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Inside Achill Link 2014
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100 years young
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Keel Agri Show
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CFÁA Kids Camp
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Green School Flags
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Boxer JohnnyKilbane
ARTICLE
Welcome to Achill Link 2014 Achill Pipe Band Achill Rovers Achill Island CSC Flag, causing quite a flap 100 Years & Going Strong Order of Malta Cuairt Ghaeilgeoirí Cheanada go hAcaill Gunnera Tinctoria Return of Keel Agricultural Show Tourism on Achill 2013 Currane National School Centenary Ceardlann Drámaíochta ar an gCorrán C.F.Á.A Kids Summer Camp Achill People Dooagh Gaelic League Production of Casadh an tSugain Achill Green Schools Johnny Kilbane Achill Local Training Initiative at Purteen Harbour How Technology has Changed Our Lives in 10 Years Achill Group Receive Top Honours After 10 Years My Return To Achill Achill Cleveland Twinning Celebrates 10 Years Achill Boxing Club You Always Remember Your 1st Time, Right? The Achill Marathon Shane Cannon Artist/Surfer Relay For Life August 2013 Mayo Minors All Ireland Victory A Poem For Mayo South West Mayo Development Company Delivery in Achill John Callaghan - Achill Golfer Award Seirbhis Ghaelach - Ecumenical Service in Irish After Paul Henry TY Students Trip to Lourdes Achill meets Kilimanjaro The Puzzle Page Achill Recipes to Try Boat Building in Curraun Cruinniú Bádóiri Acla Useful Phone Numbers 2014 Calendar/ Féilire 2014 P Ryder, P Booth, N Gallagher, M Callaghan, L Donnelly, E Callaghan, K Sweeney, M Cafferkey, P Kowalski, D O’ Reilly 2013 Local Training Initiative Course
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CONTRIBUTOR
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Pat Kilbane & Terence Dever Irene Gielty Sean Molloy Michael John Callaghan Mary B Gallagher Ellen Cafferkey Tomás Mac Shéain Noel Gallagher Padraic Ryder Siobhan Comerford Noel Gallagher Majella Ui Ghallachobhair Linda McGing Noel Gallagher Dr. E. King Majella Ui Ghallachobhair Katie Sweeney Liam Donnelly Daniel O’Reilly Kenneth Deery Gerry Quinn Colleen Corrigan Day Michelle Cafferkey Padraic McCaul Michelle Cafferkey Emmet Callaghan Cathy Lynchehaun & Noreen Sweeney Patricia Booth Dooagh N.S South West Mayo Development Michael John Callaghan Tomás MacConmara Brian MacDomhnaill,Paul Mckenna, Gentian Lulanaj Colaiste Pobail Acla TY Students Kenneth Deery Patricia Booth Michael McNamara Noel Gallagher Dr. Jerry Cowley Edel O’Malley & Emmet Callaghan Sarah Cafferkey
3 5 6 8 11 12 14 15 16 18 22 22 24 26 28 30 31 34 37 40 41 44 47 48 50 52 54 56 60 62 64 65 68 72 74 76 77 80 82 84 85
Front cover photo by Róisin Heeney, Achill Island Design By Emmet Callaghan
40 Cleveland Achill Twinning
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Shane Cannon Interview
54 Relay For Life
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The Mayo Minors
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Top of the World
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Pat Kilbane and Terence Dever Intro1_Layout 1 14/11/2013 10:18 Page 1
Dear Reader
As another year comes to a This past year has been quite challenging, close I would like to take stock however there have been and reflect on what has been many successes a tough year for the parish of throughout the year for Achill, emigration and CFÁA as an organisation unemployment are still very and the work we have prevalent however much effort achieved throughout the is being made within our own organisation as well as working with partners such parish. We look forward to a brighter 2014, as Mayo County Council, Solas (formally FÁS) and as we are successfully included in some European Programes which we expect to be Údarás na Gaeltachta to develop rolled out this year. We have delivered the alternatives. You will see as you work through this year’s publication the fruits of this labour, even in first new SOLAS (formally FÁS) Local Trainterms of the group who have helped develop this ing Initiative Course that has been approved in recent years and C.F.Á.A are at an adyear’s magazine, are students, on one of our own vanced application stage, to deliver another in house courses developed in collaboration with LTI course, commencing in early 2014 here in our partners. My fellow Directors, members and Áras Forbairt Acla. myself as Chairman will continue in our efforts to work on behalf of the people of Achill and support C.F.Á.A have provided training to groups from the community as we try to come through these dif- the age of 5yrs to those in their 80’s, offering a whole range of programmes from IT, CPC, ficult times. Our doors in CFÁA are always open Safepass, Health & Safety and Occupational and I would encourage those with ideas of suggestions as to how we could do more to please feel First Aid and have an extensive line up of Edfree to drop in. I would like to take this opportunity ucation and Training Courses in the pipeline for 2014. Celebrations took place both in to wish each of you and your families all the very Achill and Cleveland to mark 10 years of twinbest for 2014 and beyond. ning with our friends in Cleveland and we are Pat Kilbane, currently working with companies based in Cathaoirleach CFÁA Cleveland to explore the employment opportunities there could be for people based in Achill. We also had the honour of hosting the successful Robert Henri exhibition here in Áras Forbairt Acla last summer. C.F.Á.A co-ordinates almost 70 staff on varying schemes operating at a grass roots level throughout the Achill area. Despite all the challenges that we face, I believe that we can continue to be optimistic, putting our best foot forward and really working to develop a Áras Forbairt Acla better future for the community as a whole. With the continued support of the Rural DeAn Caol, Acaill, Co velopment Programme( LEADER), we expect Maigh Eo to re-ignite the progress of local projects curEditor:Achill LTI Course 2013 rently slowed down or stalled. The ComhAdvertising Coordinator: Bridgie Ann Davitt lacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla team and I will Copy and photography not otherwise credited: Achill SOLAS continue in those efforts for 2014 and beyond. LTI 2013, Co-ordinators Edel O’Malley & Orla Kelly Copy editors: Damian Kilbane, Majella Ui Ghallachobhair, I hope you enjoy reading this year’s Achill Tomás Mac Conmara Link and I wish you all, the very best for 2014. We have taken every care in compiling this magazine, but we Terence Dever, CEO CFÁA cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, any such
brought to our attention will be amended in future publications. Achill Link 2014 3
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Achill Pipe Band On The March
By Irene Gielty
Following the exciting Grade 3B Heats the achievements of 2012, relatively young Achill Achill Pipe Band Pipe Band was up approached the 2013 against the “big guns” Competition Season with and qualification for much more modest the final it self expectations. Promotion to seemed almost beGrade 3B meant a yond reach. However considerable jump in the the band put in a brilAchill Pipe Band on Glasgow green standards expected and liant performance in at the world championships in August complete new settings of weather conditions tunes had to be learned and perfected. The typical of a Patrick’s Day in Achill – rain, rain scourge of emigration also took its toll on the and more rain! Whether they qualified for the band as some members departed Irish shores final or not, they felt they had given it their best to work elsewhere in the world. However the shot and they awaited the results. There were members set to the task in hand and practice great celebrations some 3 hours later when sessions continued through the long winter the judges called out the name of the first pipe nights, as the band prepared for the new band into the final – Achill Pipe Band. The final grade. Modern technology enabled practice followed and they finished in the top 8 in the sessions to take place over the internet using world. In the 6 years of its existence so far, the Skype! In addition to learning new material band has collected a string of honours and the band also had to upgrade equipment to has twice been promoted up the piping grades enable it to – Achill is well and truly on the Piping Map! compete effectively in its The Pipe Band members would like to new grade. acknowledge the continued support and good Applications wishes of the people of Achill, both at home were made to and overseas. The Band would not be able to South West travel and compete without the generous fiMayo Develnancial support of all. We also thank our travThe supporters club opment Com- at the world championships elling band of supporters, those who work pany to behind the scenes and the many Achill emiaccess funding under the Rural Development grants who travel to competitions to cheer on Programme. We were very lucky to be the “lads and lassies” from home! assigned Sabina Trench as our Project Here’s to Development Officer and she worked 2014……. tirelessly with the band to ensure our Keep in tune applications were successful. The band with the Pipe purchased a complete new set of drums and Band on Facebook!! pipe chanters and are grateful for the funding support which made this possible.
Given the challenges of playing at this higher standard the band decided that the main focus of their season would be The World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow Green. With 25 Pipe Bands competing in the
The Final Countdown
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Achill Link 2014
The Curragh painted by Paul Henry in Achill over 100 years ago Reproduced with the kind permission of Bonhams www.bonhams.com
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ACHILL ROVERS 2013
It would have been hard to imagine, at this time last year, the success that Achill Rovers would have during 2013. Managers Martin McGing and Krystzof Jablonski guided our men’s team to second in League 1 and secured promotion to the Mayo Premier Division. Rovers were also awarded Mayo Team of The Month for June, Johnny Kiernan was voted Player of the Month for August. Rovers got to the Semi-Final of the Connaught Gold Shield. Our Under 15s managed by Tony Gralton & Patrick English won the Mayo U15 Division 3 title and our U16s, managed by Tony McGing & Josh McGing won the Mayo Division 2 title by winning all their matches except one. The U16s have also reached the semi-finals of the Mayo Trophy which at the time of writing has yet to be played.
Our Summer Camp was another huge success this year. Over 100 children from age 6 to 15 took part. Approximately 160 children took part in 24 teams in our first ever National Schools Competitions which were played in September & October at the Astro Turf Pitch in Polranny. Dooagh NS won the Andrew Forry Cup, Bullsmouth NS won the Tonragee NS Centenary Cup and a team made up of children from Dookinella, The Valley, Dooega and Currane won the Junior Blitz competition. The 2012 Martin Gallagher Cup took place late last year and 120 players took part in it. Dugort/Valley/Dooniver won it and it produced many players who went on to play for Achill Rovers in the Mayo League for the first time. The 2013 competition is currently in progress and with the re-entry of Kildownet into the competition 140 players are taking part.
2013 saw a record number of nine Achill Rovers teams entered into county competitions. U12s, U13s, U14s, U15s, U16s & U17s all played in the Mayo Schoolboys leagues. We had an U10 team play in a blitz competition. A team will also take part in the Over 35s league.
All of this success would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of our players, their parents and our coaches. Five new
By Sean Molloy
U15 League Champions coaches have joined us since this time last year. We are lucky to have an extremely active committee who have worked tirelessly to re-establish Achill Rovers as one of the top clubs in Mayo. We are also lucky to have huge support from the Achill community and business community. On behalf of Achill Rovers, I would like to sincerely thank you all.
2014 promises to be a very exciting year. We are beginning training in Dooega at the moment in preparation for the forthcoming season. Following the success of the National Schools competitions, we also intend to have at least 1 girls team next year. As the club grows it is very important that new members join the committee and coaching staff. I would like to invite anybody that has some spare time to get in touch with us.
2014 Roll of Honour
Men’s Team
Runners-up Mayo League One and promoted to The Premier Division
Mayo Club of the Month June Johnny Kiernan, Player of the month, August Connaught Gold Shield Semi-Finalists
Under 15s Mayo Division 3 Champions
Under16s Mayo Division 2 Champions
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Achill islam article Achill Head ad_Layout 1 08/11/2013 13:18 Page 1
ACHILL ISLAND CSC FLAG CAUSED QUITE A FLAP IN 2013 by M.J Callaghan In June 2013 a group of Achill Island Celtic Supporters Club members went to Glasgow for the Scottish Cup Final to cheer on their beloved Celtic. A great day was had by all, as Celtic won the game 3-0, beating Hibernian with Irish player Anthony Stokes being selected man of the match. However this was just the beginning of an eventful few days for the club members. As the team was doing their lap of honour the television cameras picked up an image of the Achill Island CSC banner which was hanging over the barrier onto the pitch. As one can imagine the members watching at home were delighted to see their banner shown on worldwide television. However the wind was blowing and unfortunately the “Island” part of the banner appeared to read as “Islam”. As anybody reading this article Achill Island Celtic Supporters Club
This is the television image that caused all the controversy at the Scottish Cup Final earlier this year.
can imagine, this caused quite a sensation in the media both in Ireland and Scotland for weeks afterwards.
Eventually, as always, the storm blew over when the full story became clear.
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er
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Times Past
Paul found his Motivation.
Seo an staraí áitiúil Johnny Tom Owen MacConmara a rugadh ar an triú lá Samhain 1848, bliain i ndiaidh an Gorta Mór agus a fuair bás í mí Eanáir 1939. Ba cara mór é leis an ealaíontóir Paul Henry.
“I feel like a new person, physically I look quite different, people don’t know me. I am now totally unrecognisable in my Passport and Drivers Licence!” Johnny Tom Owen Mc Namara, born 3rd November 1848 (the year after the great famine) and died in January 1939. He was a well-known local historian and long-time friend of Artist Paul Henry
before
after
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Paul Faulkner lost 9 stone
FIND YOUR MOTIVATION TODAY Call 1890 98 98 95 Or visit www.motivation.ie Call in to your local Motivation Weight Management clinic at: t 6OJU / #VTJOFTT 1BSL $BTUMFCBr. t .BSLFU -BOF 8FTUQPSU $P .BZP t #FVMBI #VJMEJOH 'JOJTLMJO 3E 4MJHP
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Aunty Mary 100th Birthday_Layout 1 08/11/2013 13:24 Page 1
100 years and going strong...
On September 15 2013, Mary A. Gallagher celebrated her 100th birthday with over 125 friends and relatives at Chief O’Neill’s in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Born in 1913, in Bunnacurry, Achill, County Mayo, Ireland, Mary lived with her family at the shore in Bunnacurry in a house her father built.
