Summer Action Rain or Shine Connemara’s summer calendar gained momentum in July with a busy line-up of summer events to entertain and amuse. The annual Regatta and All Ireland Currach Racing Championships thrilled at Baurisheen Bay in Oughterard over the August Bank holiday weekend. Dogs were the stars at the All Ireland Dog Show in Roundstone (see back page), while the thunder of hooves could be heard at the Errismore and Omey races. The popular Roundstone Pony Show enjoyed a rare bright day, while the Ballyconneely Pony Show was so good that an adventurous sheep even tried to get in on the action in the show ring! Photos by Aoife Herriot and Tom Broderick. At the Clifden Pony Festival launch on Monday August 3rd, John Luskin (shown right) received an award from President Dermot Power in recognition of 60 years of support and involvement with the Connemara Pony Breeders Society. Last year’s Supreme Champion, the Gorhams’ Kingstown Dana (shown left), even withstood the lashing rain with her foal for a photo call! The Clifden Pony Festival: 17th to 23rd August. See page 12 for details.
REGIONAL Pharmacy Stand Off At the time of going to print, the bitter dispute between the HSE and pharmacies that have withdrawn from the Community Drugs Scheme was continuing without resolution. In Clifden, Moran’s Pharmacy and Clifden Pharmacy have both withdrawn from the State run drugs scheme under which they normally dispense drugs to medical card holders and those who qualify for the Schemes. Both Noreen Casey and Declan Moran have expressed their regret that they are in this situation and hope that a resolution can be found in the near future. Patients requiring their medication now face trips to Oughterard, Moycullen or Galway to get their prescriptions filled, potentially with very long waiting times, and the HSE has not provided a contingency pharmacy to service the Connemara area. Pharmacies in Oughterard and Moycullen are understood to be dispensing under the State Drugs Scheme but were unavailable for comment on Wednesday August 5th as the dispute continued. The list of participating pharmacies in Co. Galway can be found at www.hse. ie or to contact the HSE, call 1850 24 1850.
Fundraiser for MS
On Wednesday July 29th the Clifden Fire Brigade crew presented the funds raised from their annual Fundraising Car Wash to Pat McCann of Multiple Sclerosis Ireland’s Galway Voluntary Branch. Accepting the €1000 cheque on behalf of MS Ireland, Mr McCann said ‘In this current climate it is very hard for an organisation like us to raise the moneys required to provide our services. Our government funding and support has
been dramatically reduced this year so I would like to sincerely thank the Clifden Fire Brigade for thinking of us at this time’. MS Ireland provides a range of services and resources to the whole MS Community, those with MS, family members, employers and Health professionals. Their aim is to provide timely, sensitive and accurate information and support to help address or minimise the impact MS may have on people’s lives. Photo: Clifden Fire Brigade Crew members and some local supporters of MS Ireland with Pat McCann and Gerard King, Fire Chief. (L-r): Joe Acton, David McNamara, Sean Heanue, Simon Boote, Pat McCann of MS Ireland Galway Voluntary Branch, Shane O’Reilly, Tommy Canavan, Tom Mullen, Fire Chief Gerard King, John Heffernan, Dave Bann, Adam Conroy, Neil Gallery and Paul Ryan. Crew members not pictured: Brendan Mullen and Kenny Flaherty.
Increase in Mink Attacks
The serious problem of mink attacking farm livestock has been highlighted in the national media recently by Mary Lacey of the Connemara Branch of the IFA, who has described in detail the savage destruction of many of her sheep and lambs, as well as those of several neighbours in the Letterfrack area in recent times. Instances of mink decimating domestic poultry and fowl houses have been common all over Connemara in recent years, and the situation is only worsening as the mink are now attacking and killing larger lambs and ewes, as well as newborn and very young lambs. They have also been known to
attack other domestic animals like cats and dogs, and even children. Since mink are not native to this area, it is speculated that they may have escaped from farms elsewhere they and travel via waterways. However they arrived here, they are now posing a serious threat to the already tenuous livelihood of Connemara sheep farmers. In addition to the stringent SAC grazing regulations enforced in Connemara and the discontinuation of the REPS 4 Scheme, this latest blow to the farming of sheep in Connemara is potentially disastrous. Cage traps are proving largely ineffective, and the time and accuracy that would be required to shoot the small predators means it is not a genuinely suitable action that could be taken. Mary is determined to continue to raise awareness of the situation in the media in the hope that some way of controlling the impact and toll this vermin is taking on local farmer’s flocks may emerge.
McGrane Lorries Complaint Recent incidents involving the McGrane lorries that have been transporting loads of fill from the Derrylea roadworks in Clifden to a site in Kylemore have been addressed by the Clifden Gardai and the County Council as a result of complaints being made to both authorities. I was personally involved in an incident in July, where I had to drive off the road to avoid three lorries driving close together at high speeds on the Letterfrack road resulting in a blown-out tyre and wheel damage. Afterwards, I contacted the McGrane Company, the Roads Department and County Manager of the Galway Co. Co., and the local Gardai. I understand that other complaints concerning the road behaviour of these vehicles were also made in the same time frame. An e-mail I have since received from the Roads & Transportation Unit of the Co. Co. indicated that the ‘the site supervisory staff will be advised of the incident and your related concerns as detailed in your correspondence’. I was also contacted by a local Garda in relation to my complaint who was very helpful and interacted with the contractors of the lorries, Wills Bros Ltd, making them aware of and cautioning them with regard to the problem. Having heard many verbal reports of problems encountered with these vehicles in recent weeks, the process of making written complaints and registering objection to the road behaviour of the drivers in question appears to have been of considerable impact, and in my opinion, highlights the necessity to bring these matters to the attention of the relevant authorities, rather than just endure them, as so many are inclined to do. Catherine Pryce
Community School Principal Dr. William Bolger will be the new Principal of the Community School, Clifden. He is expected to take up duty at the begin-
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ning of September once the formalities of his appointment have been completed. Dr. Bolger has a long and distinguished career in second level education to date. He worked as a teacher in the Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway from 1981 to 2004. He was appointed Deputy Principal in Headford in 1999 and served in that role until 2004 when he joined the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science as a post-primary Inspector. He is no stranger to the Community School, having spent a week in the school in May 2006 as lead inspector in the whole school evaluation that was carried out in that year. He lives in Kilkerrin, Connemara. The Board of Management of the school is delighted to welcome Dr. Bolger and looks forward to working with him in his new role as Principal. In welcoming the new principal, the Board extends its appreciation and gratitude to the outgoing principal, Dr. James Mungovan. Dr. Mungovan was appointed as principal in the Community School in August 1982 and since that time has given committed service to the school as leader of a dedicated team of teachers and support staff.
Free Diabetes Screening
The Diabetes Federation of Ireland is offering free diabetes screening in their mobile unit at the Clifden Pony Show on Thursday August 20th from 10-4pm. The mobile testing unit will also be present at the Oughterard Show on Sunday August 30th. The Diabetes Federation of Ireland estimates that in Ireland there are over 200,000 persons with diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2 combined) and a further 200,000 who have diabetes and are unaware that they do. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition if left undiagnosed or poorly managed as it can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, circulation and nervous system and can also cause heart disease, so early detection is vital. A fundraising bag packing day with all funds going to support the Connemara Branch of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland will take place at SuperValu Clifden on Friday September 4th. To volunteer or for more details contact Phyllis O’Donoghue at 095-31061.
Leenane Food Festival
The first ever Leenane Food Festival is set to take place on the weekend of September 26th and 27th, aiming to bring the flavours and quality food products of Connemara to all. There will be demonstrations from renowned chefs Derry Clarke, Tim O’ Sullivan and Rory Daly as well as displays of locally produced foods for sampling in the dedicated marquee. A full programme is currently being developed and any producers of culinary products who would like to display at the festival or get involved are asked to contact Leenane Development Association at 095-42017 or 087-213-3838 or by e-mail at leenanekillary@eircom.net.
Connemara View Newspaper
Connemara View Newspaper
August 2009
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REGIONAL CSI Clifden Update A very productive meeting was held on July 15th at the Community School. Local Councillor Eileen Mannion was in attendance. It was agreed by all that this campaign for a new, modern ‘fit for purpose’ school building has to continue with even more vigour and determination. This affects everyone in the community and we appeal for your support. Everyone is asked to attend our public meetings to show our elected representatives the interest we have in our children and in this campaign. We all realise the benefits that a new, modern “fit for purpose” school building will be for the students coming down the line from the feeder national schools across Connemara. Our next meeting is Wednesday 12th August at 8pm in the Community School. Padraic Mc Cormack TD will be attending this meeting and your support is needed by coming to the meeting so that our interest in moving the school plans forward can be seen by the numbers in attendance. Please support this initiative to get a new school building. Log onto www.connemaraview.com/csiclifden for more news. CSI Clifden tee shirts are on sale in a Keanes Shop in Clifden. Please buy one and support our campaign. CSI Clifden will hold a Monster Open Public meeting at the Station House Hotel on October 1st. Further details will be announced nearer the time. This meeting affects everybody in the community and all are invited and encouraged to attend.
Outreach Access Course
An Outreach Access 21 Project course for school leavers and mature students will commence in Clifden in September. The course is designed to prepare participants to proceed to third level and VEC education courses of study. For more details or to express interest please contact coordinator Alma Clancy at 087-799-8675 or e-mail cillchiarain@eircom.net.
Women’s Clinic Relocation
Dr. Sophie Faherty has moved her Women’s Health Clinic to Main St Clifden, at the premises that was formerly Emer Joyce’s, next to the Fruit & Vegetable Market. While it is a private clinic so far, antenatal care, childhood immunisation and smear testing are free to all patients. Appointments are necessary. 087-222-6783 or 095-23757.
Rugby Fundraiser
In recent weeks Connemara RFC has launched a novel fundraising raffle, but this is no ordinary raffle as each ticket costs a different amount! When you buy a ticket to support the Club, you will be given a choice of envelopes. The number of the ticket enclosed informs you of the cost in cent. So, for example, if your ticket number is 0123, the cost is €1.23 and if your ticket number is 1234 then the cost is €12.34, and so on. (Tickets are numbered from 0001 to 2000 - so the cheapest ticket costs only 1 cent and the dearest ticket costs €20). First prize is €2000, 2nd €750, 3rd €250 plus 7 prizes of €100. All supporters of Connemara RFC are invited to support this important venture, given the current economic climate and the necessity for funding the upcoming season. Tickets are available from committee members listed(see www.connemararfc.ie) or contact: Rory O’Toole 087-220-3178 or Peter Smyth 087-982-6207.
Stem Cell Treatment Appeal
An appeal called Mia’s Hope.ie has been undertaken by family and friends of Mia Allen, a two year old little girl from Seanafheistin, Casla in an attempt to help raise the €40,000 needed to send Mia to China to get stem cell treat-
ment for 5-6 weeks with her mother Barbara and father Séamus. Mia was born 8 weeks premature with various health problems and has now been diagnosed with having Cerebral Palsy which is believed to be due to severe brain damage she suffered at her birth. A trip to China for stem cell treatment could improve her quality of life and potentially partially reverse her brain damage that occurred at birth as well as improving her other conditions. More information can be accessed on www.miashope.ie. Donations can also be made to an account opened in: AIB Spiddal, Sort Code 93:74:01, Account No. 20689053, Information 085-821-6609.
Teen Series on Connemara Radio
Teenagers, are you looking around for a challenge to get you out and about this summer? Fancy making a 3 minute radio programme using your mobile phone for a new series that’s just started on Connemara Community Radio? If so, then ‘Soundbytes’ producer Mary Owens would like to hear from you. If your piece gets to air on CCR, you’ll get a voucher for mobile phone credit worth €50 and you’ll learn a lot about making radio in the process. Transition year student, Fiona Foley from Carna kicked off the series on June 20th with her take on the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, which she ran this year for the Meningitis Trust. She mixed the story of her four year old cousin Caitríona who had meningitis as a baby with music and sounds that she recorded on the streets of Dublin to produce a fast moving and personal account of her experience on the run. Proinsias O Hernon, also from Carna, dedicated his feature to his deceased aunt Máirín, from whom he learned his sean-nós dancing steps…but somehow David Bowie managed to get in on the act too! If you’d like to join in on this new-media summer project, contact Mary Owens at 091-593-185 or for details of how to get involved. You don’t need to have any radio skills to get started. Just a sound idea! Finished programmes will be aired on Connemara Community Radio’s Saturday morning music ‘n’ chat show ‘Monkeying Around’ presented by Heather Kearney and friends. The series is being produced by Well Said Productions for Connemara Community Radio with support from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland’s ‘Sound and Vision’ scheme. Connemara Community Radio broadcasts on 87.8 and 106.1 FM.
FORUM in Cross Border Ageing Study
FORUM Letterfrack is to take part in a cross-border research network which will explore healthy ageing in rural communities on the island of Ireland. NUI Galway will coordinate the network, which is the first of its type and will draw on expertise in social care and public health, gerontology, economics, spatial planning and rural geography. It involves NUIG’s Irish Centre for Social Gerontology and its geography school; Queen’s University Belfast and the Rural Community Network and the Forum Letterfrack Group. The network, known as Health Ageing in Rural Communities (HARC) has received grant aid from the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland. The programme aims to promote North-South partnerships on issues affecting older people and the research will involve senior citizens with the aim of improving policies and services.
WaterSports Day
The ever popular WaterSports Day will be held on Glassilaun Beach, Renvyle on Sunday August 9th. Every spring, WaterSports Day Posters which will be used to advertise the day are distributed throughout the area to
national schools. The overall winner from over 20 schools participating this year is Kaetlin Wallace who attends Tully National School, Renvyle. In the past few years winners have been from a widespread area from Clonbur to Westport, this year the winner is closer to Glassilaun Beach! This year we also have a runner up who was singled out for special mention by our judge who is an artist and the Runner Up was Amy Roberts from Aillebrack National School. The full list of winners from the various schools can be viewed online at www.connemaraview.com. None of this would be possible without Anne Inglebach who designs our poster and judges the competition faithfully every year, the teachers and others who help us with organising the competition and for their patience with us in this, and of course all the children who participate and help in any way including Letterfrack National School who do a lot of work also. Sponsorship Appeal This year we have been informed by the ISPCC that they are no longer in a position to insure us due to a change in their insurance company. This leaves us in a very difficult position. We are now in the process of arranging alternative insurance cover which will be quite costly. In order to do this without taking from the funds raised for charity, we are asking the public to consider sponsoring us towards those extra costs involved. We realise that this is a difficult time financially for us all, but any contribution will be gratefully received. If you are in a position to make a donation we have a WaterSports Day Bank Account No. 28465598 - in the Bank of Ireland, Clifden which you can use. Alternatively, you can also make a donation to one of our Treasurers – Phil McGrath, Rusheenduff, Renvyle, John Joe Faherty, Glassilaun, Renvyle or Secretary Patricia Keane, Currywongane, Kylemore. All sponsors will be given recognition in due course. For more details contact Patricia at (095) 41024. Patricia Keane
Museum 10th Anniversary
The Station House Museum celebrates ten years 1999-2009 on Friday August 21st at 12am midday. We are pleased to welcome the Hon. Mrs Justice Denham who will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion. A new publication “Ten Years behind the Scenes” a colourful booklet by the Curator will also be on sale. Please join us for light refreshments.
From Connemara to LA
The Telegael Group, based in An Spideal Galway, and Studio Solas, based in Connemara, have together opened a North American office in Los Angeles, California. Telegael, who have won multiple Emmy’s, are one of Ireland’s largest live-action and animation production houses, operating one of Europe’s leading post-production facilities. Studio Solas operates the former Roger Corman Film Studios in Connemara, which it acquired from the legendary film producer in 2007. Telegael and Studio Solas have successfully collaborated on the highly acclaimed ‘Aifric’ television series for TG4, which has recently been picked up for international distribution. The LA office will be headed by veteran producer Norman Siderow (Stardust) who has worked in both Ireland and the United States. It is hoped combining production facilities and access to Irish tax-based investment funds will prove very attractive to many US and international production companies for the long term development of both of these Irish companies and their holding in the United States.
Ballynahinch to Expand
The owners of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel have been successful in their bid to expand their business by building 6 houses for guest use on the grounds of the estate. The hotel was originally granted permission by the County Council to build the 6 houses but this decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which concluded that the development could go ahead. The board acknowledged the hotel as a ‘significant local tourism resource’ and said the development would not injure the landscape setting. Twelve conditions have been attached by An Bord Pleanála, including one that stipulates that the houses be used for short-term letting only and not as permanent residences.
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Connemara View Newspaper
Clifden
RNLI Fundraising News August is the high point of the RNLI fundraising timetable. A lot of events have already happened and a lot more are to come before the year winds down. On June Bank Holiday Monday a group travelled to Dublin to join the mini marathon, had great fun as always and collected in the region of €3000. Gemma Ward raised in excess of €1200, the largest amount and this is the second year in a row that Gemma achieved this kind of figure. In July, the Church Gate collections took place all over Connemara.
There was a reason behind this great effort as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the drowning of his aunt in Doonloughan. The Clifden Lifeboat was called out at the time but had the sad task of recovering the body of Matthew’s aunt. He has since developed a great love for the RNLI, is mad into all the different types of Lifeboats and was able to see for himself the launch of the Atlantic 75 and talk to some of the crew. So, every year we get surprises that make us, the fundraisers able to go on helping our crew and Lifeboat station. Annemarie Bennett, Fundraising Branch Photo: Pictured are members of the team of ladies, who undertook the Flora Women’s mini marathon in aid of the Clifden Lifeboat in June, (l-r): Christine Mullen, Evelyn Mullen, Gemma Ward and Anne Marie Bennett. Not pictured: Geraldine Conneely and Bernie Davis.
Library News
The amount collected was similar to last year which was very good indeed. The Flag Day, held always at August Bank Holiday Saturday in Clifden and various other parts was also very well supported. Indeed, all the generosity of the community of Connemara is overwhelming when it comes to fundraising for our Lifeboats. The Mol an Oige concert under the guidance of Leo Hallissey and his wife Claire O’Toole was able to give us a cheque for €1140. Doireann Gorham aged 10 years and her friends from the Ballyconneely Caravan Park held a jumble sale selling their own little bits and handed in €18.80. This is their 2nd year and every time they come up with a different idea! A few days ago a 12 year old boy named Matthew Morrissey donated the proud sum of €720 which he raised by organizing a junior golf competition.
Book Donations Thank you to everybody who donated books to the library. Please keep them coming. We need adult fiction, fairly recent and in good condition. Any books not used can be returned or put in our book sale, the proceeds of which is used to fund the children’s activities in the library. Look out for the library’s one off BIG SUMMER BOOK SALE on Thursday August 20th, Connemara Pony Show Day. Again all proceeds of this sale will go towards funding the children’s activities at Clifden library. Any individual or business interested in sponsoring any of the children’s activities, please contact Paul or Bernie at the library on 095-21092. Readers of the Month: Aoife Scullion- June and Kate Griffin- July Well done to Aoife (see photo) and Kate. At the end of the year, a Reader of the Year is drawn from all the readers of the month and
rewarded with book tokens valued approx €25. The library is currently seeking sponsorship for this and other reading initiatives for junior members. Remember our children are our future; let’s give them every chance to reach their full potential. Summer Reading Quest The Summer Reading Quest is going great with over 100 children already signed up and a combined reading total of more than 600 books. It’s not too late to join in, as this reading program will run right through to the end of August. Points are awarded for each book read; read 6 books and qualify for a super reader certificate. Studies have shown that children who take part in summer reading initiatives will not only retain their reading levels but in some cases have a higher reading level on returning to school in September. There are lots of opportunities to complete such as various word puzzles, colouring for the younger ones and writing book reviews. Prizes are awarded each week for these and so far Sarah Purcell age 11, Hilary Joyce age 7, Edwina Mannion age 5 and Geraldine Curran age 7 have all received a prize. So come on down to the library and join in the summer fun. Pet Photo Competition This fabulous competition is open to all Junior Library Members. Just take a photo of your pet -if you don’t have a pet of your own, use a friend’s, but do ask their permission first. Send in your photo attached to the special entry form available from the library. All entries must be in by the end of August. First prize is a Digital Camera sponsored by Noreen Casey of Clifden Pharmacy. Many thanks to Noreen for this great prize. Bernie Jeffries
Ballyconneely
Show Fundraiser Success A very successful fundraising night for the Ballyconneely Show took place at the Ballyconneely Hall on July 11th when the Cunningham family brought their outstanding show to a sold-out crowd. The Ballyconneely Show committee would like to acknowledge the great support of all who bought and sold tickets and great turnout resulted, when a fantastic night was had by all. For news and results of the Ballyconneely Show see page 12.
Carna
Carna Community Houses Fóram Iorras Aithneach, the Carna area Community Forum, says that the housing scheme known as “Garraí an Chlochair” has worked out well even though the houses could not be sold under the “Affordable Housing Scheme”. In its summer newsletter, the Carna Community Forum says that the 17 new houses have been taken up now and that they are a good addition to the community. The Carna Community Forum had spent a number of years trying to get Galway County Council to build a scheme of “Affordable Houses” in Carna. The Forum eventually made the link up between the County Council and the Sisters of Mercy in Carna and this led to the provision of the site. But it turned out that the houses in the scheme were well above the more normal price of “Affordable Houses” in Co.Galway and they were not sold. However, they have now been rented out to people on the housing list in the Carna area. The County Council says these people may in the future– if they so wish–consider buying the houses or continue to rent them out.
At the Connemara View we are made aware by readers every month of the abominable state of roads in their area. As a result, we have decided to run a photo competition to highlight the shoddy state of our areas roads, sometimes riddled with deep wide potholes that are unavoidable and damage our vehicles. So...just how big is your pothole?! This stretch of road is Bóthar an Chúl Chaladh in Carraroe. Is yours worse? Send in your photos and let us know. We will feature one photo every month, with the best photo of the year receiving a voucher for €50 for Homewares Plus in Clifden if pronounced “Pothole Photo of the Year” in our December issue! Email to news@connemaraview. com, post, or drop your photo, name and address to the View Box at King’s Paper Shop, Main St, Clifden.
Connemara View Newspaper
August 2009
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Carna
Aim to Develop Community Facilities The summer newsletter issued by Fóram Iorras Aithneach has some information on the possible development of community facilities. The newsletter states that the plan to develop a gymnasium and other facilities close to the football field in Carna has been shelved–for the time being at least. The Carna/Cashel GAA club had linked up with a number of community groups with the intentions of developing the facilities. However, the GAA club later decided that its full focus and whatever money could be found would be put towards the development of an all-weather pitch in Cill Chiaráin. This effort continues. The Community Forum newsletter says the development of the all-weather pitch is, in itself, a heavy workload for the GAA and will need their full attention for a considerable time. The Carna Community Forum is now looking at the possible development of a range of community facilities at the old hall site in Carna. There are suggestions that this site and development would be in honour of the emigrants from the area who have left over the decades and the centuries. The newsletter reports that the goodwill of Carna parish priest Fr Peadar Ó Conghaile is with such a project and they say this is a major boost. However, the present economic situation casts a shadow on any such efforts–but the newsletter says it would be good to start planning and it is hoped to bring a group together for that purpose.
Cashel Comhairle Muintir an Chaiseal Teoranta held their Annual General Meeting on the 13th of July at the Cashel
Community Centre in Cashel. The members reviewed the Chairman’s Report and Auditor’s Report, Elected Bridgie McTavish and Bernard Lee as Directors and then the committee addressed points that were raised during the open forum. Udaras na Gaeltachta has withdrawn our funding for the position of Development Worker, so we are now working with Mr. Gearoid de Faoite who is the Development Worker for Forbairthe Chonamara Lair. The Hall Project, including immediate improvements to the roof and heating system, remains a priority, along with finger post signs, road works, area beautification and a community defibrillator. Classes are to start running in September both in Cashel Community Centre and Glynsk School under the Back to Education Initiative. The Cashel Health and Resource Centre continues to provide quality office services to the community and local businesses. Our accounts have been audited by Cormac and Gavin Duffy and are on file in the office where they are accessible to members. We invite anyone over 18 in the Cashel Community to participate in Comhairle Muintir an Chaiseal Teoranta by becoming registered members of the company. Membership fee is €2 per annum and all registered members are eligible to be nominated for co-option on to the Board of Directors. Please contact the office at the Cashel Community Centre at 095-31052 for more information.
