REGIONAL Easter Egg Hunts A number of Easter egg hunts will take place over the weekend in Connemara. The Scoil Mhuire Parents Association will hold its annual egg hunt at the Connemara National Park on Easter Sunday April 4th starting at 2pm. All are welcome to attend. Brigit’s Garden in Roscahill will also hold its annual egg hunt on Easter Sunday from 2-5pm. For older children there will be an exciting Easter Egg Treasure Hunt around the nature trail, while younger ones can enjoy a shorter hunt through the unique gardens. To add to the fun children can also make Easter nests and avail of face-painting. Families can start the hunt at any time during the afternoon and every child will receive a prize. The afternoon costs €7 per adult, €6 per child or €24 for a family of two adults and three children. The Garden Café will be open on the day, and the familyfriendly gardens are open daily over the Easter period from 10.30am to 5pm. For further details phone 091 550905 or see www.brigitsgarden.ie. In Roundstone, the ever popular Easter egg hunt in the grounds of Errisbeg House will take place on Easter Monday, April 5th at 2pm for all children under 12 years of age. Adults are also needed to join in the fun. Any spare eggs left over after the weekend would be most appreciated. A raffle draw will also be held for a huge egg on the day.
Earliest Connemara Shellfish Festival?
With the Connemara Mussel Festival gearing up to take place on the Renvyle Peninsula once again this year from April 30th to May 2nd, an ancient and historically relevant discovery has drawn a great deal of interest in the area. A shell midden, one of the earliest dated settlements on the West Coast, has been identified at one of the beautiful beaches of the Renvyle peninsula. The midden has been carbon dated and identified as being between 6000 and 7000 years old by Emily Murray Ph.D. of Queens University Belfast. It was identified during a long term research
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programme carried out by the university. The settlement is thought to have been a hunter/gatherer camp and is the earliest dated site in Co. Galway and one of only two sites of this date on the west coast of Ireland. Michael Gibbons is going to carry out an archaeological walk on the weekend of the Connemara Mussel festival that takes place on the May bank holiday weekend. The walk is just one of the many activities that will occur as part of the popular festival on the Renvyle Peninsula. For a list of the other activities available, including cooking competitions, country market, art, drama and craic agus ceoil, visit www.connemaramusselfestival.com. Photo: Archaelogist Michael Gibbons shows Gerard Coyne, Chairman of the Connemara Mussel Festival, the shell midden in Renvyle at one of the earliest dated settlements on the West Coast. Photo courtesy of Aoife Herriot
Leenane Mountain Walking Festival
Leenane Development Association is pleased to announce that plans are in full swing for the third and even better Leenane Mountain Walking Festival taking place in and around Leenane from April 30th to May 2nd. The festival is designed so that
there is a walk to suit all levels. Each day has a choice of levels-low level, medium and high level. With chooses including Mweelrea, Kylemore to Leenane and Ben Baun as examples. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance in this project from the local landowners, without whom this would not be possible. The festival will kick off on Friday the April 30th with a talk on local history by local Archaeologist Micheal Gibbons in An Carraig at 7.30 pm. The village will be buzzing all weekend with Emma O’Sullivan performing on Saturday afternoon, a sailing race from Westport to Leenane and a family fun day on Sunday including climbing tower, treasure hunt, fun challenges and lots more. The weekend will finish with a BBQ and Céilí in aid of the Leenane Red Cross in the Hotel on Sunday night. For the full programme on the walking festival and other events in Leenane check out www. leenanevillage.com. If you have any questions on the festival please call Mary on 095-43411 or 087-285-5756.
Connemara View Newspaper
BTEI Art Exhibition An extremely successful and impressive exhibition by art students of the Back to Education Initiative classes run in Clifden and Letterfrack was officially opened on the second floor of the new Cashel Connemara Credit Union building in Clifden on Wednesday March 10th. The exhibition showcased a large display of works in various media by Connemara students and the opening drew a very large crowd who
were enthralled and drawn in by the scope and skill of the works produced by the local students. The vast majority of the works also sold on the night, with red stickers going up on sold works at great pace, showing once again the popularity of works by local artists. The exhibition was officially opened by Mary Kett, National BTEI Coordinator and she was joined in congratulating the artists by Seosamh Mac Dhonncha and Eithne Nic Dhonncha of the Co. Galway V.E.C. The
exhibition continued a very successful and well attended run until March 20th. Photo: Back (l-r): Barbara Aspell, Eileen Noonan-Connolly, Margaret Heaney, Ann Scullion, Chris Coyne, Stephanie Coyne, Barbara Burke, Deirdre Elizabeth, Antonia Heather, Mary O’Toole, Marie Bailey and Seosamh Mac Donncha CEO of Co. Galway VEC. Photo: Front (l-r): Rosaleen Davis-Coneys (Tutor) Kathleen McHugh, Jennifer JoyceBarry, Mary Kett (National BTEI Coordinator), Eithne Nic Dhonncha (AEO) and Bernie Dignam (tutor).
Geraldine will tell you how to register and where to get your sponsorship forms. We have a dedicated small group of mad girls who take it upon themselves every year to run, walk or jog with 40,000 other mad women and all for a good cause and a laugh! So why not give it a try? On Sunday April 11th the Connemara Golf Club in Ballyconneely is holding the annual RNLI Golf Competition. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us and if you get a chance please support this worthy event.
Raise RNLI Funds
Once again it is time to get ready for the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin on the June Bank Holiday. If you would like to enter to raise funds for the Clifden Lifeboat and need help to do so, please get in contact with Geraldine Heanue at 095-41363.