Of her five brothers and four sisters, Mary is the only surviving sibling. In June 2013, Mary lost her younger brother Jimmy and in August her brother Anthony in Chicago passed on. Mary stills remains close to her sisters-in-law Mary Alice, Bunnacurry, and Bridie, Chicago.
been gathered on shore as the tide came in. Mary last visited Achill in 2005. Among the many highlights of Mary’s 100th Birthday celebration was the presentation of the Centenarian Bounty with a signed letter by Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland. Attending the event from Achill were Noel Gallagher (Monastery View), Tony and Attracta English (Bunnacurry), Mary Gallagher (The Valley), Mary B Gallagher (The Shore, Bunnacurry) and John Paul McGreal (Westport).
Mary keeps active by swimming three times a week, visiting with friends and relatives, and enjoying an occasional glass of red wine.
Mary first left Bunnacurry when she was 13 years old to pick potatoes in Scotland. She came to the United States in 1943 during World War II, arriving in Cleveland, Ohio. In the mid-1950s, Mary moved to Chicago where she worked as a housekeeper and later as a cook until she retired in 1990.
Mary has many memories of growing up in Achill including villagers gathering on the shore to make whitewash for painting their homes; harvesting cockles, periwinkles, oysters, and mussels during low tide; and watching young men riding atop bales of seaweed that had
By Mary B Gallagher
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ORDER OF MALTA IRELAND ACHILL UNIT Lieut Ellen Cafferkey
Order of Malta Ireland - Caring for Our Lord's the Sick Our Lord’s the Poor.
The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps is a voluntary ambulance and first aid organisation with over 4,000 volunteers involved in over 80 units across the Island of Ireland. We are a major provider of excellence in first aid training, ambulance cover at large events, patient transport, community care, nursing services and assistance to other charities in most of the major cities and towns across the island of Ireland. Order of Malta Ambulance Corp is celebrating 75 years caring for the community it was established in Galway in 1938. (www.orderofmaltaireland.org)
Achill Unit was inaugurated in 1986, current membership is 15 including doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians and first aiders. We are recruiting new members. You can avail of up to date training in First Aid & life saving skills in a friendly inclusive environment. Joining Order of Malta is a chance to be part of a team that makes a difference in people’s lives. Order of Malta is an international organisation. Volunteers are trained to a very high standard in First Aid & life saving skills. Training is done at unit, regional and national level. Order of Malta provides certified First Aid Courses to the public in Basic 1st Aid, CFR (Cardiac First Responder) and Paediatric 1st aid. We can organise “Tailor Made” courses to suit your group or organisation. Achill Unit is involved in local, re-
gional, national & international events. We provide First Aid cover at concerts, charity events, fundraisers, football matches, ultra, full and half marathons & 10K runs, kitesurfing competitions, agricultural shows and national & local multi-agency exercises. 46 people from Achill parish travelled to Lourdes with the Order of Malta in May 2013. This year 5 Transition Year Students from Coláiste Pobail Acla joined the pilgrimage. The girls assisted pilgrims staying in Hotel Alba in getting to and from the Grotto, Mass, religious ceremonies and shopping.
Order of Malta is an entirely voluntary organisation we receive no state funding. In order to provide our services we need to fundraise. We need volunteers to help with fundraising. Do you want to help us organise and run fundraising events? The generosity of local people and businesses has never left us wanting and for this we are extremely grateful. We fundraise throughout the year. Fundraising includes, whist drives, bucket collections, selling lines for sponsored prizes and an annual looped walk around the beautiful Atlantic Drive. We also receive donations from the public and remunerations from duties. This year the unit secured funding from National Lottery Grant Scheme. The grant is used to buy training equipment, run training courses for members, new members and the
public. We wish to acknowledge the assistance of National Lottery and HSE West. Thank you for supporting Achill Order of Malta. Buíochas as ucht an méid tacaíocht a thug tú d’Ordú Mhálta Acla.
Email: achill@orderofmalta.ie
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Achill Order Of Malta Events Troughout The Year
Achill Order Of Malta and Achill RNLI L-R Tony McHugh, Tom Honeyman, Ellen Cafferkey,Michael E Lavelle and Diarmuid Farmer
To
Fr Tom Kearney and Elizabeth Lynch in Lourdes
B: Martina Gallagher, Ellen Cafferkey, Alice McGinty F: Hannah Callaghan, Katelyn O’Connor, Anne Sweeney In Lourdes
Fr Tom Kearney,Meave O’Malley, Anne Sweeney, Hannah Callaghan, Nicole Fadian and Katelyn O’Connor Helping in Lourdes
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Raymond Gallagher Dookinella lighting a candle on behalf of the Order Of Malta for the intentions of the people of Achill
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Cuairt Ghaeilgeoirí Cheanada go hAcaill Tomás Mac Sheáin
hug scór go leith duine, idir fhir agus mná ó Ghaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir i gceantar Tamworth i gCeanada, cuairt ar Mhaigh Eo ón 18ú go dtí an 25ú de Dheire Fomhair. Mar chuid de “Thóstal Mhaigh Eo 2013” bhí siad mar aíonna ag Comhairle Chondae Mhaigh Eo, Conradh na Gaeilge Mhaigh Eo agus Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Mhaigh Eo. Bhí siad in Acaill ar feadh dhá lá, ar an Luan agus an Mháirt, ag fanacht le mná tí Choláiste Acla i nDú Éige mar theastaigh uathu a bheith i dtimpeallacht na Gaeilge le linn a gcuairte. Oíche Dé Luain bhain siad an-taitneamh as seisiún aoibhinn ceoil, amhránaíochta agus chomhrá i bhfochair fonnadóirí Scoil Acla agus muintir Acla i dTeach Gielty i nDumhacha. Maidin Dé Máirt bhí siad ag ceardlann teanga ar Ghaeilg Acla i Halla Cuimhneacháin Cyril Grey i nDumha Goirt. B’é Sean Mhikie Ó Gallchobhair a bhí i mbun na cearlainne agus b’ealaíonta suimiúil an léacht agus léargas a thug Seán ar stair agus uathúlacht chanúint Acla. I ndéis na ceardlainne rinne ceannaire Ghaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir, Arailt Mac Giolla Chainnigh, bronnadh ar Sheán as a léacht, ar Dhiarmaid Ó Giallatháin thar cheann Scoil Acla agus ar Mhártán Ó Mongáin as eagrú lóistín dóibh. Sular fhág siad Acaill tugadh iad ar shiúlóid threoraithe tríd an Bhaile Tréigthe faoi shleasa an tSléibhe Mhóir agus ar fhágáil Acla dóibh ar a mbealach go hIorras thug siad cuairt ar Pháirc Náisiúnta Bhaile Chruaich. Ba mhór ag na cuairteoirí an fháilte a cuireadh rompu in Acaill, mar a caitheadh leo i ngach áit, na himeachtaí eagsúla a eagraíodh dóibh agus muintir Acla féin de a tháinig chucu ar an dá lá. Is cinnte go bhfuair siad blaise de chultúr agus shaíocht Acla le linn a gcuid ama linn. Tá creidiúint mhór ag dul d’Úna Ní Cheileachair, Oifigeach Gaeilge Chomhairle Chondae Mhaigh Eo, a d’eagraigh chuile chéim dá gcuairt ar Thóstal Mhaigh Eo 2013
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Return Of Keel Agricultural Show
aturday the 31st of August and Sunday the 1st of September saw the return of the Keel Agricultural Show after 19 long years. The last show was held in September 1994 on the Keel Sandybanks. The show’s focus was on the local cattle, horses and the black faced mountain sheep. With the reemergence of the show in Keel after such a long absence, the sense of excitement in the community was palpable.
Local farmers, growers and people from all walks of life geared up for what was going to be a great coming back to the show and a powerful boost to the Achill community. The stage was set and the time had come and what better way to start the weekend than to have fabulous sunshine which was cracking the stones and came with a fine cool breeze.
This year’s event was going to be the biggest yet with plenty of excitement for friends and family to come out and enjoy them. There were bouncy castles and slides for the children attending with bakery and flowers for sale for others to enjoy. Some excitement to the proceedings came in the form of the local Boxing Club who erected a boxing ring and sparred with each other for the entertainment of others. Locals were also encouraged to jump into the ring for a “work out”. The most familiar face in attendance was the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring, who opened the event.
Cattle did not feature in this year’s show leaving all eyes on the sheep and horses. Entries to both categories came from Newport, Ballycroy, Tiernaur and Westport and of course Achill with the sheep section obtaining the most entries. The first category was confined to the Achill area and the second category was open to everyone. The classes for the mountain sheep were: • Ewe lamb single • Pair of Ewe lambs • Pair of Hogget Ewes • Age Ewes • Ram lamb • Hogget Ram • Age Ram
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There were also crossbred classes for: • Pair of Ewe lambs, • Pair of Hogget Ewes, • Age Ewes
At the end of the various categories there was an overall Champion class for all the first class prize winners. The overall winners were a Pair of Ewe lambs from Newport, owned by father and son team James and Padraic Ryder. The show was a great achievement, well run and organised and a huge credit to the committee who worked hard to create such a successful event.
While at the show I got the opportunity to interview a local farmer and asked what has changed in the farming industry from 50-60 years ago to the current day. He told me that the biggest change was technology; vehicles, tractors, and other equipment have become much more fuel efficient. The way that the equipment runs has also changed; there are bigger combines and tractors that can carry more weight. Another area that has changed massively is the use of chemical fertilizer used to help the plants grow and survive.
50-60 years ago farmers didn’t have the equipment we have today, everything was done by hand or with a donkey or horse and cart, from cutting hedges to ploughing fields but you also
had help from the neighbours. Neighbours helped each other out from fencing to ploughing. This tradition hasn’t been kept as you wouldn’t see much of that in the present times.
From past days to today, the amount of physical labour that farmers endured has changed dramatically. Years ago, farmers went out to cut the crops. They brought them in by hand. Now you can simply drive a combine up and down the fields and use a tractor to move the crops to a dry location. Also going back 50 or 60 years ago, we had no electricity, so surviving alone was much harder, we didn’t have oil and heaters to switch on during the winter months, we had to put on a fire and wait for it to get hot, heat is nearly instant now.
Looking at equipment around the farms. Years ago machines were made of heavy steel with engines which broke easily to the new more powerful machines that have powered cranks and have 4 wheels so they can drive anywhere instead of being hauled around.
The main reason for all these changes is to make the work easier for the farmer and also a lot safer. In the current climate being a farmer is a part time job. Farmers often have a second job to supplement their income. Financially it’s not great but the rewards are very comforting.
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Tourism on Achill 2013
Is it that time of year already?! Here in Achill Tourism we can’t believe the summer is over, but we’ll look back on 2013 as a great year for the tourism industry on Achill Island, with footfall on the increase from both domestic and overseas visitors. Visitors travelled to Achill from as far afield as Sri Lanka, the reputation of Achill Island is definitely spreading! The glorious sunshine of July and August ensured the beaches were packed as locals and visitors alike absorbed their full quotas of Vitamin D in temperatures of up to a tropical 30 degrees. The Gathering was a great boost to the festivals and events calendar for the year, with festivals springing up all over the island throughout the season. Great family events such as The Achill Island Agricultural Show, Grace O’Malley and the Achill Connection, The Holistic Adventure Weekend, The Achill Island Sheep Show, The Dooega Family Festival, The Inishbiggle Festival, St Colman’s Garden Fete, Scoil Acla, The Achill Yawl Festival, The Heinrich Boll weekend amongst others, ensured that there was something for everyone in the Achill calendar this year, and made for a busy summer. Achill Tourism added to the jam packed summer with Give It A Go!, The Achill Half Marathon & 10k and Féile na Mara.
“Give It A Go” Weekend The weekend of June 15th and 16th was an adrenalin fuelled couple of days, with Give It A Go taking place. Thanks to the cooperation of Achill’s enthusiastic activity providers, we were able to offer locals and visitors fantastic activity taster sessions over the weekend. We had sessions of surfing, coasteering, windsurfing, biking, golf, kayaking, hiking, SUP, horse riding, holistic therapies and yoga available at greatly discounted prices to encourage people to get out and try as many fun activities as is humanly
By Siobhan Comerford
possible in two days! It was great to see so many locals and so many families getting stuck into the Give It A Go spirit. Hopefully the weekend has inspired the next generation of outdoor nuts to get out and try the great range of activities that are on our doorstep – who knows, maybe we have some potential world champions in our midst!
Elvery’s Sport Achill Half Marathon and 10K The eighth Elvery’s Sport Achill Marathon, and new 10k race, took place on Saturday July 6th on Achill Island, amid great excitement! The misty weather failed to dampen the spirits of organisers, volunteers or runners and a huge turnout ensured both races were packed to capacity. The addition of a 10k race meant that registrations were the highest seen for a number of years, with over 900 turning out for the main event and 600 taking off for the inaugural Achill 10k Run! Both races attracted athletes from all over the country and further afield, with some entrants making their way to Achill Island especially for the occasion from Norway, Spain, Holland and even Pittsburgh, USA. But these races were not just for the amateur runner! The calibre of athlete taking part in the event was evident in the times posted for both races. The 10km was won by Rob Cross in a time of 33.05, with second place coming in almost 1 full minute behind this fantastic time. The ladies were not to be outdone in the 10k race, with the first lady, Ilona McIlroy, home in a super 38.10 followed by Marie Hyland in 39.34. The elite athletes really came to the fore, however, in the longer distance with the course record for this challenging route broken for the
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second year in a row. The previous record set by Michael Shannon in 2012, of 1.11.56 was well and truly smashed by Freddy Sittuk who posted a time of 1.09.47, the Kenyan hardly breaking a sweat as he crossed the finish line!