Claddaghduff
Claddaghduff Show Ready to Roll! The 21st Claddaghduff Show makes a welcome return this Sunday August 9th at the Showgrounds in Claddaghduff Village. Entries arrived very steadily in the run-up to the Show and record numbers are expected in some classes. Pony classes start at 10.30am and will run in order as per the schedule. The sheep classes start at 1pm, followed by the cattle classes. Entries for the dog show will be taken on the day from 12.30 to 1.30 and judging of the dogs start at 2pm. As this is the 21st show a number of special events will take place. Mr. Padraig Hynes will parade his mare Village Laura the Supreme Champion of the first ever Claddaghduff Show in 1986. To encourage stallion owners to exhibit their stallions the prize money for the Stallion Class has been increased to €200 first prize,€100 second prize and €50 3rd prize. Anybody who takes part in the Irish Dancing will also receive a medal! There will also be a bouncing castle, and slide, amusements and face-painting, so a great day out for all the family is guaranteed. Return of Craft Classes This year also sees the return of Craft exhibits and entries will be taken and exhibited at the Claddaghduff Hall from 9.30 am to 10am. All entries must be on display in the Hall by 10.15am. Entries are €3 each, and persons entering items in 5 or more classes will receive one free pass into the Pony Show grounds on show day. The categories in the crafts classes are as follows: 6 new laid brown eggs, 1lb jam-homemade, 1lb marmaladehomemade, Apple Tart-homemade, Light Fruit CakeHomemade, Brown Soda Cake-Homemade, Jumper/ Cardigan-Knitted, Homemade (not bainin), 5 Onions, 2 Heads of Cabbage, 2 Heads of Lettuce, 6 Sticks of Rhubarb, 3 Rose Blooms, Bouquet of Garden Flowers, Vase of Wild Flowers. Classes inclusive for children under 12 years of age: Painting, Decorated Beach stone, Article of Shell Work, 6 Decorated Fairy Cakes, Poem, Model made of Recycled Materials. Any enquiries can contact: Susan Cockburn at 087 676 8584.
Festival of the Sea Continues The annual Festival of the Sea in Claddaghduff continues into its second weekend from Friday August 7th. The Golf 3 Ball Scramble will take place at the Connemara Golf Club at 4pm on Friday with a barbecue afterwards at Oliver’s Bar with the prizegiving for the competition. There will also be a talk titled ‘Chasing John Crean -An Antarctic experience’ at 8pm at the Hall. Saturday August 8th will see a Children’s Art and Poetry Workshop at the Hall with John Dunne at 2pm and the Over 40’s soccer match at 2pm, with the close
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of the festival being celebrated at the Hall at 8pm with song, music, dance and more.
Errislannan On Monday July 27th a mixed group of volunteers of all ages gathered together to undertake a beach cleanup at Ceann Doolin beach in Errislannan. Over a dozen bags of rubbish were gathered and removed from the beach as a result of the clean up, which was organised by Hagen Schmidt, a member of the Save Our Seas Foundation, dedicated to awareness, protection, preservation and conservation of the global marine environment. Piles of rope, plastic and other flotsam and jetsam were also collected by
the group and left ready for collection, leaving the beach in a much better state than it had previously been! Photo - Back (l-r): David Johnson, Naomi Varian, Gavin McDonagh, Hagen Schmidt, Tom McDonagh, Mary McDonagh. Front: Natasha Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Niamh McDonagh, Maeve Marchese, Liam McDonagh, Paul Marchese, Eoghan McDonagh.
Inishbofin
Volunteer Building in South Africa In March of 2009, Simon Murray of Inishbofin set off for the township of Mbekweni, about 50 miles outside Cape Town, as a volunteer foreman with the Niall Mellon Township Trust, which was established in 2002 with the aim of providing quality social housing for the impoverished communities in the townships of South Africa. As part of a team of South African and Irish volunteers, Simon was involved in building a township housing project for families who had been living in extreme and abject poverty their whole lives. The ‘Building Blitz’ takes place in just one week with workers putting in very long days in searing heat and at the end of a trip having the opportunity to ‘hand over’ one of the finished houses to one of the beneficiary families, an experience which Simon describes as ‘a very emotional experience for all involved’. Simon has written a very interesting and moving account of his trip which can be read online at www.connemaraview.com, where photos of the building project can also be seen. For more information on the Niall Mellon Township Trust go to www.irishtownship.com. Simon Murray is currently fundraising for the Niall Mellon Township Trust Building Blitz trip in November 2009. If you wish to donate to his fundraising efforts you can contact Simon directly on 087-222-3949 or send your donation to Simon Murray, Inishbofin, Co. Galway, Ireland. Please make any cheque/postal order (etc) payable to: Niall Mellon Township Trust. No amount is too small or too large and any support is greatly appreciated.
Kylemore
Day Retreat The next day retreat will take place at Kylemore Abbey on Saturday September 5th. All are welcome to attend.
Leenane
Death of Local Youth Mourned in Leenane A very large crowd attended the funeral of Keith O’Reilly of Merlin Park, Galway who tragically died following injuries he sustained after diving from a pier in Lake Michigan in the U.S. recently. Keith’s parents Yvonne (nee O’Neill) and Liam are natives of Leenane parish and the Leenane community turned out in great numbers at the funeral in St Michaels Church to support and sympathise with the O’Reilly family on their devastating loss. May he rest in peace.
Connemara View Newspaper
Class of ’89 The Clifden Community School Class of 1989 held a 20 year reunion dinner at the Station House Hotel on Friday July 3rd. Pictured are (l-r): Standing form left to right: Micheal Nugent, Sean King, PJ McDonagh, Lucy Murray, Katrin Rapp Hanna, Sean Heanue, Julie Woods, John Mullen, France Ingelbach Nee, Siobhan King Stoney, David O’Halloran, Caroline Joyce Swift, Mark Ryan O’Hara, Grainne King, Caroline Pryce, Bernadette Gorham and Mary Davis King. Sitting (l-r): Mary Connolly, Sharon DeCourcey, Mary Coyne and Josephine Davitt.
Hats Off to the Day Care Show! Clients of Clifden Day Care enjoyed a week of Ladies and Gents Hat Days from the 20th to the 24th July, where they showed that when it comes to the style stakes, it’s not only young models that can look smart and stylish! Themed to coincide with the beginning of Galway Race Week many clients made a fantastic effort by dressing to impress in their fashion finery and headwear, and
Connemara View Newspaper
August 2009
anyone who didn’t have a hat to bring with them could select one from a variety provided by the Centre. Most participants took a turn, bow or wave on the catwalk provided and as it was impossible to pick outright winners on each day, all names were put into a hat, and the one drawn received a bouquet of flowers, while everyone received tokens of small prizes for taking part. Go to www.connemaraview. com to see all of the photos.
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Letterfrack The Citizen’s Information service will be available in Letterfrack on Tuesday 11th and Tuesday 25th of August from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at Connemara West. If you have any questions about Social Welfare, Pensions, Housing, Consumer Affairs, Employment, Education or any of your rights and entitlements, call us on 087-130-1100 or drop in. A wide range of application forms and booklets are also available. For more information call 095-22000 or 087-130-1100 / Email: clifden@ citinfo.ie or go to www.citizensinformation.ie
Maam Coiste Forbartha an Mháma would like to recognise and acknowledge the support of anyone and everyone who helped in any way to make this year’s Féile an Mháma a huge success. Fr. Kieran Burke and Fr. Páraic Kelly concelebrated Mass in the local cemetery on the Friday evening. It was great to see such a large crowd attending the Mass and food and refreshments were kindly provided in the local community centre afterwards. The graveyard and the community centre were very well prepared for the occasion. Don Stiff, Marcus, Proinsias and Brendan Hernon and Kevin Coyne then provided a wonderful night of entertainment. As well as playing music, Proinsias and Brendan put on a fantastic display of Sean-Nós dancing and a lot of fun was had by all. Saturday’s events kicked off with a guided walk in the Maam Valley organised by Micheál Laffey and the local walking committee. David Hughes organised the Road Bowling competition which was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants and spectators. Pádraig Coyne and Tom Joyce put on a wonderful night’s entertainment in the Kilmilkin Bar featuring many guest artists, including Emma Sullivan who gave a wonderful display of SeanNós dancing. Despite the weather a lot of fun was had by all at the local community centre on Sunday. Bernie Carney organised a sport events on the local pitch and. Well done to all the children who took part in the various events. Frank Conroy, Martina O’Malley and Terry Keenan cooked up a storm at the barbeque and many helpers sold tickets and helped out serving the food. Micheál Laffey then refereed a very competitive Tug of War. Later that night Johnny Connolly and many musicians provided a wonderful night of music and dance in
Keane’s Bar on Sunday night. We also had a fine display of dancing from Pádraig Ó Dubháin. Only for our very generous sponsors, we would not have been able to put on all of the various events over the weekend. We would like to thank in a very special way Paul Fogerty of Probus Wines, Oughterard for the two fantastic €200 hampers, John Joe Holleran for the signed Galway Jerseys, Tí Bhúrca, Clonbur for the dinner for two, John Mc Quinn, Oughterard for the €50 meat voucher, Oughterard Building Supplies for the €50 voucher, Salthill Hotel for the Sunday lunch, Peacockes Hotel for the meal for two and Lohans Bar & Restaurant, Salthill for the €40 voucher. We would also like to thank Stocaí Teo, Faherty Wholesale, James Biggins, C&C, Office Chat, Ray McHugh and Clódóirí Lurgan. A special word of thanks to Finnerty Butchers for their generosity. Our thanks to Kilmilkin Bar and Keane’s Bar for sponsoring the music and a special word of thanks to Marion Coyne for the Tommy Coyne Memorial Cup. The winners of the competitions were as follows: Road Bowling: Páraic Breathnach, Galway Tug of War: Curr /Raigha Station Area Pool Competition: 1st prize Terry Keenan, Maam,2nd prize Molly Lydon, Bunavuckaun Table Football: 1st prize Patricia Keane and Terry Keenan, Maam, 2nd prize Tony Keane and Bríd O’Malley, Maam Duck Race: 1st place Paul Sullivan, Cornamona, 2nd place Sinéad Coyne, Tiernakill, 3rd place Ger Doherty, Roscahill. Following the success of this year’s festival, we hope to make Féile an Mháma an annual event. It’s great to see the Community coming together to enjoy all of the festivities and we were also delighted to welcome all of the visitors to the Maam Valley over the weekend. Tá súil againn gur bhain gach duine taitneamh as na h-imeachtaí a bhí ar siúl thar an deireadh seachtaine agus le cúnamh Dé feicfimid sibh arís an bhliain seo chugainn. Coiste Forbartha an Mháma
Book Launch The Parish of Kilbride Centenary Book will be launched in Leenane Hotel on Friday, 7th August, at 8.30 p.m. by Gerry Glennon, Mid West Radio. The book contains information on the history of the three churches in the area-Leenane, Kilmilkin and Finney. There are articles on holy wells, graveyards and children’s burial grounds, also interviews with local people, memories from the past, poetry and news from the various voluntary groups in the parish. There is a great selection of photographs from long ago and from the present time. The book launch will be followed by music and refreshments in Leenane Hotel. Copies of the book will be on sale for €10 – a real bargain for parishioners at home and abroad.
as well as two ridden classes for coloured mares and geldings. Entry forms and full details are available from Show secretary, Maria, (086 1517289) while both schedule and entry forms may also be downloaded from the website oughterardshow.com. Activities taking place on Saturday 29th are entirely devoted to the International Connemara Performance Championships involving both local ponies and visiting pony/ rider combinations from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Catering for riders under and over 16 years of age, the classes include: International Connemara Performance Working Hunter, International Connemara Performance Ridden, and International Connemara Performance Derby. Also included are classes for Dressage and Side-saddle as well as other family pony events. There will be no charge for entry to the grounds on Saturday so we look forward to having a good number of spectators. Entry forms relating to Saturday should be forwarded to Geraldine Gallagher, Ballybeg Stables, Corrandulla, Co. Galway 091-789-828, while forms relating to classes taking place on Sunday as well as general enquiries may be directed to the Secretary, Maria O’Neill, Oughterard Show Society, Camp Street, Oughterard. The e-mail address is oughshowsociety@ gmail.com . Please note that the closing date for entries is Thursday August 20th. We look forward to welcoming you to Oughterard Show on 29th or 30th of August and hope that the bright sunshine of 2008 will make it another day to remember. Leslie Lyons PRO Oughterard Show Society
Weekend of Festivities in Oughterard Oughterard hummed with atmosphere on Sunday July 26th as the Westrun 2009 vintage car rally stopped in town for a few hours around lunchtime. Lunch vouchers for the participating drivers were provided by the Oughterard Development committee and their beautiful cars, many of them from the 1920’s and 30’s. They were impeccably turned out and delighted both locals and visitors alike. One of the most notable cars was a 1930 Rolls Royce 20-25 which is unique as the body design is a one of a kind and is the only one in existence. It was designed especially for the 1930 Paris Show. This car was the overall winner in the Westrun 2009 rally and is owned by Jude and Mairead Connellan from Kilcullen. There was also face painting for the younger children, with proceeds going to the Oughterard playground fund.
Concert A concert will take place in Ionad Pobail an Mháma (Maam Community Centre) on Saturday, 5th September, to celebrate the 15th birthday of the Maam Women’s Group.Celebrations begin at 12 o’clock with workshops, films and an art and photographic exhibition, followed by lunch at 2 p.m. In the afternoon there will be music by Joe Forde, May Teresa Mulroe and Fiddlesticks and drama by Cumann Dramaíochta Corr na Móna.Emma Sullivan will do Sean Nós dancing and Áine and Aoife Coyne will sing and dance. There will be poetry by John Dunne and Tess Heanue. Sara Lydon and her friends from Cornamona school will provide more music and song. Local musicians, singers and dancers will entertain the audience for the evening.A raffle will take place and there are great prizes to be won.Admission: Adults €8, children €4. Everyone is welcome! For further details contact 091-571-108. Rosemary Hanley
Oughterard
Show-time again at Oughterard Preparations are now well advanced for Oughterard Show which takes place this year on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August. The show schedule, already in circulation, has a wide range of classes covering Ponies, Cats, Pets, Dogs, Sheep, Horses, Cattle, Donkeys and Domestic Arts. The Vintage Section, which was very popular last year, is being further expanded to include a wide range of machinery as well as fixed engines, tractors, lorries and cars. A special attraction will be the assembling of a Ferguson 20 tractor in less than ten minutes! An addition to the Horse Section, and sponsored by the Piebald and Skewbald Association, is a coloured in-hand class
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August 2009
The French Market took place on Saturday and Sunday at the Oughterard Community Centre and after Sunday mass, a pig roasting party with cakes and beverages took place in the church grounds. This event also included painting by Cheryl Kinsley Potter who lives locally. Music by Shannon Biondi and Dennis Geoghegan entertained the crowd at the church while Knockillaree Stud laid on pony riding for the children. The Tidy Towns group is to benefit from the pig roasting event. The weather held up for most of the day apart from a few scattered showers, but not enough to dampen spirits! Photo: Jude & Mairead Connellan from Kilcullen at the WestRun 2009 stopover in Oughterard on July 26th with their 1930 Rolls Royce 20-25.
Clann News Youth Café Open The youth café has now opened! It’s open Fridays and Saturdays from 7-9pm – we will extend the hours according to capacity, as we are dependent on volunteers to keep the place open. Please, if you’d like to help out, contact Kerry E’lyn or Cathie in Clann. We are also looking for new people for our committee, both youth and adults. Continued on next page
Connemara View Newspaper
If you’re 14 to 18, come along and have a look at your new Youth Cafe and give us your feedback and ideas and get involved- see you there! Girls Group Mask project The girls group’s mask project, depicting the positives and negatives of various drugs, has been shortlisted in the Súil Aniar competition, run by the Western Region Drugs Task Force. This means that they are in the running for prizes of between €1,000 and €6,000. The final judging will take place on 16th September. Stop by Clann to see the masks! Rainbows and Spectrum For primary or secondary school age children who have been bereaved by death or divorce/separation. New groups starting in September. New community art projects Clann is hoping to set up a mural group for youth and a drama group for adults in the near future! Interested? Call by Clann for more information! We are also looking for artists to get involved with Culture Night at the end of September – do you sing, play music, paint, write, make films, craft with wood or metal, etc.? Get in contact with us to be part of a dynamic night of culture, supporting local artists and local businesses! Safer village Clann is currently surveying adults and youth in the local area to find out people’s experiences of and opinions on antisocial behaviour and solutions to the problem. Call in to Clann if you would like a survey and haven’t gotten one. Support for gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered people Remember that a drop-in support has started up in Clann in July. Members of the committee of Outwest, a social and support group for gay men, lesbian women and bisexual people in the west of Ireland will be at Clann from 7-8pm on the third Friday of the month. Anyone looking for information or just a cup of tea and a confidential chat is welcome. Outwest can be reached on 087-972-5586 (info line) or 094-937-2479 (Helpline, Weds 8-10pm).
Oughterard Regatta and Currach Racing The Oughterard Regatta and the All Ireland Currach Racing championships took place at Baurisheen Bay, Oughterard on Sunday August 2nd. Photo: Kevin Molloy, Oughterard Currach racing and Vanessa Butler, Oughterard Maid of the Parade 2009 congratulate the senior Men’s All Ireland
Currach racing crew of 2009, Joe Joyce Rua, Paraic Canavan and John Joe Donahue from Carna. Photo courtesy of Tom Broderick. See more photos at www.galwaypics.com.
Roundstone
French Visitors In late July we had a group of young people from our twinned village in France Noyelles Sous Lens staying in my house as part of the youth exchange. We had a programme of events to keep them busy and to guide them around Connemara. The week went well for them apart from the one day when it was too wet do anything, but that is Connemara for you!
Ballynahinch Castle Last Thursday Ballynahinch Castle hosted a launch of a book titled ‘Walking & Drawing-a Ballynahinch Sketchbook Making Memory’ by David Lilburn, with Aidan Dunne as the guest speaker and with Peter Fallon. I hope both these guys will play a role for next year’s Arts Week. It’s great to have the Ballynahinch Castle open their doors to the arts and functions like this.
Waxathon Michael Reynolds and his family had a ‘Wax-a-thon’ fundraiser in the Shamrock to raise funds for a 10 year old boy who desperately needs treatment and after care for cancer.
Connemara View Newspaper
The lad’s father is Emer Reynold’s godfather, and a lifelong friend of Michael’s. It was a fun night if not a little painfulyours truly had one of his legs waxed! To my horror while rolling up the trouser leg, I had forgotten that I had long john’s on! Much to my embarrassment, but amusing to the others-oh well it was for charity and earned another €50. Trust me I will never show my legs in public again, ouch! It was a very well organised affair, with terrific raffle prizes. One of the prizes was a 36 inch LCD television which was won by Paul Delappe. The craic was mighty and fair play to all that participated . So far I gather just over €4000 was raised with monies still coming in, so let’s hope the little lad will get the help he needs. I wish him well for the future.
Tour de Bog On Friday the 7th August we have the annual Tour de Bog. Delighted to say we have a new sponsor, a Mr Derry Shaw who is a regular visitor and has a house in Ballyconneely and is a great supporter of the Tour de Bog. All proceeds from the shirts will go towards stage 2 of the refurbishment of the top part of the Community Hall.
Tidy Towns The second part of the adjudication for the Tidy Towns competition takes place in August, so let’s keep up the good work of keeping our area tidy and clean. If we all do our bit in one form or another we could earn a few more points. I take my hat off to Mary McDonagh, Paddy Shoulder’s wife-Mary goes on long healthy walks every day, but always comes back with a sack full of litter. I must also not forget Mary King and Peggy who pick up litter from the surrounding areas of Roundstone and John Conneely who tirelessly keeps the street bins clear, a thankless task, well done everybody! On that point, small plastic boxes have been placed in all the businesses, asking for small change to build some cash for next year to have more improvements to the village, we got a small grant for this year, but it is a one off and it was match funding.
Condolences
The Rye, Peter Byrne and the Glass Onion Band, and classic rock exponents Silver Circus. There is also an international flavour with Bruce Foley and Band from Pittsburgh, USA as well as renowned young musicians Qristina and Quinn Bachand from Canada. Outside of music, undoubtedly one of the highlights will be the RNLI and Air Corps “Man Overboard” Rescue Demonstration. There is also a host of family friendly and kid’s events taking place at multiple times over the four days of Roundstone Summerfest. From Teddy Bears Picnics, to Treasure Hunts and Teen Discos, Johnny Sheehan’s Family Sports Day, U-12 Basketball Tournament and many street theatre events including face-painting, balloon modelling and much much more! Roundstone Summerfest is also unique in that it doubles as a charity fundraiser for the RNLI. All events are free or for a nominal fee except where stated. In case of rain, outdoor events will be moved indoors to an alternative venue. Announcements will be made on the given day if necessary. For more details and a full printable schedule of events, please log on to www.roundstonesummerfest.com.
Ronan Henderson Our condolences to the relations and the immediate family on the recent passing of Ronan Henderson who was laid to rest in Gurteen Cemetery. Ronan was a very interesting man having been skipper on various types of ships. His last one was on a research ship. He was a good man for sea-faring stories on Dowd’s Wall. Ronan was originally from Clontarf and eventually retired in Roundstone in 1976. For the last four years he had to have dialysis treatment but eventually his heart gave out. I know it’s not much of a consolation but at least he saw his children grow up, he had grand children and just two months ago a great grandchild. I just heard of his courage up to the last, he apparently was in a cooking mode last week-his specialty the most enormous and the heaviest brown bread ever baked! I gather it was quite a job to get it out of the oven. Anyway Ronan was always very nice and pleasant, he is now gone, and may he rest in peace. Martin Joe Keane Our condolences also to the family of Martin Joe Keane originally from Inishnee/Tuam. Martin was a brother to Michael Keane and uncle to Amanda and Katrina. May he rest in Peace. Richard de Stacpoole
Summerfest 2009 The 8th Roundstone Summerfest is almost upon us! Running from the 13th to 16th August, this year’s festival promises to be even better than ever with a host of events and activities to suit all ages. Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include Noelie McDonnell and Band, The Kanyu Tree,
August 2009
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GAA Clifden Minors Reach Final
West Coast Utd Under 13s Win Division
West Coast Utd captured their second underage title of the season when the Under 13 squad held their nerve to oust a strong Craughwell Utd side in the Under 13 cup final played in Terryland Park on June 1st. It took a penalty shoot-out to separate the teams, having finished tied 2-2 at full time and after extra-time the goal scorers were Conor Clarke and Fechin Mitchell. West Coast were easily the superior team on the day and it was very fitting that they eventually triumphed 7-6 after the dreaded spot kicks. Congrats to all the boys and to managers Brendan Kane and Terence Mullen on another notable achievement for the club. Photo: Back Row: Brendan Kane (Manager), Enda Conneely, Robert Gannon, James Salmon, Gearoid Delaney, Gearoid King, Brian Holmes, Jack Kane, Stephen McDonagh, Jack Moran, Danny Doyle, Terence Mullen(Coach). Front Row: Cathal Acton, Karl McConway, Barry Salmon, Conor Clarke, James O’ Farrell, Fechin Mitchell, Colm Coneys, Emmet Moran .
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West Coast Utd AGM
The AGM for the 2009/10 season was held in the Station House Hotel on July 16th. A good turn-out reflected on a hugely successful season and looked forward to the club returning to senior ranks in August. Everything seems positive at the moment and the hard working committee received deserved praise for ensuring the club remains in a healthy state. West Coast Utd Committee 2009/10 President: Daniel Flaherty, Chairman: Terence Mullen, Sec: Kurt Lydon, Treas: Finian Sheridan. P.R.O.: Joachim Lydon, Senior Management: Joachim Lydon/Kurt Lydon, Under 15: Andy Mortimer, Under 13: Brendan Kane/Terence Mullen, Under 10: Finian Sheridan, Child Protection Officers; Joachim Lydon/Finian Sheridan Membership for the 09/10 season was fixed at €50 for players and €20 for nonplayers. It would be great if past players and parents of underage players get involved in the club or at least become members again.
West Coast United would like to invite all soccer players in North West Connemara to join our club and help make our dream a reality of playing in the Galway premier division in the next 5 to 6 years. Anyone wishing to get involved in coaching, fund raising, sponsorship etc, can contact any of the committee.
