Tag Archives: killaloe

By Seamus Hayes Clare 3-23  Offaly 0-12 Thirty one players saw action for Clare as the All-Ireland champions recorded an easy win over a disappointing Offaly outfit in this senior hurling tournament played to mark the opening of a new stand at the Smith O’Briens GAA grounds in Killaloe on Friday evening. For the second time in a week Clare played a different team in each half as preparations for their Munster championship semi-final against either Cork or Waterford continued. the rain began to fall as proceedings got under way in Killaloe where Munster GAA council chairman Robert Frost performed the official opening of the next stand. He paid tribute to all involved with the development and urged the goverment of the day to ensure that grant aid from the Sports capital fund was made available to GAA clubs who he described as leading community organisations throughout the country. A superb goal from Podge Collins helped Clare to a 1-13 …

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; …

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 …

By Dan Danaher and Carol Byrne LORD Inchiquin, Conor O’Brien, is up in arms over the lack of Government funding and planning for the Brian Boru Millennium celebrations. In an exclusive interview with The Clare Champion, the head of the O’Brien clan, who is the 32nd indirect descent to Brian Ború, issued stinging criticism against Ministers Leo Vradkar and Jimmy Deenihan, claiming the national launch in Trinity College in January came “18 months too late”. During his last meeting with Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan, the 18th Baron of Inchiquin proposed the Government allocate €150,000 to organise celebrations in Killaloe, Clontarf and Cashel, which could have generated €600,000 for the country if Armagh agreed to contribute a similar amount. However, this proposal wasn’t taken up and instead county groups only received a relatively small amount of funding. Accusing the Government of adopting a very “short-sighted” approach, he recalled last January he was advised by Tourism Minsiter Leo Varadkar that groups could apply …

By Dan Danaher RENOWNED Killaloe accordion player, Martin Connolly was presented with an award during the Kincora Music Weekend recently. Martin accepted the award on behalf of his family as the accolade was an official recognition of the huge contribution made by the Connolly family to Irish music, song and dance. Martin received a piece of glass crystal with an inscription the “Fort of Kincora”, which is a reference to some of his previous work. He will also be honoured in his own home town by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) during the Clare Fleadh. CCE Ard Sturthoir, Labharas O’Murchu will present Gradam an Chomhaltais to the Killaloe native. Clare CCE public relations officer, Councillor Joe Arkins said it was fitting that Mr Connolly should be feted in his own home place following his “immense” contribution to Irish traditional music, in particular accordeon playing. In addition to winning several All-Ireland titles as a performer, Clare’s first citizen noted he had repeated this …

By Dan Danaher VOLUNTEERS  in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina will don suits of armour this weekend as they turn back time to stage battle re-enactments as part of the Brian Ború Millennium Commemoration. A weekend of family fun and entertainment has been organised for the main flagship event to commemorate 1,000 years since the death of Killaloe’s most famous son.  The Boru commemoration celebrations have the potential to generate an estimated €1.8 million in the region during 2014. A business plan, prepared by the Killaloe Ballina organising committee, also expects the year-long festival to generate an extra 5,800 extra bed nights in the area. Visitors to Killaloe and Ballina will step back in time and experience a glimpse of life in medieval Ireland during this weekend’s festivities. Organisers have announced a comprehensive programme for the event, which marks the 1000th year anniversary of the death of Brian Ború who lived and reigned as High King of Ireland …

CLARE will be well represented in a choir of over 450 secondary school students from the Killaloe and Limerick dioceses that will give great voice to the Limerick National City of Culture’s programme next Thursday with a first concert of its kind at University Concert Hall. The students from counties Clare, Limerick, Offaly and Tipperary will form the largest choir ever to perform at the University Concert Hall when they deliver their Seinn 2014 performance on  April 3. The event is unique, not just because of the massive size of the choir but because most of its members will be coming together for the first time ever that morning after rehearsing remotely in recent weeks. Lead vocalists and instrumentalists have, however, met up several times in the run-up to the performance. The show, which will feature contemporary music as well as a number of classic hymns, is part of Limerick Diocese’s programme of events to mark Limerick National City of …

By CAROL BYRNE CLARE Garda District registered the highest percentage termination of fixed charge notices in 2012, and was a close second for 2011, according to a report of the Garda Siochána Inspectorate into the fixed charge processing system. Meanwhile the largest percentage termination of fixed charge notices in the country occurred in Kilrush in 2012 when 9.64% of the notices here were terminated. On 4 July 2013, the Minister for Justice and Equality requested the Garda Inspectorate to commence an inspection of the Garda Síochána fixed charge processing system and make recommendations they deemed appropriate. The report, which was released recently, is the result of this examination of policy and practices for the fixed charge system and makes recommendations for short, medium, and long term. In the report the professional standards unit gave a breakdown of the number of fixed charge notices issued by each garda division across the country in 2011 and 2012, and of those how many …