The islanders were well represented in both races, with many of our dedicated volunteers abandoning ship to be on the other side of the barriers this year and complete the 10k race. The first Achill man over the line in the 10k was Brendan Kilbane, and the first Achill lady to finish was Margaret McDonagh. At the Half Marathon distance, the first Achill lady home was Amy Gallagher, while the first Achill male home on the 21km course was Darran Lovely. The organisers are delighted to have such a huge field of competitors, including high calibre elite athletes, travelling to Achill to take part and it seems that the reputation of the Elvery’s Sports Achill Half Marathon continues to grow each year. All in all, another fantastic day for sport on Achill Island and we are looking forward to July 5th 2014!!! Achill Féile na Mara
The 20th Annual Féile na Mara took place on Achill Island from July 19-21 amid glorious sunshine and Mediterranean conditions! The event kicked off on Friday night with a 5-course Gala Seafood Dinner in Mastersons Bar & Restaurant, Dugort, which was attended by more than 70 local people and visitors. Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Sport, Michael Ring TD, performed the official opening, and local councillors Micheál McNamara, Michael Holmes and Gerry Coyle also attended. Live music was provided by ‘Ice on Fire’ with plenty of dancing late into the night! The outdoor events organised for Féile na Mara benefitted from the fine weather with visitors basking in temperatures of 28-30 degrees Celsius all
weekend. Visitors to the Purteen Harbour market on Friday were using the gazebos as sunshades instead of rain shelters! The RNLI Lifeboat was moored there for guided tours, and an impressive display of forty of the various species of fish and shellfish that can be caught in the waters around Achill was put together by Gerry Hassett of Keem Bay Fish Products.
The sun shone again on Saturday, and a large crowd gathered in the morning for Annette O’Leary’s Seaweed Safari. They learned lots about the different types of sea vegetables that grow in abundance around our shores and their varying uses. Some yummy seaweed scones were scoffed before the intrepid shore explorers tackled the rock pools and the tidal zone at Purteen.
The ever-popular cookery demos took place on Saturday, with chefs from the Mulranny Park Hotel and Knockranny House Hotel conjuring up some fantastic seafood dishes before Celebrity Chef Neven Maguire of MacNean House in Blacklion took to the kitchen. Neven showed us how to get the most out of fresh, locally caught seafood with his mouth-watering recipes, and of course how to make his famous spun sugar creations! All the recipes from the demos are still available on www.feilenamara.com. Masterson’s was the venue again on Saturday evening for their own annual complimentary seafood tasting night.
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The highlight of the weekend was the Sunday boat trip to The Highest Sea Cliffs in Western Europe, aboard a packed to the gills ‘The Pirate Queen’. The trip lasted 3.5 hours and passengers were treated to some delicious smoked salmon and homemade brown bread on board, courtesy of Marine Harvest - the Irish Organic Salmon Company, Keem Bay Fish Products and Achill Country Market. The cliffs looked magnificent in the July sunshine, every bit of their 688m, and all the passengers thoroughly enjoyed the trip! The Sunday Seaweed Safari was again booked to capacity, with more hunter gatherers keen to get out and bring home their own bag of seaweed to cook with. It was great to see so many varied and family friendly festivals taking place on Achill this year, and we are all looking forward to the 2014
events calendar as much as you! The launch and promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Blueway water trails, and the continued success of the Great Western Greenway are ensuring that Achill is positioned at the forefront of tourism on the west coast for 2014, making us the focus of national and international attention. It is a very exciting time to be involved in the tourism industry in Ireland and we look
forward to making the most of next season!
Remember, we are open in Achill Sound from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Feel free to call in and pick up a copy of our weekly events flyer, stick up a poster on our noticeboard or just to say hello, we might even give you a cuppa!
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Ceardlann Drámaíochta ar an gCorrán.
’éagraigh Cumann Drámaíochta a Chorráin ceardlainne dhrámaíochta faoi stiúr Beartla Ó Flatharta i nGlór na dTonn ar an 19ú Deireadh Fómhair. Tá clú agus cáil ar Bheartla Ó Flatharta mar stiúrthóir. Oibríonn sé ar an gclár Rós na Rún agus tá sé mar bhall don chompánatas drámaíochta Aisteoirí Cois Fharraige. Déanann sé moltóireacht ag na féiltí drámaíochta ar fud na tíre agus tá go leor taithí ag Beartla bheith ag plé le cumainn drámaíochta ó cheann, ceann na tíre. D’fhreastal os cionn 30 rannpháirtí idir óg agus aosta ar an dhá cheardlann. Thosaigh an ceardlann do na páistí bunscoile ar a 11.00 r.n agus mhair sé ar feadh dhá uair a chloig. D’oibrigh Beartla le na daoine fásta ó 2.00 i.n go dtí a 6.00 i.n. Cé go raibh an cheardlann dian go leor, bhain gach duine an-taitneamh as agus bhí go leor gáire agus spraoi ann. Dhírigh Beartla ar fhorbairt carachtair i ndráma, an scéal sa dráma a insint, an guth agus blocáil . Míle buíochas do Maureen De Bhailis a réitigh na soláistí.
Bunaíodh Cumann Drámaíochta a’ Chorráin i 2010 . Anuraidh léirigh said an dráma “ Troubled Bachelors” faoi dhó agus bhí an halla Glór na dTonn lán go doras gach oíche.Faoi láthair tá baill an chompántais gríothach ag réiteadh agus ag cleachtadh don dráma úr nua a bheidh reidh le dul ar an ardán go luath san earrach.
Tá Cumann Drámaíochta a’ Chorráin fíor bhuíoch do Maria Mc Hale ó Chomhlacht Forbartha Iardheisceart Mhaigh Eo Teo a thug urraíocht don cheardlann.
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umann Drámaíochta a’ Chorráin hosted a drama workshop with Beartla Ó Flatharta on October 19th. Beartla Ó Flatharta is a very experienced and accomplished director. He works for TG 4’s flagship programme Rós na Rún and is a member of Cumann Drámaíochta Cois Fharraige, based in Connemara. He adjudicates on the national amateur drama festival circuit and has worked extensively with community drama groups nationwide. The children’s 2 hour workshop started at 11.00 a.m. It was a fun filled, action packed session. The afternoon session which was aimed for teenagers and adults was intensive but very enjoyable and informative with modules on character development, story, voice work and blocking. Thank you to Maureen Wallace who prepared refreshments on the day.
Cumann Drámaíochta a Chorráin were founded in 2010. Last year the group staged “ Troubled Bachelors” which sold out on both nights in Glór na dTonn. As the long winter evenings draw in the cast and crew are putting in the hours in preparation for their latest production which will be on stage in spring.
Cumann Drámaíóchta a’ Chorráin wish to thank sincerely Maria McHale and South West Mayo Development Company who provided funding for the work shop. Achill Link 2014 23
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Campaí Samhraidh
Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla Childrens Camps has been in operation for many years and each year we update our programmes and activities to ensure your child can participate in new and exciting activities as well as some of the old firm favourites. Not only do we offer great value for money, we offer your child a week of action, fun and adventure in a safe, secure and healthy environment. Our programmes have been fine-tuned through years of experience and feedback from parents and campers. For children ranging from 4 – 12 years old our activities include some of the following: Cooking, Painting, Arts & Crafts, Pottery making, Jewellery making and many more. Running throughout Easter, July, August and Halloween the camp is both an enjoyable and learning experience for children !
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Q : How did you survive the Congo? The Democratic Republic of Congo was not as grim as I had expected. Yes, there was little to eat, no electricity and no running water - nothing unusual there. On the other hand, DR Congo is an enormous country - about the size of the whole of western Europe. Ongoing conflicts have wiped out almost every trace of its limited colonial era development. So, getting from A to B is a bit tricky. I was taken to my remote mission station in a small UN turboprop plane, which had seen better days. That was a hairy experience. But, 700kms north of Kinshasa, in the middle of the equatorial rainforest, we landed on an isolated orange airstrip. That was a “slap myself” moment, thundering into the murky belly of the country immortalised in Joseph Conrad's “Heart of Darkness”. However, there is a bright side to the Congo too. It was here, in Mbandaka, that Roger Casement undertook the bulk of his now legendary exposés of the brutality of Belgian King Leopold’s army and so, in many ways, changed the history of Africa. Walking in his footsteps, not on the Antrim coast as I might reasonably have expected, but on the banks of the mighty Congo river, was an unforgettable experience. I ended up lodging in a small convent with Dominican nuns, where I was awoken daily before sunrise to an African chorus of melodic hymns floating into the morning air above the screeching and squawking cacophony of the jungle. It’s not all darkness out there! Q : What countries have you worked in and, looking back, has that work made a difference? I’ve worked in some of the more troubled places in the world; Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and, most recently, in Guinea. Wherever I go the appetite for democracy is undeniable. Where there are improvements in human rights and the rule of law, democracy is at play. I strongly believe in the efficacy of EOMs in influencing and facilitating change, but democratisation is nonetheless a very slow and painstaking process. Results are never visible overnight. I sometimes think of this work in terms of those who built the Pyramids. Their work was necessary, but most of them, the builders and the financiers, did not live to see the fruits of their endeavours. Such is life. Q : Having visited some extremely corrupt and dangerous places around the world how does it compare to the failures in this country? The enemy of accountable, honest and well behaving government everywhere is lack of transparency. The root of the problem in one country, however, is not necessarily the same as in another. For instance, issues of transparency in developing countries are difficult to tackle against a backdrop of poverty and high levels of illiteracy. But these are not excuses that can be fielded with any seriousness in countries like Ireland. So, it seems we may have other issues, which allow our politicians misbehave; perhaps indifference or apathy. Q : What is your next mission? I have nothing specific lined up yet, but 2014 is already looking like a potentially busy year. I have just returned from a challenging two month mission in Guinea so I am happy to take a break for a short while. Thankfully, Achill is the perfect place to recharge the batteries. After that, I'll be ready to roll once more.
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Dooagh Gaelic League Production of Casadh an tSúgáin By Dr E King This interesting photograph shows the main players in a Gaelic League production of Casadh an tSúgáin by Douglas Hyde, in Mrs Weddall’s hall, Dooagh, probably in 1914. They include back row John Kilcoyne, Dominick Lavelle, James Kilcoyne, Pat Mc Namara (Frank). Front row John Mc Namara Back Row: John Kilcoyne, Dominick Lavelle, (Lively) Darrell Figgis, James Kilcoyne,Pat McNamara (Frank) Pat Mc Namara (Tom Front Row: John McNamara (lively), Darrell Figgis, Owen). Pat McNamara (Tom Owen) In the centre of the photograph is seated Darrell Figgis who was involved in producing the play. He was an interesting if controversial writer and member of Sinn Fein, who first came to Achill in 1909. He had been born into an Anglo-Irish family in Dublin in 1882. His father was a tea broker and importer in Calcutta, where he set up the firm of A.W. Figgis and Company. Darrell Figgis however was sent back to Dublin for his education and as a young man he moved to London to work with his uncle in the tea import business. He developed a preference for writing however, and became a journalist and literary critic and worked for the publishing house Dent. His writing career started favourably with a collection of poems “A Vision of Life” in 1909 which was praised by G.K. Chesterton. There followed a novel “Browww.bourkewaste.ie ken Arcs” then a critical study of Shakespeare. Figgis was inspired by the writings of Synge, Stephens, and other writers of the Gaelic Re• FIRST CLASS HOUSEHOLD vival movement which had been founded by WHEELIE BIN SERVICE Douglas Hyde. He first visited Achill in 1909, • FULL RANGE OF COMMERCIAL possibly because of family connections, his SERVICES AVAILABLE cousin Samuel Figgis leasing the bungalow in Keel from Mr Hector. In Achill he met other • SKIP HIRE (PROMPT Gaelic revival enthusiasts including Mrs Emily DELIVERY GUARANTEED) Weddall, Claude Chavasse, Thomas O’Raghallaigh, Francis Hugh Power (An Pao• SKIP BAGS (IDEAL FOR rach), and was one of the founders of Scoil SMALL CLEAR OUTS ETC) Acla. Figgis would spend long periods in Achill writing his novels and poems, many directly inCall us and find out more about our complete range of services spired by his surroundings, (CUSTOMER SERVICE GUARANTEED)
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An Bogagh Bán, Sliabh Mór and Inishgallún, and his novel “Children of The Earth” written in 1915. It drew from local characters, folklore and language comparable to Synge’s writing. Figgis was also drawn into the Nationalist cause and joined the Sinn Féin party. He took part in drilling the Achill Battalion of the Irish Volunteers, and took on the tenant’s side in the struggle for a fair deal with The Achill Mission Estate. In 1913 Figgis acquired his own plot of land from The Mission Estate and built his cottage at Pollagh which he called “Mullagh na gCreaghaun”. Following the successful importation of arms by Carson for The Ulster Volunteers at Larne early in 1914, Darrell Figgis was appointed by Roger casement to go to Hamburg to purchase arms for the Sinn Féin Irish Volunteers. In a series of undercover meetings, Figgis succeeded in acquiring 1,000 rifles with ammunition in Hamburg which was loaded onto Erskine Childers yacht “The Asgard” on July 12th 1914. The yacht miracously evaded British gun boats and sailed into Howth Harbour where it was met by 1,000 volunteers led by Bulmer Hobson, Sean MacGarry, Cathal Brugha and Darrell Figgis. Figgis returned to Achill where he was closely watched by the British authorities, and although he was not involved in the rising in 1916, he was arrested in “The Mullagh” in Easter week and taken to Castlebar Gaol. He was subsequently transferred to Richmond Gaol in Dublin, where DeValera, Sean MacDiarmada and Count Plunkett were held awaiting their fate. Figgis was then transferred to Stafford Gaol in England and onwards to Reading Gaol. Following his release, Figgis became a member of the Sinn Féin Executive and set about the organisation of Sinn Féin into local cumanns and the setting up of departmental portfolios. He was involved in the election campaign which returned Arthur Griffith for Sinn Féin in the Cavan by-election in 1918. Figgis was elected to the Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Féin in June 1919. In May 1918, Figgis and other members of the Sinn Féin Executive were again rounded up and arrested and taken to Gloucester Gaol and onwards to Lincoln Gaol and the Durham Gaol. Figgis took the side of Griffith and Collins during the Anglo-Irish Treaty and was appointed as ViceChairman of the committee to draw up a new constitution for the Irish Free State. This was adopted by the third Dáil in October 1922. Figgis was elected to Dáil Éireann in June 1922 and was returned in 1923. He had a somewhat abrasive and brittle personality, and had falling outs with many of his contemporaries including DeValera and Collins. He was a brilliant administrator, and had a formidable grasp of detail. His personal life ended in sadness and tragedy: His wife Millie took her own life dramatically by shooting herself with a Webly revolver in the back seat of a taxi cab at Rathfarnham. Figgis’s other love Rita North died from septicaemia following an induced abortion in London in October 1925. Some days later on October 28th 1925, Darrell Figgis was found dead in his gas filled bedroom in a boarding house in Bloomsbury
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Achill’s Green Schools
reen-Schools, known internationally as Eco-Schools, is an international environmental education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, L-R: Ross Mooney, J.P Lavelle, Michael Mcwhole school action for the environment. Namara, Dean McNamara, Marie McNulty, Cameron Simpson, Charlie O’Malley, Shane Reilly
Back L-R: Michael Joe Scanlon, Farrell Gallagher, Pauric Molloy, Majella Ui Ghallachobhair, Front L-R: Mia Lavelle-Cafferkey, Mary McNulty, Peter O’Malley, Martin Kane.