Summer Camp 2009 This year’s FAI soccer summer camp takes place at Tullycross pitch from August 24th28th. The camp is open to both boys and girls aged 7 to 15 years and is suitable for children of every ability and level. The fully qualified FAI coaches will ensure everyone has a fun and football filled week. Booking must be made in advance and before August 17th. Book online at www. fai.ie or phone 1890 653 653. For further information or for postal applications please contact Joachim Lydon at 086 409 8814 or any of the officers at West Coast Utd. Joachim Lydon
August 2009
Naomh Feichin 4-5 Carraroe 3-6 Naomh Fechin Minor team reached their third Westboard Final in four years when they beat Carraroe in Pearse Stadium on Wed 22nd July. Carraroe won the toss but decided to play against the wind in the first half. Naomh Feichin were five points up at half time on a score of 2-2 to 0-3 with Niall Black and Michael O’Toole scoring 1-1 each to Joseph McCormack (2 points) and John Edward Flaherty one point for Carraroe. With the wind against Naomh Feichin in the 2nd half, it was a roller coaster, with both sets of supporters suffering highs and lows. Carraroe scored 2 goals mid way through the second half to take the lead by one point, but a goal by Niall Black, another from Chris Holmes and a point by Shane Sweeney saw Naomh Feichin take a six point lead with ten minutes left to play. Carraroe worked hard, got another point and with eight minutes to go Liam Flaherty scored a great goal for Carraroe. Naomh Feichin kicked the ball out, nice play followed from the Carraroe players and Edward O’Connor got a point for them. The lead was now reduced to one point again. Niall Black won a free and scored a point. With two minutes to go Patrick Flaherty from Carraroe got another great point. Naomh Feichin still led by one point. Carraroe put the pressure on pounding the ball in, but Naomh Feichin also stepped up and kept their heads and defended. John Mannion cleared the ball and Jack Vaughan reached it and passed to Shane Sweeney. Shane passed it on to Niall Black and he went for the point- he missed but with luck on the Naomh Feichin side it came off a Carraroe player. A 45 for Naomh Feichin followed. Shane Sweeney kicked the ball over the bar for a great point scored against the wind. The Carraroe keeper then kicked the ball out and the Ref blew up the game. Naomh Feichin won the game by two points after a great display of football from both teams. The game was played in a sporting manner with fortunes varying every few minutes especially in the second half. The supporters who travelled to the game had their hands at their hearts all through the second half. Naomh Feichin played the game without David Black and Ian O’Malley who were injured and Tiernan O’Halloran who was not available to play. Carraroe were also short some notable players. Naomh Feichin coaches Pat King, Tom King, John O’Malley and the Carraroe coaches Tommy Griffin, M.A Lydon, P. Mac an Iomaire can hold their heads high with these teams and this great football match. Naomh Feichin will play Lettermore in the final on September 5th in Pearse Stadium while Carraroe advance to play Spiddal in the league Semi Final. Continued on next page
Connemara SportsView
Clifden Minors To Finals continued Naomh Feichin Minor Team: Tommy Roche, Ronan O’Donnell, Eoin Kilkenny, John Mannion, Connor Nee, Cathal Molloy, Jack Vaughan, Eamon McCann, Conall Joyce, Shane Sweeney, Michael O’Toole, Chris Holmes, Niall Black, Peter Cullen. Subs: Marty Conneely , Brian O’Toole, John Gibbons, Tommy Nee, Niall Staunton.
Naomh Fechin Am-Am Naomh Fechin GAA Club held a fundraising Am-Am at the Connemara Golf Club on Friday July 24th. The winning team of Paddy Gannon, James De Courcey (not pictured), Johnny Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fitzpatrick are pictured here receiving their prizes from Martin Vincent Mannion and Dave Beecher. Ann Mitchell
SAI L I NG The Clifden Boat Club has completed their Summer Series of yacht racing, in both IRC and ECHO. The full list of results can be found at the Club’s website www.clifdenboatclub.com. Also available on the site is a link to a report and provisional results of the Superleague 2009 so far on the ‘Afloat’ website. The Clifden Regatta takes place on Saturday and Sunday the 8th and 9th of August, which will see the fourth event of the Superleague taking place. For more information on the regatta and all Clifden Boat Club events go to www. clifdenboatclub.com.
R U N N IN G Mick Molloy 10k The Mick Molloy 10k Classic Road Race took place in Oughterard on Saturday July 18th. There were in excess of 100 participants and a great programme of entertainment also surrounded the main event of the race. The race was dedicated to Oughterard native Mick Molloy who represented Ireland in the 1968 Mexican Olympics as well as competing successfully in many other international athletic events. Results Matt Lockett of Galway City Harriers was the first to finish in a time of 33minutes, 37 seconds. He was followed by Joe Morrissey in 35’37 and Barry Davey from Oughterard in 36’05. Ian Egan of Galway City Harriers was next across the line in the Male over 40 category in a time of 36’40, followed by Men Over 60 category winner Martin McEvilly in 39’07. Next in was Patrick O’Dwyer in the Men Over 50 category in 39’55. First in the Senior Women was Elaine Walsh of Athenry AC in a time of 40’52, followed by Eimear Butler, also of Athenry AC in 41’28. Barry O’Brien in the Junior Mens section was next across the line in a time of 42’54. Third in the Senior Womens section was Ann Murray in 43’33 who also was first in the Women Over 35 category. The Women Over 45 category was won by Bernie Kelly of Galway City Harriers in 47’05 and the Women Over 55 was taken by Mary Ellen Doyle in 51’09. Photo: The Mick Molloy 10k Race gets underway in Oughterard.
Clifden Lifeboat 10k Run Following last year’s big success, the Clifden Lifeboat 10k race will take place in Clifden on Sunday 13th Sep-
tember at 2pm. The route will once again take competitors up the scenic Sky Road and will have 5 different categories to suit all levels of fitness from serious runners, walkers and youths, as well as teams of 3 or 4 people. Entry fee is €10/ individual or €25/team. Last year’s race raised almost €9000 for the Clifden Lifeboat and we hope to match this again this year. For more information/entry forms, you can email : clifden10k@gmail.com, text/phone 085 1680402 or enter online at www.runireland.com.
AN GL I NG
The Kevin McQuinn Memorial Cup (U16) took place on Saturday, 18th July on Baurisheen Bay, Oughterard. There were 23 competitors with prizes for the first six places and token prizes for all competitors. The first six places were as follows: 1st Ross Gibbons, 2nd Eoin Walsh, 3rd Peter Tierney, 4th Cillian Tierney, 5th Martin Molloy, 6th Ian Higgins. Photos clockwise from above: Ross Gibbons receives the Kevin McQuinn Memorial Cup from John Gibbons, Chairman Oughterard Angling Club. Eoin Walsh receives 2nd prize from Chairman John Gibbons. Peter Tierney receives 3rd prize from John Gibbons. Photos and report courtesy of Kevin Prunty
River Cleanup On Monday July 13th members of the Oughterard Anglers & Boatmen’s Association organised a clean-up on the Owenriff River. This is a task the Oughterard Anglers take on 3/4 times a year to
Connemara SportsView
safeguard the river, which is an S.A.C. (Special Area of Conservation).
August 2009
Send in your news, views & photos to news@connemaraview.com Page 11
The Connemara Pony Show Scene
Clifden Pony Festival Some new additions to the schedule of events for the Clifden Pony Festival taking place from the 17th to the 23rd August are likely to expand further interest in the performance aspect of the breed. For the first time in Clifden, a Puissance event, with a prize fund of €1500 will be held which has been introduced to maximise the pony’s capabilities in an exciting and competitive environment. The main show takes place on Thursday August 20th, featuring 23 in-hand classes and10 ridden classes. A young handler’s class for the 10-15 year old age group is scheduled to encourage young pony enthusiasts to become involved in formal handling and a side saddle competition is also included. Other attractions at the Showgrounds on the day include an Irish Dancing Competition and a special appearance by the Mulkerrin Brothers in the afternoon. The ever popular Domestic Arts and Dog Show will also feature as well as the street trading in the town centre and the inclusion of a traditional market day which will run in tandem with the Pony Festival. The highlight of the performance events will undoubtedly be the Puissance competion. Ponies will jump a warm up fence and triple bar before attempting the 90cm plus high wall at the Clifden Showgrounds on Friday 21st August. According to Dermot Power, President of the Connemara Pony Breeders Society, the Puissance Competition will be a huge test of the pony and will generate considerable interest among pony owners and breeders in measuring the pony’s extraordinary potential. He went on to say that two registered Connemara Ponies, Ballyowen Maybell Molly and Sillogue Darkie are on the current Irish Showjumping panel of seven, an incredible achievement for the Connemara Pony breed.
Roundstone Show The Supreme Champion of the Roundstone Pony Show was awarded to Ann Conroy Conneely from Ballyconneely for her home bred grey Errismore Rocky (Currachmore Cashel-Gold Label) (SarsfieldFreaghlaun) exhibited by Patrick Conroy. In addition to securing top honours, the pony won the two and three year old colt class, plus the junior championship. On his only previous outing this year “Rocky” was judged junior champion at Corrandulla. Anne Conroy who is a daughter of the legendary Josie Conroy said “I always liked the dam line especially as I also won both
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the Junior and Supreme championship with his half brother Errismore Duke at Claddaghduff in 1994.” The show opened with the yearling filly class, as Mairtín Nee from Doonreaghan, Cashel took the red rosette with the wellcoupled Doonreaghan Chris. Bernard Keaney from Murvey, Roundstone exhibited Murvey Bertie, a handsome son of Janus and Murvey Cara to win the yearling colts and was also judged reserve junior champion. In the two year-old filly class there were many quality ponies and much anticipation as some of the best youngsters came before the judges; Hugh Leonard and Patricia Prenderville both from Co.Meath, Cathy Stuffle from Ballyconneely had her Aoifes Pride (Glendine Kestral-Jasmine) in peak condition as she stood ahead of Damien Gorham’s consistent Doonhill Queen (Currachmore CashelConnemara Lady). Gearoid Curran from Moycullen won the three year-old filly class with his Cork champion Glencarrig Rose (Coosheen Stormboy-April Rose) ahead of Gentle Kate ((I Love You Melody-Gentle Wren) owned by Letterfrack breeder John McLoughlin. It was refreshing to see so many of our young exhibitors come before judge Joe Burke from Castlegar in the new open youth class, won by Amy Curran from Moycullen with Glencarrig Rose ahead of Megan King from Ballyconneely showing Cashelbay Heather, and Teresa Feeney from Moycullen with Danesfield Heather. These three young ladies have a bright future ahead of them and the show must be commended for staging this class. Patrick King from Errislannan collected the sash for the Champion foal of the show; his filly Derryeisther Freya, by Linsfort Barney and Pride of the West looked a bit special. Reserve foal of the show was Mairtin Nee’s, by Collillaun Cushlawn and Doonreaghan Star. Owner Sid Worley from Roundstone was awarded the stallion class and reserve champion of the show with the striking grey, Ballinavilla Prince (Mervyn PookhaunDoon Fairy) exhibited by Mark Worley. Gerry King from Derrygimbla qualified his Cashelbay Heather (Tulira RobuckBealnamulla Kim) for the Midlands All Ireland final when winning the class for four to six year old mares. Padraic and Nicola Heanue’s Grange Ruby Surf, (Grange Bobbing Sparrow-Kilkerran Surf ) took the seven to twelve year old class, ahead of Danesfield Heather owned
by Martin Feeney from Moycullen. Jane Andrews from Clifden won the older mares class with her Westport champion Coral Misty Jane. Young Eleanor Curran from Moycullen looks a natural when she presents her pony before the judges. Although she has only exhibited three times, she maintained her 100% strike rate with her father’s mare Mount Ross Colleen (Coral Star-Grange Amber Colleen) when winning the Bay mares class. Roundstone Showground is expanding each year thanks to the effort and work put in by a hard working and united committee headed by Chairman Paddy McDonagh, who is busy preparing for the next show on September 13th when once again the first prize for the All Ireland Champion of Champions will be €2,000. Ruth Rogers Photo: (L-r): Sean Luskin Class Sponsor, Show Queen Tara Byrne, Owner Ann Conroy Conneely, Megan O’Malley and Pat Conneely with Errismore Rocky, Roundstone Pony Show Champion 2009. Photo courtesy of Tom Broderick
Roundstone First Places Yearling filly-1, Mairtin Nee’s Doonreaghan Chris, by Cloon Eile Cashel-Doonreaghan Star. Yearling colt-1, Bernard Keaney’s Murvey Bertie, by Janus-Murvey Cara. Two year old filly-1, Cathy Stuffle’s Aoife’s Pride, by Glendine Kestral-Jasmine. Three year old filly-1, Gearoid Curran’s Glencarrig Rose, by Coosheen Storm Boy-April Rose. Two & Three year old colt-1, Anne Conroy Conneely’s Errismore Rocky, by Currachmore Cashel-Gold Label. Junior champion: Errismore Rocky Reserve: Murvey Bertie. Open Youth Class-1, Amy Curran’s Glencarrig Rose, by Coosheen Storm BoyApril Rose. Filly foal-1, Patrick King’s Derryeisther Freya, by Linsfort Barney-Pride of the West. Colt foal-1, Mairtin Nee’s by Coolillaun Cushlawn-Doonreaghan Star. Champion foal: Derryeisther Freya Reserve: Mairtin Nee’s by Coolillaun CushlawnDoonreaghan Star. Four year old and over stallion-1, Sid Worley’s Ballinavilla Prince, by Mervyn Pookhaun-Doon Fairy. Mare four to six year old-1, Gerry King’s Letterdyfe Rose, by Dolan Mick-Letterdyfe Ruby. Mare seven to twelve year old-1, Padraic & Nicola Heanue’s Grange Ruby Surf, by Grange Bobbing Sparrow-Kilkerrin Surf. Mare thirteen years old and over-1, Jane Andrews Coral Misty Jane, by Cloonisle Cashel-Coral Misty. Geldings-1, Pat O’Neill’s Illaunurra Shadow, by Silver Shadow-Illaunurra Mist. Bay mare two year old and over-1, Ciaran Curran’s Mount Ross Colleen, by Coral StarGrange Amber Colleen. Supreme Champion: Errismore Rocky Reserve: Ballinavilla Prince.
August 2009
Ballyconneely Show It has to be said that the organisation and presentation of the catalogue at Ballyconneely Connemara Pony Show on Sunday July 19th was a credit to everybody concerned. The Supreme Championship was awarded to Padraic Hynes from Canal Stage with his nicely balanced four-year-old mare Currach Court Lady (Clonberne Boy-Clydagh Marie) (Cloonisle Cashel-Justine) In her previous outings this season she was judged champion at Maam Cross and reserve champion at Ballinalee and Ardrahan. On receiving the Conroy cup from one of Connemara’s greatest ever Custodians Josie Conroy, Hynes said “the minute I saw her at the Clifden Mart sales in May I felt she was special and I am absolutely delighted to win here today”. The young stock on show provided the large crowd with some exciting examples of the breed as the Junior Championship had spectators on their toes. Judges Catherine Angel and Robbie Fallon deliberated before awarding the sash to Cailin Conneely from Roundstone and his two year old colt Letterdyffe Rira (Currachmore Cashel-Letterdyffe Ruby) with Tom Clancy’s yearling filly Ohill Silver Molly (I Love You MelodyBealybeg Silver) taking reserve. Letterdyffe Rira has been a consistent competitor all season, he has secured six red rosettes this year for owner breeder Cailin Conneely from Roundstone who said “today was like the World cup, a lot of colts did not come out this season but they came to Ballyconneely and we proved we were the “best in the west” by winning the junior championship. It was just magic and I am thrilled, I will always remember this day”. Kerry and Feichin King were awarded the opening class with Bunowen Castle Johnny Fox a yearling colt by Glenayre Silver Fox and Doohulla Lucky Star. Ballyconneely always produces good pointers for the big show at Clifden, the two year old filly class had many hopefuls as local owner Cathy Stuffle produced her quality filly Aoife’s Pride (Glendine KestralJasmine) looking a picture and duly took her fourth win this year”, her delighted owner said. I had ponies since I was ten years old but I never dreamt of getting one like this, my first effort was a gelding named Misty Seafield, but I always wanted a good mare so I bought Aoife from her breeder Kevin McDonnel in Renvyle with this in mind.” Runner up in this class was the well-bred Funiseog (Currachmore Cashel-Feenish Lady) owned by Caroline Lydon from Carraroe. If you want a good strapping foal go to Ballyconneely, they emerge fresh and frisky from the mountain. Judges Sarah Jacob and Eddie Madden awarded the champion foal of the show to Damien Gorham’s colt by Currachmore Cashel and April Dawn Lady, while Rory Sweeney’s Heather Aisling (Currachmore Cashel -Heather Star) was reserve. The three-year-old stallion class was won by Bartley Conroy’s Callowfeenish Grey (Monaghanstown Pat-Callowfeenish Mist) while the open stallion class went to Beatrice Maxwell Murphy’s all rounder Gleann Rua Maxwell exhibited by her daughter Lorna. Deirdre & Michael Holmes from Carnane Connemaras, Gowlaun, laid their trail to the All Ireland Broodmare final when winning the seven to eleven year old mare class with Robe Moonlight (ThunderballGleann Rua Lady). She was purchased from Gabriel Murphy in Ballinrobe and her owners said, “we love the pedigree and it was great to win here”. Continued next page
Connemara SportsView
Oughterard Golf Results
The Dry mare class produced some lovely types with the red going to last year’s Supreme champion Gearoid Curran’s April Rose who also booked her ticket to Midland. The old matriarchs richly deserve their day out and the class for twenty years and over was awarded to Grace Murphy with Lakeside Lady. A lovely touch to the show was the arrival of a special guest during the afternoon by Ballyconneely’s very own mare “Lecarrow” (Murphy Rebel-Lor Ruadh 2nd), now in her 30th year and owned by Evelyn Nee. She graced the ring in glory when paraded by Kevin Walsh who flew home from New York to do the honours; he said, “It was worth it all just to be here today and to parade such a good broodmare”. Ruth Rogers
Ballyconneely First Places Yearling Colt: Kerry & Feichin King’s Bunowen Castle Johnny Fox, by Glenayre Silver Fox-Doohulla Lucky Star. Yearling Filly: Tom Clancy’s Ohill Silver Molly, by I Love You Melody-Bealybeg Silver. Two or three year old Colt: Cailin Conneely’s Letterdyffe Rira, by Currachmore Cashel-Letterdyffe Ruby. Two year old Filly: Cathy Stuffle’s Aoifes Pride, by Glendine Kestral-Jasmine. Three year old Stallion: Bartley Conroy’s Callowfeenish Grey, by Monaghanstown Pat-Callowfeenish Mist. Three year old Mare with or without Foal at foot: Peter Molloy’s Dooneen Stephanie Rose, by Hazy Match-Jennifer Rose. Junior Champion: Letterdyffe Rira Reserve: Ohill Silver Molly. Colt Foal: Damien Gorham’s by Currachmore Cashel-April Dawn Lady. Filly Foal: Rory Sweeney’s Heather Aisling, by Currachmore Cashel-Heather Star. Champion Foal: Damien Gorham: Reserve: Rory Sweeney. Four to six year old Mare with or without Foal at foot: Padraic Hynes Currach Court Lady, by Clonberne Boy-Clydagh Marie. Stallion four years and over: Lorna Maxwell’s Gleann Rua Maxwell, by Westside Fred-Moonlight. Seven to Eleven year old Mare with or without Foal at foot: Deirdre & Michael Holmes’s Robe Moonlight by Thunderball-Gleann Rua Lady. Twelve to nineteen year old dry Mare:
Connemara SportsView
Gearoid Curran’s April Rose, by Streamstown Larry-Errisbeg Dolly. Mare twenty years & over with or without Foal at foot: Grace Murphy’s Lakeside Lady, by Abbeyleix Dolphin-Kits Bay. Supreme Champion: Currach Court Lady. Reserve April Rose. Ballyconneely Ridden Firsts Lead Rein: Olivia Staunton, Sky Rd, Clifden. Reg. Connemara Gelding In Hand: Grace Murphy, Gleann Rua, Taylors Hill, Galway Young Handler: Catherine Gorton, Oughterard. Open Side Saddle: Judy Cazabon, Cleggan Riding Centre. Local Ridden Pony: Judy Cazabon, Cleggan Riding Centre, Cleggan. Reg. Connemara Pony Rider under 16 1st Michael & Mary Connolly, Ross, Rosscahill. Reg Connemara Pony – Rider over 16: 1st Grace Murphy,
30/06/09 18 Hole Open Day Competition. 1st Stephen Thornton (24) 42pts, 2nd Pierce Scully (Athenry) (11) 41pts, 3rd Pierce O Malley (20) 39 pts (20B9, 7B3), 4th Ciaran Murphy (12) 39 pts (20B9,6B3), 5th Anthony Palmer (15) 38pts. CSS 36pts. 1/07/09 Lancome Open. CSS 73. 1st Deirdre O’Donovan (24) 37 2nd Annette Harty (21) 35 Gross Pat Lillis (13) 21 gr pts 3rd Linda Lee (32) 34 (b9) Category 0 – 20 1st Patricia Lee (17) 33 2nd Barbara Buckley (20) 32 Category 21 – 28 1st Peggie Blehein (24) 34 (B6) 2nd Ruth Cunningham (26) 34 Category 29 – 36 1st Bernie McTighe (33) 33 2nd Doreen Garvey (36) 32 Front Nine Rosemarie Mulholland (31) 19 Back Nine Theresa Lydon (26) 18. 05/07/09 18 Hole Competition Sponsor: Office Chat.1st Sean Walsh (20) 42 pts. 2nd Tom Gallen (14) 41 pts. Gross: Hugh Walsh (3) 33 Gross pts. 3rd John G Walsh Gleann Rua, Taylors Hill. Open Ridden Class 1st Judy Cazabon, Cleggan Riding Centre, Cleggan, Co. Galway Ridden Champion – Olivia Staunton, Sky Road, Clifden Reserve Ridden Champion – Grace Murphy, Gleann Rua, Taylor’s Hill, Galway. Photo above: Champ: Ballyconneely Show Queen Nicola Connolly with the Champion of the Show Currach Court Lady and owner Paraic Hynes. Photo left: Alana Sullivan from Inisnee, Roundstone on Joyton Regal Princess, winner of the under 14 class at Ballyconneely show, this combination went on to score over 73% at the Silver Spurs qualifiers in Limerick on 28th July.
(16) 40 pts. 4th Tom Molloy (17) 39 pts (23b9) 5th Martin Lee (12) 39 pts (20b9), CSS 36 pts. 07/07/09 18 Hole Open Day Competition. 1st Niall Mannion, (13) 40 pts, 2nd Brendan King (23) 39pts, 3rd Seamus Hynes (12) 38pts (21B9), 4th Luke Bohan (23) 38pts (19B9, 17B6), 5th Paul Biggins (Claremorris) (10) 38pts (19B9, 12B6). CSS 36pts. 08/07/09 Radharc Landscaping.CSS 73. 1st Kathleen Payne (32) 39, 2nd Valerie O Toole (25) 35 (B1), Gross Rita Jordan (14) 20 (B9), 3rd Mai Faherty (25) 35. Category 0-20 1st Marguerite Fallon (14) 34 2nd Barbara Buckley (20) 32 Category 21-28 1st Debbie Ann Leonard (25) 33 (B9) 2nd Betty Clancy (26) 33 Category 29-36 1st Una Russell (30) 32 2nd Anne Rooney (36) 30. 14/07/09 18 Hole Stableford Open Day Competition. 1st Sean O Reilly (6) 43 pts, 2nd Robert Monroe (12) 42 pts, Luke Bohan (22) 41pts (22B9), 4th David Higgins (18) 41pts (19B9), 5th Martin Wynne (16) 40 pts (22B9) 15/07/09 Ladies 18 Hole Stableford Voucher Competition. CSS 73. 1st Bernadette Heffernan (30) 38pts, 2nd Rebecca Lee (27) 37pts, Gross Niamh Keogh (15) 18gr, 3rd Noreen Hegarty (31) 34pts, 4th Tina Durkin (24) 33(B9), 5th Theresa Lydon (26) 33pts. 19/07/09 18 Hole Intermediate Scratch Cup 1st Gross Tom Molloy (10) 79. 2nd Gross Paul Harvey (10) 80 (40B9,26B6). 3rd Gross John Palmer (11) 80 (40B9,27B6). 1st Nett Vincent O’Sullivan (12) 68. 2nd Nett Tommy Lawless (Athenry) (12) 69. 3rd Nett Vivian Noone (G.Abbey) (11) 70(35.5B9). CSS 72. 18 Hole Junior Scratch Cup. 1st Gross Darragh Higgins (Strandhill (4) 74. 2nd Gross Liam O’Reilly (4) 77 (38B9). 3rd Gross Jeff rey Lee (9) 77 (39B9). 1st Nett John Howley (Strandhill) (7) 72 (36.5B9). 2nd Nett David Lindsay (Strandhill) (9) 72 (36.5B9) 3rd Nett Michael O’Keane (6) 72 (37B9).CSS 72. 21/07/09 18 Hole Stableford Oughterard Golf Club 1st Colin McMahon (28) 45pts, 2nd Jack Clancy (18) 37 pts, 3rd Cyril Foye (11) 36 pts C.S.S 35 Pts. Continued on next page
O’Toole Rides Off To London Fifteen year old Emma O’Toole of Clifden will compete at this year’s N.P.S. Mountain and Moorland Supreme Ridden Pony of the Year Competition at Olympia in London on December 21st 2009. Emma and her pony, Cashel Bay Joe, secured their place in this prestigious event by becoming Mountain and Moorland Champions at the qualifying show in Carrick-on Fergus, Co Antrim in June of this year. Cashel Bay Joe is owned by Henry O’Toole of Castle Connemara Stud and Emma’s riding instructors are Judy and Siobhan Cazabon of Cleggan Riding Centre. Photo above: Emma O’Toole on Cashel Bay Joe after qualifying for the N.P.S. Mountain and Moorland Supreme Ridden Pony of the Year Competition in London.