Students Host Politicians We are a Second Year C.S.P.E (Civic, Social & Political Education) class in Clifden Community School and on the 1st of March 2010 we had a visit from Minister Eamon Ó Cúiv, Michael D. Higgins T.D. and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, as part of our C.S.P.E Action Project for our Junior Cert. We invited them to our school to talk about their jobs and daily life. We had a lot of organising to do before they came, as we had also invited a number of local newspapers and the radio station to attend. On the day when they arrived we gave them a tour of the school and then brought them to the library where the talk took place. We had previously comprised a number of questions to ask them. When they were asked they were generous in answering them
and they also gave a brief description of their job title and their life for the last number of years in their job. Afterwards, we took pictures with our guests. Connemara Community Radio also came in later that afternoon. A group of people had to speak on the radio describing the visit and visitors. Then we all had a chat about our views of the day, and thanked the Principal Dr. Bolger for allowing us to invite the Deputies into the school. We would like to thank the Education Officer for the Houses of the Oireachtas Mr. Martin O’Donoghue for his help in organising the day. A great day was had by all and all the students found it very educational and enjoyable. Michelle Keane & Claire Joyce Pictured below are 2nd Year Students in
Connemara View Newspaper
Clifden Community School with Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv, Deputy Michael D. Higgins and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames. Also included in photo are Dr. Liam Bolger School Principal and Mary Geraldine Shevlin C.S.P.E Teacher.
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REGIONAL CSI AGM Update The CSI Clifden AGM took place on March 23rd last in the Community School. Top of the agenda was a brief review of the significant developments in the last year which has advanced the development of the school building to Detailed Building Design. School Principal Dr. Liam Bolger expressed thanks on behalf of the school to everyone for the communities support and outlined what this stage of the plan means. Dr Bolger explained exactly how the coming
years submission of plans and costs is expected to progress towards the next stage. In the short term, meetings between the school, the county council and the architects should get the design stage well under way with milestones expected to be achieved in April, June and July. This was followed by CSI Clifdens’ reiteration in its pledge to continue the campaign and to offer help and assistance where and when it is needed. The finances were read out and among the fundraisers over the year, the most recent one which was recently presented to the group, were the proceeds from the Connemara RFC Christmas Day Swim which amounted to €1650.00. The election of the committee took place and the committee members are: Chair: Brendan Madden, Secretary: Simon Boote, Treasurer, Siobhan Stoney: P.R.O, Bridie O’Neill and Veronica O’Malley and members PK Joyce, Lillian Little and Brendan Ridge. If anyone else wishes to join the committee please contact any of those mentioned. The next CSI Meeting takes place in Keogh’s Ballyconneely on Monday 26th April at 8pm. Please show your support by attending the meetings and keep updated on how this important year of the school building plan develops. See www.csiclifden.com for all the latest news. If you want to be included in any text alerts please text your name to 087 125 4208. Please also include your email address to be included in our mailing list.
M6 Advert in Irish Times
An advert asserting that the new M6 motorway allowed Dubliners to reach Clifden in less than three hours appeared on the personals page of the Irish Times on Saturdays 13th and 20th March. The advert, sponsored by 24 businesses and organisations from Clifden, was placed by Seán Lynch, a recent arrival to Clifden and owner of Lynchpin Communications, in an effort to encourage visitors from Dublin to choose Connemara as a favourable destination, thanks to the new motorway and to the natural attractions of the West. The advert also listed a website link: www.clifden.ie. Mr. Lynch approached shop owners in Clifden with an A4 poster entitled ‘We Support Clifden & Connemara. Do You?’, the proposed advert, and space to list the businesses willing to make a contribution for running the advert on March 13th. Contributors were then presented with a copy of the poster to display in their place of business. The Connemara Chamber of Commerce, reacting to the positive response of contributors, sponsored the adverts’ running on the second Saturday. The Chamber has noted an approximate 30% increase in site traffic shortly after the two Saturdays on which the advert appeared. Any Connemara businesses with visitors that mentioned seeing the M6 advert are asked to contact the Connemara View. The A4 poster listing the adverts’ sponsors can be viewed online at www.connemaraview.com/irishtimesadvert.
US Exchange for Letterfrack GMIT
GMIT Letterfrack has announced a new educational agreement with two third-level institutions in the US that will bring American students to GMIT’s Letterfrack campus to study furniture and wood products related programmes from next September. The agreement with Virginia Tech University (VT), a major innovative research university with over 30,000 students, and Southern Virginia Higher Education Centre (SVHEC), will facilitate the exchange of Irish and American students as well as staff in the three institutions. It will include the development of new distance learning modes for the delivery of joint modules and programmes, and the future collaboration on research projects in marine science and natural resources and the built environment. GMIT Letterfrack graduates will also have the opportunity to study postgraduate programmes in Virginia Tech. Delegates from VT and SVHEC visited the Letterfrack campus in March and formally signed an educational agreement in GMIT, Galway on March 11th. Dermot O’Donovan, Head of Dept, GMIT Letterfrack, says the US institutions are very impressed with the uniqueness of GMIT’s furniture
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programmes and the hands-on practical approach to technical aspects of wood programmes.“The opportunities for students and staff are significant. The new agreement meets several objectives of GMIT’s Strategic Plan, namely to further develop international collaborative research partnerships while promoting cultural diversity.” he said. Photo: At the formal signing in GMIT of a new educational agreement between GMIT and Virginia Tech University and Southern Virginia Higher Education Centre (SVHEC), l – r (front row): Dr Paul Winistorfer, Dean of the College of Natural Resources, VT, GMIT President Marion Coy, and Dr Betty Adams, Executive Director, SVHEC. Back row, l-r: Dr Robert Bush, Dept of Wood Science and Forest Products, VT, Dr Paddy Tobin, GMIT Dept of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Michael Hannon, Assistant Registrar, GMIT and Dermot O’Donovan, Head of GMIT Letterfrack. Photo by Aengus McMahon
Community Support Approvals
Cllr. Eileen Mannion has welcomed the approval of the Community Support Programmes 2010 which were approved at the March meeting of Galway County Council. Under the category of ‘Support for Tidy Towns/Amenity Initiatives’ Roundstone and Clifden Tidy Towns both received assistance. Roundstone Tidy Towns have been allocated €1,000 towards the purchase of shrubs, plants and materials. Clifden Tidy Towns have been allocated €2,500 towards the development of a landscaped area along the Ballyconneely Road. Under the category of ‘Support Initiatives/activities to increase participation in Sport/Recreation’, Clifden GAA was allocated €300 towards purchase of equipment to enhance involvement in sport. Roundstone Connemara Pony Show, Cashel Pony Show and Claddaghduff Pony Show were each allocated €1050.