The programme itself has seven steps which must be completed before an award is granted. At the end of two years the effectiveness of the programme within the school community is assessed and if successful the school is awarded a Green flag. The seven steps of the programme are 1. Green-Schools Committee 2. Environmental Review 3. Action Plan 4. Monitoring and Evaluation 5. Curriculum Work 6. Informing and Involving 7. Green Code At present three schools in the parish are involved in the Green Schools programme. Bullsmouth N.S, Bunacurry N.S and Dooagh N.S and have successfully achieved Green Flag Status
Over 3,700 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland are currently participating part in the programme and over 2,785 schools have been awarded the Green Flag. The Irish GreenSchools programme is one of the most successful within the international network. One of the main factors in the success of the Irish Green-Schools programme is the partnership between the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and Local Authorities. Most of the Local Authorities (City & County Councils) have an Environmental Education Officer (EEO). These officers provide the invaluable on the ground support to schools undertaking the programme. The Green School Programme, uses a themed approach . The themes include 1. Litter & Waste 2. Energy Pictured receiving their third green flag are some members of the Green School 3. Water Committee from Bunnacurry N.S. Achill. Included in the picture are: Front row (l-r) 4. Travel Laura Heneghan (An Taisce), Saoirse Ní Eochaidh, Leah Ní Chathasaigh, Erín Ní 5. Biodiversity Chorracáin, Sharon Cameron (Environment Awareness Officer M.C.C). Back row 6. Global Citizenship. (l-r) Damien Kilbane (Green School Co-ordinator, Bunnacurry N.S), Mary Forde (Assistant Environment Awareness Officer M.C.C) Achill Link 2014 30
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Johnny Kilbane
ohnny Kilbane was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1889. His father John was born in Achill Beg and emigrated to Cleveland in the 1880’s but he still had strong connections with the island. Kilbane's first professional fight in boxing was in 1907, a fight in which he made $25. When Kilbane won the world title in 1912 after beating Abe Atell in California, a crowd of 200,000 people welcomed the world champion back to Cleveland on St Patrick’s Day. He held the featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history. One hundred years on, Kilbane is still regarded as a sporting legend in Cleveland and one of the
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most popular sporting icons in the city. Kilbane would then go on to referee boxing matches after retiring from boxing, as well as operating a gym, serving in the Ohio General Assembly and as Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court. He died on 31st of May 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio. To mark the centenary of Johnny Kilbane's first world championship success a long weekend of events (7th-10th of June 2012) was planned in Achill, home of Johnny's father, including a statue being placed in his honour on Achill Island. The statue was unveiled at Patten’s Bar, Dereens by his great-grandson Kevin O’Toole.
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DÁILIA
DAHLIA
An í seo an dáilia is mó in Éirinn? Bhí sí 4 troigh Could this have been the largest dahlia in Ireland. On the 13th October 2013 when it was trí orlach in airde, agus ós cionn naoi troigh photographed in Keel it was 4’ 3” high and over leathan. Tógadh an gríangraf seo i gCaol ar an 9’ in width. 13ú Dheire Fómhair 2013.
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Davitt Quarter, Achill Sound Achill Link 2014 33 Page 37 of 88
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Achill Local Training Initiative at Purteen Harbour
he weather could not have been better the day the RNLB “Sam and Ada Moody” pulled into Purteen Harbour. To start the Seafood Festival weekend on Achill Island, the RNLI brought the Lifeboat to the small fishing harbour to allow everybody a chance to board and be brought around the lifesaving vessel. However, even in the flat calm waters, the boat was, as always on call. Therefore, there had to be the compulsory five crew members on hand. The boat is designed to take seven crew, and cannot sail without at least five, three of which have to be, a navigator, a coxswain and a skipper. The vessel weighs in at a hefty twenty three tons and then carries at least four tons of fuel. It has two 850hp “MAN marine” diesel engines and has a range of about 250 miles. When the boat is running at full speed, it uses 350 litres of fuel an hour. All the crew are strapped into special “jet fighter” type seats, adjusted to the weight of each individual, because of the dangers of high speed on rough seas. Unbelievably, each crew member is a volunteer, and gives up so much of their own time in order to assist and save people in trouble on the seas around our west
By Liam Donnelly coast. The Achill Lifeboat and crew deserve our donations and admiration, but most of all, they deserve our total respect. I found it to be both a humbling and fascinating couple of hours at Purteen, and wish our crew and The “Sam and Ada Moody” Godspeed and protection.
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How Technology Has Changed Our Lives in Just 10 Years By Daniel O’Reilly
Q: How has technology changed in the past 10 years? A: The biggest technology change of the last 10 years is the internet and how it is used in mainstream society. The internet grew to become what it is today the de-facto (in fact, whether right or not) medium for human communication.
Q: Why has it changed? A: The internet is a better catch for today’s mainstream life, before we had post, telephones, newspapers, encyclopaedias, libraries, record albums, radio, television, and cinema (movie theatre). Most of these were slow, cumbersome and controlled by a relative minority (e.g. An Post, Telecom/Eircom). The internet is fast, affordable, and widely available and people seem to have a desire to share, to be liked and to be known. The internet age is customisable, on-demand, instantaneous.
Q: Is it all good or not? A: Everything is a trade-off. The internet speeds up many areas of our life and sometimes that can be a scary thing in today’s world. However, the good outweighs the bad. Over time the global nature of internet will help normalise the standards of living around the world. This might be unhelpful to some nations in the short term, but in the long term it is good for everyone.
Q: What will technology be like 10 years from now? A: Ten years from now we'll be interacting with devices (and by extension, each other) using computers that will be able to track our eye movements, senses the motion of our bodies, and possibly even reads our thoughts. It sounds like science fiction, but there are companies who are already competing in these areas. It would not be surprising to see advances in sense areas that are currently ignored - i.e. taste, touch and smell. It might be more than 10+ years before we start seeing these additions into the world, or it could be a lot sooner than we expect, research into new technology has been growing and becoming more rapid since the 1st and the 2nd World Wars.
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Dubh Eige, Acaill, Co. Mhuigh Eo. Contact: Máirtín Ó Mongáin Mob: 086 2310377 Email: colaisteacla@eircom.net Website: www.colaisteacla.com
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Kenny Cleveland_Layout 1 08/11/2013 14:54 Page 1
Achill group receive top honours after 10 years
Ten years later and the Achill Cleveland twinning project is still rolling from stride to stride. This October the people of Achill, both at home and abroad were honoured at a reception held in the Federal Court Buildings in downtown Cleveland on Thursday evening October 10th. Judge Patricia Gaughan, Collins & Scanlon Law firm and President of Cleveland City Council, Martin J Sweeney co-hosted the event which marked formally 10 years of being “Sister Cities”. The event was a triumph. Terence Dever, CEO of CFÁA handed over a specially commissioned pottery clock to the President of Cleveland City Council Cllr. Martin Sweeney before speaking about what this project has meant to both communities over the last decade. This reception was the first in a series of events which took place in Cleveland to celebrate the twinning and the Annual Mayo Cleveland Ball. The Achill delegation attended three days of meetings with companies and organisations who are looking at European expansion. These companies had been identified in the previous months by CFÁA and much ground work had taken place before the actual meetings to ensure they would be suitable. It is clear to me that as a community we have much to offer potential investors, we have modern facilities, a skilled talent pool of Achill people, some of whom are presently unemployed and there are others who are employed in other locations, that if there were appropriate jobs for them in Achill they would happily move back. Moreover than most, we can offer a wonderful quality of life that simply cannot be competed with in other urban, high cost centres. Pat Kilbane, Chairman of CFÁA addressed a gathering at the Westside Irish American Club on Friday night, October 11th along with Cathaoirleach John O’Malley of Mayo County Council and John O’Brien President of the West Side Irish American Club. Pat spoke at this event of the need for positive action in terms of attaining sustainable jobs for Achill. The visiting delegation were hopeful that there are strong prospects for an inspection trip to be arranged by one of the companies in the coming months to view the industrial park in Bunnacurry and see what the Parish of Achill
By Kenneth Deery has to offer. Terence Dever has stated that as the local Development Company we will move mountains to make it work if we thought that we would have a company willing to look at Achill. The Mayo Cleveland Ball was an immense success, attended by some 500 guests and addressed by Minister Michael Ring, Cathaoirleach O’Malley, Peter Hynes County Manager and myself. Irishtv.ie was in attendance for the series of events and an hour long programme has been produced and aired, charting the events of this year’s visit. It is clear to me as someone who has been involved in this project over the last couple of years that substantial potential exists to harness a long lasting benefit of some sort for the people of Achill, particularly economically. The genuine interest and enthusiasm that exists in Ohio and Cleveland in particular for all things Achill is truly heart warming and the Irish TV documentary has captured this perfectly. Plans are afoot and meetings have already taken place to arrange the world convention of Mayo Associations which will take place in Cleveland at the end of September 2014. The key challenge and priority for Achill is to be well positioned and ready to take advantage for the potential coming out of this year’s trip and what will be generated at next year’s world convention. We will do everything in our power to make sure what can be captured for Achill, will be captured.
Kenny Deery & Sean Hardy
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My Return To Achill By Gerry Quinn
It had been 12 years since my last visit to Achill Island, and I cannot understand why it took me so long to return. Maybe it is because Cleveland, Ohio is so immersed in Achill history that it did not seem necessary. My visit this time was to attend the 10th Anniversary of the twinning of Achill with Cleveland, Ohio. It was a significant event that highlighted the close ties between both communities. The late Steve Mulloy was represented by his son, T.J., and the late Con Mangan was represented by his wife, Kathleen. Steve and Con conceived and implemented the project from start to finish in 2003. The entire staff of CFÁA was present and they clearly demonstrated their commitment to expanding the influence of Achill on an ever-changing Ireland. It was not long ago that the Celtic Tiger’s roar was heard throughout the world. That roar is somewhat subdued today. However, here in Achill there is an energetic enthusiasm that may re-ignite the fiery growth that was once the Celtic Tiger. The beauty of this Western land is still breathtakingly captivating. I experienced sunshine, wind and rain during my visit. It all underscored the incredible variety of scenes and landscapes in this unique Irish habitat. The people are still the magic that makes it unique. Ask for directions if you need to, and you will find yourself in a conversation with an O’Malley, a Dever, a McNamara, Mulloy, or Gallagher. Usually they have a close relative in Cleveland, which will prolong the conversation substantially. I was fortunate to be escorted around the island by one of Achill’s most enlightened and enthusiastic residents – Terence Dever, CEO – CFÁA. Terence walks, talks, lives and breathes every hour of the day about his home on Ireland’s most westerly point. He knows every turn of the scenic roads, who lives in the houses, who used to live in them. But when the conversation turns to industrial and commercial development, this NUI-Galway graduate becomes doubly energized. He speaks about the opportunities available for business in Achill - the world-renowned tax advantages, the technology available, the infrastructure that’s been built this past decade, and the young, educated workforce that is anxiously waiting to put their many skills to work. His message is loud and clear – “Achill is open for business – we will not disappoint you. Locate your business here!” A visit to Achill is never complete without a visit with Kate O’Malley at the Cliff House, or a
welcome at Alice’s. I stayed at “Achill Lodge”, owned by the Deery family, and the accommodations and hospitality could not have been better. Some say it rains in Achill, and that it may discourage business. I say it rains in Seattle, and it never discouraged Microsoft! Could Achill sustain a computer giant like Seattle did? Terence Dever says, “Of course, it can!” Achill has something else you will not find in many parts of the country – it’s called the Greenway. Take a bike ride on this over 26-mile (42 kilometre) designated bikeway and enjoy the myriad of plants, flowers, and gorgeous landscape. I really believe the poet knew true beauty when he wrote, “It’s the last place God created, but the first place that he blessed.” Yes, this little corner of God’s green earth has been blessed with many gifts and graces. My hope is to see it grow and prosper in ways that so many of its exiles longed to see. If Ireland is on your holiday agenda this year, make sure that Achill is one of your stops. You may not want to leave.