August 2009
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Clifden Football Cul Camp The Clifden GAA Football Cul Camp took place at the GAA Grounds in Clifden from July 20th to 24th. Refreshments for the kids participating during the week were kindly sponsored by Joe Lynch of Super Valu Clifden, Bartley Conroy of Esso Galway Road, James Sullivan and Malachy ‘Bodhran’ Kearns while the Station House Bar kindly provided lunches for all the coaches. Also of great assistance were Richard Bartley with transport and Tony Coyne, and last but certainly not least the kids from all the primary schools in Clifden, Claddaghduff, Cleggan, Kingstown, Ballyconneely, Aillebrack and Roundstone. Gareth Bradshaw and his team of coaches were top class throughout the week and their skills were very much appreciated by all involved with the Naomh Fechin Juvenile Club. Photos: The participants in the Clifden Cul Camp 2009. Coaches: The Clifden GAA Cul Camp Coaches: (L-r): JoJo Greaney (Galway Seniors), Paul Fitzpatrick, Patrick Sweeney (Galway Minors), Niall Coyne (Galway Seniors), Maeve Clancy, Diarmuid Lee, Diarmuid Gavin, William Clancy, David Black, Gareth Bradshaw (Galway Seniors) and Cathal Sweeney (Galway Minors). Paul Fitzpatrick
NEXT ISSUE: Thursday, September 3rd
Oughterard Underage Blitz The Oughterard Underage club hosted a monster Go-games blitz on Saturday 25th July in Corribdale Grounds. Three other clubs were invited; Killannin, Spiddal and Barna. The blitz was played on a nine a side basis with U-8, U-9 and U-10 teams participating. Every team played 3 or 4 games and really enjoyed the day and the children were treated to a snack and a drink afterwards. The coaches for the U-10’s were Niall Walsh and Joe Tierney, U-9’s had Harry Walsh, and the U-8’s had Stephen McDonnell and Patrick Faherty. Daniel Conneely, Liam
Connemara Golf Results 01/07/09 Members Competition. 18 Holes Stableford. Ladies: 1st Barbara Moggio (19) 37pts,2nd: Catherine McDowell (14) 34pts, Mens:1st: Michael Ferris (19) 42pts, 2nd: Colm O’Sullivan(24)39pts, 3rd: Dermot Powell (9) 38pts. 05/07/09 Singles Stableford. Ladies V Par: 1st: Jan Poynton (17) 3up 2nd: Raymond Standun (19) 2up. Gross: Tara De Courcey (7) 8 down, 3rd: Phil Hamell (29) 2up. Mens: 1st: Paddy Woods (16) 41pts, 2nd: Julian Jeff ries(21) 40pts, Gross: Paddy Flaherty(5) 28pts (B9),3rd:Martin Courcey(16) 39pts. 12/07/09 18 Holes Stroke. Lady Captains Prize. Ladies: 1st Trish Godwin (24) 67nett, 2nd Betty McAleese (22) 69nett, Gross Laura Daly(10) 84gross, 3rd Mary O Higgins(17) 71 back 9, 4th Kathleen Burke (25) 71nett, 5th Geraldine McGettigan (20) 72 last 6, Past Captain’s Carmel Gaughan (25)
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Tierney, Oliver Lee and Johnny Whittaker all helped set up the 9 pitches. Parents brought sandwiches and Kathleen Hanley and Catherine Whittaker made sure everyone was looked after with tea and sandwiches for the adults and goodies from Conor McNamara’s shop for the players. The referees were Eric Lee, Myles Upton, Daniel Kelly, Shane Murray, Aaron Coady, Fergal Darcy, Patrick Gibbons, Ryan Gibbons and Ciaran Hanley and the entire event would not have been possible without the assistance and time given by all who helped out, so well done to everybody involved. Harry Walsh
75nett F9, Josephine O’Neill (28) 31nett, B9 Eilis Cryan (25) 33nett, 36 Club Helen Geoghegan (36) / 9 holes 11pts, Juniors Ruth Shaw (28) 73nett, Beginners Alice Kennelly/ 6 holes 27nett. Mens: 1st: Kevin Aspell (11) 66nett, 2nd: Paddy Flaherty (5) 71nett, Gross: Joe King (11) 83gross, 3rd: Tom Vaughan (17) 72nett, 4th: Michael O’Cartuir (16) 72nett. 15/07/09 Members Competition. 18 Holes Singles Stableford. Ladies: 1st Marilyn Kelly (22) 40pts, 2nd Evelyn King (20) 37pts B9, 3rd Francis Corless (30) 37Pts. Mens: 1st Dermot Powell (9) 44pts, 2nd Alan King (9) 41pts, Gross: Gareth Anthony (6) 31pts, 3rd Tony Walsh (14) 39pts. 19/07/09 18 Holes Stableford. Ladies: 1st Sue Forsyth(26) 35pts B9, 2nd: Maureen Brennan(25) 35pts, Gross: Therese O’Buachalla
(14) 24pts, 3rd Ann Murphy (25) 34pts. Mens: 1st David Glynn(17) 35pts, 2nd John Malone (9) 34pts, Gross: Michael Keane (8) 26pts 3rd Michael Boyle(16) 33pts B9. Photos: Connemara Lady Captain 2009 Catherine Pryce with the Ladies winner of the Lady Captain’s Prize, Trish Godwin. Marie Bourke, Frances Killilea and Men’s Winner Kevin Aspell. Photos courtesy of Patrick Howard.
August 2009
Connemara SportsView
After School/ Arts/ Enertainment
Bicycles & Quads
Galway West Gymnastics. Enrolling now for September term in Clifden. Gymnastics for all ages. Girls & Boys. 4 -12. 12+ Teenagers. Call 087-329-8383. Connemara Drama Club. Autumn Term Starting Again! Drama, Mime, Rhyme, Improvisation, Singing, Dancing, Instruments from around the world and Lots Lots more. End of term show. 8 week term. 8 - 12 years group: Starting Wed Sept 16th; 4pm - 5pm and 5.15pm. - 6.15pm; Station House Theatre; €48. 4 - 7 years group: Starting Thurs Sept 17th; 4pm - 5pm and 5.15pm - 6.15pm; Station House Theatre; €48. Facilitator: Rosalind Coyne. BA Hons Drama. Post Graduate Drama Studio London. Contact: 095-43589. 086-352-3431. Saturday/Afterschool Camps for kids 6 to 10 yrs. Arts & Crafts, Board Games, Cooking, indoor and outdoor fun, as well as, art sessions with Artist Bridget Cox. 1 week “End of Summer” Camp 24 - 28th August from 10 3pm. Saturdays: Begin August 15th from 2 - 6pm. After School: Mon/Thurs begins on Sept 14th from 2 - 6pm. Book early as spaces limited. Call Mary at 095-41349 to book or for more info (please leave a message). Yellow Door Expressive Arts Autumn Winter Term and Stage Show. Continuing Wednesdays Performance School (Hip -Hop, Drama, Voice). New: Thursdays Ballet and Creative Dance at the Station House Gym. ages 4+. Registration at the Theatre 12-2pm on Sat 12th of September.Contact Elaine 085-1544664. Ballet uniform to be available at OhhByGum. Art Classes. Would you like to learn watercolour painting? One to one and small group classes available. Take a one off class or several. I can also come to your small group. Patricia Morrison. Derrigimlagh, Ballyconneely. 087-656-9255. Station House Theatre, Clifden. Check out our fantastic line-up of cinema and live acts. www.stationhousetheatre. com. info@stationhousetheatre.com 095-30303. Video rental and purchase. Music. Video Games. Video Vault. Main St, Clifden. 095-22033 The Ultimate Girls Night In!! An Ann Summers party is the great girls night in for you and your friends. Parties are full of games, fun and laughter and it will be one night you will not forget. To book your party or order a catalogue please contact Paula on 087-758-9710.
Mannion’s Bikes. Bridge St, Clifden. 095-21160. Adult and children’s bikes. Rentals. Galway Quads. Quads, buggies, repairs, servicing, accessories. Kids Quads on sale. Plus: Sale prices on helmets & kids clothing. Boley, East Barna. Contact Keith Trill on 087-988-6514 or email keith@galwayquads.com. www. galwayquads.com.
Books & Periodicals
Clifden Bookshop offers a comprehensive range of titles with particular emphasis on local Connemara history, Irish literature, guide books, maps, memoirs and book tokens. Good news for all book lovers - Extensive range of books currently selling at parity. Best Sellers/Thrillers/Biographies. Also stockists of artist’s materials, cards & stationery. Provides ordering and mail-order service. Main St, Clifden. 095-22020. theclifdenbookshop@eircom.net. King’s Paper Shop. Main St, Clifden. 095-21119. Lotto. Newspapers & magazines.
Building & Trade
Tiler specialising in All Types of Floors & Walls; Ceramic, Mosaic, Marble, Terracotta, Porcelain, Slate, Paving. Call for FREE Quote & Advice. Commercial & Residential. Competitive Rates, Professional throughout. Paul Davis. Tel: 095-23803 Mob: 085-110-3035. Summer Deck Offer: 100 sq. ft. deck including treated timber, railings and labour for €1200 inc vat. Also specialising in roofing, attic conversions & timber framing. Contact Pat O’Malley. Full service builder. C2. Ltd Co. North Star Builders. 087-228-3862/085-780-6351. northstarbuilders@live.ie. Connemara Seamless Gutters. Suppliers of roof line cladding and guttering systems. Over 17 years experience. Aluminum, UPvc. Wide range of colours. Free quotations. 095-41180. Gerry: 086-103-1053. Peter: 085-760-4130. Diamonds of Renvyle. General Merchants & Builders Providers. Animal feedstuffs, fencing, gates, wire, fertilizer, hay & bedding. Blocks, lintels, cement, pipes & much more. 095-43486.
Antiques & Restorations
Prendergast Antiques. Lower Market St, Clifden. For that unique gift or special piece for your home why not peruse our extensive collection of antique furniture, silver, ceramics, collectibles, antique and reproduction glassware, prints, mirrors. Best prices, 32 county delivery, worldwide shipping, trade welcome. www.clifden.biz Phone 087-629-6195 anytime. Church-Castle and Monument. Architectural and Ecclesiastical restoration and conservation. Our Service: Statues repair and repainting. Marble altar works. Stained glass windows. Outdoor statues. Towerbells and clocks. Fountains. Crypts. Church furniture. Stations of the Cross. Vestments. Chalices and Monstrances. Grotto statues. Also sandblasting and metall engeneering works.etc. Nationwide Service. Purchasing-Statue showroom. Michele Thierbach G.R.A.D. www.studio-michele.com. www. nicholas-antiques.com. 091-556735.
Automotive
Omey Tyres. Connemara’s 1st complete mobile tyre fitting centre. The best prices - Every day – Guaranteed. 24 Hour - 7 Days. Call Out Service throughout Connemara. Call Daniel Ryan on 095-44979 or 087-244-5129. D&N Auto Store. Suppliers of: Oils, parts, batteries, accessories, body kits, alloys, number plates. Now stocking tractor parts. Open 6 days 9am-6pm. Unit 4, Clifden Business Park. 095-30615. 087-274-4165.
Connemara View Directory
Creative Warehouse. Wood Flooring. Fireplaces. Stoves. Granite Worktops. Firewood. Kilroe, Inverin, Co. Galway. Factory prices, nationwide delivery. 091-553-995. 087-285-3114. www.creativewarehouse.ie Auro Natural Paints...let your house breathe again! Auro products contain no environmentally harmful additives
August 2009
like petroleum based solvents. For more information about our extensive interior and exterior high grade paints and care products, call Matrix Custom Interiors on 091-39-57-07 or 086-366-5768. Airflow Renewable Energy Solutions, Ballybrit, Galway. 091-76-47-61.www.airflowireland.ie. Daikin air to water heat pumps. Ground source geothermal heat pumps. IVT heat recovery ventilation. Solar panels. System design & project support. Domestic & commercial. SEI approved.
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Building & Trade Cut your oil bill by two-thirds with solar powered water heating. Call Michael Carey for a free no obligation quote. Testimonials from satisfied customers available. SEI grants available. Carey Solar Powered Systems. Sky Rd. Clifden. 086-603-9299. www.careysolar.com. Painting and Decorating: Interior and Exterior, timber floors sanded and varnished. Neat and tidy job guaranteed. Also offering garden and lawn maintenance service. Competitive rates. References available. Contact Johnny Coyne, Renvyle, 086-857-0302.
Cafés, Pubs & Restaurants
Portfinn Lodge & Fjord Restaurant. Casual Dining Overlooking Killary Fjord in Leenane. Early Bird Menu 6 to 7pm €21. Available for special occasions and events such as Weddings, Christenings and Birthdays.095-42265. info@portfinn.com www.portfinn.com. The Deli @ Letterfrack Country Shop. Fresh Take-Away Pizzas from 12 noon to 9pm every day for August & September. Ham & Mushroom;Garlic Salami;Margueritta; Smoked Salmon; Vegetarian; Potato, Bacon & Onions. All with homemade bases, tomato sauce, and mozarella or cheddar cheese. From €4.99 to €8.99. All 9” Pizzas. Phone 095-41850 or 085-715-0257. Allow approximately 15 minutes from order to take-away. Garden Teas at the Anglers Return, Toombeola. Enjoy afternoon tea in the beautiful garden overlooking the Ballynahinch River, or by the log fire if the weather inclement! Please book ahead if possible. B & B also available; all home produce. 095 31091. 087 1262667 www.anglersreturn.com. Guy’s Bar & Snug. Hang Out in Our New Snug. Bar Food served daily until 9pm. Live Traditional Music every night 7-9pm. Free Wifi. Wines by the Glass from our excellent wine list (no 1/4 bottles). Off Licence: Wine, Whiskey, Cigars. Main Street, Clifden. 095-21130. Ros’ Bar (Diamonds) Tully Renvyle. 087-923-5956. Wednesday Evenings from 8.30pm. Drama, Live Trad Music and Sean Nos dancing with Emma O’Sullivan and Amy Coyne. Sunday evenings from 7.30-9.30. Trad Music Session with Fiddlesticks & Co. All musicians welcome. Saturday 29th August. The People Carriers. Playing an excellent selection of rock music. Oliver’s Seafood Bar and Restaurant, Cleggan. Fresh seafood. Bar food served daily until 9pm. Restaurant open every night in August. Trad Session Wednesdays at 9.30pm with local musicians Heather Greer (harmonica, concertina) & Mary Lovett (banjo, mandolin). All musicians and singers are welcome to join in. Live music on Saturday nights. 095-44640. Kylemore Pass Hotel and Restaurant, Kylemore. Ideal for small weddings. Tranquillity Room suitable for Civil Weddings, & therapy-use. Restaurant for a special meal. Sailors Bar for affordable meals. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries etc. Take friends for a drink in our unique bar. 095-41141. email: passinn@indigo.ie www.kylemorepass-hotel-connemara.com. O’Dowd’s Bar & Seafood Restaurant. Roundstone Harbour. Food served daily from 10am-9:30pm. Fresh seafood daily. 095-35809. EJ King’s Bar and Restaurant. The Square, Clifden. 095-21330. Open 7 days a week. We cater for all kinds of parties. Special 2 course and 3 course meal offers available. Live music every night including our Rock night every Friday. Great fun. Griffins Bar. Main St, Clifden. Serving hot food Mon-Fri from noon to 5pm. Live music every night. 4 TV Screens for the best sports viewing. Air conditioned. Beer Garden and smoking area. 095-21370. Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. Sky Road, Clifden. Open for dinner 7 nights a week. Early booking is advisable. Tuesday night is Irish Night. Entertainment nightly. 095-21201. info@abbeyglen.ie. www.abbeyglen.ie. Steam Café at the Station House Courtyard, Clifden. Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Mouth watering selection of salads, sandwiches & desserts. All homemade. Java Republic coffees and teas. Dinner & desserts available to order for collection. 095-30600. Mon-Sat 10:30-5:30.
Cards, Gifts & Flowers
King’s Paper Shop. Main St, Clifden. 095-21119. Visit our new Card & Gift Gallery.
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Homeware Plus & Shamrock Dry Cleaners. The Square, Clifden. Everything at discount prices! Back to School Supplies. Household products and toiletries. Cards & gifts. Tools. 095-21348.
Catering
A la Carty Catering: For all your home catering needs contact Joe and Olive Carty. 095-22842. 087-260-5961. alacartycatering@gmail.com. Award Winning Chef John Walsh is now offering catering services and cookery courses. Look for the Pangur Ban stall at the Clifden & Moycullen weekly markets for gourmet breads & more. 095-4124. pban@indigo.ie www. pangurban.com.
ing job descriptions and employment eligibility criteria under the Community Services Programme please contact The Secretary on 087-260-3507. Pub staff required for busy Irish pub in Naples, Florida, U.S.A. For details contact Paddy Yank McDonagh 086-346-9372. Email: paddyyank@yahoo.com.
Computers & IT Supplies
Office Chat. Office supplies, digital cameras and printers, mobile phones. Vodafone, Meteor, 3 networks. Galway Rd, Clifden. 095-21911. sales@officechat.ie.
Fashion Bree Manshop. Shop St., Westport. 098-28518. email:breesmanshop@eircom.net. Summer Sale Now On. Suits from €150. For high quality menswear: Remus, Ben Sherman, Magee, Baumler, Camel, Gabicci etc. We offer a superb wedding hire service and for all black tie functions.
Financial/Legal
Cashel-Connemara Credit Union. Clifden Office at Unit 3, Tom Barry House 095-21101. Cashel Office 095-31128. Therese Thornton, Solicitor, Clifden, Co. Galway. Professional, comprehensive legal service at reasonable rates. Call (087) 2625385 or email ThereseThornton@gmail. com for advice or a quote with no obligation.
Driver Training John Lyden – Clifden School of Motoring. Road Safety Authority and UK approved driving instructor. Lessons given in Toyota Yaris Diesel or an Automatic Car. For details and appointments ring 095-21170.
Employment
Applications invited for a Part-time Afterschool Assistant (two afternoons a week) for the Ballyconneely Community Playschool and AfterSchool Service who will assist the Afterschool Leader in the day to day running which caters for children aged 4-10 years. The ideal candidate should have experience of working with children, working within a team and preferably have some relevant childcare training. Send CV to: The Committee, Ballyconneely Playschool and Afterschool Service, Ballyconneely, Co Galway. 095 23333. Closing date: 31 August 2009. Area Renewal Committee Clifden Ltd (Clifden Town Hall) under the Community Services Programme are looking to recruit the following: Project Administrator (part-time position); Maintenance Person (full-time position); Maintenance Person (part-time position). Period of Contracts September 2009 to March 2010. Please submit CV to The Secretary, Clifden Town Hall, Clifden, Co. Galway before Friday 14th August 2009. For further information includ-
August 2009
Connemara View Directory
Food & Wine
ucts and toiletries. Cards & gifts. Tools. 095-21348. Creative Wood Flooring & Fireplace Warehouse. Kilroe, Inverin, Co. Galway. Wood flooring, fireplaces, stoves, granite worktops, firewood. Factory prices, nationwide delivery. 091-553-995. 087-285-3114. www.creativewarehouse.ie Lydons Carpet & Furniture. Moycullen. 091-555-962.
Duanes Fish Shop, Main Street Clifden For a large selection of fresh fish, locally produced organic salmon, live lobster and fresh crab. Also, top quality frozen prawns, garlic mussels, Manx kippers and lots more. Open six days a week for summer months. 095-21804. Des Moran Family Butchers. Main Street, Clifden. Home of the national award winning sausages, white pudding and black pudding. Catering to all of your meat and poultry needs. The Connemara Hamper. Lower Market St, Clifden. Large selection of Irish and European farmhouse cheeses. Organic wines, fruit and vegetables. Freshly baked breads and baguettes. Gourmet lunches and Illy coffee to go. Open all year. Phone for opening hours. 095-21054. Malone Meats. Lower Market St., Clifden. Stop in for quality and service from your local butcher. 095-21868. Clip out this ad to receive 10% off your purchase. Pangur Bán. Gourmet breads and more by Award winning Chef John Walsh. Visit our market stall in Clifden & Moycullen. Custom cookery courses available. 095-41243. pban@indigo.ie www.pangurban.com. Jagur Organic. Eat healthy and get your organic fruit and vegetables from your local organic grower at Friday market in Clifden Square and Saturday Dolphin Country market in Cleggan. Box delivery to your home available. Call Linda and Vincent 095-44855 or 087-691-0234. Kavanagh’s SuperValu. The Square, Clifden. 095-21182. Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday/Saturday 8am-9pm. Friday 8am-10pm. Sunday & Bank Holidays 8:30am-9pm. Clifden Fruit & Veg, Main Street, Clifden. Open Mon-Sat 8:30am-6pm. 086-836-5864.
Information Services & Media Does your partner? Call you names, constantly criticise you? Control your access to money/phone/car etc? Monitor your time, threaten you and the children? If so you may be in an abusive relationship. For free, friendly, confidential advice and support call D.V.R. @ 091-866-740. Connemara AA and Al-Anon meetings: Al-Anon: Mondays, Elm Tree Centre (Day room), 8-9 pm. AA: Tuesdays, Old School, Recess, 8.30 pm. Wednesdays, Clifden Day Centre, (behind the hospital) 8.30 pm. Thursdays, Clifden Day Centre, 8.30 pm. Fridays, Ellis Hall, Letterfrack, 9pm. Saturdays and Sundays, Clifden Day Centre 12 noon. Clifden Citizens Information Centre. Free and confidential service to the public. Galway Rd, Clifden. 095.22000 and 087-130-1100. Thurs 7pm-8pm. Friday 10:30am3:30pm. Connemara Community Radio. Letterfrack. 095-41616. Connemara View Newspaper. Clifden. 095-22888. AWARE Depression Support Group meetings take place at the FORUM Office (upstairs), Ellis Hall, Letterfrack on the 1st Thursday of every month at 8pm. Contact Margaret 095-21741 afternoons except Tuesday for more details.
Hair & Beauty
Local hair salon is seeking to start a FETAC accredited School of Hairdressing in Clifden. If you have an interest in receiving education in hairdressing on a part-time basis, please contact Damien at Hedz on 095-22202 or deemann@eircom.net.