Connacht Sheep Shearing
Due to the success of last year’s event, the organisers of the 2010 Connacht Sheep Shearing Championships have given the thumbs up to Maam Cross once again as the venue for this year’s event. They are confident that they can make this year’s competitions even bigger and better as they plan to re-introduce one of the more popular competitions associated with shearing in Ireland in the past. This competition was known as the Inter Provincials and it gathers together teams of shearers from the four provinces to compete for the much coveted title of Inter Provincial Champion. Teams will be selected from within the provinces at local shearing events in the build up to Maam Cross. The Ulster Team will be selected at the Balmoral Agricultural Show in mid May and the Leinster Team will be selected at the National Finals in Donard, Co Wicklow on Sunday the 9th of May. The Munster team is to be selected from last year’s Munster Shearing events results and the Connacht team will be selected on the day itself. When queried as to the interest in shearing with the numbers of sheep on the decline in Ireland, organiser Paddy Rock said “it was one of the busiest years for sheep shearing courses ever, and saw 41 new junior shearers enter the market place through training courses given in various locations throughout Ireland by well know Irish Record holder George Graham”. He added that he was hopeful that most of these new shearers would feature in Maam Cross. There will also be many other side events taking place on the day including a fun fair for children, Sheep Dog Handling demonstrations, and a display and sale of local crafts. Those wishing to avail of the opportunity to display and sell their products at the event no matter what size or shape can do so by contacting Paddy Rock on 087-243-9760 or Peter Mc Donagh on 087-203-8294.
Connemara View Newspaper
Tom Mullen Benefit Concert A Benefit Concert organised by musician friends of Tom ‘Banjo’ Mullen of Fahy, Clifden, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, will take place at the Station House Hotel in Clifden on Thursday April 8th from 8:30pm. Tickets cost €10 and are on sale locally. A whole host of musicians, dancers and performers from all over Connemara will join together for what promises to be a mighty evening of entertainment.
Honour for McCormack Galway West T.D., Padraic McCormack has been elected Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. In a contest for this post at a recent meeting of the Party, McCormack won the vote in a 3 way contest beating Tom Hayes, T.D., Tipperary South and Joe McHugh, T.D., Donegal South East. McCormack secured 26 votes on first count to 19 for Hayes and 15 for McHugh. Padraic was first elected to the Dáil in 1989 and has held his seat at every election since. Previously, he served for a number of years on Galway County Council and Galway City Council and was Mayor of Galway in 1992/93. In 1985 he had the unique honour of being elected to both Galway County Council and Galway City Council on the same day and served on both Councils for a number of years. At the last General Election, Padraic agreed to stand down in favour of Cllr. Brian Walsh but when Brian pulled out Padraic came back at the request of the Party Leader and was re-elected with an increased vote. He is currently a member of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee and the Environment Committee. Now, in the run in to the next election he is in the integral post of Chairman of the Parliamentary Party.
St. Anne’s C.N.U. Nursing Homes Support Scheme We are getting queries about the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. What must I do to apply for a bed in a nursing home? How much must I pay? Is St. Anne’s part of the scheme? When I apply for a place in St. Anne’s, is that also an application to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (commonly known as Fair Deal)? St. Anne’s is part of the HSE Nursing Homes Support Scheme. You apply with Form NH-SS1. The information and application form is available from: HSE Nursing Homes Support Office, Community services, West City Centre, Seamus Quirke Road,Galway. 091548 427/28/26 The application process is in two parts: Part one is the care assessment. Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers are involved in this process to see if you need long-term nursing care. Once the decision is made you need long-term nursing home care, you may choose your nursing home. We recommend that you or your relatives/friends visit the nursing home of your choice. If you choose St. Anne’s, we have an open visiting policy. St. Anne’s is open for new applications. Part two is the financial assessment. The Scheme provides financial support towards the cost of long-term nursing home care. Under the scheme, people who need nursing home care can have their income and assets assessed and then make a contribution towards the cost of their care based on their financial assessment. The financial assessment will work out the amount that you will
pay towards the cost of your care and the amount the HSE will pay. The amount that you pay depends on your income and the value of your assets. The HSE pays the rest of the costs directly to the nursing home. The HSE offers two types of financial support: State Support Payment and a Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support). Your State Support Payment is 80% of your income and if, for instance, you have no property or assets the HSE pays the rest. Savings are discounted from your income calculations up to €36,000 for single persons and up to €72,000 for married couples. The Ancillary State Support application is an optional extra feature of the Nursing Home Support Scheme. It is for people who own property and assets in the State. Instead of paying your full weekly contribution for your care from your own means, you can choose to apply for a Nursing Home loan. Your State Support payment is still 80% from your income as above, but you defer the rest (based on the value of your property and assets). The HSE will then pay that portion of your cost of care on top of your State Support payment as a loan. This loan is paid back to the State after the sale of your assets or your death, whichever occurs first. Repayment of the loan is made to the Revenue Commissioners. This part of the scheme is designed to protect you from having to sell your home during your lifetime to pay for your nursing home care. If your wife/ husband/partner lives in the house, you may possibly defer the payment of the loan.