Gerry Quinn, Cathaoirleach John O’Malley, Bridgie Ann Davitt
Terence Dever, James Kilbane, Gerry Quinn, Katie Sweeney, Kevin Corrigan, Kenneth Deery
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Cleveland in Achill 2013
(photo by Michael Donnelly)
James Kilbane and Sean Molloy
Conall McNamra, John McNamra, Cathaoirleach John O’Malley, Michael Lavelle, Cian McNamra
Achill Cleveland Twinning 10 year Commemorative clock
Kathleen McCreedy, Celine and Al O’Leary
Kenneth Deery, Cathaoirleach John O’Malley
County Manager Peter Hynes, Terence Dever
Front Row: Bridgie Ann Davitt, Majella Uí Ghallachobhair, TJ Molloy, Kathleen Mangan, Cathaoirleach John O’Malley , Joanne Grehan, Gerry Quinn Back Row: Kate O'Malley, Cllr Michael Holmes, Peter Hynes, Cllr Kieran Gavin, Kenneth Deery Cllr Michael McNamara, Irene Gielty, Terence Dever
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Achill in Cleveland 2013
Terence Dever, Lee & Jim Brennan
Meeting with Mayor Jackson. Valerie McCall, Kenneth Deery, Colleen Corrigan Day, Mayor Jackson, Minister Micheal Ring, Aidan Cronin, Pat Kilbane, Terence Dever Photo By Clare Walters City of Cleveland Photographic Bureau 500 Lakeside Ave., 4th Floor Cleveland, OH 44114 216.664.2546
Minister Michael Ring & Maura O’Donnell McCarthy
Pat Kilbane, Kathleen Mangan, Minister Michael Ring Paul & Marie McHugh & Cathaoirleach John O’Malley
Gerry Quinn & Bill Conway
Terence Dever, Bridgie Conway, Mnister Michael Ring, Manus Conway, Patricia Fitzpatrick, Kenneth Deery, Ed Fitzpatrick, Councillor Blackie Gavin Achill Link 2014 43
Created by Patricia Booth
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Achill-Cleveland Twinning Celebrates Ten Years By Colleen Corrigan Day
The 10th anniversary events for the Twinning were held last August in Achill, Co. Mayo followed in October in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. For the visitors to Cleveland there was an invite to the Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland Annual Ball during which Achill-Cleveland Twinning event was recognized. United States Federal Judge Patricia Gaughan along with Tom Scanlon, Esq. hosted a large group of Cleveland guests, along with guests from Achill and Mayo in the Cleveland Federal Courthouse. The Twinning was recognized in a formal presentation by Cleveland City Council President Martin J. Sweeney. The West Side Irish American Club located in Olmsted Township, Ohio, John O’Brien Sr., Kathleen Mangan and Helen Mulloy, prepared a wonderful welcome for the Achill and Mayo guests.
Achill-Cleveland families and friends were present to witness the dual clock unveiling, one clock on Achill time and one on Cleveland time. The presentation was made by Patrick Kilbane of the Achill-Cleveland committee and John O’Malley, Chairman of the Mayo County Council to John O’Brien and the West Side Irish American Club. Anne Mulloy and her family were present, as well as Kathleen Mangan’s family, both their husband’s Steve Mulloy and Con Mangan, now deceased, were a foundational part of the original twinning ten years ago.
Over the last ten years, the exchanges between these two communities have grown in educational exchanges, community awareness, and business and tourism connections. There are many more opportunities for our two communities to strengthen and develop this powerful relationship.
There is an estimated 200,000 out of 800,000 of the total Cleveland population that claim to have Achill ancestry. This group are strongly represented at all levels in Cleveland business and public life as well as in trade unions and the construction industry.
There are stones commemorating these Twinning Events on the East Bank of the Flats, Cleveland, OH (in front of the Flat Iron Cafe /next to the Irish Famine Memorial), and there is a stone past the bridge on the way into Achill, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Cleveland is currently working on a memorial statue to Johnny Kilbane, World Champion Boxer born in Cleveland with Achill roots. These efforts are in the early stages working with the Cleveland Irish Archives Association, Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland and the Detroit Shore way/Gordon Square Arts District.
Congratulations to the Achill-Cleveland Twinning on its 10th Anniversary.
Brian Day, Minister Michael Ring, Colleen Corrigan Day
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Achill-Cleveland Full Pg ad_Layout 1 08/11/2013 15:00 Page 1
Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland Invites you to
Attend the World Convention of Mayo Societies and Associations September 26, 27, & 28, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio Enjoy the many attractions of our city including: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Cleveland Museum of Art Crawford Auto - Aviation Museum Great Lakes Science Center Rockefeller & Garfield Memorials Lake Erie Cruises Golf at Private Country Club More information will soon be available on our website clevelandmayosociety.org Phone - 216-210-3055
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Achill Boxing Club
Contact Ken Quinn Phone 083 124 9375 Email: kenquinn@live.ie Facebook: Achill Boxing Club
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You always remember the first time, right?
By Padraig McCaul
Well the first painting workshop I ran on Achill Island was pretty special...I'd been hoping for a nice sized group, maybe six or seven, enough to create a good dynamic and to ensure some good interaction over the two days of the workshop. The room I'd booked could easily cater for more if any latecomers showed up looking for a place, plus I'd brought in a few extra easels, made sure I had plenty of brushes and paints and canvases. By my own standards I was well organised. My first confirmed booking had been taken nearly two months before the start of the workshop and there had been a steady flow of interest. This was going to work.
Sort of. As it turned out, despite all the interest, that first booking was the one and only! The dates didn't suit, a partner couldn't get the time off, 'we'll do it next month instead'... Lots of excuses, but only one person signed up.. It was going to be a long weekend...!
But it turned out to be very special weekend. The lady that had booked, let's call her Catherine, turned out to be one of those people you meet in your life that make you feel better for just having been in their company. Catherine was a pensioner, and recently widowed. A born and bred Dubliner with a warm heart.
Catherine had been coming to Achill every year to paint for longer than she would admit. For two weeks each year she would come with her husband and paint the Minaun Cliffs, Keem Bay, Croghaun, Keel Beach...She was passionate about Achill. It had got under her skin, she had the bug! Her husband didn't paint but would accompany her each day, sit and read the paper in the car and together in the evening they would discuss the day's painting. On one such day her husband suffered a massive heart attack and died. She had lost her companion and friend on those painting trips.
But Catherine continued to come to Achill, on her own, to paint and to remember her husband. Some friends tried to dissuade her, they couldn't understand why she would come all that way on her own, to a place where 'it always rained' (not true!), and was so remote and isolated. They didn't see the beauty of the island, they just didn't 'get Achill' the way some people do and that makes them return time after time. But Catherine did.
And so this particular weekend she spent it with me. She was the gentlest character you could wish to meet. She was constantly apologising for taking too much of my time or for asking too many questions! I had to keep reminding her that she had in fact paid for the weekend and therefore could ask me as many questions or take as much of my time as she wanted. We spent the mornings at Keem Bay and Keel and Dookinella, sketching and drawing before heading back to Ted's function room where we painted for the rest of the day, stopping at lunchtime for a bowl of their legendary homemade soup and brown bread.
She told me stories about the many times she and her husband had come to Achill, about the painting classes she had attended on the island and how previous tutors would arrive in the morning to give a short demonstration... then leave, and let the class work away on their own for the rest of the day! I started to get a much better idea about how I was going to run my own workshops, and from her I got a sense of what was working and what wasn't.
The workshops have developed since then but the one thing that doesn't seem to change is the type of people that attend them. Without exception I tend to attract warm hearted, generous, friendly people who want to spend a few days painting, enjoy their time on the island and make some new friends in the process. And that's why I find myself looking forward to the start of the 'season' every year, wondering about the people who will attend and what stories I'll be priveleged to be part of for a few days. Achill Link 2014 48
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The Achill Marathons_Layout 1 12/11/2013 10:42 Page 1
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The Achill Marathons
013 saw Achill host four major athletic events, the Achill Half Marathon, the Achill Ultra, the Achill Roar and the Currane Challenge. First off was the 8th annual Achill Half Marathon, which this year included a 10km walk or run. The half marathon took place on the 6th of July in Keel with a total of over 1400 participants competing. In typical Achill fashion the weather was wet but that didn’t deter the runners and walkers. The first person across the line for the half marathon was Freddy Sittuk, who came in at 1:09:47, followed 16 seconds later by Gary O’Hanlon at 1:10:03. The 10km race, a new addition to this year’s events was certainly a success with just over 500 people choosing to take part. First to arrive back at camp for the 10k was Sean Murphy, who came in just over half hour after the race started at 33:05, followed closely by Paddy O’Toole at 33:57. Two men came from America specifically for the marathon. The duo travel to different countries every year and enjoyed Achill and its atmosphere. Next up on the athletic calendar was the first annual Achill Ultra Marathon on August 24th. This newly established race incorporated a half marathon, a full and an ultra-marathon to make it extra tough, which consisted of 3 half marathons. This was also Achill’s first full marathon. The brainchild of Donna and Caroline McLoughlin, who are seasoned runners, the race saw runners battle harsh weather and tough hills to be awarded hand crafted medals. The course started in Achill Sound at HyBreasal and ended there many hours later. The runners made their way up Shraheens, on to Dereens and Cloughmore and eventually made their way to the Atlantic Drive where they were awarded a fantastic view of Ashleam Bay and the sea. They then made their way into Dooega and then back to Achill Sound. The Ultra marathon attracted many competitors from all around the world with a family coming all the way from America to participate. The father ran the ultra race, the mother ran the full marathon and the teenage daughter ran the half marathon. The entry fees were donated to Croí. Achill Link 2014 50 Page 54 of 88
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The third event to take place on the island was th the Achill Roar, which took place on the 7 of September. The race consisted of a swim or kayak, a run and then a cycle. The event was broken into 3 categories, the Mini Roar, Sport Roar and the Expert Roar. Each Roar consisted of swim or kayak, a run and then a cycle. In total over 420 people took part. The Expert Roar was won by Killian Heery who finished the race in 2hrs 35mins, Dean Gillespie was the winner of the Sport Roar and came in at 1hr 19mins and finally the Mini Roar was won by Andrew Cooke who crossed the line in just 47 minutes.
The Currane Challenge was the final athletic event to take place in the parish of Achill in th 2013. The challenge occurred on October 5 in aid of the Carer’s Association. The race comprised of a 30km cycle around the Currane Peninsula and then a 6km run or walk up Currane Hill. In addition each competitor raised at least €50 for The Carer’s Association. The overall winner of the challenge was Brendan Conway, who passed the finish line in just 1hr 17mins. After the success of this year’s marathons, Achill is making a name for itself in the field of athletics!
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Shane Cannon Artist / Surfer by Emmet Callaghan Shane Cannon hails from Keel, Achill Island and makes his living on the island. Shane describes his job title as Artist / Surfer. I met with Shane recently in CFÁA to have a short interview about his work and how Achill has influenced it. I started by talking to Shane about his Art and what age he discovered his ability, Shane told me that growing up in the Western Light Art Gallery was a great stepping stone into his life as an artist, as a child he had been noticed painting on the ground by Artists passing through the Gallery while other children were playing with toy cars and dolls, Shane had a canvas and paint.
While speaking to Shane about his latest body of work titled ”Visual Rhythm and Emotional Resonance”, Shane touched on how he believes that every body of work he creates is unique and integral to the work of his Art. Shane created his latest body of work during a winter on Achill and believes the positive emotions resonate through his pieces.
I attended the opening of Shane’s exhibition on a sweltering 20th July in the Western Light Gallery where a large crowd gathered to view Shanes new body of work, I could see that people were extremely interested in the colour and texture of the pieces, this was all accompanied by the beautiful music of classical guitarist Redmond O’Toole.
Artists play many roles in society and Shane enjoys being able to support local charities and chooses a number of these every year to help out using his art.
Achill people have always taking pride in the work of local artists and of those who have gone before us leaving a stamp on the history of the area.
Shane and I then spoke about his life as a surfer and how he first found his love for surfing while attending a summer camp on
Keel Lake, and how he started out windsurfing and did so for 7 years. Shane reflected on memories of leaving Art college early on a Friday evening and hitching down to Achill to catch a swell, Shane created a positive connection with the water and believes that no matter what, time is the most important thing to him and how we use the time we have is paramount. As Shane spoke about his surfing experiences all around Europe,he told me Achill Island is by far his favourite place to surf.
At the age of 21 Shane set up his own business “Surf Coach” teaching people how to surf on Keel beach. He felt this was a great experience starting your own business and running it from start to finish, he also has seen the benefits of his work as he meets people who he has taught over the years, still surfing. Early in September Shane was shortlisted for the Budweiser Dream Job. The competition was run by Budweiser to find a person to support in their field with a prize fund of €45,000. Shane made the final 5 of over a thousand entries.
Shane told me he had seen the competition online, using a promo video for an upcoming exhibition launch and a short paragraph about what he does he sent away the application only to be contacted some weeks later with the news that he had been shortlisted for the final 10. The process then
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moved on with another judging panel and Shane was selected for the final 5 and this was where the election style campaign began. The campaign began in earnest with Facebook requests flying around the world like wildfire, YouTube videos being shot on location from Keem bay to the Achill Head Hotel Night Club, there was no avoiding the campaign.
Shane took a professional approach to this competition using all his experience in marketing to help him gather votes in the short space of two weeks.
In the end Shane came 2nd missing out by only 400 votes. Reflecting on the experience Shane says the campaign and exposure was invaluable and has renewed interest in his work. He got the same “fired up and ready to go” feeling after the competition as he had coming out of Art College.
After speaking with Shane I got the feeling that this Artist / Surfer is one extremely motivated person looking in only one direction, forward. I pushed Shane on upcoming projects but needless to say he was keeping tight lipped but assured me there was new projects on the way and to watch this space.
If you would like to know any more about Shane you can check: www.achill-island.com
shane thewanderingalbatros cannon @shanecannon
Shane Cannon YouTube channel.