Health
Connemara Healing. Massage & Physical Therapy Clinic. Sports. Ear Candling. Deep Tissue. Ultrasound. Reflexology. Cupping. Aromatherapy. Reiki. Lettermore. 087-056-3411. Úna McKeever M.Sc., M.I.A.H.I.P., M.I.A.C.P. is a fully accredited Psychotherapist/Counsellor who offers private and confidential counselling. For an appointment call 0872505015. email: unamckeever21@gmail.com. Do you suffer from anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, digestive disorders, depression, headaches, lack of energy, ME, MS, muscle tension, stress? I f so, contact Lucy Lydon (BEHA Dip) on 087-757-9237. True Awakening Plexus Bio-Energy Therapy. Reiki/Seichem. Experience the calm and healing energies of this treatment which is drug free and non-invasive. These powerful energies can heal on a mental, emotional, spiritual and physical level. Qualified Reiki/Seichem Master Practitioner, call Yvonne on 086-365-3266. Clifden Holistic Centre. Kinesiology, Food Testing, Acupuncture, Bowen Therapy, Massage and Hypnotherapy at An Bhean Fheasa Health Shop, Lr Market St, Clifden.095 30671. Open Mon-Sat 9:30-6 p.m. The 5 Rhythms® Movement Meditation Practice of Gabrielle Roth is a movement meditation practice- simple, profound, joyful and transforming. The practice helps to free our bodies, still our minds, reduce our stress levels and alleviate depression. Caitríona Nic Ghiollaphadraig, Finisglen, Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway. 095-34664. Email: info@deorade.com Web-site: www.deorade.com Clifden Outreach Service by Cancer Care West at the Clifden Health Centre opposite Clifden Hospital on the 4th Thursday of every month. Drop- in, information and support service. 091-545-000. www.cancercarewest.ie. Nicolas Kats, ND, Lic. Ac., is a Naturopathic Doctor and a licensed acupuncturist. Nicolas integrates acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet, supplements, homeopathy and hydrotherapy. 087-7714710. Ní Ráighne Opticians. Bridge St., Clifden. 095-30995. Eye exams. €35. Medical cards and PRSI welcome. Wide selection of designer frames and sunglasses. The Treatment Rooms at Abbeyglen Castle offering Hot Stone Massage, Luxury Yonka facials, Indian Head Mas-
Connemara View Directory
Items for Sale or Rent
Hay for Sale: Top quality hay and straw. Square and round bales. Will also deliver. Call Kevin on 087-968-1950. Set of three wardrobes with two matching lockers. First wardrobe has 2 doors and 2 big drawers. The second has 2 doors with 2 small drawers. The third is a single wardrobe. Perfect condition. 095-21564. Horizon Treadmill and exercise Bike. Both like new. 087-202-4692. Oak Kitchen with solid doors. Also washing machine and coffee cylinder. 087-299-4674. Tropical Fish Tank. 2’x1’x1’. Used, but very good condition. Ready for fish. Complete with filter, pump, light, heater, gravel. Usable for cold water fish. 087-126-2667. VW Passat 1.6 ltr. 165,000 mileage. NCT to 1/10. Price €1400 ono. 087-226-5616. Connemara Bouncing Castles for hire for all occasions, supplied with rain covers, delivered, erected and collected. 095 21219.
Landscaping
Tree Pruning, Crown Reductions, Crown Thinning, Deadwood Removal, Tree Removal, Hedge Cutting & Chipping, est 1998. Alan Linnane. West Coast Tree Surgery. 086-284-8340.
Office Supplies sage, Reflexology, Zen Spa Pedicure/ manicure, waxing, California tanning. Non Residents welcome. Open 9-6 Monday to Saturday. Sunday 12 – 5. 095-21306. Connemara Chiropractic Family Health Clinic. Bridge St, Clifden. 095-21376.
Home Furnishings
Homeware Plus & Shamrock Dry Cleaners. The Square, Clifden. Everything at discount prices! Household prod-
August 2009
Office supplies, digital cameras and printers, mobile phones. Vodafone, Meteor, 3 networks. Galway Rd, Clifden. 095-21911. sales@officechat.ie.
Personal Development
Explore & experience ‘The Power of Now’ from Eckhart Tolle’s bestselling book at a non-residential Weekend Workshop. Ballyconneely, 2nd-4th October. Practices for inner peace & change; guided meditations; group discussions and silence. Facilitator John Doherty (www.thebeehive.ie). €120 total cost including lunches. 086- 067-4244.
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Pets, Animals & Ponies
The Original Bagged Sand Supplier. 5% discount with this ad until the end of July if you buy 2 or more bags. Stonetech, Clifden. Call Seamus on 087-668-7437.
Jack Russell Puppies for sale(5), 1 Female, 4 Males, Tan & White, beautifully marked, tails left natural, both parents can be seen. Phone Deirdre on 086-316-7743.
Signs
Traditional Irish Sign Writing by ‘Studio Nicholas Connemara’. Moycullen-Tullokyne. 091-556735. 087 2203898.
Taxi Service
Properties For Rent: 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and rooms to let, 5 minutes walk from Clifden town centre, fully furnished. 095-44924 or 087-249-8097. House to let on the beach at Bunowen, Ballyconneely. 4 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Five minutes to Club. Limited availability. 095-23684. Semi-house for rent: For couple/family/group. Upstairs: 3 bedrooms (2 double), bathroom/ bath, electric shower. Downstairs: Bright, airy kitchen come dining area. Living room (with open fire place). Oil central heating. Washing machine. Patio (facing south). Small garden area for cloth line. Parking space.
Properties - BER
Selling Your House or Renting Long-term? Then you must have a Building Energy Rating. Contact Oliver Coyne today! 095-35813. 086-238-4195. olivercoyne@gmail. com. Listed on the SEI Register of BER Assessors. Building energy rating (BER)call today for a quotation,also a solar panel and heat recovery ventilation installer.SEI registered.contact Aodan on 087 0660755 or email at aodanmacdonncha@gmail.com. Book now for your Building Energy Rating certificate which is compulsory for all homes for sale or rent from January 1st 2009. If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you are entitled to a BER. BERs will be carried out by specially trained BER assessors, registered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). Call Sinead at Matt O’Sullivan Estate Agents on 095-21066 or e-mail property@mattosullivan.com www.mattosullivan.com. Listing properties for long term rental.
Travel Medjugorje: 20th September. €669 fully inclusive. Fully guided Programme. Meg Mannion 087-7423111 or Marian Pilgrimages. 01-878-8159.
TV/Satellite/Broadband
Wireless broadband. Aerial and satellite installation and repair. Peter Keane, Clifden. 095-21827. 087-668-7468.
Websites
Website Design: Creative, professional and affordable websites by Cuán Mara Design, Letterfrack, Co. Galway. For pricing and to view portfolio visit www.cuanmaradesign. com. For a competitive quote phone Caroline Herriott on 086-0791918 or email caroline@cuanmaradesign.com.
Riding Centres
Cleggan Beach Riding Centre. Connemara’s Premier Beach Trekking Centre. Long & short beach rides. Lessons for beginners to advanced for children and adults. Selection of horses and ponies to suit Adults and children. www. clegganbeachridingcentre.com Tel: 095-44746 Email: jcaz@eircom.net. Diamonds of Renvyle. Equestrian Centre and Connemara Pony Farm. Trekking daily and professional horse training. 095-43486.
Wedding Services Wedding Videography by Pat Coyne. 095-43756. 086-406-2394. email: fiddisco@mac.com. www.fiddisco. com. Phone for a Free Demo DVD.
Sand, Gravel & Stone
Photography Services 10 week photography course starting in October. All levels welcome. Contact: 095-22737 or Clifdenphotographyschool@gmail.com for more information. Photos Restored, Rescued & Reprinted. Have your photos digitally scanned, burned to cd, ready for print at Video Vault. Main St, Clifden. Call 095 22033.
Cut Stone by the bag or hand picked. Any quantity. Flag stones for paving. Unusual shaped stones for your garden. Good quality topsoil by the truck load or 1 ton bags. Delivered promptly. Our prices won’t be beaten. Corbett Stone. Natural Connemara Building Stone. 095-21744. 086-247-5619. www.corbettstone.com. Just need a bag or 2 of sand, gravel, decorative chippings or bark mulch? We are now supplying 25kg, 40kg and 500kg bags. Free delivery throughout Connemara. 095-43473. 087-130-7752. 086-199-1988. Mongan’s, Letterfrack.
NEXT ISSUE: Thursday, September 3rd Display Ad Reservation Deadline: Friday, August 21st News Deadline: Wednesday, August 26th Classified Ad Deadline: Friday, August 28th
095-22888 www.connemaraview.com Page 18
August 2009
Connemara View Directory
Gastronomic Fjord Fare Leenane Hotel The Leenane Hotel is situated in a very dramatic location, the waters of Killary Harbour almost lapping at its door, and the majestic bulk of Leenane Hill rising directly behind it. It has an air of solidity, an air of having stood on this spot for a long time, and indeed it has been there since the end of the 1700’s and continues the tradition of an inn until the present day. The hotel is described as a detached 3 bay, 3 storey, mainly mid 19th century hotel with veranda. Flanked by a tall, 4 bay, 3 storey addition with double gables, c1890 and 4 bay 3 storey extension, c1980. It now has a new extension which is blending in well with the existing structure. Originally established as a Coaching Inn, the earliest records tell us that there has been an establishment in existence here since the 1790’s. This Inn has had a number of names and had a variety of owners. We are fortunate that due to its location it was a must for gentlemen of leisure, being in the centre of good fishing, hunting and walking. And due to this importance, there are many references to it in 19th century travel guides. A description in ‘Black’s Guide to Galway, Connemara and the West of Ireland’, written and printed by Adam and Charles Black of London in 1899, is worth mentioning. “The Hotel accommodation is of the first rank in Ireland and indeed this is so well known a fact that intending visitors will do well to write for beds beforehand. At any rate the popular comparison of Killary Harbour with some four syllabled Norwegian Fjord appears to be somewhat strange. It is, we take it, the outcome of evening chat and indeed a rich sunset can bathe even Oxford street with a glow as new and transforming as that which irradiates the mind of man after a well cooked table d’hôte”. As always the flowery prose of the Victorian travel writer is rather over the top, but it does show the high esteem in which the hotel was held. An earlier guide ‘The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland’ published around 1842, by J Stirling Coyne, is not so fulsome in its praise. “We arrived in good time at Leenane and found the new owner or rather renter, a civil but inexperienced woman, who had lately taken possession, and who complained bitterly of her landlord, who had promised to put the house in good repair, and make it sufficiently decent to induce travellers to stop with her. This it was evident he had not done, and I was ready to partake in her vexation on observing the nice furniture and
The Connemara View was recently lucky enough to be invited to a very special event in Portfinn Lodge & Fjord restaurant in Leenane, where we enjoyed a sumptuous seafood dinner while relaxing in one of Connemara’s most unique and enjoyable gems. Portfinn has been run by the Daly family since the late 70’s and offers high quality guesthouse accommodation in addition to a truly impressive restaurant, which commands a stunning view of the Killary fjord and a menu that will satisfy anyone with a craving for flavour full fresh local seafood and more. The Fjord restaurant specializes in locally sourced fish, lobster (served daily at market price), lamb, beef and mussels, and the talaccommodations intended for a good inn, stowed away in such a truly uncomfortable and dirty house.” It is difficult for us to imagine the difficulties faced by people travelling throughout the Connemara area at those times. Up until the mid 1800’s there were very few roads which were suitable for horse drawn carriages, but as soon as the tracks were opened, various people began to provide a coach service from Clifden to Galway and Clifden toWestport. There were many other coach inns throughout Connemara and many places became associated with the coach service; the most familiar would be Canal Stage in Ballinafad. The first service was run by Bianconi and opened in the early 1830’s; at that time one four-wheel car ran from Galway to Clifden each day. The car set out from Galway at 9.30am and reached Clifden by late afternoon. In 1851 this was supplemented by a two-wheel mail coach, which also made one return trip to Clifden each day. This service was taken over by a Mr. K. O’Brien in 1867 after Bianconi had given up the route. The average speed of these cars was between six and seven miles per hour. The single fare for that journey was seven and six, plus a gratuity for the driver, which was known as ‘whip money’. There were similar services running from Clifden to other towns. One would leave Clifden in the afternoon and go to Leenane via Letterfrack,with an overnight stay at the Leenane Hotel before leaving for Westport via Louisburgh next day. When the railway arrived in Clifden, this service continued with people arriving in Galway station, from Dublin or wherever, making the trip by coach to Westport and returning from there by train to their original departure point. The Midland Great Western Railway soon realised that there was money from such a venture and in 1911, they purchased three ‘mini buses’, or motor coaches and ran ‘The Connemara Tour’. This followed the route of the original horse drawn vehicles and Leenane Hotel again figured prominently. These coaches had a capacity for fifteen first class passengers. There are some great photographs of these cars outside the hotel with the passengers looking very comfortable with their suitcases outside the hotel. Across the road from the hotel is a fine garden with some lovely plants and shrubs. A Victorian cast iron fountain splashes water into the air and adds to the sense of timelessness around the Leenane Hotel. Breandan O Scanaill
Connemara View Newspaper
ented and creative Oran Daly has now taken over the running of the main business from his father, well known chef Rory Daly. Anyone with a taste for seafood will be in heaven here; on the night we visited we enjoyed a mouthwatering lobster bisque, followed by scallops prepared in a selection of ways, a delightful homemade dessert and of course all washed down with some very good wine! Now here’s the hook for visitors in this area- I often hear that the reason for not eating out in various locations around Connemara at night is the necessity to drive home, so there has to be a designated driver. Portfinn has 11 en suite rooms, all comfortable and furnished to a high standard, and reasonably priced, so it really is an ideal spot to take off to for dinner and an overnight without being too far from home. A current highlight of the Fjord restaurant is the great value Early Bird menu served between 6 and 7pm. For just €21 per person you can enjoy a homemade fishcake, followed by Grilled Patagonia Toothfish with a garlic butter provencal with shrimp, followed by a homemade House dessert of the Day. That’s just a sample; homemade
August 2009
soup of the day, poached breast of chicken and fillet of salmon are also on offer. The warm and informal atmosphere of Portfinn means that after an hour or two, one starts to feel very at home and relaxed there. Many people I spoke to on the night in question agreed that it is an ideal location for group gatherings, and Portfinn caters for private parties, business events and other special occasions such as weddings, confirmations, christenings and birthdays. So apart from the fabulous seafood, fun and friendly service, stunning location, fireworks display, and late night sing song around the piano with the Daly family, what else brought us to Portfinn? All will be revealed on RTE One in September as Oran Daly and Portfinn will feature in an episode of RTE’s ‘AT Your Service’ presented by accommodation gurus Francis and John Brennan of the Kenmare Park Hotel, in Co. Kerry. While the date of airing had not been confirmed at the time of going to press, if the curiosity is too much to bear, check out Portfinn for yourself-it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed! For inquiries and reservations contact Oran Daly on 095 42265 or 087 916 6167. Catherine Pryce
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Bogman 52
Bogman Across 1 Do what you’re told and sit in it? Fat chance! (7) 8 Give confirmation if in extreme circumstances. (6) 9 Modified cart takes those who would cause you harm. (9) 10 Do they have faith in the fish industry? (6) 12 Conductor getting back in twice after the opera? (9) 13 Throw one in, wearing one down? (6) 15 It’s different, being the centre of the alternative. (5) 16 Being sick back in the flat and not looking too good either. (6) 17 It’s a start, but not with the in crowd? (6) 18 Would a young lady, coming of age (but not quite there yet) pull off your trousers? (5) 20 Yet again talks about getting them to represent the country. (6) 24 Plant that can be laid on end and chopped? (9) 26 There’s a slight hint to be detected in Putin’s ultimatum? (6) 27 Being rude, we ran about semi-naked in this. (9) 28 First, move big mat around. (6) 29 The wars I would get involved in would sound like the end for the weak. (7) Bogman Down 2 A major report about the island race, my arse! (6) 3 Misreading charts too much can lead to 1 Across. (6) 4 Getting half a score is just about alright as an insignificant gesture. (5) 5 Might the star sign over, for example, a little car? (6) 6 Used to see positive response in number one fat lady in Bingo hall? (8) 7 Old girl about right for the tool. (6) 11 Stride out when there’s the least chance of rain. (6) 13 Reverend! Go back for the lowly creature! (4) 14 Loosens tight garment? (6) 15 How disagreeable to be at this. Or these, perhaps, of course. (4) 16 Order pig stew but find that nothing at meal is boiled. (8) 19 Getting in, within call of the stupid creature, is actually very clever. (6)
Connemara Crossword 58
29. International military alliance (4) 30. Exceed or overstep (10) Crossword Down 1. Stinging insect (4) 2. Alcohol induced thug (5, 4) 3. Second city of N.I. (5) 4. Shore (7) 5. Range in which a sound can be heard (7) 7. English city (5) 8. Not guilty (2, 3, 5) 9. Opposite of positive (8) 14. Hostility, belligerence (10) 16. Popular pickled vegetable (8) 18. Imply (9)
July Winners
Bogman 51 Rita Heffernan, Clifden Crossword 57 Evan Mannion, Clifden 20. More substantial (7) 21. Continue (5, 2) 23. A fold in cloth (5) 25. Whatchamacallit (5) 26. Disorder, chaos (4)
SUDOKU
Crossword Across 1. He created Mickey Mouse (4,6) 6. German supermarket chain (4) 10. Sweetener (5) 11. Concord, unanimity (9) 12. Edible crustacean (8) 13. Gangway (5) 15. Adieu, adios, au revoir (7) 17. Petty (7) 19. Place of refuge (7) 21. Soccer club from London (7) 22. Wonderful purse (5) 24. Annoyance (8) 27. Team game played on rink (3, 6) 28. Angry (5)
Enter crossword answers into a draw of correct answers for a voucher for Homeware Plus in Clifden by August 26th.
Page 20
August 2009
21 With piano, musical superstar helped to make the joint hip. (6) 22 Being dressed, we went in and fought tooth and nail, especially the latter. (6) 23 Restringing a sorry collection of beads? (6) 25 Medical man has an organ that is not very exciting. (5)
What Do You Know? Quiz 10 No winner. Prize money now €40 for 12 correct answers for Quiz 11.
August Quiz
Entertainment: Which Presidents does Forrest Gump meet in the film of the same name? Food & Drink: What is wine called that is still fermenting? General Knowledge: What was the first country in the world to propose a carbon tax to combat global warming? History: Which German Military leader of World War I became President of Germany? Literature: In a Greek play of the same name, which young woman was punished for burying her dead brother? Local Interest: In what year was the Coastguard Station on the lower Sky Road in Clifden burned? Music: Which letter in Morse Code is represented by the opening bars of Beethoven’s 5th symphony? Nature: On which tree does the silk moth lay its eggs? Politics: One province of Canada waited 23 years after the rest of the country before granting women a vote. Which province was this? Science: What emergency safety device was first used in 1945? Sport: Since its inception in 1965, how many men have held the coveted bodybuilding title of Mr. Olympia? Geography: What name refers both to the coast of North Africa and the San Francisco Bay area?
July Quiz Answers
Nature: Who was London Zoo’s resident Giant Panda from 1958 until her death in 1972? Answer: Chi Chi. http://www.businessballs.com/quizballs/quizballs54_ free_trivia_quiz_questions_answers.htm. Science: Who was the first to discover that the Universe is in fact expanding? Answer: Edwin Hubble. http:// www.saidwhat.co.uk/thequiz/solgenius.php. Politics: Who sits on the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland’s throne, where and why? Answer: The President of Ireland, during the inauguration ceremony in St. Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle.http://www.politics.ie/chat/18528history-politics-quiz-part-2-questions-21-40-a.html. Sports: In what year were the Olympics first televised? Answer: Berlin in 1936. The events were shown on large screens around Berlin. http://www.topendsports.com/events/summer/firsts.htm. Entertainment: In what year were two actresses rewarded with a best actress Oscar and who were they? Answer: In 1969 Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn both received a best actress award. http:// w1.159.telia.com/~u15903031/quha22a.html. Geography: If the equator crosses Africa’s West coast in the country of Gabon, in which country does it cross the East coast? Answer: Somalia (about 200 miles north of the Kenyan border). http://www.quiz-zone. co.uk/quizrounds/sub_090517Mental%20Gymnastics255/answers.html. Literature: How many of Shakespeare’s heroines disguise themselves as males and in which works? Answer: Five - Rosalind in As You Like It; Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona; Portia in The Merchant of Venice; Viola in Twelfth Night; Imogen in Cymbeline. http://www.triviafool.com/page36.htm. Food: What very popular food item was invented by Alexander Grant in Edinburgh in 1799? Answer: The digestive biscuit. http://madridpubquiz.com/quiz. php?category=food. Music: What was the name of The Rolling Stones TV Show that was filmed in 1968 but wasn’t released until 1996? Answer: Rock ‘n Roll Circus. http://www.funtrivia.com/submitquiz.cfm?quiz=241286. History: Who was the first head of state in the 20th century to give birth in office? Answer: Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. http://www.triviaplaying.com/74_ history_Q_.htm. General Knowledge: What is the most common non contagious disease in the world? Answer: Gum disease. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/general-knowledge-questions-and-answers.html. Local Interest: How many of the Twelve Bens are part of the Connemara National Park? Answer: Four - Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght. http:// www.connemaranationalpark.ie/index.html.
Connemara View Newspaper
Business & Finance Understanding your business dynamics Businesses are in a better position to react quickly to changes in the market if they constantly manage their business as if a downturn is around the corner. Now is a good time to get the business under control by doing the things that may have been ignored during the boom times. Business priorities in order of importance are: Cash, Profit, and Revenue. At a minimum, aim to have a clear view of your daily cash position and whether it is more or less than you had planned. Pay attention to payment terms from your suppliers and those you offer your customers. Cash is not profit. If you pay your bills and your customers don’t, then you will face severe problems regardless of how profitable your business is. Price your product to achieve your target sales and keep an eye on any variation in either your Gross or Net profit margins. If you are already doing all of this, you can start to delve a little deeper to really understand the dynamics of your business. You may need to spend some time analysing your business or employ an accountant to do this for you. The result of this will be a set of key indicators which you can easily calculate on a regular basis. These will act as an early warning system for you, and let you know if the business is starting to veer off track. More importantly, they will signal to you the area
where action is needed. For example, if a demand for a particular service has dropped, or if your customers take longer than planned to pay you. By responding quickly, perhaps by re-packaging your service to appeal to a particular niche market (e.g. a Cleaning Service specialising in fast turnaround for holiday homes), you have managed to ensure your business will continue to thrive. Key indicators you can put in place immediately are Gross margin, Operating cash flow, Debtor / Creditor days and Stock turnover. Gross margin: This is the profit margin ignoring fixed costs and overheads. Example: If your revenue is €100,000 and direct costs are €40,000 your Gross margin is 60%. This will be affected by any change in your selling price or by changes in your direct costs (e.g. ingredients used to make a meal). Operating cash flow: This is the Net position when all bills are paid and revenues received – by period. Example: The Net Profit may be 20%, but this is not cash, and any delay between spending and receiving may result in negative cash position in any period. With current credit restrictions, this is serious for any business. Debtor / Collection days: This is the average number of days it takes to get paid. Delay here directly affects your operating cash flow. With less credit being extended to businesses, you need to collect any money owed to your business on time. Your suppliers are implementing their credit terms, your customers are trying to
Connemara View Newspaper 8,000 copies distributed monthly throughout Connemara 095-22888 087-290-9351 086-400-6666 news@connemaraview.com www.connemaraview.com Editor-in-Chief/Publisher: Ellen McDonough News Editor: Catherine Pryce Distribution Mgr: John Dunne Graphic Design/Layout: Marie-Noelle Biddulph Contributors: : John Amenhauser, Joan Addley, Gareth Anthony, Mary Banotti, AnneMarie Bennett, Tom Broderick, John Claró, Susan Cockburn, Terri Conroy, Grainne Coyne, Mary Curran, Bernie Dignam, Andrew Downes, Paul Fitzpatrick, Rosemary Hanley, Patrick Howard, France Ingelbach Nee, Linda & Vincent Jagobin, Bernie Jeff ries, Richard de Stacpoole, Rosemary Hanley, Sean Heanue, Aoife Herriot, Nick Kats, Patricia Keane, Peter Keane, Irene King, Thomas King, Bridget Lee, Padraic Lyden, Joachim Lydon, Joe Lynch, Pat Lyne, Leslie Lyons, Brendan Madden, Paddy McDonagh, Ann Mitchell, Dr James Mungovan, Simon Murray, Maura Nugent, Art O Briain, Máirtín Ó Catháin, Kevin O’Connor, John O’Neill, Breandan O’Scanaill, Maurice O’Scanaill, Henry O’Toole, Mary Owens, Kevin Prunty, Ruth Rogers, Suzann Schley, Cathriona O’Toole, Harry Walsh, Marie Walsh, Damian Ward, Declan Weir. Plus many local schools, groups & organisations. Photography by staff unless credited otherwise.
NEXT ISSUE: Thursday, September 3rd Display Ad Reservation Deadline: Friday, August 21st News Deadline: Wednesday, August 26th Classified Ad Deadline: Friday, August 28th Connemara View Newspaper
extend their payment period. If you are caught in between, this is likely to result in cash flow problems. Creditor / Payment days: This is the period you take to pay your own suppliers. This will be influenced by their payment terms so take advantage of any discounts for early payment. Stock turnover: How long does your stock sit using up valuable cash? Think about focusing on the best sellers.