Respite St. Anne’s is available for respite care. If you need respite do not hesitate to contact Rosalind Allen 095-21189. We are willing to be flexible; respite is available for days, weekends, week or a two-week period to a maximum of four weeks per year. The service is free.
emphasis will be on marine leisure tourism as never before and Clifden is well placed to capitalise on this, thanks to the years of effort by the chamber on this project together with the Clifden Boat Club.
Community Development The Chamber has made an application to the Galway County Council community support scheme to enhance the signage for the Sky Road loop. This is one of the most spectacular drives in Ireland yet it is very inadequately signposted. We are finalising plans to rectify this issue and we will bring you news of developments in this project as they happen.
Business Planning Course ‘Managing for Tomorrow’ is a business course specifically designed to assist businesses to plan for the new season and coach owners and managers alike on how to maximise the returns for their efforts. A key goal will be to inform owners and managers on how to work on their business rather than simply work in their business and how to refocus their efforts back on the customer rather than on simply cutting costs. The course is presented by Michael Boyd and organised through Galway Executive Skillnets and the chamber. Contact admin@clifdenchamber.ie for a brochure and booking details. The course date is 19th April next.
Connemarathon Volunteers We have actively supported the organisers of the Connemarathon over recent years and will do so again this year. This race is a major economic benefit to the area in early April and Clifden hosted over 800 runners and their families last year. If you would like to help in the organisation effort with the chamber on the weekend of the race on the 10th and 11th of April please contact us.
Wayfinder Project The Wayfinder project is an architectural walking tour of Clifden and is approaching completion. This project is to be delivered in conjunction with Galway County Council and the chamber and it will fill a significant gap in our tourism offering, providing visitors with a signed walk around Clifden with maps, signs and an audio tour of the main historical buildings. Final texts are now being approved and the final plans will be in place before the summer. Declan Mannion
Go Connemara Loop Update On Tuesday March 16th Rose Rima was on Connemara Community Radio with Pat Walsh representing the Go Connemara Loop organisation as part of a panel discussion with other tourism providers. Rose and Kathleen MacDonald also attended a LEADER meeting in Maam recently organised by Karen Mannion. The Connemara Loop Map was delivered into all major hotels and other outlets in Galway, Westport and Castlebar in the last couple of weeks by Rose and Kathleen. Kathleen also attended a Failte Ireland course on the Loop’s behalf last year and another two sessions are set for this spring. Due to the freezing conditions this winter an AGM was not called, but invoices have been sent out and to date, 50% of persons on the Loop have returned their fees (15% reduced fees for this year). As we need to get a reprint of the Go Connemara maps redone very soon we need to get in 2010 fees please. Zoe Coyle has just reproofed the Loop Cookery Booklet which is going into its second print and this has been a great success. Zoe has also attended meetings regarding Blue Flag beaches for the area.
Dave Tarpey RIP In memoriam Dave Tarpey who lived in St. Anne’s for more than three years. Dave was originally from the United States of America and had served in the Second World War as a technician working on fighter planes. He moved to Clifden more than 30 years ago with his wife May. Together they ran a popular guest house St. Mary’s in Market Street. He was very interested in what happened in the world and was following American politics through his subscription to Newsweek and an occasional Economist. He was a spiritual person and recited the Rosary daily. May he rest in peace with his beloved May. Dr. Marian Hanrahan
Connemara Chamber News St Patrick’s Day Parade The chamber, together with the community council for the first time this year ran another highly successful parade in Clifden on St. Patrick ’s Day. This was a great family and community day for the area and for once the weather was kind. The economic impact of this event for the town is very important, particularly given the hard winter many businesses have been through, so here’s hoping the parade can kick start another good tourist season for the area.
Clifden Floating Pontoon Work has commenced on the pontoon project which in time will transform the marine leisure possibilities in Clifden bay. Given Galway’s successful bid to host the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the
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Clifden
2010 ‘Super Sunday Clean Up’ The 2010 third annual Super Sunday Clean Up will take place on Sunday 18th April. As always, start off point is the children’s playground at the Ball Alley. If possible, be there at 12.30pm to allow time for groups to organise, get kitted up and allow for an on time 1pm dispersal. Last year some areas did a Saturday clean up due to time constraints etc and to facilitate any area that wishes to do the same for this year, please just contact the Secretary or one of the people at addresses below so we can organise you with bags, gloves etc. At the end of the clean up, Joe Lynch and his staff at Supervalu will have refreshments available for all volunteers in the canteen and if it’s anything like last year, then it will be well worth getting your hands dirty for! Tommy O’Sullivan, Jim O’Malley, Gerard King and Cathal Walsh will once again be doing the rounds collecting all the trash and this year if possible, try and segregate any recyclables and land fill rubbish. For further info you can contact Chairperson: Sheila Griffin at 095-21441,PRO: P.K. Joyce at 087-052-4718 or Secretary: Mary O’Donnell at 095-21326 or e-mail:cregghouse1@eircom.net.
