Tag Archives: Enda Byrt

A BELOVED sporting tradition of North Clare makes its comeback this Christmas after two years on the sidelines during the pandemic. The annual Ennistymon Christmas Day basketball game returns for the 62nd time on the 25th of the month. First played in 1958, Covid put a halt to the game so while it is 64 years since its initiation this will be only the 62nd edition. No year had been missed where possible however, and the location of the games helps to illustrate some of the history of basketball in the area and its survival, Enda Byrt told the Clare Champion. The game has been played at the Market House (The Madison Square Garden of basketball in its day!) The Town Hall, The Sluagh Hall Lahinch (now demolished) The Community Centre Ennistymon the Centre Lahinch, outdoors at the old Scout Hall court the Vocational School and once at the Pavilion Lisdoonvarna! In recent years the Inagh Community Centre has hosted …

Ahead of the launch of his new book and double CD on December 10, Enda Byrt reflects on the history of the céilí and dance bands of Ennistymon from 1954 to 1970.   COUNTY Clare is closely associated with traditional music, with an audience made up of traditional purists to passing tourists, and all in between!  Sound Your A: The story of  the Céilí and Dance bands of Ennistymon: families, music and musicians tells as much of the story of the music of Ennistymon and district, not all traditional, as can be gleaned from the recordings and the accounts of the times, as well as the music that could be gathered. Sound Your A tells the stories of the individual musicians, and their families. Much has been and continues to be written about the music and musicians of Clare. The areas receiving most attention in the West of the county are often Doolin, Kilfenora, and Miltown Malbay. All have a …