Financial Confidence How confident are you about the finances of your business? It takes a lot of effort to get the real picture. A simple exercise to give an indication of the confidence you have in your business right now is FIMO. Finance = Marketing and Operations. Consider your marketing. How good are you at getting to your customers and getting them to buy? Score your business out of 10, in this example 5. Operations: How good are you at what you do. How good are you at delivering this? Again, score yourself out of 10, in this example 10. Add these 2 scores together and then divide by 2. This is an indicator of your finance position. In this example, a business with average marketing and sales but with a great product and delivery system will score 15 divided by 2 = 7.5. A Finance score of 7.5 is good, but a business delivering a less perfect product but with great marketing could be in a similar or even better financial position and be more likely to survive. Obviously this is subjective, but it helps to
Summer Events Schedule
August
7th The Parish of Kilbride Centenary Book launch, Leenane Hotel, 8:30pm. 8th-9th: Clifden Regatta 9th Ballyconneely Pigfest 2009. Family day out and local fundraiser, Ballyconneely village, 2pm onwards. 9th: Claddaghduff Pony Show. 9th: Connemara WaterSports Day, Glassilaun Beach, Renvyle. Annual Fundraiser in aid of ISPCC and Childline commencing at 1pm.Details: 095-41024. 9th ‘Bagatelle’, Station House Theatre, 9pm €25 tickets. 12th CSI meeting, 8pm, Clifden Community School. 13th –16th: Roundstone Summerfest, Roundstone. 085-706 -6535 info@roundstonesummerfest.com. 14th-16th Moondance Music Festival, Clonbur. Details www. moondancefestival.com. 15th: Roaring Twenties Masquerade Ball in aid of Cancer Care West, Station House Hotel, Details 091-545-000.info@ cancercarewest.ie. 15th: Volvic IRFU Tag Rugby, Omey. www.tagrugby.ie 16th-21st: Festival of the Connemara Pony Show and the Connemara Pony Show on August 20th. www.cpbs.ie. 19th Tenor Darragh McGann, Station House Theatre, 8:30pm €15. Tickets 20th Big Summer Book Sale, Clifden Library, all day long. 21st ‘Island Air’ featuring musicians from Inishbofin. Station House Theatre 8pm, tickets €15. 22nd-23rd: Gaelforce West, multi-sport one day race. North Connemara & Mayo. www.gaelforcewest.ie 24th-28th FAI Summer Soccer camp, Tullycross, Advance bookings required, call 1890 653 653. 29th–30th: Oughterard Agricultural Show, Oughterard.
highlight the fact that the money you get in is a result of good product and good delivery, but marketing and sales are equally important. By facing the reality of the position the business is in, you can start planning for its future. Set realistic business targets, have short and long term goals and plan towards both. It’s difficult to finance growth when cutting back; you need to really understand the business to get this right. Growth eats up cash, and the faster you plan to grow the more financing you will need. When you have your growth plan, start discussing your requirements with the bank long before the financing is actually required. Start planning by looking at what you currently offer, for example-does your restaurant offer seating outside ? The objective is to really understand your product or service and why people want to buy that. Be clear about how much they value what you offer and be prepared to make changes where appropriate. Staying close to your customer will help you anticipate what changes benefit them, and these customer-led innovations will keep them loyal to you. Being open to change means you will be flexible enough to move into new markets as your product evolves, for example, offering a catering service in the winter months or packaging a couple of services together to meet a specific requirement. Suzann Schley is a Chartered Management Accountant based at Bridge St, Clifden open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm. Contact her on (095) 30584 and (086) 266 4542 for all business & accounting solutions.
17th-27th The 32nd Annual Clifden Arts Week. More details from www.clifdenartsweek.ie 26th - 27th: Leenane Food Festival, Leenane Village. 25th - 27th: Feile an Doilin September, Carraroe. Maritime Festival and Giants Parade.Details-www.doilin.com
Weekly Events Clifden Irish Nights at Town Hall. 8pm, every Tuesday and Thursday from June 23rd to August 27th. Roundstone Irish Nights, Community Hall, 8pm Wednesdays weekly from July1st-August 26th. Irish Music sessions at the Teach Ceoil, Tully, Renvyle 9pm, weekly on Tuesdays to August 25th. Irish Nights, Dolphin Hotel, Inishbofin, Tuesday nights from July 21st-August 25th. Dolphin Country Market-Cleggan, every Saturday: 11:00am to 3:00pm and Wednesdays: 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Cleggan Community Centre. Masked Fairy tale stories for children, by Tegolin’s tales at the Teach Ceoil, Tully. Thursdays at 7pm until Aug. 27th. ‘The Railway Show’ by the Cunninghams. Every Friday in August, 9pm, €15 at the Station House Theatre. Children’s drama workshops Mon-Fri, 2-3pm at the Station House Theatre. €5.
September 5th Maam Women’s group 15th Birthday Concert, Ionad Pobail an Mháma, 12pm on. 5th-13th Connemara Golf Club September Open Week. Details from www.connemaragolflinks.com 10th Leenane Mountain Blackface Sheep Show. 13th Supreme Champion of Champions Pony Show, Roundstone Showgrounds, details from www.roundstoneevents.com 13th RNLI 10k Run, Clifden,2pm. To enter or for details contact clifden10k@gmail.com or text/phone 085 168 0402 or enter online at www.runireland.com
August 2009
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The weather of the past month has kept me very busy in the garden. We have had a fair mixture of sun and rain and both of these elements lead to great growth, especially in the lawn or grassed area. You could probably spend most of your time keeping these areas looking good, but of course there is always so much more to be done. I find that weeding is a job that needs a fair amount of time now. A bit like early spring, if you can deal with most of them now, before they go to seed, you can save yourself a lot of time later. The old gardeners’ saying is that “One year’s seeding, is seven years weeding”. The new herbaceous borders which I planted earlier this year have come on very well, but there are plenty of weeds to contend with. The mulch and compost I added doesn’t only help the flowers and shrubs, it gives a great boost to the weeds as well. The only good thing about having rich soil is that it is fairly easy to remove the weeds. Staying with the topic of weeds, I have been asked about a very weedy part of a garden. The person does not want to use chemical sprays and wonders what she should do. The very simple answer to this is to use a mulch to help contain the growth of the weeds. This works best on annual weeds and only a very heavy mulch, using black polythene or old carpet, will work on perennial weeds like docks, dandelions and nettles. It is important to clear away as many weeds as possible before putting down the mulch. There are a large number of items which can act as very successful mulches - the simplest and easiest to use is grass cuttings. I find these great for putting under shrubs and trees. Care is needed to ensure that the clippings are kept away from the plant stem as it is possible to burn the plant. Using a good layer of grass has two benefits: it keeps the weeds down and helps get rid of some of your clippings. I also use these clippings to keep down weeds which grow along fences and walls. This is also useful under hedges. Other mulches can be coconut shell, fibre, bark or mushroom compost. There are also a number of materials including wood and paper residue and even ones made from old
tyres. As well as keeping weeds under control the mulch also acts as a method to stop water evaporating and therefore keeps the soil damp. If you are using any of the above, be warned. Here in Connemara, they tend to get blown away or washed away. Also if your garden plot is on a slope, be prepared to spend a lot of time raking it back up the hill on a regular basis. I hate to see the mulch scattered like this, especially if it is used as a cover for black polythene or weed suppressor. Another thing to watch out for is birds, especially blackbirds and thrushes who love sifting through mulch looking for insects. They can scatter the lighter bark all over the garden. Finally it is worth looking into the idea of using small stones or pebbles as a mulch. This works well on fairly flat ground and where you have put down a liner first. If they get a little untidy they are easy to freshen up with a rake. It is suggested that most mulches are spread to a depth of about 5cm but I think that it is worth putting up around 8cm. I have been asked about plants which can be used at the edge of a path and steps, which will stay fairly small or at least compact. There is a wide selection to choose from and so you must decide what is best for your particular site. Take into consideration the conditions, direction of sunlight, soil
type and particular favourites, colour and shape. It is a good idea, to work out most of these and go to a garden centre and ask their advice. Some plants which are useful in this situation are Hebe, Lavender, Weigela, Cistus, and Viburnum. I will look at a number of these in more detail. In the Hebe family, there are a good selection, including Hebe Brach siphon ‘White gem’, Hebe albicans, and Hebe recurva. These are evergreen which is always a plus, have flowers and normally stay around 1 or 1.5 m. high and wide. They can grow a little leggy, but respond well to clipping. Lavender is a tricky plant, it needs ideal conditions but will reward you well if planted in full sun with well drained soil. Two types I would try are Lavandula Stoechas, or French
July Planning Applications 091309 McAleer, Bonnie, Claddaghduff, 02/07/09. For the retention of a serviced dwelling and garage/shed on revised site boundaries from that as granted under plannign ref. 53822 and planning ref no 98/3988. 091319 Flaherty, Shane, Cashleen, 03/07/09. For temporary retention of mobile home and septic tank. 091325 Laffey, William, Lettergesh East, 03/07/09. For (1) 45 no. new mobile homes, (2) revision of 2 no. site entrances, (3) new sewage effluent treatment plant and percolation area, (4) pumping station and rising main along public road from mobile home park at Lettergesh East to proposed treatment plant at Lettergesh East and all ancillary works, (5) extension to reception which is to include a shop/cafe, (6) demolition of existing storage shed, (7) permission for indoor play area, (8) extension to camping area, (9) retention for 45 no. mobile homes and all ancillary works. 091362 Morrison, Harry & Patricia, Derrygimblagh,09/07/09. To construct a side and rear extension to single storey dwellinghouse to include slating of original dwellinghouse, new wastewater treatment system and percolation area and all ancillary. 091373 Barry, Caroline, Currywongaun, 10/07/09. For alterations/changes to previously approved dwelling house (pl. ref. 04/5460. 091383 RTE, Leenane, 14/07/09. For retention for a previously granted (Ref 04/4036) 18 metre high steel latticework Telecommunications tower and associated equipment within a fenced compount using existing access. 091386 Conneely, Colin, Aughrismore, 15/07/09. To construct a dwelling house, sewerage treatment system, percolation area and ancillary services.
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August 2009
Lavender and Avondale ‘Hidcote’. Both are evergreen and have the most wonderful scent. Weigela is often considered as a large shrub but there are a few smaller ones, including Weigela florida ‘varigata’ and Weigela florida ‘Follis Purpureis’. These are deciduous but when in leaf give great colour. Cistus: Some of these shrubs can grow fairly large and become leggy, but Cistus salvifolius and Cistus x corbariensis are small and evergreen, and of course have wonderful flowers. Finally Viburnum: these are deciduous but have lovely flowers. I would suggest Viburnum x juddii, and Viburnum carlesii, as they have flowers fairly early in the spring, and this extends the season. These are only a few ideas, heathers and euonymus also make great plants. Also look at the idea of putting in a mixed border. If anyone is travelling in south Clare over the summer, I would recommend a visit to the Vandeleur walled garden just outside Kilrush, it really is delightful. I visited the garden last week and had a really good time there. The garden, which is not very large, is reached through a small museum giving the history of the area and the often controversial Vandeleur family. A fine courtyard surrounded by the original coach house and stables is a focal point for this area. Part of this is an outdoor seating area for the café, there is also a sales area with a good selection of plants for sale. The garden itself has an interesting collection of herbaceous plants and shrubs. These fill the borders and give the garden a very relaxed feeling. There are very few of the original trees or shrubs left but this has given them an almost clean slate to work with. One thing which I was very impressed with was a butterfly trail for children. Wooden butterflies, representing various species were placed throughout the garden and a little map and information sheet given out. The children had to match the butterflies to the models. The head gardener Karoly Torok is very enthusiastic and is willing to talk gardening with anyone. The gardens are open 10am to 5pm every day from April to September and then each weekday throughout the rest of the year. I recently came across a group called ‘Grow it Yourself Ireland.’ They were set up in Waterford with the idea of promoting the growing of your own food, whether this is in your own garden, in an allotment or in some form of community garden. They have a very interesting website which is www.giyireland.com. On this you will get lots of hints and ideas. They are hoping that there will be a whole network of GIY clubs around the country and that everyone will be able to learn from one another. They will be launched officially on September 12th in Waterford and tickets to the display and conference can be bought from the above website. Happy Gardening. Breandan O Scanaill 091403 Gibbons, Michael & Patricia, Clifden, 17/07/09. To retain (a) new rear boiler house, (b) revised front elevation in relation to Pl. Ref. No. 03/3152 granted on the 23/2/04. 091413, Dignam, Bernadette, Tooreen, 20/07/09. For the construction of a single storey artist’s workshop to the rear of existing house. To include solar panels and roof lights. 091423 Cunane, Kevin, Westquarter, 21/07/09. For alterations to and the construction of an extension to the rear of an existing dwelling together with installation of new effluent treatment peroclation area and associated works. 091425 Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd, Ballyconneely, 22/07/09. For the construction of a 15 metre high slimline monopole concealing antenna and associated equipment. Development also consists of associated works, equipment, cabinets, transmission dish attached to monopole, access track and fencing for the Government’s National Broadband Scheme (NBS). 091428 Boote, Simon & Gina, Munga, 22/07/09. To 1) retain existing agricultural building as a 10 dog kennel unit, 2) upgrade existing effluent system, 3) connect upgraded effluent system to proposed new Baf Wastewater Treatment Unit. 091454 Schley, R, Clifden, 24/07/09. For office at Hulk Street. 091457 Thornton, Joseph, Derrygimblagh, 24/07/09. For retention of existing dwelling on revised site boundaries. Source: www.galway.ie
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Wedding Bells Congratulations to Bernard Lee of Cashel and Miriam Culhane (top left) who were married at St James Church in Cashel on July 24th with reception afterwards at the Zetland House Hotel. A large gathering assembled from Cashel, Limerick, Dublin, Galway and from overseas destinations to celebrate the occasion. Photo courtesy of Padraic Lyden Pictured at their recent wedding are Martina Ward, Clifden Co. Galway and Eamonn O’Toole of Corrandulla Co. Galway. (above left) The couple were married in the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Claddaghduff on Friday 8th May followed by a reception afterwards in The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport. Photo courtesy of Lavery Photography, Monaghan Town Crier Announces Paper Shop Revamp! An unusual sight and sound was witnessed in Clifden on July 3rd when a smartly dressed Town Crier announced the official opening of the new Card and Gift Gallery at King’s Paper Shop on Main St, Clifden. Having been alerted to the opening by the enthusiastic
Connemara View Newspaper
and entertaining crier, customers were then treated to a selection of goodies and free gifts while browsing the new addition to the shop (left). He then cut the ribbon on the new area for proprietor Joan King, pictured here with her daughter, Siobhan. Retirement. Mary Davis is pictured (left) here with Sr. Margaret O’Connor and Ann Mullen at her retirement party recently after working for over 35 years with the Health Board. Surprise Birthday Celebration Michele Hehir of Clifden was recently treated to a surprise 40th birthday party where friends and family celebrated in style with her at the Station House Hotel. She is pictured (bottom left) here cutting the cake with her daughter, Carragh, and dancing with her husband, Brian. Anjelica Huston Celebrates Birthday in Galway: As the Guest of Honour at the Galway Film Fleadh, Anjelica Huston celebrated her birthday at the Radisson Hotel in Galway on July 8th. She is pictured here (above) with party guests Kate O’ Toole and Joanna Galloway of Clifden. The Great Outdoors: Pictured (above) here is Ronan Keane of Clifden who is currently working on a vast outback farm and cattle ranch in Australia, having moved to the country for work last year. Bonny Baby: Congratulations to 5 month old Callum
August 2009
Ghee who was the winner of the Bonny Baby competition at the Ballyconneely Pony Show on Sunday July 19th. Photo above courtesy of Fiona Barry New Arrival: Mamie McDonagh of Roundstone welcomed the arrival of a new grandson on July 11th, when her son Paul and daughter-in-law Jill welcomed the birth of baby Jack in New York. Photo top courtesy of Paddy McDonagh
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Gentle Pressure is the Point of Shiatsu How To Use Herbs Herbs can be regarded as gifts from the universe, from God, from Nature, from whom ever, whatever and wherever suits you. They add wonderful flavours to our cooking, they look beautiful growing in our gardens and they can be used as medicine too. The use of herbs as medicine spans every culture, every race, every age, going back as far as Neanderthal Man across the globe. Chinese and Indian herbal protocols are still popular today, thousands of years after people first wrote about them. It makes sense really, when you think about it, that God or the Divine Spirit has provided us with everything we need for good health, and as I said last month, there are beneficial herbs growing right at our feet if we could only recognise them. Here in the west of Ireland, during our Gaelic past, each clan would have had its doctor, a person who would be part of a family of healers, and who would have had traditional knowledge of herbs passed down from generation to generation. Up until the mid 18th century at least, this type of medicinal care was prominent in Gaelic areas such as Ireland and the highlands of Scotland. In more recent years, following colonisation of the country and the destruction of the Gaelic system, people relied on the old wise woman, a woman who had knowledge of herbs, to cure their ailments. Unfortunately, this tradition began to die out by the early 20th century as the industrial revolution caught up to Connemara and people began to replace old remedies with Aspirin or Beecham’s powders. Old remedies were looked down on and seen as old fashioned and eventually fell out of favour. Some of the traditional herbs of the west of Ireland would be Plantain (sianlus) and Dandelion (garblus) and according to one old wise woman, “...would cure the wide world and it was these that brought our Lord from cross”. There was also “...a woman in Clifden did many cures and knew everything.” Some of the herbs used locally would be Carrageen, a well known herbal medicine, used for coughs and colds and to boost the whole system. Nettles are a great source of iron and minerals and have been used for gout, arthritis and itchy skin rashes. They also cleanse the blood as do Cleavers. Hawthorn would also be commonly taken for helping the heart by balancing blood pressure. As medicinal herbs come from nature one can appreciate that herbal medicine is a healing technique that is inherently in tune with nature and as we have a complex interaction with nature, animals and plants, it stands to reason that herbal medicine is good for us. Holistically, herbs can be classified as Challengers, Normalisers and Eliminators due to the way they are used to trigger the body to heal itself. Challengers are herbs that provoke bodily protective responses. Such herbs include demulcents, (herbs which aid mucous membranes), expectorants, (herbs that assist in clearing the chest), diuretics (herbs that expel water) and bitters, (herbs that assist digestion). Normalisers do what you would expect, they normalise the condition of the body, supporting organs and tissues and acting more like food. Hawthorn would be a good example of this category of herbs. Eliminators are vital to health because they support the action of those organs that eliminate toxins from the body. This means that through the increased activity of the bowels, lungs, kidneys and skin, a cleansing takes place as well as increased nourishment and drainage of tissue and organs. The World Health Organisation defines health as “...more than simply the absence of illness. It is the active state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being” and so it is interesting to note that holistic medicine, including herbalism, addresses the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the patient, as well as taking into account the individual’s genetic, biological and psychological uniqueness. Herbs can be taken to maintain good health not just correct ill health. For example, Fennel tea or Peppermint can aid digestion. There are many ways to use herbs to maintain and restore health. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician and the father of modern medicine, said “Let medicine be your food and let food be your medicine”. He was referring to the fact that good, unadulterated food can provide everything you need to stay healthy, and if you become sick, there are herbs provided by nature to restore good health. Isn’t it ironic then that when
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Think of your body as a network of rivers connecting the organs and the immune system. Now think about how the regulated flow of energy throughout this system affects your mental and physical states. In the ideal, everything is in balance and we are healthy and relaxed. Of course, reality has a way of upsetting this. Shiatsu, a complementary treatment based on ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine and developed in Japan, uses a gentle pressure with fingers on the vast number of pressure points on our body to encourage what I would, in layman’s terms, call the rebalancing of things that are out of whack. Over the course of three sessions of Shiatsu, or acupressure, with Irene Buglia in Clifden, I have become fascinated and enthralled with the process and the effect. I have had the pleasure of trying a wide variety of complementary health and massage treatments over the years. Anything that stops my brain from working in overdrive is a great thing, with relaxation and de-stressing being the objective. However, I went into the first session of acupressure having no preconceived notions of what would be done or what could be achieved. Irene has been practicing for the last 9 years and received her four year degree from the European Shiatsu Institute in Rome, Italy. The environment of her treatment room is low key and calm with soft music. I take my shoes off and lay down fully clothed on my back on the duvet and pillow on the floor. There is very little conversation between us during the session which is a real treat because talking is a stimulant to me. The abdominal area over many of the major organs is where she starts. The energy, or lack of, that she feels directs her to choose two meridians (from the network of rivers) on which to work. There are twelve meridians which include the lungs, gall bladder, large intestine, small intestine, spleen, stomache, heart,
bladder, kidney, liver, circulation and the immune systems. Over the next hour, she gently kneads the pressure points of the two meridians which may involve laying on your back, side or front. In the first session, I got a sense of my body uncurling as she spent over 50 minutes working the network. I did not think that I was tensed, but my body was certainly giving me away when my arm and hand were still stiff after she instructed me to relax them. I thought they were loose! So herein lies MY problem – the brain ignoring the body. The good news is that within about 20 minutes my brain was floating somewhere else. In the second session, I fell asleep in the middle and by the third, the brain flew out the window after 5 minutes. Shiatsu does not involve a diagnostic series of questions to identify an ailment, nor is it a tissue and muscle massage treatment. I did not go in and say that something specific was wrong with me. Irene’s training is in the detection of the area or areas that need to have the internal flow adjusted and knowing the pressure points corresponding to them. (There are plenty of sites on the net that can give you the technical jargon.) While it is essential that Irene be informed of specific problems or current medications, Shiatsu is also an important treatment for maintaining long term general health. After three weeks, I am certainly listening to my body more and I can provide witnesses that I am significantly more relaxed. I will be continuing to have sessions with Irene because Shiatsu is totally enjoyable and provides body maintenance that I am sure will maximise my health. Ellen McDonough Irene Buglia (I.E.S., F.I.S.) can be contacted on 085-101-6140. She is currently offering a 3 session package for €100.
A Guide To Common Health Supplements Part 2 Last month I wrote about Vitamin C, Chromium, glucosamine sulphate, CoQ10 and Calcium. Now let’s look at another 5 very commonly used supplements and their uses and benefits in the body. Probiotics: Always take probiotics with antibiotics. The problem with antibiotics is their indiscriminate killing of bacteria. No distinction is made between the pathogenic bacteria of purulent bronchitis and the hundreds of different kinds of good bacteria in the digestive tract. Antibiotics create the opportunity for candida to take over the digestive tract. Some probiotics are superior. Look for higher concentrations (25+ billion bacteria per capsule). Look also for a variety of bacteria in the probiotic as opposed to one or two varieties. Yoghurt is much lower in concentration of probiotic bacteria, but it is a good Yin tonic. This means moistening and cooling. These qualities are needed to soothe inflamed or irritated intestines. Use whole milk yoghurt free of sugar and additives. Take probiotics and some yoghurt during and for 10 days after a course of antibiotics. B Vitamins: These are the ‘nerve vitamins’. They are useful for problems of the nervous system – hyperactivity, depression, dementia, Parkinson’s, trauma to nerve tissue. B6, B12 and folic acid are essential for cellular regeneration. They are particularly important for the fast-growing tissues – blood and the lining of the digestive tract. These are severely compromised by chemotherapy. Take B complex during and after chemotherapy. The B vitamins with the exception of B12 are in whole grains, seeds and nuts. B12 is in meat and fish, and is richest in the liver. A sound digestive tract is required for the unusually complex absorption of B12, and regular injections may be best. Garlic: Supports the immune system. It is one of the better herbs for candida. A nice trick is to peel a clove and just swallow it whole. Garlic can help to normalise cholesterol and can modern student doctors qualify to practise medicine, and they take the Hippocratic Oath, they set off into their professional lives knowing nothing about nutrition or the benefits of herbs? Despite the World Health Organisation encouragement of integrating modern medicine with traditional herbal medicine, herbs in Europe are facing draconian legislation and may well disappear from the shelves of health food shops and chemists. Think about this-your freedom to choose is being eroded. Please note that this article is for information only and does not replace the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. Terri Conroy is the proprietor of An Bhean Feasa Health Shop and the Clifden Holistic Centre on Lower Market St, Clifden.