Unclaimed Lotto Ticket A winning Irish National Lottery ticket, sold at the Clifden Service station, worth €102,500 has not yet been claimed. The ticket was for the Valentine’s weekend Lotto Draw of February 13th and is likely to have been sold in the days preceding that draw. A special Valentine’s promotion offered €100,000 worth of diamonds as well as a €2,500 cash prize so check your tickets now to see if you were the lucky winner.
Connemarathon Sponsorship Quiz Night Four of Clifden’s hardiest are running the Connemarathon (we’ll at least run half of it) this year for Cancer Care
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West. Declan Mannion, Richie Flaherty, John Malone are running the half marathon and James Kilkenny is running the full marathon to raise funds for Cancer Care West. They are hosting a special pub quiz in Mannion’s Bar on Friday 9th April at 9pm. Teams of 4 cost €20 and there are some great spot prizes and a special bumper draw for the Grand National on the night. All funds raised will go to Cancer Care West.
Thomas Whelan Wreath Laying The Clifden Fianna Fáil Cumann will carry out a wreath laying ceremony at the Thomas Whelan Memorial at the top of the Beach Road in Clifden on Easter Sunday, April 4th at 4pm. All are welcome to attend.
Bring and Buy Sale A Bring and Buy Sale in aid of the Clifden Community Playschool will take place on Saturday April 17th at the Station House Hotel from 11am to 3pm. Come and have fun and a chat and some tea or coffee and cake. Buy or sell-whichever you wish. There will also be a lucky dip for the kids! Tables are available now for €20-book yours or share one with a friend. For more details call Lisa on 086-079-2376 or Moira on 087-663-6468. Please come and support your local playschool.
Ball Alley Pitch Work The development of the all weather pitch beside the playground has commenced. The goalposts have been inserted and some groundwork and drainage are continuing. The roadway adjacent is being dug to route the electricity to the floodlighting. It is hoped that the pitch will be completed and ready for use by May. Declan Maher, Clifden Playground Committee
Clifden Tidy Towns Update At the March meeting of the Tidy Towns group held in Station House Hotel the main issue for discussion was the Paddy’s Day float that the group was entering for first time. Bernie Ward had everything organised and with final last bits ‘ironed out’, the group were looking forward to a fun filled parade which it turned out to be. The Tidy Towns’ hard work was rewarded with first prize in the parade. The progress of the Old Jail Walk was also very high on agenda. As the project got off to an earlier start than we could have wished for, it is now nearing completion with repaired and new steps and wider path in place. Over the next few weeks the finishing touches to the landscaping and creation of various habitats will be finalised, bringing the old walk back to its past glory. If ever there was a case of community groups pulling together to get a project done, then the Old Jail Walk bodes well for the future! Much needed community and financial assistance came from Connemara Chamber of Commerce, Clifden Town Lotto-special thanks to Dave Beecher, Pat Casey and team and Clifden and District Community Council. New ‘Friends of Clifden Tidy Towns’ are Walsh’s Bakery & Coffee Shop and Clifden Active Retirement Association, both of whom donated substantial sums towards the project. We also acknowledge the support of Clifden Supply Centre, Clifden Plant and Tool Hire, Galway Co.Co., Connemara View Newspaper and all the volunteer work and time of the Tidy Towns Group itself. And last and most important...a big thank you to our FÁS team! As always their team effort and dedication to ensuring a well finished project shows in the quality of the work done. Another issue raised was a request from Donal Nee of Roundstone Tidy Towns to work on a joint project of promoting and highlighting the Old Bog Road with a series of information stop points along same. The Group agreed that this would be an excellent venture and look forward to meeting Roundstone Tidy Towns to get the project discussed.
April 2010
Clifden Tidy Towns Group is now entering a critical time to ensure the town looks the very best as the 2010 adjudication period comes closer. As always, if anyone feels like volunteering a bit of free time, your help and assistance of any type will be most welcome. If you have time constraints but may want to help materially, then why not become a ‘friend of Clifden Tidy Towns’ Group. As always, for more info on these points you can contact the Secretary at cregghouse1@eircom.net or keep an eye on notice board in Supervalu. For and on behalf of Clifden Tidy Towns Group: Sheila Griffin chairperson, Mary O’Donnell-secretary, P.K. Joyce-PRO.
Community Council AGM The first AGM of the Clifden & District Community Council took place at Mannion’s Bar in Clifden on Wednesday March 24th. All officers agreed to continue in their present roles: Chairperson: Nessa Joyce, Vice Chair: Sean Heanue, Secretary: Catherine Pryce, Treasurer: Bridie O’ Neill, Asst. Secretary: PK Joyce and P.R.O.: John Durning. The trustees were confirmed as Sheila Griffin, Martin Conroy and Gerry Delaney. Nessa Joyce began with a report of the last year’s activities. Planning permission was obtained by the community council in 2009 for the development of the multiple utility games area currently under development at the Ball Alley by the Clifden Playground Committee. The council were also involved in fundraising efforts in the community, a book of solidarity for survivors of institutional abuse, the Ardbear Graveyard clean up and also dealt with other minor issues brought to their attention by members of the public. Bridie O’ Neill then gave a brief financial report. The council and members of the public present then discussed the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which members of the council assisted the chamber of commerce with this year. It was decided that a dedicated parade committee would be set up for the running of the parade for 2011 and the community council will be in contact with other community groups in the area to invite representatives to be part of this committee in the near future. The members of the Clifden and District community council may be contacted by e-mail at info@clifden.org or at the details below: Catherine Pryce-086-400-6666, Sean Heanue 095-22856, Nessa Joyce 095-21034, John Durning 086-6041088, Martin Conroy 086-832-0872, Gerry Delaney-09521183, Bridie O’ Neill 087-644-7473, Julian Matz 087-7129321, Sheila Griffin 095-21441, PK Joyce 095-21688.