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Relay for Life August 2013
T
he Achill Relay for Life, in association with the Irish Cancer Society, was the brainchild of Michael Edward Lavelle from Bunnacurry, a cancer patient himself, who wanted to give something back. He told the Mayo News “I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in October 2008” and he has been fighting the battle against cancer since. He said “I always wanted to do something for cancer awareness and support, I started phoning people and everyone on the committee was only too willing to help out when I asked them” The committee members have all been affected in some way by cancer. Packie McGinty, Cathal McLoughlin, Noreen Gallagher, Cathy Lynchehaun and Micheál McNamara who started working on the event back in May 2013. The Relay runs for 24 hours and the reason behind that is that cancer goes for 24 hours, it doesn't stop to sleep. With Relay we’re trying to send a message of hope, hope to celebrate the survivors, remember those that have lost the battle and most importantly to fight this disease as best we can. The opening ceremony of Relay for Life began with cancer survivors doing the first lap of the pitch. They were piped around the pitch by local Achill pipers. The teams (27 teams in total, much more than the committee, except for Packie, expected!), then followed the survivors around the pitch. All of the teams involved in the Relay were asked to do something on the day to fundraise for Relay. Teams set up stalls, selling everything from boxty to books, and each team was well supported by both the community and the other team members. There was weekends away, ro-
dent roulette, books and paintings up for grabs, and there was plenty of tea and sandwiches on sale for the 24 hours. Thanks to all the teams for the great effort they put in. The next ceremony to take place at Relay was the Candle of Hope Ceremony. This was a very moving experience for all who were there. The Candle of Hope bags had been on sale around the community in various shops/bars and churches. The Achill GAA football team helped the committee members to place the candles into the bags and leave them on display in the stand at Davitt Park. This was very much appreciated by the committee. There was a poem read by Maeve Molloy and another by our committee member Micheál McNamara. The lights around the event were all switched off for this ceremony and the teams and survivors walked a lap in total silence.
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This was both an eerie and emotional part of the Relay for survivors and community members alike. Unfortunately, the weather turned on the event after the Candle of Hope Ceremony, with strong winds blowing down many of the tents that the teams were using to sell their wares, the community came together and helped out teams that were struggling to keep their stalls from blowing away, every stall had to be taken down for safety and moved into the marquee. This did not deter the teams from continuing the Relay, there were still team members walking the pitch in the howling wind and rain. Throughout the 24 hours there was live entertainment with music by James Kilbane and Scoil Acla, Cheers and the Mulloy Brothers. Achill Rovers had their table quiz in the marquee. Boot Camp Insomnia by Fired Up and Fit Exercise Club took place at midnight with many brave souls bearing the brunt of the weather. Football 4 Girls took to the pitch for a match on Saturday morning and Achill Rovers set up a penalty shoot out. There really was something for everyone to enjoy while supporting a very vital fundraising event. The Closing Ceremony was again a very significant part of Relay, with the Survivors leading the way on the last lap and all the Teams, with all their team members walked the last lap of
the pitch together. This was a fantastic sight to behold, looking at crowds of people walking around the pitch with the teams spanning from goal post to goal post. This event was more successful than anyone could ever have imagined. Michael Edward Lavelle (Chairman) thanked everyone involved, all the volunteers who helped make the event so successful, he thanked his committee members for their hard work and all the teams that got so involved with not only their time but lots of hard work too. As the event was wrapping up, 200 purple and orange balloons were released indicating the end of a brilliant 24 hours of community spirit, co operation and hard work by all involved.
Relay for Life Achill are hoping to make this an annual event, we hope we have helped raise awareness about cancer, helping people to re-
member those lost, to help fight back against the disease and to celebrate the survivors that are still with us.
By Cathy Lynchehaun & Noreen Sweeney
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Mayo All-Ireland Minors victory
he Mayo Minors had not won an All-Ireland since 1985. Making it 28 years without a Minor Title in Mayo. This All-Ireland was a very special one because Mayo had both Minors and Seniors hitting off to Croke Park on Sunday 22nd September 2013. The build-up to the All-Ireland in Mayo, words just couldn’t describe the atmosphere in Mayo. Posters and flags decorated the country side, even cars were painted green and red, some people went further by painting their windows and changing outside light blubs to green and red. The bridge on Achill Island had red and green lights, it looked absolutely class. Creative enthusiasm flourished throughout the county, there was a van converted into a traditional Irish cottage entertaining motorists on their way from Newport to Castlebar, sheds and outbuildings adorned the Mayo colours. The county was a sea of green and red prior to the All-Ireland finals. The Thursday before the All-Ireland, there was an event in the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar, called Up For The Match, it was a chat show where people were interviewed and parents of the team members spoke of the atmosphere in the house with only a few days to the big game. Some of the parents had 2 or even 3 sons playing in AllIreland finals. The management and captains of each team spoke about the build –up, preparation and feeling in the Mayo camp.There were young singers from Mayo who composed their own songs supporting Mayo, performing on stage. At end of the night 20 All-Ireland tickets were raffled so we had additional excitement as tickets were hard to get. The cost of the evening was €15 including being in with a chance to get All-Ireland tickets. Money raised for the night went to the Mayo teams. The day of the All-Ireland beckoned Mayo fans from all over Ireland travelled to Dublin for the big game, this was a very special day for the Mayo fans fielding two teams trying for All-
By Patricia Booth
Ireland medals. First up to contend for medals were the Mayo Minors, they were taking on Tyrone at 1:15 followed at 3:30 by the Senior Team challenging Dublin. The Minor match was eventful and Mayo were ahead going into half time, they kept the lead into the full time and through the additional time added for injury. The Mayo supporters were on the edge of their seats until the referee blew the final whistle and Mayo had won against Tyrone.This was the first Minors All-Ireland title in 28 years. The celebrations started and every Mayo fan started to sing the Green and Red of Mayo. What made this a special win for Achill is that a young man playing for Mayo was our own Eddie Doran from Dooniver, Achill who wore the number 2 jersey. Next up in Croke Park was the Mayo Seniors taking on Dublin.The fans were still in high spirits after the Minor win. The Senior Team came onto the pitch for photographs and a warm up before the game, the fans were on top gear. The ball was thrown in and the game started. By half time Mayo were winning but in the second half Dublin came back into the game, with a two point lead with only one minute left. Mayo got a free, Cillian O’Connor put the ball over the bar gaining a point for Mayo but the referee blew the whistle and Mayo’s hopes were dashed again but this time by the narrowest of margins, a single point. It was a sad time for the fans, the team didn’t let Mayo down. They played a great game and all the players can be proud of the effort they put into the game. On Monday the 23rd of September both teams came home by train, they left Dublin at 2pm and arrived in Castlebar by 5pm. It was a private train for the team. The team arrived to McHale Park at 5.15 where over 8,000 people welcomed them home. The park was filled with the green and red with Mayo flags and banners everywhere. The supporters were there to welcome home both the Minor and the Senior teams. Both of the Mayo teams were on stage and both teams thanked the loyal supporters who.
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who welcomed them home. While the Captain of the minor team, Stephen Coen, spoke about the joy at bringing the Tom Markham Cup home, the elation they felt when the final whistle blew. They spoke of the hard work and commitment by the players and all the team. They thanked everyone for their valued support. The Captain of the Senior team, Andy Moran, again thanked the supporters, the players and all the team members for the hard work and commitment throughout the year. Andy spoke about next year, the Mayo team will be back fighting and hope to bring Sam McGuire home. Mid-West radio were streaming live from the home coming. On Wednesday evening Achill held a homecoming for our own Eddie Doran. Some Achill people travelled to Newport to join him at 6.15pm. Eddie signed autographs and had his picture taken with the Tom Markham Cup along with some of the local Newport kids. He left Newport for Mulranny stopping to sign autographs and stand for some pictures. After leaving Mulranny he arrived at the football pitch in Achill at 8.15, Eddie was piped onto the pitch by local Achill Pipers. Some local dignitaries, councillors and GAA officials made speeches. Eddie presented the Ciaran Patten Cup to the Captain of the Dooagh National School Team who had won the cup earlier on in the day. Eddie signed autographs and had many many pictures taken. Eddie then left the pitch and travelled around Achill Island arriving back to, Dooniver Hall where they had another home coming celebration with food and fun for all the fans. Packie McGinty - President of the Mayo G.A.A County Board Our own Packie McGinty, has been President of The County Board for the last two years. This is his last year as President of The County Board so this year was made special for Packie with the Minor win in the All-Ireland, not only that, we had our own Eddie Doran playing on the team making it extra special for him and also Michael Lavelle brought out the ball to the referee before the Minor match. Packie spoke about Eddie’s commitment to G.A.A and all the traveling for training and matches. He wanted to thank Eddie’s parents and family for the continued support they have shown, the encouragement given to Eddie, cancelling their own family plans to attend matches,
thankfully this has paid off. He wished to thank all of the supporters too. Eddie bringing home an All-Ireland Minor medal is the 4th Minor medal brought to Achill. Packie said “it just was unbelievable to be standing on the pitch that day and going in to the dressing room after the minors had won.” While Packie was on the County Board, he received two awards the “Hall of Fame” from Ladies GAA and “Green and Red” from Mens GAA. He also has been chairman at his local club Achill G.A.A. for the past 14 years and in the years he has been there, they developed the pitch and got club of the year. They have developed a 5 year plan to improve the pitch. Packie said that the two best things to happen on the Island this year was Eddie Doran’s achievement and Relay For Life. An Interview with Eddie Doran Eddie said it was a hectic few months in the run up to the All-Ireland Final. At times it was difficult leaving school early to travel to training 3 nights a week. Training took place in either Castlebar or Ballintubber, also the team could have a challenge match during the week too. Training was between two and two and half hours. Because of the heavy training schedule with the County team Eddie didn’t train with his local club. It’s only since the final that he has come back training with his local club helping the club win the Achill Minor Division 5 Final. He said it was a very busy few months for him. We asked Eddie how he got picked for the county team. His Achill club nominated him for the U-16’s trials, he got through to that and went on for trials for U-17’s and U-18’s and the minors.
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Asking him about the day itself and the atmosphere on and around the pitch. When they walked out onto the pitch before the match, it wasn’t too bad as the stands were not full, when they walked out onto the pitch for the 2nd half, he felt a little sick and nervous as the stands were full. When the game went to play he concentrated on the ball and the game and tuned out of everything else. When the ball wasn’t in play, he took in the noise and support that was in the stands. Going into the extra time the team were very positive but then Tyrone got a goal, bringing the sides closer, it wasn’t until the final whistle went that they could celebrate. The Mayo Minors had won the All Ireland The night of the All Ireland the team stayed in City West Hotel in Dublin. There was great food, a few speeches and great atmosphere. It was a bit of a late night. On the train the next day, they had a great atmosphere but they were tired, after the training, the build up and all the excitement before the game. Eddie said walking into McHale park was fantastic, the crowd, families both young and old were out to cheer the team on. After McHale park they went to Breaffy House Hotel for a meal. The team stayed in Castlebar Monday night and then headed to the Ballinrobe Races on Tuesday. After the races they went to Hollymount where the Captain Stephen Cohen hails from. On Wednesday night Eddie has his own home coming. They stopped off in Newport, then Mulranny, and Achill. He said it was unreal and he could not believe that so many people were out to welcome him home, lining the side of the road cheering him on. Then he came into the GAA football pitch, Davitt Park in Polranny. He is amazed and humbled with the support he has received and the turn out for the home coming. The Cup will come to Achill in the near future and Eddie will bring the cup around to the schools, in Newport, Mulranny, Ballycroy and of course to all the schools in Achill and the surrounding parish. Looking ahead, Eddie is going to take a little time out to concentrate on his studies and get ready for the year ahead. Other Footballing Congratulations A massive congratulation to the Achill Minor team who won the Minor Division 5 Final. The match was held in Breaffy on Saturday 12th October against Mayo Gaels. This is a great achievement for Achill with another win coming in to the parish. It is looking good for Achill foot-
ball. Also congratulations to Achill Rovers who won the U-16 League championship on Saturday 19th October 2013.
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The Mayo Minor Team 2013
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A poem for Mayo
Tá muid ar an mbealach go Páirc an Chrócaigh Ar thóir Tom is Sam 's, ní thiocfaidh muid abhaile gan iad Ó nó, ní thiocfaidh muid abhaile gan iad
Gaillimh, Ros Comáin, Londain, Dún na nGall 's Tír Eoghain Níl fágtha ach Áth Cliath 's beidh Sam ar ais i Muigheo Beidh Sam ar ais i Muigheo Muigheo go Deo, Muigheo go Deo
Tá plean ag na lads -ag James agus Enda Seo é ár mbliain, Bliain na Cinniúna Sea Bliain na Cinniúna
Ó hAcaill go Srúl, ó Chill Alla go Baile Doirín Tá ár bhfoireann crógach, scilmhar is aclaí Ah-ha scilmhar agus aclaí. Muigheo go Deo, Muigheo go Deo
Ár réalt féin as Acaill, an scafaire Eddie Doran As é atá muid bródúil, 'sé Laoch na himeartha Eddie laoch na himeartha Tá muid ar an mbealach go Páirc an Chrócaigh Ar thóir Tom is Sam 's, ní thiocfaidh muid abhaile gan iad Ó nó, ní thiocfaidh muid abhaile gan iad Muigheo go Deo, Muigheo go Deo Composed By Dooagh N.S
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S O U T H W E S T M AY O D E V E L O P M E N T C O M PA N Y DELIVERING IN ACHILL
Following the liquidation of Meitheal Forbatha na Gaeltachta in 2011, South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) was delighted to be asked to provide community supports to Achill in early 2012, initially through the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) and subsequently through the Rural Development/LEADER Programme. In the short time that SWMDC has been working in the Achill area, it has made a substantial contribution to local and community development. This is all the more impressive as the LEADER programme was in the second last year of its programme cycle when Achill came under SWMDC’s remit. Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP)
The LCDP is the national social inclusion programme and all of its work is directed towards disadvantaged communities and isolated individuals. In the 18 months that SWMDC has been working in Achill under the LCDP, 21 local community groups in this area have benefitted from LCDP support and guidance; 55 young people have participated in various workshops and programmes and 104 adults have taken part in LCDP training programmes. These in-
clude a Palliative Care module delivered in Keel, Garda Recruitment Aptitude test preparation and two training courses aimed at people interested in a career in the hospitality sector. Rural Development Programme/LEADER 2007-2013
SWMDC’s first priority in the Achill area was to ensure that all projects that had been previously approved for funding under MFG, were completed and paid out. To date, all of these projects have been paid bar one, which is with Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) for final payment approval. SWMDC also invited new applications for funding and although there was a limited budget available, new projects were approved, some of which have already completed and paid. However several other approved projects can only be supported if additional funding is made available from DECLG. SWMDC has made a special appeal to the Department on behalf of Achill, Ballycroy and Tourmakeady to be treated as areas of priority for any additional funds that may come available before the end of 2013.
