Tag Archives: James Treacy

A FASCINATING radio documentary tracing the story of a Mayo woman, who orchestrated the bombing of a community dancehall, has an East Clare twist, it has emerged. RTÉ’s Doc on One production, ‘Dancing Nancy’ by John Corless and Ronan Kelly, details the bombing in the 1970s of Claremorris Community Centre. While a paramilitary motive was at first suspected, Cong businesswoman Nancy Murphy, who ran a rival dancehall, was found to be responsible. Since the documentary aired last August, RTÉ’s Ronan Kelly has updated the piece with an interview broadcast earlier this week featuring Scariff’s James Treacy. The original documentary had revealed that Ms Murphy had found romance, but little was known of her mystery man until the piece was broadcast. James Treacy, recognising himself, in the description of the couple checking into Ashford Castle, contacted RTÉ. He told the station that he had been a long-time companion of the late Ms Murphy, and the revelation prompted Mr Kelly to visit …

AS tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, an East Clare tour operator planning a “dating tour” to Kiev has said he is not unduly concerned, writes Fiona McGarry. Scariff’s James Treacy told The Champion that he is keeping a watch on the situation ahead of the planned tour and will stick to whatever advice is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr Treacy, who previously insisted that there will be no risk to the safety of the 50 men he aims to bring to Ukraine, said he doesn’t see the current crisis along the Ukrainian border as a particular cause for alarm. “Like all other destinations where there has been war, we cannot travel there unless the Department of Foreign Affairs allow us to travel,” he said. The experienced tour operator, who also runs pilgrimages to religious sites around the world, said he has already encountered situations where conflict has necessitated a change of plan. “I remember …

A SCARIFF photographer is hoping to have a second video shown on RTÉ television, as part of The People’s Angelus. James Treacy, from Moynoe, has been filming with his co-producer, Martin Ryan, of the Limerick College of Further Education (LCFE) for a number of months and the final product is being edited. The short film features farmer John Beston baling silage and cutting hay in the late summer, then using it to fodder his animals in the winter months. The piece was chosen because it fits the meditative and reflective tone of The People’s Angelus. “We have been shooting this video since last July 2021 and we now have to put the jigsaw puzzle together,” Mr Treacy said. Previously, the duo made a short film at Kilmallock Mart in County Limerick to reflect the rhythm of farming life and the role of the mart. That piece will be aired again on RTÉ One at 6pm on Friday, January 28, under …

A NEW club for photography enthusiasts in the East Clare area is on the cards. The organisation, likely to get off the ground early next year, is the brainchild of well known photographer James Treacy. The Scariff man said he is currently looking to sign up new members for The East Clare Camera Club, which will involve a range of social and support activities for people in the region. Mr Treacy is currently running courses in Scariff and believes the interest in learning the skill is proof that a club would be a valuable amenity for the community. Already, Mr Treacy is anticipating that the club will run competitions every week and create a photography league. Members of the club will be encouraged to enter competitions nationwide and apply for membership of the Irish Photographic Federation As a former member of the Shannon Camera Club, Mr Treacy is drawing on the expertise of that group to help him with setting …

SCARRIFF-BASED photographer James Treacy has launched a new photography course in his native town. He claims any student who finishes the course has the potential to earn more than €90,000 per annum. The first course he is running is based in McNamara’s in Scarriff on Wednesday, September 29, at 8 pm for two hours a week over five weeks. He intends to cover all the basics of photography and how to take good pictures with a Canon or Nikon DSLR camera as well as editing photos using software such as Photoshop. Mr Treacy says he started out a number of years ago photographing pilgrimages in the Holy Land and Fatima before turning his attention to Holy Communions and Graduations and later cattle mart photography in which  he does a lot of work for the Irish Examiner and the Irish Independent. He has travelled all over the world with his camera and has been to every cattle mart in Ireland worth talking about from Tullamore …

AN EAST Clare man’s efforts to find long-term love for up to 30 single men, by leading a dating tour to Ukraine, are to be the subject of a new video documentary. Scariff’s James Treacy, a professional photographer and pilgrimage organiser, made national news when he announced his plans last month. The trip to Ukraine, slated for next year, will be documented in a film directed by Malcolm Willis of Icy Peaks Productions, based in County Kerry. Some advance scenes for a trailer were shot at Kilmallock Mart last week, where Mr Treacy often works photographing livestock. “The documentary is starting next Monday, we are only filming now but this is going to take a year to put it together,” Mr Treacy said. “We are planning to go onto the Late Late Show on Valentine’s Day and we are applying for the Graham Norton Show.” In June, Mr Treacy announced that he has teamed up with an American tour operator, …

A SCARIFF man, who runs pilgrimages to the Holy Land and other religious sites, is to diversify by offering what he describes as “dating tours” to the Ukraine. James Treacy has teamed up with an American tour operator, A Foreign Affair, which runs so-called “singles introduction tours” to Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. The professional photographer is hoping to bring 30 men to Kiev next year and told The Champion he has already had interest from Clare men looking for wives. Mr Treacy insisted everyone involved is genuinely looking for long-term love and that there is no question of sex tourism. “The men are vetted by me,” he outlined. “Some of them have never had a girlfriend. They are genuinely looking for wives. This is not a sex tour. The cost of the tour is too high for anyone who isn’t looking for a serious relationship.” As to the issue of potential exploitation, Mr Treacy said the women involved …

THE WORK of a Scariff man will be aired on the national broadcaster from Friday evening, as part of The People’s Angelus, which is screened daily at 6pm on RTÉ One. James Treacy, a photographer and videographer, made the piece along with his former lecturer, Martin Ryan. The short film was made at Kilmallock Mart in County Limerick and aims to reflect the rhythm of agricultural life and what the mart has come to mean, over the decades, to the fabric of farming life. “It took me three days shooting to get the film right,” James said. “The indoor scenes had to be shot three times because to get them just right. We had about two hours of footage to choose from in the end. When we thought we had the film 100% complete, the director in RTÉ wanted us to have the gate in the auction ring fully closed at the end of the video and we hadn’t footage …