Parent and Toddler Group A regular parent and toddler group will resume meeting in Clifden in the near future. All parents and toddlers will be more than welcome to attend. For more details contact Margaret Sheehan at FORUM Clifden on 095-21741.
New Arrival Congratulations to Wilson and Claire Bird of the Station House Hotel in Clifden on the birth of their daughter Sophia on March 16th.
MS Success for Kingstown NS Kingstown National School raised the fantastic sum of €865.61 for the recent MS Readathon. (See photo) Special congratulations to Steven Canavan who travelled to Dublin on March 10th to receive a Special Achiever’s award for his Readathon effort. Back (l-r): Steven Canavan, Christopher Lawson, Eric and Jack Casey, Emma O’ Reilly, Helena Conroy and Ethan Mannion. Front (l-r): Seán Pryce, Gary McDonnell, Shauna Conroy, Sarah and Nicholas Nazri, Elisha Mannion and Chenoa Farragher. Photo and news by Seán Pryce, 6th Class.
Connemara View Newspaper
Carna
Cashel
Deputy Noel Grealish hopes to bring an official from the Roads Authority to the junction at Recess where the road to Carna and Cashel links with the N59. Local people are concerned about safety at this junction and a protest was held there recently. Deputy Grealish, who met a deputation from the Carna Community Forum lately, says that it is obvious that there is a danger of accidents at the junction. This happens in particular when drivers coming from the Clifden direction turn to the right. The junction is not very noticeable because of the nature of the ground. Deputy Grealish said that he wanted to talk to a Roads Authority and Design specialist about the situation at the junction on site.
We are delighted to announce that Comhairle Muintir an Chaiseal Teoranta took delivery of our new defibrillator in December and have many members of the community trained in how to use it. The defibrillator itself is located at the Community Centre to the left of the main entrance on the outside of the building in a protective cabinet. Ms. Joan Addley, an Irish Heart Foundation Basic Life Support Instructor, conducted the CPR and defibrillator course, training 11 people in the community, namely, Mr. Declan Ridge, Ms. Geraldine McTavish, Ms. Tara Staunton, Mr. Mark Worley, Mr. Sylvain Lapierre, Mr. Sean Brennan, Mr. James Faherty, Ms. Mary Teresa Nee, Ms. Bridgie McTavish, Ms. Breeda Lydon, and Ms. Su Eldred. We wish to thank all of these people for giving of their time in order to participate in such a valuable and life saving venture. We are continuing to collect mobile phones as part of the “Fibbs for Fones” mobile phone recycling scheme for a second defibrillator for St. Theresa’s National School in Cashel. We need to collect 500 old, damaged or unused mobile phones. We’ve found a market to sell the phones for cash, which in turn buys a defibrillator for our school! Please check around your home and office for your old, broken or outdated phones and bring/send them to Cashel Health & Resource Centre, Cashel, Connemara, Co. Galway for collection. Please contact the Cashel Health & Resource Centre at 095-31052 for more information.
Dangerous Junction
Carna report paints bleak picture A report compiled by a sociologist paints a bleak picture of the Carna area. It points out that unemployment stands at around 30% and that people have little hope that their families will be able to live in the area. They think there will be no jobs for them and that they will have to leave for a more successful life elsewhere. The report was compiled by sociologist Aine MackenWalsh who works for Teagasc and for NUIG. Ms Macken-Walsh says that it is evident that there is no strong European or State support for fishing which is a traditional means of earning money in the Cill Chiaráin and Carna area. She says that skills such as seaweed harvesting, fishing, boatbuilding and other marine related work are not being supported-skills that are in abundance in the area. But the general picture is one of serious decline in population, an ageing population and a threat to the future viability of the community.
Village effort continues The Carna Village Action Committee and the Fóram Iorras Aithneach are continuing their effort to develop footpaths and public lighting in the village. The committee has been in touch with Minister Éamon O Cuív and with County Council officials again in an effort to gave a proper surface on the whole of street in Carna from the Hotel as far as the University Centre. Some of this was done before Christmas. The committee also hopes that some further work can be done on footpaths and lighting in a special renewal scheme through the Leader programme.
Defibrillator for Cashel
Inishbofin
Inishbofin NS Win Readathon! Inishbofin N.S recently received first prize in the primary schools section of the M.S Readathon. The prize was based on the amount of money raised in relation to the number of children involved and the number of books read. Continued on next page
Photo below: The children of Inishbofin National School who won first prize in the MS Readathon with their engraved trophy. Photo courtesy of Mary Joyce. Photo right: Pictured at the MS Readathon awards ceremony in Dundrum Shopping Centre were Simon and Cailim Murray; Catherine and Sarah O’Connor Lavelle. Photo courtesy of Mary Day Lavelle.
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
Page 7
Oughterard
Parade Success
Inishbofin
Inishbofin NS Win Readathon! continued Fifteen children took part in the Readathon and raised over €800. The children were encouraged to read from a variety of sources from novels to information books, news articles to books ‘as Gaeilge’. They recently received a letter informing them of the prize giving ceremony in Dundrum Shopping Centre in Dublin. Four people were invited to attend. Two children were chosen; one from the junior classroom and one from the senior classroom and they were each accompanied by a parent. The school was awarded book vouchers to the value of €600 and a trophy with the school’s name engraved on it. The children who attended the ceremony were treated to a great day of fun and entertainment which included a magician and a viewing of Alice in Wonderland 3D. School principal Cathy O’Halloran and senior class teacher Mary Joyce were delighted with the children’s success and would like to thank all the people of Inishbofin who supported the children and the M.S Readathon. They would also like to thank Clifden Library who provided the school with lots of interesting books for the children to read.