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If you would like to talk to us about our Achill supports, please contact South West Mayo Development Company on 098-41950 or info@southmayo.com. Our offices are located in the Carey Walsh Building, George’s Street, Newport, County Mayo.
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JOHN CALLAGHAN MAKES ACHILL GOLFING HISTORY John Callaghan from Dooagh, Achill captured the biggest prize in Achill Golf in 2013, the 'Achill Masters'. The masters is an open two day overall combined stroke competition with a long and distinguished history in Achill Island Golf Club.
John’s achievement was made all the more remarkable, not only by the fact he is only 13 years of age, but by his scoring achievements on both days. John, playing off a handicap of 19 returned a great score of 61 on the first day of competition to lie in third place overall. But the best was yet to come. On the second day John shot an incredible 58 to win the
tournament by three shots with an aggregate score of 119. That brilliant score earned him the title of 'Achill Masters’ winner for 2013 and was also the lowest winning
By Michael J Callaghan
circuit with much success and clearly has a bright future in the game. He would like to thank everyone who helped him on his way to his remarkable achievement in winning the masters, especially his family, Achill Island Golf Club and all the coaches who assisted him in his career to date.
Kevin, John, Imelda and Hannah Callaghan At the Achill Masters presentation
score in the history of the competition. It helped him become the youngest ever winner of this competition. John has also been competing regularly on the regional
John receiving the cup from defending champion, his uncle Noel Callaghan
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Seirbhís Ghaelach Ecumenical Service in Irish
Ar an Domhnach an 15ú Mhárta 1998 eagraíodh ócáid stariúil in eaglais Naomh Thomáis í nDú Goirt. Don chéad uair tháinig lucht leanúna Eaglais na hÉireann agus Caitilicigh an Pharóiste le chéile chun Lá Fhéile Phádraig a cheiliúradh, fágadh na conspóidí searbhánta ar leath-taobh agus bhain an slua mór a bhí í láthair taitneamh agus leas as an ócáid. Ba é an t-Oirmhinneach Gary Hastings agus an Sagart Paróiste an t-Athair Paddy Gilligan a bhí i mbun an cheiliúrtha agus ina dteannta bhí an tSiúir Mairéad as an gClochar i gCaol On Sunday 15th of March 1998 a Historic Service in Irish was held in St. Thomas’ Church of Ireland, Dugort. For the first time, Church of Ireland and Catholic members of the parish came together to celebrate the feast of St. Patrick. Old controversies were forgotten, and large congregations enjoyed the comrade-ship and goodwill of the occasion. The Rev. Gary Hastings and Fr. Paddy Gilligan P.P conducted
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by Tomás Mac Conmara agus an Cór ó Shéipéal an Phollaigh. Bhí Tim Stevens, Dr Edward King agus mé fhéin páirteach ann chomh maith. Bhí bailiuchán airgid ar son Ionad Naomh Cholmáin agus chuir Ostán an tSléibhe Mhóra sólaistí ar fáil tar éis na h-imeachtaí. Lean an dea-chaidreamh ón lá sin ar aghaidh i gcónaí agus bíonn ócáidí cultúrtha á eagrú ag Coiste Teach Heinrich Boll san eaglas ó am go chéile. Go fada buan a bhéas sé mar seo. the ceremonies and Sr. Margaret of the Presentation Convent, Keel and the choir of St. Patrick’s Church, Pollagh also participated. A collection in aid of St. Colman’s Unit, Keel, ended the proceedings and refreshments were provided by the Slievemore Hotel. The goodwill from that occasion continues and the Heinrich Boll committee organises cultural events in St. Thomas’s each year.
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Dooagh NS Celebrate 1966 and 2013 Mayo Minor All Ireland Victorys
By Emmet Callaghan
Tommy Cafferkey RIP winner of the 1966 All Ireland Minor Championship with staff and students of Dooagh Boys school, 1966
Photo courtesy of Liam Cafferkey
Eddie Doran Winner of the 2013 All Ireland Minor Championship with students from Dooagh NS
Tommy Cafferkey RIP visits staff and students of Dooagh Girls school with the Tom Markham Cup, 1966
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After Paul Henry
Introduction Paul Henry (1876-1958) is Ireland’s most celebrated landscape painter. His depictions of the west of the country in particular have become synonymous with a romantic view of Ireland: unsoiled and traditional. Apart from the universal appeal of the images there is also a real sense of an artist engaging with a landscape and delighting in its drama, textures and hues. The “After Paul Henry” project is a collaborative endeavour between two painters and an archaeologist/photographer. The Project was conceived of a shared admiration for the work of the artist and a desire to seek inspiration within the spectacular landscapes of Achill Island and Connemara. The aim of the project is to follow in the footsteps of the artist and his wife and to engage with the people and the landscapes they encountered, taking stock of what has changed and what has remained the same. The resulting body of work will feature a diverse series of interactions with both the work of Paul Henry and his subject matter. Each contributor will have their own goals in terms of experimentation with technique, materials and subject but the activity of the group will be managed and curated as a whole in order to maximise the effectiveness of the project and broaden its appeal to collaborators and the general public. The Team The Project team comprises of photographer and archaeologist Brian Mac Domhnaill and artist Gentian Lulanaj and Paul Mckenna. Scope The team are all based in Cork so it is proposed that the project will comprise a number of field trips and artist residencies in the study area complimented by sustained periods of work in the artists’ own studios. Geographically the project will primarily focus on Achill Island and Connemara. Schedule The project is likely to span two years, concluding with a final exhibition in the summer of 2015. Fieldwork commenced with a three day trip to Achill Island on the 28th of June 2013. Artist residencies and further fieldtrips will be scheduled as contacts are made. Milestones set during the course of the project will include workshops, exhibitions and artist talks.
Project Output The progress of the project will be charted by means of a blog and facebook page Blog: http://afterpaulhenry.wordpress.com Facebook page: After Paul Henry It is proposed that the team will engage with communities, organisations and venues in the study area in order to facilitate the project but also to produce and exhibit work locally. This may take the form of collaborative projects with the schools and local businesses such as galleries and craftshops. The primary output of the project will be the final exhibition. It is hoped that the project will also be published in some form. This may take the form of an exhibition catalogue. Funding The project is mostly self-funded at present but it is hoped that as it gains momentum sponsorship and funding will be sought where appropriate. The project’s first partners Cully & Sully kindly provided a campervan for the “maiden voyage” to Achill Island. Any support for the project, whatever form it may take, is greatly appreciated. Please contact us if you have any queries or suggestions. Brian Mac Domhnail
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Methodology • The team have begun acquiring and reading relevant documentary sources and studying maps of the area. • Through a process of email correspondence and the sharing of this proposal, initial contact will be made with individuals and/or groups who may be of assistance to the team. Follow-up phone calls and informal onsite meetings will be arranged. • Following on from the first field trip contact will be made with schools or groups Brian Mac Domhnaill, Paul McKenna, Gentian Lulanaj (Sample Studios, Cork, June 2013) who may wish to benefit from the project by way of artist workshops etc. • The initial fieldtrip comprised of a three-night stay on Achill Island beginning in Keel where the Henrys stayed upon arriving on the island. Stops will be made at other locations of significance. • Known locations that feature in the artwork of the Henrys will be visited as a priority but new locations will be sought out. • Both the artists will work at each location using a combination of photography, sketching and painting. • The photographer will record each day’s activities and encounters and share this information on the project facebook page and blog. • The photographer will timetable each day’s work in order to maximise the best use of light. This will be done in consultation with local contacts and an assessment of site-specific lighting. • The team will be prepared for all weather and will not be hoping for blue skies. In fact it is hoped that conditions will be very changeable.
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Transition Year Students Trip to Lourdes By Hannah Callaghan, Nicole Fadian, Maeve O’Malley, Katelyn O Connor and Ann Sweeney.
In Transition Year many schools would be able to afford a school trip away. Unfortunately our school, Coláiste Pobail Acla, was unable to offer that to us. So instead of not going anywhere we decided to brainstorm some ideas. One of our parents, Miriam O’Malley, came up with the idea of going to Lourdes. Every year the Achill Order of Malta takes pilgrims to Lourdes to take part in the five day international pilgrimage. Five TY class members, Hannah, Nicole, Maeve, Katelyn and Ann, volunteered as helpers. In order to fund the cost of our trip we organised fundraisers. We organised a bag-packing day in Sweeney’s Supervalu Achill Sound, held a junior disco in Ted Lavelle’s, raffled an Easter egg and sold lines at school. Ann Fadden organised a whist drive. Fr. Tom Kearney and James Kilbane hosted a musical evening in Dookinella Church as part of a Celebration of Faith. We also received donations from the public. We went to Lourdes as helpers, not knowing what to expect. Little did we realise then it was going to be the best experience of our lives. When we arrived in Lourdes the sense of peace, generosity and loyalty was unbelievable. We stayed in Hotel Alba. We worked with members of Order of Malta Ireland based in the hotel. Our duties were to transport the malades from all around Ireland staying in our hotel to Mass and services, shopping, to the grotto, to functions, to the hospital and the party. We pushed wheelchairs, assisted those with mobility difficulties, sat and talked to the malades, their family and friends. We made new friends. It was very emotional the first couple of days seeing everyone praying and taking part in the religious services. The Masses were beautiful, the faith everyone has is breathtaking. We realised how sick people were, and how much it meant to them to go to Mass, be annointed and receive the sacraments, that it gave them all such peace. You could see the weight being lifted off their shoulders. Definitely the toughest part of the trip was seeing the malades, especially the sick children. Seeing them curled up in their parents’ arms, blankets wrapped around them, their mummies and daddies in tears, was heartbreaking. Despite this they were all incredibly strong and our admiration towards them outweighed our pity for them. We were part of the Order of Malta International pilgrimage and there were orders from every country in the world. The dedication they have is amazing. Order of Malta members are all volunteers. Year after year they travel to Lourdes to help the sick. While we worked with malades in the hotel, members worked in the Hospital/Respite centre where they provided nursing care to the pilgrims. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience we will cherish forever, and we hope that we will inspire someone the way the people we met inspired us. We can honestly say that it has changed us and our outlook on life. We’re so grateful that we got the chance to go and now we appreciate things more. It was a very emotional experience. Overall Lourdes was the highlight of our year. We realise now life is so precious, we should enjoy it and never take it for granted. We were at peace when we arrived home. This trip has changed our lives and definitely our faith. Even though we were helping out most of the time, we did get to do some touring and sightseeing. We went in a cable car up the Pyrenees Mountains accompanied by our own personal tour guide Fr. Tom Kearney. It was time well spent with him and the craic was mighty. We are currently training with Achill Order of Malta and are joining the unit. We hope to take part in the pilgrimage again and work as volunteers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, and for the support given to us by our school, the Achill Parish Council and the community. Thanks particularly to Miriam O’Malley, Mary Kelly, Ellen Cafferkey and Fr. Tom Kearney. Thank you to Order of Malta Ireland members who made us so welcome. Much gratitude and appreciation to you all! Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Achill Link 2014 72
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Kenny Deery Reaches Summit Of Mount Kilimanjaro
Nothing prepares you for the sight of the peak of Kilimanjaro peering high above the cloud line from the Ethiopian Airlines flight as we began to descend into Kilimanjaro Airport. The group of 21 of us, representing four different charities, mine being the Rehab Foundation, a mixture of ages, personalities and very mixed emotions, collectively shrieked at this snow capped sight, followed by my thought of “what in the name of God have I signed up for!” The following couple of hours flew by as we were transferred to our hotel in Arusha. Pre-climb plans were in full swing, last minute checks on equipment, clothing, and in my case a last minute dash to the supermarket which was in itself complex to arrange, for essential mountain snacks (and how important they were!). Then it was off for an early night under the mosquito nets as we all nervously knew the next day was going to be big. Day one on the mountain is daunting and nearly my most challenging, you liberally apply all sorts of repellent sprays, to stay away all the insects the rainforest has to offer, it rained for a while, yet was hot, we had too many layers of clothes on and there was an intense enough climb which after 4 hours of going I was asking the age old question, are we there yet? Day 2 started sideways in a tent on top of my bags. Space is tight, and your tent sharing trekker and yourself have to pre-arrange all movements as a black eye could be highly likely in the small space. Climbing wise we were better prepared, the sun shone as we ate sweet porridge and suspiciously pink sausages al fresco and listened to a motivational musical performance from our porters and guides, the first of many. We were off, ready to battle with this confounded mountain. The terrain was clearly changing as we were getting higher and soon we were moving above the tree line onto a more barren and cooler landscape.Camp on night two was a little more upbeat. We had worked the knack of the tents, the basic and primitive toilet tent had sunk in, the chaos of the mess tent (aka the dining room) became understood, the snorers had been identified and their
tents had been relegated to an outpost of the campsite. I preferred to call it the suburbs as we were one of those chosen to relocate. There was great banter among the group as we ac cepted we were all in this together. What becomes clear as we progress to day 3 is the form of the porters and guides never changed. They appear wearingly happy despite the heavy loads they carry and the conditions within which they work. Their enthusi asm is infectious. Day 3 saw us reach Lava Tower, altitude is kicking in, some are sick, some had headaches, and some have so many issues they don’t know which to complain about first. Yet we reach Lava Tower to a sporadic shower of hailstones, to an assembled mess tent however with an audible sense of relief.This has been our highest point so far and is the first test, we had to drop some height after lunch, then climb, then drop again, back down to the base of the Barranca Wall, being day 4’s big challenge. We were tired. Our group leader Ann O’Connor from Cork, a no nonsense experienced mountaineer left us in no doubt that each day would be harder than the next. We ate, we attempted some humour however went to bed in the shadow of the very intimidating rock face we were somehow to conquer the next day. It felt like minutes later when the porters were calling us for our 6.30 wake up, the morning ritual of a plastic beaker of ginger tea and a small basin of water for washing, handed into the tent by the ever enthusiastic porters. We strategically pack with the prospect of what lay before us, after a briefing on how the day will roll we were off. This was my mental barrier; I dreaded it and said on a pre-trip training session that if I get through this I could do anything. There was a little incident with ice, however that aside four hours later we were all on top, victorious, a little emotional and relieved. We had another few hours to go for next camp; we confidentially trod chatting, interchanging with guides, porters and changing places in the group. Maybe it was the altitude causing a little delirium, but we rallied our way into camp with such a sense of relief.
