Tag Archives: Heritage

A GROUP in Doonbeg have developed a heritage trail featuring 29 points of interest around the Long Village. It can be accessed at walking.doonbeg.info/heritage-trail/ and it features stories, pictures and archive records from the 1901 and 1911 censuses, along with school children’s stories and pictures. Local resident Aisling Ryan said, “Burren Beo organised a heritage keeper’s course and on the back of it they gave us a little grant to go back to our community and develop a project. Three other ladies, Jacquie Wade, Elizabeth McEntee and Betty Condon, and myself put together this heritage trail.” Describing the trail, she said, “The Heritage Trail has 29 points and each one is along a walking trail, it’s along flat terrain so it’s suitable for young and old. You use the map to click on a point and it gives you a small bit of information about the place, it might be a house that used to be an old shop, it …

THE fascinating history of an East Clare cemetery has been brought to light in a new publication by Jane Halloran Ryan, in association with Clare Roots Society.  A genealogist and history enthusiast, Jane is current researching for a PhD and is one of the team behind the hugely popular annual journal from heritage group Tulla Reaching Out. In recent years, Jane has been following another historical passion and has recently published Clooney Graveyard Inscriptions, containing a wealth of lore dating back to the early 1700s.  This cemetery dates from the early eighteenth century and contains about 150 headstones, with both Catholic and Protestant families from the parishes around Clooney, Tulla and Quin, buried there at one time. The church is believed to date back to the thirtieth century, but it is not known what saint it was dedicated to.  “One of the main reasons that pushed me to record Clooney was the fact that my great-great grandparents are both buried …

TOURISM in Ennis has received a boost with the historic Ennis Friary re-opening to the public this week. The friary, which dates back to the 13th century, re-opened on Tuesday having been closed to the public since last summer due to Covid-19 restrictions. And as an extra bonus, admission to the popular attraction is free for the season. Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Mary Howard said it is “great news” for the town. Just last month she criticised the continued closure of the Friary, saying that the town was losing out on potential tourism opportunities. The Friary has been opened with health and safety in mind and Covid-19 guidelines have been put in place. A maximum of 15 visitors are permitted on site at any one time. Social distancing will apply throughout the site. Face coverings must be worn in all indoor spaces. There are self guided visits only, but Ennis Friary guides are on hand to answer any questions. Hand …

Stream 3 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme, which will provide small capital grants to not for profit arts organisations, has been launced by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys. It comes after the minister announced €9 million in funding for regional arts and cultural centres under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme in February, which benefitted 56 organisations and venues nationwide. Funding of €500,000 is now being made available under Stream 3 of the scheme; with individual grants of up to €20,0000 available. Application forms will be available on the Department’s website from next week. Minister Humphreys said, “This funding scheme aims to provide capital assistance to not-for-profit organisations that have a clearly defined arts and culture remit.While the amounts involved are relatively modest, the grants will in themselves make a huge difference to these individual organisations and will be of particular benefit to local cultural centres throughout rural Ireland.”

The very best cultural experience Clare has to offer will be showcased on Friday, September 16. Culture Night Clare 2016 will see 45 free cultural events for all ages being held throughout Clare over a five-hour period from 5pm to 10pm. This year’s programme, which is organised by the Clare Arts Office and funded by Clare County Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, is filled with free events across the county from Ennis to Ennistymon, Kilshanny to Kilkee and Kilkishen to Corofin. Arts and cultural spaces throughout Clare will throw open their doors offering members of the public a chance to enjoy unique performances and catch a glimpse inside some of the most beautiful buildings and cultural institutions in their area. “Over the past ten years this initiative has captured both the public’s imagination and the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations in Clare. This year is no different with 45 events planned around …

Junior Minister Simon Harris will visit Clare later today to meet local representatives to discuss flood and local heritage issues. He will visit Quilty at 1.45pm to hear of and speak with people whose property was destroyed by the floods of January and February, 2014. Later in the afternoon, at 4.30pm, he will travel to Mooghaun Hillfort in Newmarket-on-Fergus to view developments at the site. Mr Harris, the youngest member of the current Dáil, is the Minister of State at the Departments of Finance PER and Taoiseach with Special Responsibility for the OPW, Public Procurement, and International Banking (incl IFSC).

CLARE TD Michael McNamara has written to the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Paschal Donoghue calling on him to support and provide financial assistance to Clare County Council to secure the purchase of Inis Cealtra (Holy Island). Inis Cealtra on Lough Derg is included among the early monastic sites on Ireland’s UNESCO Tentative List and is one of the most famous of such sites in Ireland. He highlighted to the minister that among its many attractions are a well preserved round tower, the ruins of six churches and a cell-like structure, which is one of the most extraordinary buildings in Ireland. “A Lough Derg Tourism Audit carried out in 2012 found that Lough Derg is not reaching its full potential in terms of attracting visitors and that Lough Derg has no defined ‘iconic’ visitor attraction that can act as a motivator for visits. “Inis Cealtra, with its iconic round tower, has the potential to be that driver of tourism …

CLARE County Council has confirmed it is at an advanced stage of negotiations to secure the purchase of Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) on Lough Derg. It is understood that a purchase price has been agreed between Clare County Council and the landowner and it is now at a stage where the council is seeking funding from Government to purchase the island. Ger Dollard, director of services with Clare County Council, confirmed that the acquisition of the island has been under consideration for a number of years and that an opportunity recently arose to bring the site into public ownership. “We are fully aware of the significance of this location and would be anxious to see it forming part of the local tourism product and be available to the wider public. We are conscious of the strong heritage, environmental and conservation considerations associated with the island and, for that reason, have commenced the preparation of terms of reference for a visitor …