time, while a diverse range of other acts are also lined up including a belly dancing act.
All are invited to attend and fancy dress is encouraged with MC Damsell announcing the best fancy dress.
Proceeds raised from the night will be used to re-roof a barn in Scariff Community Garden, which will then be used for training purposes for horticultural and gardening-based courses, which currently take place there.
Further information about courses and activities at Scariff Community Garden are available by contacting the East Clare Community Co-op on 061 921536 or by emailing eastclarecoop@gmail.com.
On Wednesday night, Ss Peter and Paul’s Church in Tulla will be filled with music when a host of voices and musicians will raise their voices to the rafters as part of a Christmas concert.
The event kicks off at 7.30pm and will include music, readings and reflections all with a Christmas theme.
The Tulla Parish Choir under the leadership of Joan McNamara will perform, while there will also be further performances from local woman Kate Purcell, Garrykennedy native Denise Glass and Paddy Canny’s grandchildren, Gearóid and Eimear Coughlan, on the night.
Denise grew up in her father’s pub, Larkin’s in Garrykennedy, where she was immersed in traditional music from an early age. Gearóid and Eimear are grandchildren of the late fiddle maestro, Paddy Canny, and are already showing how they are following in his footsteps.  
No tickets are necessary as admission is free and all are welcome.
Clare’s award-winning concert series returns for one final show in Tuamgraney in the lead-up to Christmas. Celtic Traditions, which ran during the summer months in Tuamgraney and Ennis, was very popular with visitors and locals alike and won the FBD Ennis Chamber of Commerce Best Tourism Hospitality Award 2011.
Featured the best of Clare traditional and folk performers, the concerts were held weekly in St Columba’s Church in Ennis and St Cronan’s Church in Tuamgraney. Celtic Traditions returns to Tuamgraney on Friday, December 23 at 8pm.
As usual, the concert will be hosted by musician/singer, Kate Purcell, who is currently on tour in the United States where she has launched her new album Have You Ever Heard Christmas. The feature track is a totally new Christmas song entitled How I Remember Christmas. Written by Carl Corcoran, this is now beginning to get airplay on all radio stations. Lyric FM presenter, Carl, has had a long multi-faceted career in the music business and he currently presents the Blue of the Night Sunday to Thursday. An accomplished songwriter, he has also acted as director to the Blas International Summer School of Traditional Irish Music and Dance.
Together with Kate Purcell, the Tuamgraney concert will feature the most popular performers from the summer series, Denise Glass, Gearóid and Eimear Coughlan and the legendary Chris Droney. Among the readers will be the Very Rev Dean Dr Stephen White and Fr Donogh O’Meara.
The concert starts at 8pm and tickets are available from the East Clare Heritage Centre.