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Day 5 was a lighter day. Altitude was gripping some of us in the group! A sense of breathlessness was my main issue. Some were sick, tiredness being centrally commonplace. We get to the last ascent camp early, had lunch and went straight to bed, were awoken for dinner some hours later and sent back to bed again, awaiting the 10.30pm wake-up call in the darkness was what we all dreaded. The wind was howling and the panicked question could be heard from tent to tent. How many layers should I start with? Do you have enough batteries in your head torch? This is a nightmare I thought. We were standing at 4200 metres high; it’s minus 12, windy, it’s dark, who knew there would be so many mice at this height I asked? Not one of the bigger issues we had to deal with in retrospect! Babilu, our head guide led my group, we were to be last to leave camp, partially because we were supposed to be the fittest but in my mind this group would be safer as we would spend least time at high altitude, minutes matter at the top and too many can cause all sorts of issues, depending on your physique and how your body deals with the altitude. Three hours in and I was struggling, it’s just a long, steep, non-stop ascent, you are so busy concentrating on each step with your mind focused on the boots of the person in front of you
in case you would mis-step and fall. You lose concentration on occasion, your mind straying, brought back to reality quickly with a shriek of a colleague who would mis-step in the dark and stumble. I came to a point when my bottle of water froze, I had had enough and thought “That’s it, I cannot go any further!, Jerome appears, one of the guides who had led some of the treks during the week. His reassurance of slowly, slowly and it will be all right in Swahili jolted one back into some sort of action, one foot ahead of the other and bit by bit, gasp by gasp you get back into action and within 2 hours I had rejoined some of the group who were equally having “moments”. Jerome announced “sunshine in one hour and we are nearly there!” It is a surreal experience to be drinking sweet tea at Stellar Point 5700 metres with the sun rising. It took a further 45 minutes of gasping and slowly struggling across the“roof of Africa” to Uhuru peak. The pictures were taken with a sense of personal pride, group pride and equally the pride of the amazing group of porters, that they got the whole group of 21 to the top which is a feat in itself. The key learnings from this trip, came not from the mountain but from those Tanzanian porters and guides who work that mountain daily with such a sense of pride and perspective. It really removed us from much of the daily nonsense we all allow to take over our normal lives.
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The Fun Page_Layout 1 14/11/2013 12:12 Page 1
The Puzzle Page
ACHILL LINK WORD SEARCH FIND THE WORDS RELATED TO ACHILL IN THE GRID
Easy
ACHILL BEACHES CFAA DOOAGH DOONIVER WALKING KEEL SCENERY HARBOUR CRUMPAUN
DOOKINELLA DOOEGA DUGORT CURRANE FISHING GREENWAY KILDOWNET KEEM LIFEBOAT SURFING
Hard
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Michael McNamara Food_Layout 1 14/11/2013 12:23 Page 1
Michael McNamara
MUSSELS WITH CHILLI AND
CIDER CREAM (serves 4)
INGREDIENTS 2kg washed and bearded mussels (tightly closed) 40 g butter 60 g shallots or onion chopped finely 1 red chilli de-seeded and finely chopped (use extra if you wish) 375 ml dry cider ½ cup pouring cream 1 clove garlic crushed 3 teaspoons chopped parsley or other mild herb
METHOD 1 Melt butter in a saucepan, add in shallots and cook for 2 mins without colour 2 Add in chillies and garlic. Cook for 1 minute. 3 Pour in cider and let mixture reduce for 2-3 mins. Add in cream. 4 Add in mussels and cover with a lid. Cook until shells open. 5 Check to make sure the mussels are coated with the sauce. 6 Pour into a warm bowl and sprinkle with parsley. Note: Soda bread or a crispy baguette makes a wonderful accompaniment to this dish as it allows you to soak up the sauce. SLOW BRAISED BLACK FACE LAMB SHANKS WITH COLCANNON MASH AND ROAST ROOT VEGETABLES
INGREDIENTS For the lamb shanks 4 Lamb shanks 2 onions chopped 2 carrots chopped
2 sticks of celery chopped 1 leek chopped 4 - 5 cloves of garlic chopped Sprig each of thyme and rosemary 1 bay leaf 750 ml vegetable stock 1 glass red wine For the root vegetables 2 carrots 2 turnips 2 parsnips
For the sauce Trimmings of carrot onion leek and celery 1 sprig of rosemary and thyme
For the colcannon mash 1kg potatoes 1 green cabbage (washed and cut into stripes) 120ml milk or cream (or use half milk half cream) 50 g butter 2 spring onions Salt and pepper
METHOD 1 Preheat oven to 130 degrees celsius. 2 Season lamb shanks and sear in a hot pan. Remove and set aside. 3 Place a heavy saucepan on the heat and add in chopped vegetables, garlic and herbs. Cook to lightly brown. 4 Add in stock and wine and reduce by half, add in the lamb shanks cover the pot and place in an oven for 3 – 4 hours Note: Lamb shanks are cooked when the meat has fallen away from the top of the bone. 5 To prepare the sauce fry the vegetables and herbs in a saucepan until soft, When the lamb is almost cooked remove ½ of the juices and add to vegetables and reduce by half, strain and keep on a low heat. 6 To prepare the roast vegetables cut all three vegetables into equal bite size pieces, season, add oil and place in oven when lamb is approx ½ an hour away from being cooked. 7 For the colcannon wash and peel potatoes, boil, strain and Achill Link 2014 77
mash, add in the cabbage, spring onion, milk / cream butter and seasoning. Mix well. 8 Remove lamb from the oven. Cover with a clean cloth or tin foil and allow to rest, reduce the remaining juices and add to sauce. Remove roast vegetables from oven and season, (a spoonful of honey added into the veg at the end gives them a lovely finish). 9 To serve: Heat plates in the oven, place a portion of the colcannon in the centre of each plate and sit the lamb shank on top, pour the sauce over the lamb. Roasted vegetables can be served separately or on the plates if they are large enough. TIRAMISU
550 ml Cream 250g mascarpone cheese 75ml Tia Maria or similar Liqueur 5 teaspoons brown or caster sugar 300ml strong coffee 175 pack sponge fingers (boudoir biscuits) 25g dark chocolate grated 2 Tsp cocoa powder 4 – 5 red berries like strawberries or raspberries
METHOD 1 Place the cream, mascarpone cheese and Tia Maria in a large bowl. Whisk until combined and has the consistency of whipped cream. 2 Put the coffee in a shallow bowl and lightly soak the sponge fingers in it (careful not to over soak) 3 Place half the soaked biscuit in 4 - 5 chilled serving glasses and spoon half the mixture on top. Sprinkle ½ of the chocolate on top of mixture. Repeat this process until glasses are filled, cover and chill for a few hours. 4 To serve dust with cocoa powder, and decorate with red berries.
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Currane Boat Building
By Noel Gallagher
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Cumann Bádóirí Acla
By Dr. Jerry Cowley, Chairman Cumann Bádóirí Acla. Cumann Bádóirí Acla (CBA) was set up to foster and promote the rich tradition of Achill Yawl sailing. This is a proud tradition which almost disappeared, but thankfully was revived in recent times. Nowadays the club engages in friendly competition through weekly sailing races held throughout the summer as part of Cruinniú Bádóirí Acla, much to the delight of locals and tourists alike. Club activities are provided on an equal opportunity basis. We extend a ‘céad míle fáilte’ to anyone interested in participating in our programme of activities during the year. Cumann Bádóirí Acla has achieved a great deal in 2013, in association with Ionad Mara & Geoltaí Acla Teo, a ‘not- for- profit’ company with charitable status set up to promote the Achill yawl. This included the acquisition of our very own Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB Safety Boat), a Club Boat Storage Facility at Polranny, Achill Sound, and a floating pontoon. All Club equipment can be stored in the new storage facility. The RIB is used to respond to all situations on the water, and especially to ensure the full safety of all personnel. The RIB will give immediate assistance in the event of any potentially dangerous situation arising, and in particular will render immediate assistance to crew in the event of a yawl capsizing. It is also used to prepare moorings, set marks, set the racing courses, transport equipment and provide essential communications between the yawls. The pontoon has a multitude of uses, including providing a convenient mooring for the yawls during the racing season. It also provides a stable working platform for all involved, as well as giving safe convenient access to the yawls. Cumann Bádóirí Acla identified a great need among the local population for a sail training programme which would allow participants to experience yawl sailing first hand in a safe and controlled environment. This would be administered by dedicated and experienced traditional yawl sailors and be intended for people of all ages, and other interested parties. We saw this sail training programme as a valuable opportunity to promote the club objective of fostering a love of traditional yawl sailing so as
to propagate our local rich yawl tradition into the future through the participation of our youth in the programme. This would also be a valuable opportunity for our young people to develop their own strength of character through their yawl sailing learning experience. In this way they would develop their individual confidence further as part of a team learning to work together under instruction. Cumann Bádóirí Acla was to the fore in organizing the Achill part of the recent ‘Pirate Queen Festival’ held for the first time in September 2013. This festival was developed in association with ‘The Gathering’ and the organizing committee included representation from Cumann Bádóirí Acla, as well as from organizations around Clew Bay. It included events in Westport, Clare Island, and Louisburgh, as well as Derreens, Achill. Cumann Bádóirí Acla were proud to secure the presence of Mr. Bryan Dobson, RTE Newsreader to officially open the Achill part of the Pirate Queen Festival as well as the attendance and participation of Ms. Ann Chambers, the renowned author and foremost authority on Grace O’Malley. This festival is destined to become an annual event on the sporting and cultural calendar of Achill Island and the Clew Bay Area, and an ongoing opportunity to showcase the splendid Achill Yawl. It is the long term aim of the club to establish a Yawl Centre at Achill Sound where the local population and visitors alike can see, enjoy and participate in traditional Achill Yawl sailing events and sail training programmes.
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Bryan Dobson, Dr. Jerry Cowley, Anne Chambers
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This centre will include the history and tradition of the Achill Yawl and its importance to the local economy in times past as a primary means of transport, in fishing, transporting turf and livestock, and harvesting seaweed for fertilizer, and even bringing human remains to their final resting place for burial. In more recent times the
Bobby Bell, Bryan Dobson (RTE), Padraic Cattigan, Dr. Jerry Cowley, Kieran McGinty
Achill Yawl is being used in the summer months for sailing regattas. Cumann Bádóirí Acla would like to thank all its sponsors and supporters for their continued help and financial support. In particular we greatly appreciate the support of South West Mayo Development Company, CFÁA, TUS and RSS during 2013. I would like to thank my CBA committee, and in particular CBA’s Vice-Chairman Mr. Kieran McGinty for his Trojan work during the year, without which little progress would have been made. I would like to thank all who put in a great effort with the fundraising on behalf of the Club, including our committee members and family members as well. Mr. Joey Henry and his family have been exceptional in their fundraising efforts on behalf of the Club. I am grateful to all members of the Ionad Mara & Geoltaí Acla Teo, including Una McLoughlin of Ostán Oilean Acla for her generous donation of land for the use of CBA for the Club Boat Storage Facility, as well as providing a venue for all our meetings. We are glad to recognize at our Annual Yawl Ball all of those who made a special effort to help the Club in 2013, including those who fundraised, provided the safety back up, organized our races, and those who were part of our TUS/Rural Social Scheme. We greatly appreciate and thank you all for your help and support of the Club in 2013. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of Mr. Padraic Cattigan and Mr. Gerard Cooney, and all others who helped in-
cluding Mr. Alan Wray. The Achill part of the Pirate Queen Festival was a great success thanks to Mr. Michael Patten and Kathleen Patten of Derreens, and John Patten.. Mr. Stephen Pinder was of invaluable assistance in his preparatory work for the festival which he did on a voluntary basis. The Tiernan Family were splendid also in providing quality traditional music and dance during the festival. National School Principal Mrs. Breege Joyce deserves great thanks for organizing our festival art competition, in association with Achill Sound NS , as well as Derreens NS and Bullsmouth NS. I thank all the local schoolchildren who provided their artwork. Thomas Joyce of Corraun is a master of miniature yawl construction and his superb ‘made- toscale’ models were on display courtesy of their owners. Master Yawl Builder Marty Owen Patten also supplied minature yawls, as did Danny Sweeney of Corraun. Mrs Teresa Cowley provided the Achill Yawl Photography. Mr. Bryan Dobson performed the Official Opening of the Achill Festival including the Art and Model Yawl Exhibition, as well as Achill Yawl Photography Exhibition. Cumann Bádóirí Acla owe all of the above a great debt of thanks for their ongoing help and support. We greatly appreciate also the work of our very own Commentator Mr. Michael Cooney. Congratulations again to Skipper Michéal Cattigan and the crew of ‘Saoirse’ for their great achievement in securing ‘Yawl of the Year 2013’, and to Mr. Tommie Davitt, ‘Sportsperson of the year 2013’. We look forward to a great year again in 2014. Bígí Linn!
The new rib
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Useful Phone Numbers Garda, Achill Sound 098 45108 | 098 20830
Garda Westport 098 25555
Coastguard / Lifeboat 999/112
Rev. Val Rodgers 098 25127
Achill Sound Health Centre 098 45231
Pollagh Surgery 098 43105
Fr Gormley | Fr McGrath 098 45288 | 098 45109
Dept Of Social Protection, Achill 098 45050
Achill Fire Station 098 45125
Local Employment Services 098 45782
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