August 2009
help both high LDL and low HDL. It helps normalise blood that tends to clot. The odour of garlic comes from sulphur complexes that are outstanding for moving toxins out of the body. These sulphur complexes are in all members of the onion family-leeks, chives, onion grass, shallots. Deodorised garlic supplements may have had these sulphur complexes removed. Garlic regularly eaten as food has a higher therapeutic value than supplementary garlic. Omega 3: This is an essential fatty acid (EFA). It cannot be made in the body and must be obtained from the diet. The commonest sources of Omega 3’s are sea fish and flaxseed (linseed). Omega 3’s can help with lots of things; heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, ADD, asthma and allergies. An antiinflammatory, it helps with bursitis, arthritis, ulcerative colitis and other ‘itis’ diseases. Heat, air and light rapidly transform EFA’s into toxic substances. Spend money on quality EFA’s. It should be kept refrigerated, starting from the day of manufacture and kept in dark lidded bottles within paper boxes. If it tastes rancid – expect this to happen within a few weeks of opening – throw it out. Diseases associated with EFA deficiency may reflect a diet low in whole grains, seeds and nuts and sea fish, and high in deep fried oil, cheap vegetable oils from the supermarket and margarine. Vitamin E: This also supports the entire immune system: use it for colds to cancer and everything in between. The skin and the lining of the digestive tract love Vitamin E: use for dry skin, burns, IBS, ulcerative colitis and chemotherapy. Apply topically if possible and use only the liquid form. Concern based on a few studies has been expressed about Vitamin E toxicity, but the studies involved used the use of synthetic (unnatural) forms of Vitamin E. Use only the natural form. The dosage is 400 IU twice daily. Supplements may be synthesised cheaply so it is always best to use natural forms. The quality of manufacture is often critical: EFA’s for example. Supplements are valuable for providing high concentrations of specific nutrients as needed for specific phases of diseases. With recovery, the supplement may, or should be, reduced or discontinued. Ask what the big picture is. Poor diet and other lifestyle factors may create nutrient deficiencies that in time become a disease. A supplement that proves helpful may offer insight into the underlying causes of a disease. Using such insight to address some of the causes is far better medicine than staying indefinitely on supplements without really understanding what is going on. Nicolas Kats ND, Lic. Ac., uses acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet and supplements, and chiropractic. His clinics are in Clifden (087-7714710, or 095-30671) and Galway (091-583260).
Connemara View Newspaper
AUGUST Horoscopes Moon: Full Moon occurs on Thursday
Jupiter is at opposition (to the Sun) on
August 6th when the Moon is in the constellation of Capricorn. At this phase the Moon is on the opposite side of the sky to the Sun; so it rises in the east at sunset, shines all night and sets in the west at sunrise the following morning. During the following week, it continues to rise at about the same time in the evening, but its rising-point shifts northwards along the horizon from night to night. New Moon is on Thursday August 20th. We probably won’t be able to see the new crescent Moon until Wednesday 26th, when it will appear low in the SW at sunset. Full Moon occurs again on Friday September 4th. Mercury is at its greatest elongation E of the Sun on August 24th, so in theory it should be visible in the W after sunset, but unfortunately it sets only minutes after the Sun. It will be very difficult to see this elusive little planet this month. Venus is rising about three hours before the Sun and by dawn it shines about a handspan above the E horizon. Although it is low in the twilight sky, the “Morning Star” is so bright that it can be picked up easily, in clear conditions. Relative to the stars, Venus is moving rapidly eastwards, crossing right through the constellation of Gemini and into Cancer; but Venus is much brighter than any of the stars. On the morning of Monday August 17th, the waning Moon will appear above and to the right of Venus, about ten degrees away; the following morning, the Moon will be only four degrees to the lower left of Venus, so the two objects should fit into the same field of view in a pair of binoculars. Mars is rising in the north-east around midnight, and by dawn is high in the E – well to the upper right of Venus, but much less bright. This month it is moving eastwards out of Taurus and into Gemini; if you can locate Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, you will find Mars lower down and further left, and getting further away from Aldebaran every day. Both of them have an orange hue, but Mars is a little fainter than Aldebaran and shines with a steadier light. On the morning of Sunday August 16th, the waning Moon will be close to the upper left of Mars; the two objects will be less than three degrees apart.
August 14th. So it is rising as the Sun sets, and setting at sunrise; it’s due S in the middle of the night. Relative to the stars, the giant planet is moving very slowly SW in Capricorn; it never gets more than about 20 degrees above the horizon. But, although it’s so low down, the giant planet still outshines any of the stars. Some of Jupiter’s four major moons may be seen, even in binoculars, as tiny points of light, in a near-straight line to either side of the planet. Often only two or three may be visible – either because one is hiding behind the planet, or occasionally because one moon is hiding behind another moon, or in another moon’s shadow. During the first week of August, Jupiter may appear to have a fifth moon; it passes close to a 6th-magnitude star called 45 Capricorni. On the night of Monday August 3rd, Jupiter actually crosses in front of the star. The event starts about midnight, and goes on till nearly 2 a.m. The star will fade only gradually, as it disappears behind Jupiter’s upper atmosphere. On the night of Thursday August 6th, our own Full Moon will be very close to the upper left of Jupiter, about three degrees away. Saturn: At the start of August, it may be possible to glimpse Saturn very low in the W sky, immediately after at sunset; but it sets earlier every night and by the end of the month we will have lost sight It passes behind the Sun in the middle of September. Meteors: August brings the well-known Perseid meteor-shower. They all seem to radiate from a point in the constellation of Perseus, which is well up in NE during the evening, and high in the E by dawn. Perseid meteors may be seen any time from late July to late August, but the peak this year is expected in the afternoon of Wednesday August 12th. However, there should be good numbers of meteors on the night of the 11th, increasing in theory to one Perseid every two or three minutes towards dawn on the 12th. Unfortunately, the gibbous Moon will be only 35 degrees to the right of the radiant point and its light will tend to drown out all but the brightest meteors. To minimise the effect, try looking to the left of the radiant, at 90 degrees to the Moon. John Claró
Au g u st DV D Re l e a s e s Duplicity is a smart, slick and cool espionage movie about two sexy spies turnedcorporate operatives who attempt to pull off one of the biggest heists ever. Stars: Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Let The Right One In. This chilling horror tells the story of Oscar, an overlooked and bullied boy who finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl who turns out to be a vampire. She gives him the strength to fight back against his aggressors but he finds there is a terrible price to pay.
Connemara View Newspaper
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) Take some time out to reflect on what you want from the future and then go do something about it. Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) You are the master of all that you convey. Rule the roost wisely and you will reap the benefits. Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) Trust your instincts this month and all will be well. You are getting some strong feelings about a certain issue. Trust yourself. Cancer ( Jun 22-Jul 22) Very good things are on the way this month. Make sure you do not miss out on any opportunities that come your way. Leo ( Jul 23-Aug 23) Happy Birthday! It is time for you to go for it. Get out there and enjoy life on your birthday. Have a great party and don’t get hung up on trivial issues. Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 22) You have done a lot and you deserve all of the praise that you receive as a result. Keep up the good work! Libra (Sep 23-Oct 23) Stand firm in what you believe to be right and make sure that you are doing the right thing or dire consequences will result. Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) It’s time to let go of all the bad feelings that have been pent up for so long. Forgive and you too will be forgiven. Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21) Have faith in what you believe and hold dear to all spiritual aspects this month-reflect through prayer and meditation. Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20) Who is doing the sneaking around here - is it you? Make sure you don’t get caught! Aquarius ( Jan 21-Feb 19) Moving forward can be difficult but this month you will find that it just the ticket to your success. Go on, ya good thing! Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) It’s ladies month, so women of the world, be good to yourselves and men, take good care of them this month!
AUGUST Tarot The King of Cups in the past lets you know that life is a bumpy journey with lots of highs and lows. The 9 of Pentacles in the present informs you that you are looking for something better out of life. The Page of Wands in the future suggests that you are waiting on advice or an opinion before proceeding, which you do not need to do.
AUGUST runes
Learning to deal with the everyday obstacles of life is the Action that you must take at this time. Not stopping after the first obstacle is cleared is the Challenge. There will be more - handle them all. Finding out what is truly important to you in your life is the Overview. What is right for you?
Lesbian Vampire Killers: A completely different take on the vampire movie sees two mates decide to escape their problems and head to Wales for a weekend of debauchery. But when they find themselves stuck in a village where all of the women have been enslaved by a legendary vampire curse, the boys have to put all of their fears (and dreams!) behind them in order to rise to the challenge of becoming Lesbian Vampire Killers. Stars: James Corden and Matthew Horne. Knowing is a heartpounding sci-fi thriller about a professor who deciphers a coded message with terrify-
August 2009
“Be Willing to Nourish Others” ingly accurate predictions about every major world disaster. Looking to protect his family and prevent future calamities, Prof. John Koestler enlists the help of the daughter of a now-deceased author of the prophecies. His race to understand the messages and his own family’s involvement in them. Stars: Nicolas Cage and Rose Byrne. The Secret Of Kells tells the story of 12-year-old Brendan and his life inside the walls of Kells Abbey. Brendan’s life changes forever when legendary illuminator Aidan arrives from Iona with the famous book and unleashes a passion and talent Brendan didn’t know he had for illustration. This beautifully animated and Irish made movie is an absolute treat. Stars: Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally.
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Fashion Fun & A New Queen!
The Roundstone Queen of the Show 2009 was selected at the climax of a fantastic evening’s entertainment on Friday July 10th at the Roundstone Community Hall. A total of eleven girls participated in the event, held in conjunction with the Western Alzheimer’s Foundation. Tara Byrne of Clifden eventually claimed the tiara and title of Roundstone Show Queen 2009 and won the opportunity to go forward to the Galway Rose competition in 2010. The evening’s entertainment began with musical numbers provided by the adorable and very talented Ciara McDermott of Ballyconneely who performed songs from Ceol Theatre’s recent production of ‘Hello Dolly’ backed by a chorus of cast members. This was followed by a stunning fashion Show produced by Sharon Griffin of ‘Ohh by Gum @ the Station House’ and featured clothes from many lines stocked there as well as outfits and pieces from Matchmaker in Roundstone, and Station House shops Design Platform and Passenger. The show was compered by Maureen O’Halloran of Anu Image Consultants who will also consult with new Queen Tara Byrne as part of her prize. In addition to the stunning models, some local faces also graced the catwalk, with Roundstone’s own Richard Duc de Stacpoole flashing his hunting tails finery, and Mary Banotti modelling a stunning blue creation of her own. Ailbhe Creane also graced the catwalk dressed in her mother’s beautiful wedding dress and was joined by her father Joe for yet another great round of applause from the packed hall. A gang of local ladies and former Roundstone Show Queens then took to the catwalk displaying some fabulous hats by acclaimed Loughrea based milliner Suzie O’Mahony, who is a regular prizewinner in the style stakes at race festivals around the country, including the Galway Races. The main event of the night then took place with Paddy McDonagh interviewing 11 charming and beautiful girls all looking to win the title. The participants were: Tara Byrne of Clifden representing the Shamrock Bar, Anne Marie Ronan of Tourmakeady representing the Cashel Show, Ashley Sherwood and Serena de Stacpoole sponsored by Richard de Stacpoole and Ted Sherwood, Síona DeLappe from Aughrismore representing Ciuin Beauty of Clifden, Niamh Coady of Oughterard, representing Curley Meats of Headford, Michelle O Toole of Cleggan representing Saz’s Barber’s and Hair of Clifden, Rebecca Miton representing Ballynahinch Hotel, Leanne Abery representing Connemara Heritage Centre, Eva Coneys, representing the Alcock & Brown Hotel in Clifden, and Blaithnaid McQuinn of Oughterard representing Roger Finnerty Butchers. From impressive dancing to entertaining poetry, the talent and personality shown by the girls was also very well received and after some deliberation by the judges Tara Byrne was selected as the new Queen with Blathnaid McQuinn in 2nd and Leanne Abery in 3rd place. Tara received the beautiful tiara, sponsored by House of Mag Aoide from last year’s Queen Emer O’Dowd and went on to present prizes at the Roundstone Pony Show. An extremely successful raffle was also kindly organised by Margaret Conneely, and all in the audience left the community hall late that night after yet another great
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evening‘s entertainment in Roundstone. Photos from top: The participants in the Roundstone Show Queen 2009 (l-r): Anne Marie Ronan, Tara Byrne, Rebecca Miton, Michelle O’Toole, Leanne Abery, Eva Coneys, Blaithnaid McQuinn, Niamh Coady, Serena de Stacpoole, Ashley Sherwood, Síona DeLappe. Local ladies and former Roundstone Show Queens (l-r) Joan King, Emer King, Mamie McDonagh, Margaret Conneely, Clara Conneely and Emer O’Dowd modelled hats and headpieces by Loughrea milliner Suzie O’Mahony.
Winners (l-r): Blathnaid McQuinn (1st runnerup) Roundstone Show Queen 2009 Tara Byrne and Leanne Abery (2nd runner-up).
On The Show Scene While pony shows are primarily the platform for owners and breeders of our native pony breed to show their animals the other classes and attractions on the show circuit also draw great attention and interest. This year was no different with sheep, cattle and dogs sharing the spotlight with the Connemara pony. The Calf classes at the 2009 Ballyconneely Pony Show drew great interest as ever. Pictured here are the
August 2009
Champion Calf of the Show, a Belgian blue (below) owned by Mary Faherty of Derryinver and the winner of the Show Championship, a continental heifer calf (top left) owned by Henry O’Toole Jnr, pictured here with Kevin Clancy and Judges Brian O’Flaherty and Joseph McDonnell. The sheep classes at the Roundstone Pony Show were a great hit with the crowd as owners showed various breeds of sheep in addition to the Connemara blackface native breed. In the first year of running an Arts and Crafts section at the Roundstone Pony show, Ronan Mullen and Ann King each took home a number of ribbons for various classes. Photos by Tom Broderick
Connemara View Newspaper
Nicky Coyne - An Appreciation
Omey Island Tragedy Fund Committee
Nicky Coyne passed from this life on the 5th of July 2009. He died after a short illness. Nicky came from Main St, Clifden. He was born into a butcher shop run by his father Stephen Coyne. From an early age Nicky worked diligently in the family butcher shop where he learned the trade. He took over the shop after his father retired. He did every aspect of the job himself from purchasing livestock to slaughtering, preparing and displaying the finished product. When Moran’s came to Clifden there was the unusual situation where two butcher shops operated side by side on the same street. As circumstances changed Nicky moved across the street where he operated for a short time. Nicky reinvented himself as a turf supplier and even though the job of the victualler is labour intensive Nicky found an even tougher occupation where he cut, footed, saved and delivered loads upon loads of turf. I have a memory of Nicky coming into Moran’s one evening after he had just delivered the seventh load of turf that year to a customer in Clifden, and he had many more than one customer. Nicky was a hard worker.I recall with fondness watching Nicky and the late Willie Pryce working together in Moran’s abattoir. A few years ago, Nicky took a position at the SuperValu meat counter. Here he could work at what he loved, without the worry of the expenses and maintenance associated with running his own business. He had come full circle, back where he started behind the counter. Nicky Coyne was a craftsman. The craft where the old way is still the best way, and Nicky knew the old way. That tradition he carried from his father has now been passed on to Patrick his son who is also a butcher. Nicky Coyne worked hard all his life. May he now rest in peace. Sean Heanue
We would like to thank the people from North and South Connemara for the enormous help and support they have given us over the past three months, taking us around their local areas during our fundraiser for the Coohill and Mulkerrin families. Your kindness and support was extraordinary. To all the people who bought tickets, the community groups and private individuals who made private donations, thank you sincerely for your generosity. We as a community are overwhelmed by the support given to us. Your kindness, generosity, and sympathy have eased the burden of our loss. Thank you to all who donated to our benefit night at the Station House, to the musicians and dancers who gave their time freely, and the Station House Hotel for the function room. Finally on behalf of the Coohill and Mulkerrin Families and the people of Claddaghduff, we would like to thank all the services and volunteers who helped on the day of the search.
Sara Nee 1916-2009 Sara Nee died on the 10th June, just a month before her 93rd birthday. She did not go gentle into the dark night. At 93 years of age she stoutly fought a courageous lively and determined fight to live longer than her contemporaries. She was known and loved in Roundstone, Innish Nee and Clifden where everyone knew her. In summer she would sit on the wall in the centre of Roundstone or in her doorway in her house in the village, observing and saluting all those that passed by. She was born in Innish Nee into a family of five girls and two brothers. The family were all well known in the ‘poteen circles.’ Unlike other islands at that time there was a national school on the island. Contemporary photographs show healthy children dressed in smocks with bare feet. In 1948 she married Dan Nee. He died tragically in 1959 and she told me that she never met such a kind man and so remained a widow for the rest of her life. After Dan’s death she worked for many years in the knitting factory on the quay in Roundstone. When the factory closed she continued knitting in her home – her sweaters went all over the world at the time when Aran sweaters were a prestige fashion statement. In her later years she was devotedly cared for by her son Donal and his wife Linda. At her wake in Donal’s house, she lay in the living room as hundreds of her friends passed through to pay their respects including a bus load of her day care friends from Clifden. As she lay there she looked just like, as she always did, receiving her friends. We will all miss her, but despite the tragedies of her life, she had a full and rich one, may she rest in peace. Mary Banotti
Apology Please acknowledge my apologies to the president and the secretary of the CPBS for my misunderstanding and representation in my prior letter to the Connemara View of the July 2009 edition. Yours sincerely, Jane Andrews
Connemara View Newspaper
A Big Thank You: To Lisa Keane and Leanne Regan, Students of Clifden Community School, who took part in the Ladies Mini Marathon on June 1st and donated their sponsorship monies to Ballinakill Active Age Club. The club members wish to thank most sincerely, the two girls for their endeavours. The sponsorship raised will be put to good use in providing valuable services to the elderly in their community-well done! FORUM
Death Notices Michael (Mickey) Aspell, Letterfrack May Conneely, Market St, Clifden Nicky Coyne, Main St, Clifden Marguerite St George Callahan, Oughterard Nora Geoghegan, Oughterard Ronan Henderson, Roundstone & Dublin Stephen Thomas Kane, Ardnagreevagh, Renvyle Martin Joseph Keane, Roundstone Gabriel O’Halloran, Inishbofin Raymond Arthur Sellers, Oughterard Margaret Herries Tinne, Claddaghduff Paddy Wallace, England, & Cloonluane, Renvyle
The Connemara View would like to extend sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. This list is compiled from various sources and we apologise for any errors or omissions.
Acknowledgements & Remembrances. Special offer June through October 2009: Price per word: €0.15 (normally €0.25). Photo: €5.
Letter to the Editor We are writing to express our sadness following the unprovoked attack on a business premises in Bridge St., Clifden, on the night of Thurs. July 30th. The shop in question, Banga European Food Market , was extensively vandalised with graffiti of a particularly repulsive and xenophobic kind. Our thoughts are very much with the proprietors of this new business and we hope that the community will rally to support them as they - like all of us - struggle to cope in these difficult economic times. Given the perilous financial climate we all face these days, it is hard to believe that anyone would wilfully seek to inflict damage upon a new business venture in our town. It is even harder to believe that this petty hate crime took place in a tourist mecca like Clifden, which has been welcoming foreigners to the area - and indeed depends upon people from ‘outside’ for its very existence - for long enough now, for us all to have got used to the idea that not everyone involved in the life and prosperity of the town has also to be born and bred within a fifty mile radius of Slyne Head. The idiots responsible for this outrage have tarnished our reputation at home and abroad and for that we should all bow our heads in shame. Yours etc. Kate O’Toole & 40 co-signatories to date. This letter and a list of the names of those who signed it can be viewed online at www.connemaraview.com.
August 2009
Connemara Community Radio Weekly Schedule Broadcasting 11 am to 9 pm each day on 87.8 FM & 106.1 FM Weather Forecast and Community Notices at 3 pm, 4 pm and 8 pm. Sponsored by Broderick Electric, Sweeney Oil and Gannon Sports. * Indicates Sponors
Monday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with
Heather Heanue and Colleen Currran. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Listen Here with Pete Ball. 5.05-6pm: Hooked on Music with John Duane. *Clifden Chamber of Commerce. 6-7pm: Alternate Weeks - As Gaeilge with Caitriona Nic Ghiollaphadraig OR Heyday with Sinead Mannion & Bobbi O Regan. 7-8pm: Talk Sportwith Vivian Cotter. 8pm: Roundstone Report with Richard de Stacpoole and Anne Conneely. 8.15-9pm: Ann’s Mixed Bag with Ann Conneely. Tuesday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with Cliona Sheehan. *Connemara View Newspaper. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Louisa Jack. 5.05-6pm: Jack’s Spot with Jack Tomlinson. 67pm: Live with John Dunne. 7-8pm: Community Matters with Pat O’Toole. *Tullycross and Cashel Credit Unions. 8pm: Cashel Report with Bernard Lee. 8.30-9pm: Classical Half Hour with Pat O’Toole. Wednesday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with Mary Roe. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Mickey Mac. 5.05-6pm: Double Trouble with Mickey Mac. Inishbofin Report returning soon. 6- 7pm: My Kind of Music with Martin Conroy. *ClifdenSupply Centre.7-8pm: Lift the Latch with Michael O’ Neill and Helen King. 8pm: Clifden Report with Breandan O’Scanaill. 8.15-9pm: Music with Pat Keaney. Thursday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with Cathy Keane and Brendan O’Malley. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Kathleen O’Brien. 5.05-6pm: Fáilte with Mary Corbett Joyce. 6- 7pm: Take it Easy with Michael O’Toole. 7-8pm: The Great Outdoors with Breandan O’Scanaill. *Acton Construction.8 pm: Cleggan Claddaghduff Report with Mary Gordon O’Toole. 8.15-9pm: Breandan O’Scanaill. Friday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with Samantha Heanue & Priscilla Diamond. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Tonya Ni Chuirínn. 5.05-6pm: The Friday Feeling with Margaret Sheehan. 6-7pm: Lyrical Allsorts with Linda O’Malley. 7-8pm: Injury Time with various presenters. *AIB Clifden. 8pm: Ballyconneely Report with John O’ Malley. 8.15-9pm: American Country with Brendan Ridge. *Alcock & Brown Hotel.
Saturday: 11am-12 Noon: Monkeying Around with
Heather Kearney. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Tonya Ni Chuirrín. 5.05-6pm: Pretty Good Day so Far! with Sean Halpenny. 6- 7pm: Blue Highways with Lol Hardiman. 7-9 pm: Music Spectacular Alternate Weeks - Shelter from the Storm with Dave O’ Halloran or Coast to Coast with Paul Phelan. Sunday: 10-11am: Sounds a Bit Irish with Eamonn McLoughlin. *Mulchrone Bros, Westport. .11am-12noon: Mass from Clifden. 12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. 4-5pm: Listen Here with Pete Ball. 5.05-6pm: Words & Music with Kathleen Faherty . 6- 7pm: Footappin’ Time with Tom Mongan. 7-8pm: Senior Side of the Street with Josephine De Courcey. *FORUM. 8pm: Ballinakill Report with Paddy Gannon. Insihbofin Report with Tommy Burke. 8.15-9pm: Decades of Hits with Michael Coyne.
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Consumer Watchdog: What’s Your Carbon Footprint? It seems that we can’t turn on a TV or open a newspaper these days without somewhere seeing or hearing about our ‘Carbon footprint’ or ‘carbon count’. The government claim to be committed to greatly reducing our nation’s carbon emissions in the coming years and in fact they are under serious pressure to do so as a result of the Kyoto Protocol. A comparison of Irish greenhouse gas emissions to our EU counterparts is a poor testament to our commitment to reducing our footprint. (See grid) Only one country, Luxembourg, has higher emissions per capita than Ireland. The calculations in the grid use 1990 figures as the baseline index of 100. Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 were 25.5% above 1990 levels, compared to our target of 13%. This equates to 17 tons of emissions per person. The country with the lowest emissions is Latvia with 5 tons per person. We all know that we have to reduce our carbon emissions particularly since it is a hot media subject currently. However, not one person whom I asked recently had figured out their carbon count number or knew how to. It seems startlingly clear that we are all simply responsible for using and producing far too much carbon in our daily lives. We can all notice unusually wet summer months or notice plants or insects appearing out of season and attribute it to ‘climate change’ but it seems very few of us delve any further into the actual facts. Indeed the sheer volume of information out there can seem overwhelming on further inspection, but the bottom line is this - we need to decrease the amount of carbon we produce, individually and as a nation. Both primary and secondary schools regularly have seminars and educational initiatives, for example, the An Taisce Green Schools programme, but as adults, it is up to us all individually to face up to and learn about this challenge and modify our consumption of energy accordingly. The good news is that an Irish website - www.change.ie – offers a comprehensive guide, is easy to navigate and to understand. It was been developed as part of the Government’s National Climate Change awareness campaign to encourage everybody in Ireland to find out their carbon count number and ways to decrease it. It provides an interactive carbon calculator, which is also available in brochure and is available at libraries nationwide or by lo-calling 1890 242 643.
