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Tag Archives: Brian Boru

Brian Ború’s ancestral links with the JFK

MORE people from South-East Clare have come forward to share their memories of the visit of former US Ambassador Jean’s Kennedy Smith’s visit to Killaloe in July 1995. It emerged this week that the family roots of John F Kennedy’s youngest sister go all the way back to Killaloe and to former High King of Ireland, Brian Ború. A recent Clare Champion article on Mrs Kennedy Smith’s trip to the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina has prompted more locals to recall their encounter with the former ambassador. Killaloe resident Naoise Lawlor, his daughter, Saoirse and his wife’s uncle, Donal O’Riain, were some of the people who managed to be photographed with the former US Ambassador after she had officially opened the Feile Brian Ború festival in 1995. In fact, Mr Lawlor still has a copy of the edition of the Clare Champion, which published the photograph of him looking at the ambassador with Saoirse in his arms. “Getting Jean …

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Death of former councillor Colm Wiley

The death occurred last night (Wednesday) of Mr Colm Wiley of Bodyke, former Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council. A popular figure in his parish and throughout the county, Mr Wiley was a Fianna Fáil representative on the council for 30 years. Some years back, he was honoured at a special function in Mountshannon attended by the then Taoiseach Brian Cowen. During his time as a member of Clare County Council, he held a number of positions, including as chairman of the council itself from 1994 to 1995. During his time in the council, Mr Wiley he saw 16 councillors pass on the chain of office and worked with five county managers. He started out with Fianna Fáil while working in Dublin in 1959, where he attended meetings at the party’s Dublin South Central branch at a time when the then Taoiseach Seán Lemass was also a member. Mr Wiley went to England for work before returning to Ennis to contest …

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€20m investment in Dromoland Castle

Dromoland Castle, one of the top luxury castle hotels in the world, has announced a €20 million renovation programme. The multi-award winning castle hotel’s investment programme has been planned to preserve and perfect the historical building and the 330 acres of surrounding land near Newmarket-on-Fergus. Dromoland Castle is synonymous with providing an exclusive castle experience combined with luxury five star surroundings to both Irish and international guests. Commenting on the restoration investment, Mark Nolan, managing director of Dromoland Castle, said, “ Working with the architects and conservationists, we have sought to carefully integrate any new features with the original historic structures of the castle. Many of the public rooms, such as the Drawing Room or Lower Gallery still look and feel as they would have done when Lord Inchiquin’s family lived here throughout the 1800s. “This restoration programme will combine all the modern luxuries expected of a five star property with the unique welcoming atmosphere and sense of history that …

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East Clare Heritage Centre remains place worship

EAST Clare Heritage Centre at St Cronan’s Church, Tuamgraney, has closed but the Church of Ireland has vowed to keep the building as a place of worship. St Cronan’s has the distinction of being the oldest church in continuous use in Ireland and is linked to Brian Boru and his family. East Clare Heritage chairperson, Ruth Minogue, confirmed its 21-year licence to operate its heritage centre out of St Cronan’s Church has expired and that they left the building last weekend. “The Church of Ireland wanted to take over the church again to use it more as a church but they would be quite open for it to be used for talks and tours,” Ms Minogue said. The licence expired in October 2013, with an agreement to extend it to October 2014 to facilitate both parties. In August, East Clare Heritage advised the Church of Ireland they would be leaving the premises. In this correspondence, they said, “We wish to …

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Brian Boru to invade Milwaukee

An all-island tourism delegation from the four main locations with connections Brian Boru will embark on a promotional drive in the United States this week. Coinciding with the 1,000 anniversary of Boru’s death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, National Brian Boru Programme representatives from Clare, Armagh, Dublin and Tipperary, will attend the annual Milwaukee Irish Fest in Wisconsin where they will be seeking to attract some of the estimated 150,000 festival goers to Ireland. Boru is a central theme of this year’s Milwaukee Irish Fest from August 14-17. Established in 1981 by members of Milwaukee’s Irish community, the Fest covers 74 acres of Lake Michigan’s shoreline and showcases Irish music, history, dance, drama, sports and culture. The Festival is also used by tourist agencies such as Tourism Ireland, Aer Lingus and CIE Tours as an opportunity to market Ireland as a desirable tourist destination. Members of the delegation, which includes historians, living history interpreters, genealogists, musicians, a bowyer and a folk theatre group, will also deliver a …

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Tourists encouraged to walk in Brian Ború’s footsteps

HISTORIC sites relating to the life and times of Brian Ború are promoted in a newly developed tourist trail marking the 1000th anniversary of the death of the last High King of Ireland. The National Brian Ború Trail was launched this afternoon by  Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan at St. Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe. The event, which was hosted by Clare County Council in association with Killaloe Ballina 2014, was attended by National Brian Ború Programme representatives from Clare, Armagh, Dublin and Tipperary, the four main locations with connections to the life and High Kingship of Ireland’s best known historical figure. The newly launched trail features information on the important sites and buildings associated with Ború including Kincora where he was born, and Clontarf where he was killed following his victory over the Viking rulers of Dublin in 1014. Other sites of interest include St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the City of Armagh where Ború is buried; …

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A special stage for Boroimhe Suite

A SPECIAL 50m stage is being constructed to facilitate the eagerly-anticipated production of a new suite of music, commemorating the life and times of Brian Boru. Preparations are in full swing to ensure the stage and other additions to St Flannan’s Catholic Church will be finished for the Boroimhe Suite on Wednesday, April 23 at 8.30pm. It is fitting that Killaloe has the distinction of hosting a performance of this suite in old Kincora, where Brian Boru previously ruled. This is just one of the four April performances of the suite, which kicks off in Clasac, Clontarf on Monday, heads for Armagh Cathedral the following day before making the long trip to the banks of the River Shannon on the High King’s 1,000-year anniversary. On Thursday, the orchestra’s whistle-stop tour ends in Brú Ború, Cashel. Having augmented the sound of the National Folk Orchestra with the inclusion of a group of highly skilled musicians, composer Michael Rooney believes the resulting …

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One County One Book

CLARE County Library is encouraging adults and children to read, discuss, share and experience the same book by participating in a One County One Book programme. The One County One Book initiative will be officially launched by county librarian, Helen Walsh, along with a representative from Clare County Council in the De Valera Library, Ennis on Wednesday next at 7.30pm. The title chosen for adults is Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn, while the chosen children’s title is Brian Ború: Emperor of the Irish , also by Morgan Llywelyn. These titles were chosen in keeping with the initiatives taking place throughout the county this year to commemorate Brian Ború and the millennium of The Battle of Clontarf. It is hoped that as many people as possible will read these books between April and October and enjoy the events that are planned at the library to enhance the reading experience. Copies of the books will be available for borrowing at all …

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