RNLI Dinner Dance The third annual Inishbofin fundraising dinner dance in aid of the Clifden Lifeboat will take place on Saturday April 10th. Once again, Inishbofin House Hotel will provide the venue and delicious food for the event. Following on from the success of the previous two years, the organisers hope to raise some much needed funds for the Clifden Lifeboat Station. The music this year will once again be provided by ‘The Amps’ from Clifden. There will also be a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses/individuals. Tickets for the event cost €50 and are available from Rita on 087-968-0514 or Orla on 086-837-2702.
St Patrick’s Parade A very entertaining and enjoyable parade took place on the island this year, with great enthusiasm from local children and adults alike. For photos of the Inishbofin parade see Page 38.
Leenane
May Bank Holiday Events A busy weekend is lined up for the village of Leenane over the May Bank Holiday weekend. In addition to the third annual Leenane Walking Festival taking place (see details on Page 2), a number of social events will also be running in the village over the weekend. A Race Night will take place in Hamilton’s on the night of Saturday May 1st. All are welcome to attend for what should be a night of great fun. For a full listing of events see www.leenanevillage.com.
Regular Events Kickboxing continues every Tuesday night at 9pm in the Community Centre. It is great fun and exercise and new recruits are always welcome. Day Care is also held in the Community Hall every Thursday as well as a weekly Parent and Toddler group. For more details contact Leenane Development at 095-42017.
The Oughterard St Patrick’s Day Parade was once again a resounding success in 2010 with the Oughterard community coming together in force to put on a fantastic parade. The best of local young talent was on display for all to see, with music by the national school band and Irish dancing, performances and floats from local youth groups, a parade of ponies and riders and many entertaining and clever floats from local businesses and community groups. The top prize went once again to the Collinamuck Tuesday Club with their ‘Peg’s space shuttle’ claiming the Londis shield trophy. For photos of the Oughterard Parade see Page 38.
Capture an Oughterard Moment A unique photographic event will take place in Oughterard and the surrounding areas on Saturday April 10th entitled ‘A Day in the Life of Oughterard’. It will be a 24 hour event, taking place from midnight of the night before to midnight on the 10th and it is hoped that a fascinating variety of photos depicting the Oughterard area will result. Photos taken during that time period will then feature in a slide show exhibition running at the Oughterard Tourist Office as part of the Oughterard Arts Festival from April 23rd to 25th. Photos entered should be sent to snapoughterard@ gmail.com with the name and address of the photographer and the time the shot was taken. An individual may enter up to three photos. For more information please contact Cliodhna at Clann Resource Centre on 091-557-634.
everyone is welcome. The purpose of the Shop Local day is to offer great value for money to consumers on a regular basis. On Friday 30th of April, Oughterard retailers, hotels, restaurants, publicans and tourist attractions will be offering great discounts, special offers and free raffles. There will be face painting from 3.30pm and a pink bunny with free sweets, plus other activities for the children. In the current economic crisis it is now more important than ever to support local businesses that provide local employment supporting the local economy. Photo: The Easter bunny inquires if there is a nice burrow on Martin O’Connor’s list of properties at DNG Auctioneers on Shop local day in Oughterard on Friday March 26th. Janet Schley, Oughterard Business Association Photo courtesy of Jackie Lyons
Recognition Award
Shop Local Campaign 2010 Due to the phenomenal success of 2009 shop local days, the Oughterard Business Association began its ‘Shop Local Day’ campaign for 2010 on March 26th. It was advertised on local radio stations for the full week before the event, with prizes donated by the businesses in the town every day from Monday to Friday. All of the businesses in the town had special offers on the day and there was music on the square, with a life sized Easter bunny giving away free Easter Eggs, with children’s activities including face painting and Easter basket making. Local attractions were also showcased in the Tourist office on Main St. This event followed on from the Business Association’s ‘Town Tidy Up’ on March 15th where there was a great turnout by all businesses in Oughterard, which included the river walk wildflower planting project. The next Shop Local Day is planned for Friday April 30th from 12p.m. onwards. This will then become a monthly affair on the last Friday of every month from March to September. It’s a great fun day out for all and
Oughterard photographer Tom Broderick (photo above) was awarded a trophy in March in recognition of his services to the Oughterard parade since it was established five years ago by James Stewart and Aidan Murphy.
Annual Rugby Social Oughterard Rugby Football Club’s annual social took place at Peacocke’s Hotel in Maam Cross on Saturday March 27th. Pictured below are committee members (l-r): Pat Higgins, Morgan O’Connor, Dr. Eoin Bresnihan, Tim Curran, Graham Casburn, Paul Fogerty, Comdt. John Whittaker, Ian Fogerty, Martin Irons. Seated (l-r): Aiden O’ Flynn, Louisa Molloy, Mike Webb and Dave Dollimore. Photo courtesy of Tom Broderick
Leenane Food Festival Following on from the success of last year’s first Leenane Food Fair the dates of September 25th and 26th have been set for this year’s event. For more details contact Leenane Development at 095-42017.
Letterfrack
Citizens Information Service The Letterfrack Citizen’s Information service will be available at Connemara West (Portacabin 4) on Tuesday 13th and Tuesday 27th of April from 1.30-4.30pm. If you have any questions about Social Welfare, pensions, housing, consumer affairs, employment, education or any of your rights or entitlements call us on 087-130-1100 or just drop in. A wide range of application forms and booklets are also available. For more information call 095-22000 or 087-1301100/ Email:clifden@citinfo.ie or go to www.citizensinformation.ie.