Young People, Children and Work Working hours for young people are regulated by the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996, which sets maximum working hours and rest intervals and prohibits the employment of young people under 18 in late night work. The Act applies to those under 18 and defines children as under 16, and young persons as those aged 16 and 17. The Act does not apply to children or young people who are employed by a close relative. Employers cannot employ children under 16 in regular full-time jobs and may employ children aged 14 and 15 years on light work only as follows: • Children aged 14 or over may do light work during school holidays where the hours do not exceed 7 per day, or 35 per week. • Children over 15 but under 16 may do light work up to 8 hours per week during school term time. • Children under 16 may work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week if on an approved (by the Minister for Education, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment or FAS) work experience or educational programme where the work is not harmful to their health, safety or development. • Children under 16 must have at least 21 days off during summer holidays. • Children can be employed in film, cultural, advertising work or sport under licences issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. • Employers may not require children to work before 8am or after 8pm.
The maximum weekly working hours for children under 16: Age 14 15 School term-time Nil 8 hours Holidays 35 hours 35 hours Work experience 40 hours 40 hours Time off and rest breaks for children under 16: • ½ hour break after 4 hours work • Daily break: 14 consecutive hours off • Weekly break: 2 days off, to be consecutive as far as is practicable. Working hours, time off and rest breaks for young people aged 16 and 17: • Max working day : 8 hours • Max working week: 40 hours • ½ hour break after 4 1/2 hours work • Daily break: 12 consecutive hours off • Weekly break: 2 days off, to be consecutive as far as is practicable. In general, young people aged 16 and 17 are not allowed to work before 6am in the morning or after 10pm at night. Employers must see a copy of a young person’s birth certificate or other evidence of his/her age before employing them. If the young person is under 16, the employer must get the written permission of their parent or guardian. Employers must keep records for every employee under 18 including details of their starting and finishing times for work. For further information on the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 contact your local Citizens Information Centre which provides a free and confidential service to the public. 095-22000 & 087-130-1100. Email: clifden@citinfo.ie Address: c/o VEC Offices, Galway Road, Clifden. Open: Thursday 7pm to 8pm, Friday 10:30am to 3:30pm. Phone service outside those hours, call Declan on 087-130-1100. Information is also available online at www. citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 1890 777 121. Declan Weir
There are both personal and business/organisation carbon count calculators displayed on the change.ie homepage. I took the personal carbon count calculator to find out my number. The questions asked mostly involve home and transport. As yet, the change.ie calculator does not include areas such as food and clothing purchases, landfill waste and water use, but it is planned to further develop the calculator in the future to incorporate these and other factors to determine even more accurately the amount of carbon we produce. So for now, your Carbon Count Number is based on the emissions that you can directly control. It does not include ‘indirect’ or ‘embedded’ emissions – that is the energy that has been used to produce and transport consumer products and food that you and your family may use. It is also worth pointing out at this stage that it is a good idea to have certain information to hand in order to get the most accurate reading possible. This is not completely necessary as you can still answer the questions with approximate amounts or the general knowledge you have in your head about your lifestyle. Here are some examples of information it is good to have to hand when using the calculator: • the age of your dwelling • How many kilowatt hours of electricity do you use bimonthly? (This is available on your ESB bill. This is your present meter reading minus your previous reading and is available on the bill under the heading quantity and price.) • The VRT band of your car After the basic questions have been answered, you can then go on to the advanced section of the quiz, dealing with home, transport and waste, where you will need more information to hand if you would like a more detailed figure. For example, it helps if you are at home and near the appliances like fridge and freezer so you can check their energy ratings. On my first try, my carbon count number was estimated by the Change calculator at 4.20 tonnes of carbon each year. While this is quite low (the European average is over 8) I answered some questions with rough estimates rather than exact figures, so I imagine my real number could potentially be quite a bit higher than that. Household electricity consumption was by far my biggest key area where change is needed, comprising 59.9% of my total carbon output. My household energy consumption was 27.88% and flights 12.23%, even though I only indicated that at most I would on average take about 2-4 short haul flights per year so it is clear that air travel really adds to your personal carbon count tally. My target number is 3.36 tonnes per year and a detailed tailored section entitled ‘My Changes’. Continued on next page
Have a Consumer Complaint? Let us know! Phone us at 095-22888 or email us at news@connemaraview.com Page 28
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Connemara View Newspaper
My tips to get my number down, which were tailored to my result, included: • better home insulation (I live in a rented property). • putting a better lagging jacket on my water tank. • taking a shower rather than a bath. • washing my clothes in cool or warm water rather than hot. (i.e 30 instead of 40 degrees makes a huge difference) • turning off all appliances left on standby; TV, DVD player, laptop etc. • drying clothes naturally rather than in a drier when possible. These tips all include approximations of how many kilos of carbon per year I can cut down on by making these small changes and
of course save money on my utility bills at the same time. Simply by visiting the site I became far more aware of the sheer volume of carbon that we are all responsible for putting out there into our world and our atmosphere. These are not major lifestyle changes that we must make; they are simple common sense measures that will make a huge difference to the state of our planet. So become carbon conscious-check your number and wake up to one of, if not the biggest challenges our world is facing. Catherine Pryce
Next Issue: Simple and straightforward carbon cutting tips
Green Gardening With Wind Power! On a recent trip to Wicklow we passed by a Garden Centre/Alternative Energy and Eco Shop. In the yard was a small wind turbine turning gently in the breeze. We stopped and were surprised how quiet it was; a very soothing sound. After getting some information from the proprietor, we were thinking and discussing whether or not we should get one for our organic farm, just outside Cleggan. It didn’t take us long to decide. After arriving back home, we checked the internet for more information and called the man who could install it. We were very happy when he said he could have it put up within a week providing we had some small electrical work done beforehand. A friendly local electrician was available at short notice and things went ahead as planned. The day arrived and with a bit of excitement we watched it all happening. The hired digger dug the holes for the anchoring guy ropes and the wind turbine stood upright within 4 hours. As soon as it was secured a slight wind caught the blades, and again we heard this soothing sound. Of course, the reason that we got the wind turbine was to get clean energy for our household and farm. We were told that with a moderate wind blowing we could save about €50 per month on electricity, which is more than we use. But then the wind is not always blowing, we thought! As it is connected to the grid we check the meter on a windy day and can literally see it stop, or even go backwards. That really makes us happy. When the ESB install the Smart Meter, it will be possible to determine more accurately how much electricity we are actually producing by means of the wind. In a later article we will be able to tell you more about how we are getting on. The wind turbine is about 6m high and produces 1 KW at maximum speed, which is sufficient for us, as we are only two consumers. The cost was €4500. There are bigger and stronger wind turbines available. If you want to get some more information go to www. windturbines.ie or ring Gary McCormick at 086-8180476.
Now these days when the wind is blowing hard we really feel that we are living and gardening greener and cleaner. Also in these financially uncertain times it is good to know that the wind blows money right back into your pocket! Anyone who wants to see how it works and get some more information is very welcome to visit the farm, just give us a call at 095-44855. Linda and Vincent Jagobin Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Goverment Guidelines from www. environ.ie Micro Wind Turbines: Wind Turbines with a mast height of 10 metres and a rotor diameter of 6 meters will be exempt from planning permission requirements subject to the following conditions: • The rotor diameter should be 6 metres or less • There should be a 3 metre minimum clearance between the lower tip of the rotor and the ground • The minimum distance of a wind turbine from its nearest neighbouring boundary would equal the total height of the turbine plus 1 metre • Noise levels at the nearest neighbouring inhabited dwelling should be <43dB(A), or <5d(B) above background noise • Only one turbine is permitted within the curtilage of a house • The turbine must be situated behind the front wall of the house • All turbine components shall have a matt, non-reflective finish and the blade shall be made of material that does not deflect telecommunication signals. • No advertising or logos may be placed or appear on turbines. In the main, the conditions attached to the exemption for micro wind turbines are designed to ensure their safe installation and use. Issues such as visual amenity, noise, vibration, possible structural damage, safety and poor installation mitigate against the inclusion of building mounted turbines as exempted development. Nevertheless, it will still be possible to apply for planning permission for such turbines in the normal way.
Connemara View Newspaper
Our Archaeological Treasures As the first of an occasional series, touring sites of local interest from an archaeological point of view, I recently went for a local walkabout with Clifden archaeologist Michael Gibbons. We started in the Fahy and Streamstown areas just outside of Clifden, which are of great interest to me personally, as I grew up on the Lower Sky Road. As a young student of Archaeology, Michael was once told by a teacher that it was unlikely that there would be finds or discoveries of much interest in the Connemara area, but in recent years that assumption has proven to be ill founded to say the very least. Articles in both the Irish Times and Connacht Tribune recently, described the discoveries of stone axe heads in Clifden and Ballybane and both recorded by Michael, as pointing to evidence that a major hunter gatherer population may have been present in the West Galway area up to 9,000 years ago. With this in mind I decided to enlist Michael’s help to further explore the truly ancient past of the landscape that surrounds us all here in Connemara. Our first stop was a tomb overlooking Streamstown Bay, which was reported to Michael as a ‘Leaba Diarmaid agus Grainne’ or a ‘cromlach’, which is a portal tomb. On a hill in Letternoosh, up past the old marble quarry, on land belonging to Martin Coyne, the rear of the tomb simply looks like any other rock on approach from the rear. However, when looked at closely and front on, it is immediately apparent that it is indeed a small tomb marker, according to Michael, dating from roughly 2000BC. The tomb is also located on the top of a small dún or ringfort on a hill, and indeed hillside landscapes seem to yield a great deal of these sites in Connemara and throughout the country.
This is one of the more recent discoveries in the Streamstown Bay area recorded by Michael and he enthuses about the sheer volume of ancient sites in this area, with six recorded in recent times. While standing next to this tomb, one can see the monuments Dun Moighil and Dun Gibbon, and in particular Dun Dearg, which was recorded by the eminent Irish artist and archaeologist George Petrie in the 19th century. Petrie also wrote of a town of ‘cahirs’ or stone forts and a cromlach amongst them in Eyrephort, in the townland of Ballyconree, which Michael has also identified with the help of locals. After seeing and photographing the first tomb at Letternoosh we then drove down the ‘north road’ through what is known as Kingstown, going through the townlands of Derreen, Tooreenna and Knockavalley. On the side of the hill just up from the road, (about two miles down) a small village of 19th century deserted stone cottage ruins can be seen high up on a slope. Michael
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explains that the reason for building the houses there was to be close to the bog, with arable land above, as well as the proximity of the sea. There are a number of old dwelling house remains here, which are clearly visible from the road. We then carried on to Fahy where we saw the largest tomb to date recorded in Connemara. I would have walked and rambled around the area many times as a child and seen the ruins of old dwellings within a mile of my family home, but never knew or suspected just how far back in time the history of the place goes. The location is a sheltered area on the hillside at the far end of the Sky Road, effectively in between the upper Sky Road and Fahy Pier. Michael initially spotted the stone formation from the car on a bright day while driving down the steep hill on the Fahy road and explored further. On
inspection, the site turned out to be a very large tomb, with at least two chambers and clearly apparent capstones. The two pointed stones at either end mark the edges of the large cairn, the supporting mound that holds the tomb in place. The remains of at least four houses dating from the 19th century and onwards can be seen here, and unusually one of these is situated on top of the actual tomb. This tomb dates from the neolithic period and could be over 1000 years older than the domestic ruins that now surround it. Michael recalls speaking to Maggie Roche, (nee Mullen) of Roche’s cottage in Fahy about the area some years ago, and she told him that many people, particularly islanders, would not go there as it was ‘alive with síogaí’ (fairies or spirits). My own grandmother Esther Whelan (nee Roche) also often spoke of the folklore and local beliefs surrounding that area also, so it was fascinating for me to learn more about this ancient site. While it may not have been known that this area was a burial tomb, the sense of the siogai about the place suggests that it was and has been traditionally known as an area in the locality with strong links to the ancient past. What struck me most about this first simple jaunt around the area in which I grew up, is how the ancient past still permeates the landscape and it is only when these sites are recorded and investigated that we can begin to understand how historic and valuable they really are. Of course it is often those who own or walk the land that know these areas and know the local folklore and history surrounding them, and their accounts and knowledge are paramount to discerning the history of a site. In today’s world it is sometimes tempting to feel that the planet is a very small place and that there isn’t an unspoiled corner of the world. Exploring one’s own locality from an archaeological standpoint clearly shows that we may all be surprised by the secrets and history of the land around us as I was and I look forward to further exploration of this ancient and fascinating part of the world. Catherine Pryce
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West Coast Grupa Ceoil - Connaught Champions! The West Coast Grupa Ceoil, taught by Marie Walsh, took the Connaught Title at the Connaught Fleadh in Roscommon town in early July. They were representing Galway and came first place in the competition (Under 18 Grupaí Cheoil). There were 10 groups taking part and competition was very tough, with two previous All Ireland Champion groups in the lineup. It was a great result when West Coast were called out as Connaught Champions and celebrations began among the large following that had travelled with the group from all over Connemara. They were presented
with the Connaught Cup by the National President of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Mr. Seamus McCormack. The group now goes forward to the All Ireland Fleadh on the 3rd weekend of August in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. It is a great honour and achievement to play in the All Ireland and it’s the first time a group of young musicians from west of Galway City have had this honour-roll on Tullamore! The West Coast Grupa Ceoil will also be playing at the opening of this year’s Clifden Arts Week so there will be an opportunity to see this great Connemara band and new Connaught champions in action in the near future. Photo: Back (L-r): Sarah Delappe, Teresa Gibbons, Rebecca Sweeney, Jessica Ridge, Emma Keane, Doireann Sheridan, Ashling Canavan, Conall Flaherty, Seamus Flaherty and Teacher Marie Walsh. Front (L-r): Ronan Flaherty, Cliodhna Hallissey, Florence Pryce-Williams, Emily O’Reilly, Emma McCann, Hazel Corbett, James Coyne and Ronan Canavan. Not pictured: Hannah Mamalis and Plunkett O’Toole.
New: Cunninghams’ Railway Show
Following on from the success of Fuaim na Cuinneagain-The Cunningham Sound, the first sean nos based show of its kind in the country, the Cunningham family of Cashel have produced another fantastic show running throughout the summer months every Friday night at the Station House Theatre at 9pm. The Railway Show, produced by Irene and Ashline
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Cunningham entertains from the very beginning, combining great musical talent with varied displays of sean nos (old style) steps and dances as well as structured and stunning performances of step dancing by the talented Sheridan sisters Doireann and Ciara. Wonderful and varied musical performances are provided by Martin Vaughan on guitar, Ronan Canavan on accordion, Eileen O’Malley on banjo and tin whistle and Charlene McDonagh on piano accordion and bodhran. Talented vocalist Caitriona Canavan also provides some great performances with a selection of contemporary and sean nos classics in her own distinctive voice. The standard and quality of the music and dance combined is where the strength of this show lies, and when the whole Cunningham family takes to the stage the show really comes together to fantastic effect. Irene (25), Brian (23) and Ashline (21) are well known to audiences all over Connemara and further afield by now and younger family siblings Michael (14) and Lorraine (12) are showing that when all five brothers and sisters dance together, it is a very special and impressive sight and sound! The enjoyment and synchronicity between the siblings shine through in their performances and really adds to the allure of this show. Combined with the talents of the elegant and extraordinarily talented Ciara and Doireannn Sheridan, this show promises something for all tastes in the best of traditional Irish music and dance. The Railway Show takes place at the Station House Theatre, Clifden every Friday night through the summer at 9pm until August 29th. Tickets are €15 and are available at the Station House Theatre on (095) 30303 or by emailing info@stationhousetheatre.com. Some tickets may be available at the door on the night but booking in advance is advised.
An Evening with Bofin’s Best!
‘Island Air’ is a new production featuring the talents of singers and musicians from the island of Inishbofin which will debut at the Station House Theatre on Friday August 21st at 8pm. Inishbofin has always had a rich culture in music and song and for many years now, this has in some ways defined its identity and culture. The show will feature performances by the renowned Inishbofin Ceili Band, on the go since the early 80’s, and still entertaining both visitors to the island and locals alike on a regular basis and Andrew Murray, who first found fame as vocalist with De Danann in the late 90’s and has toured extensively both nationally and internationally in the years since. His truly distinctive voice has seen him share the stage with some of the greats of Irish music and he will perform a number of songs as part of the show. Of course Dessie O’Halloran needs no introduction to these parts, having become one of the best known and loved performers from this part of the world in recent times. His version of ‘Say You Love Me’ which featured on Sharon Shannon’s The Diamond Mountain Sessions album gained him nationwide recognition, with subsequent television appearances including The Late Late Show, and a high positioning for a significant time in the Irish charts. Continued on next page
Connemara ArtsView
Inishbofin singer/guitarist Peadar King will perform numbers from his very well received debut album ‘The Nature of Flaws’ which was released in July of last year and has been steadily attracting followers and fans to date, with many great live performances under his belt. In this unique production, the musicians of Inishbofin will play together, old and young sharing the same stage, performing a fine blend of traditional and contemporary music and songs. This celebration of Inishbofin’s musical heritage is likely to enthral and entertain and promises a great evening’s entertainment. Tickets are available at a price of €15 from the Station House Theatre on (095) 30303 or by emailing info@ stationhousetheatre.com.
‘Rolling & Tumbling’ at Mannion’s
Rock n’ Roll will be top of the agenda this Saturday August 8th when Rolling Stones Covers Band “Rolling and Tumbling” bring their own special take on classics such as ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ to Mannion’s Bar on Main St. in Clifden. Playing to wowed audiences all over Ireland for the last year and a half (including very memorable shows during the Clifden Jazz & Blues festival earlier this summer) they have earned a reputation for their highly charged and exciting set, which includes a huge selection of the Stones’ hits from all their eras and some of their lesser known gems too, along with the odd Soul or Rock n’ Roll cover for good measure (and even a Johnny Cash tune or two if the Spirit moves them!). Overall, a great night’s entertainment is promised for anyone keen to get rockin’ to tunes from the world’s finest Rock n’ Roll Band! For further information check out www.myspace.com/rollinntumblin.
Ceol Theatre 80’s Review Night
The next Ceol Theatre Musical Review Night will be an 80’s night on August 21st at 9:00pm, so if you would like to perform a classic 80’s song of your choice to an appreciative audience, get in touch for what should be a night of great fun! The next Ceol Theatre production will be “Scrooge A Christmas Carol” in December with both adults and children. Auditions will be held in the first weeks of September. If you would like to be a part of this show or any of Ceol Theatre’s productions please contact John on 087-750-4697.
Atlantic Artists Exhibition
Atlantic Artists and Friends opened a new exhibition on Sunday 2nd August at Bernie Dignam’s home in Tooreen , Moyard. Artists include Alannah Robins, Mo West, Sabine Springer, Bernie Dignam, Angela Williams, Keelin Kennedy, David Kane, Laura Cull, Mary Donnelly, Angie Treacy, Brendan O’Sullivan, Vincent Murphy & Kate Minnock. The exhibition runs through August 8th by appointment. Phone 095-41256 or 087-690-8137. Some of the artists’ work may be viewed on the new local artists website www.connemaraartlink.com. Pictured at the opening are (l-r): Vincent Murphy, Alannah Robbins, Bernie Dignam, Mary Donnelly, Margaret Irwin, Angela Williams, Mary Adams, and David Keane. Photo courtesy of Aoife Herriott.
Fergus Bourke Documentary
Art O Briain’s acclaimed documentary on the late great photographer Fergus Bourke which was shown at the Clifden Arts Week Festival two years ago is to be screened again on RTE on Sunday August 9th. Fergus, who died suddenly five years ago before the completion of the film, was a well known character in Connemara where he had come to live full time in order to capture the landscape in black and white in 1989. Fergus was widely regarded as Ireland’s finest lensman with an unparalleled body of photographs of Dublin street scenes, travellers, Abbey Theatre productions, family portraits and the Irish landscape, particularly the Maam and Inagh Valleys. Art O Briain is delighted the film is being broadcast again: “This was the first in the trilogy of documentaries that I’ve worked on and the response to the first screening of the film some years ago was simply phenomenal.” The third film “A Subtle Movement of Air” will be shown in a special gala screening in the Station House Theatre on 25th September as part of the Clifden Arts Festival.
Connemara Pony Photos
An exhibition of photographs of Connemara with a special interest in Connemara Ponies will be on display at the Alcock & Brown Hotel from 16th to the 22nd August 2009. Pam Clingan and her father Bob Blackburn have been breeding Connemaras in the UK for nearly 40 years. Pam is now a professional equine photographer and runs Lanburn Connemaras in West Sussex in the UK. The exhibition is in 3 sections, photographs of the region and ponies, a small miscellaneous selection of photos from around the world and the 1983 Clifden Show. The photographs from Clifden Show 1983 are unique and will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of the Connemara Pony. There are some photos of ponies that will have been forgotten and will perhaps never be seen again. Ponies as youngsters that have gone on to contribute something special to the breed, but perhaps you’d never recognise, as they change so dramatically,” said Pam. There is no charge for the exhibition and all are welcome to view the photography during the course of the Festival of the Connemara Pony in Clifden this year. Pam has also put together a Connemara Pony Calendar supported by the CPBS for 2010 which is on sale from her website www.fredthecat.co.uk. as well as Connemara pony postcards.
Actors needed
Yellow Door Productions needs actors for a short play named ‘The Girl who Fell through a hole in her Jumper’ by Naomi Wallace and Bruce McLeod. The lead character Noil is to b be played by Chloe Wallace. O Other actors are Claire Greene, C Conor Griffin and Kathleen C Conroy. The play is directed aand adapted by Elaine Enright. P Previous performance experieence preferred. Contact Elaine 0085-154-4664.
Moondance Festival M
The Moondance Music & Arts F Festival is a three day camping festival being held on the grounds fe of the Petersburg House in Clonbur o on August 14th,15th and 16th by the o shores of Lough Mask. Music acts sh cconfirmed so far include Lisa Hanni-
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gan, Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club, Jape, Kila, Noelie Mc Donnell & Band , Mairtin O Connor and band, Guggenheim Grotto, Joe Fury & The Hayride, The Galway Gospel Choir, No Banjo, Timber Tramps, Brad Pitt Light Orchestra, with more acts being announced regularly. A family-friendly festival, Moondance is also offering watersports, guided walks, arts workshops, yoga, theatre performance, storytelling, stand-up comedy, art exhibitions and the return of The Mask Ball. Go to www.moondancefestival.com. for more info.
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Marvellous Mutts in Roundstone
There were plenty of tails wagging and prizes awarded for our four legged friends of all size and shapes when they and their owners descended on Roundstone Show Grounds for the 2009 All Ireland Dog Show on Monday August 2nd. Over 200 dogs were shown on the day with the Supreme Champion Title going to Ruby, a Boxer owned by Patricia Coniry (See photo front page). Participants received rosettes, wooden dogs sculptures and bags of dog food as prizes. There was an atmosphere of great enjoyment and family fun at what has become one of the most popular events in the Summer Calendar in Connemara. Photos top (l-r): Eve McLoughlin from Woodstock whose dog got 3rd prize in the Jack Russell Class. Warren Reilly from Dunirey whose dog Vai came 3rd in the Puppy Class. Niall McDonnell from Oughterard with his dog Arkeen Lady who came 2nd in the Spaniel Class. Photos below (l-r): Rica Farragher from Clifden whose dog Mini came 1st in Dog with Child Under 8 class. Anthony Quinn from Lettermore with Nico who came 1st in the Utility Class. Patrick DeLappe from Oughterard with Labrador Bob who came 2nd in his class. Paddy Joe Lydon from Letterfrack with his prize Terrier. Elaine McCormack from Knocknacarra whose dog came 3rd in the Mixed Bull Terrier Class. Susan Webb from Wicklow with Zodiac who came 1st in ‘The dog I’d most like to take home’ Class. Front page: The supreme champion of the All Ireland Dog Show 2009 was Ruby, a Boxer dog, seen here with (back row) Tara Byrne, Queen of the Roundstone Show 2009, Judges David Connaughton and Marion Tarpley and (front row) Ruby’s owner Ms Patricia Coniry. Photos by Tom Broderick. See more photos at www.galwaypics.com.
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Connemara View Newspaper