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Tidy Towns at Work The Oughterard Tidy Towns group spearheaded a huge clean-up effort on Monday March 15th, ensuring that the town and its surrounds were in pristine condition for St. Patrick’s Day. Pictured here are a group of willing volunteers kitted out before tackling the town. April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Clifden
See page 18 & 27 for more Clifden Parade pictures Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
Page 9
Mink
Roundstone
Mother’s Day Lotto
Renvyle
Birthday Greetings Michael James Sammon’s 60th birthday was celebrated on February 28th in Ros’s Bar in Tully with family and friends. He is pictured here with siblings: back (l-r): Patrick Sammon, Johnny Sammon, Daniel Sammon, Michael James Sammon. Front (l-r): Breege Diamond, Noreen Conneely, Maureen Sammon.
I hope all you mothers were spoilt rotten on Mother’s Day. The Mother’s Day lotto draw was held in O’Dowd’s with lots of prizes for the mammies but there was no winner. Talking about the local lotto, it has been decided with the lotto committee to give €200 to the Connemara Community Radio as an annual payment to allow us to advertise the lotto nights on air.
Birthday Wishes Birthday wishes and congratulations to Cathal Nee who has recently celebrated his 21st Birthday. Also congrats to Kieran Mullen who reached the grand old age of 23. It seems only yesterday they were youth club age-scary!
Diocesan Safeguarding Children’s Policy
90th Birthday Congratulations to Pat Walsh (left) pictured here with his brother Thomas of Gurteen, Renvyle, on the occasion of his 90th birthday which took place on February 25th with friends and family who celebrated with music, song, dance and birthday cake in Ros’s Bar in Tully. News & photos courtesy of Priscilla Diamond
In these difficult times within the Catholic Church there is a new revised policy to safeguard children within church settings, i.e. sacristan’s, ministers of the Eucharist, readers, in fact all nominees who play a part within the church parish and that are involved with children. This new policy was launched on the 22nd March at a local level with training in the Station House for all Pastoral council members within the Diocese. We will be receiving 10 copies of the Safeguarding Children policy booklet to be passed out to the Roundstone group. Six people who are involved in our church will need to accompany Fr. John McCarthy as representatives of the Dioceses.
With mink being very much in the news lately, relating to the control of these predators, young Eamon and his father Joe Mongan for the last few weeks have being setting traps with a very interesting bait, which by the way works. It’s rat poison blocks, attached to some wire and it certainly does the business. Within five weeks Eamon and Joe have caught to date three, one a very mature female carrying kits. Interestingly, I received an email from Eddie Conneely who was holidaying on Inishnee and he informed me that while crossing the new bridge two mink ran across the road at the end of the bridge on the Innishnee side. With this exact location a trap will be placed and this sort of information is very helpful as we need to be vigilant. Eradication is not the target, it’s the control and we will not give the mink the Cead Mile Failte!
St Patrick’s Weekend Clean Up Ann and I have now begun to realise that we should never underestimate the age group of children to do some community work. For example, Michael McDonagh, Cian and Al-
Haiti Donation You may remember our pub quiz that was held some time ago for the Haiti appeal. Kieran DeLappe recently received a letter of thanks from John O’Shea, representing the international humanitarian organisation GOAL for our donation of €810. The letter thanked everybody who participated.
Jive Classes Fundraising Through the Roundstone Development Council, the Jive classes that were held this winter raised a further €810 after expenses to go towards the refurbishment of the top part of the Community Hall, starting with new windows and the washroom areas.
Condolences Our condolences to the Mullen family on the loss of Bridget whose remains were brought to the church in Ballyconneely for mass with burial after in Oughterard. May she rest in peace.
len Conneely, Kieran Connolly, Clara King, Pat Mahon and his two sons Liam and Owen, Cathal O’Donnell and Leanne King were available to do a clean sweep through the village in March to pick up litter and recycle some of it. We were amazed at their enthusiasm and thoroughness of finding the bad areas, picking it up, bagging it and taking it away. In the end we had nine full bags! Our thanks to the national school kids and to Galway Co. Co. for providing pickup sticks, bags and gloves, also Ann and Bronagh for supplying drinks for the troops at Eldon’s after the Clean Sweep. We will be doing a repeat performance again on the 10th of April as part of the Galway Co. Co. spring clean up in Roundstone, incorporating this time Gurteen and Dog’s bay beaches. We will also attempt to bring back a metal collection at a later date.
Tidy Towns There was a recent meeting in the community hall with the Tidy Towns committee, RDC members and Donal Nee who is the supervisor for the FAS Scheme in preparation for this year’s competition. Ongoing works were discussed at length, but of course money was an issue. To cut a long story short, the local lotto has allocated €2,500 and the website account allocated €1,000. Also, RDC will allocate a few shillings for the various projects around the village to help Donal with his team of lads to implement the new works. One of the biggest jobs that’s going on at the moment is the landscaping of eye sore areas, i.e. the tennis courts, Maggie’s Corner, the Triangle and of course more shrubs for the new beds. If these four projects get finished it will surely get us a few more points in this year’s Tidy Town’s competition. Richard De Stacpoole
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April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
Trace Your Family History
will further the knowledge of those taking part. The line up of the speakers is as follows: Mr.Tom Cuffe: Tom has been using computers to store and present his family tree and history for 20 years. The software available has moved with the times with some excellent improvements which produce some eye catching family tree charts and reports. Tom was secretary of the Western Family History Association for three years. Mr. Rob Goodbody: Rob is President of Rathmichael Historical Society and was the former Hon. General Secretary of Royal Society of Antiquaries. In addition to this, he is a local historian for some 30 years. Rob is a part-time teacher on the following: MA in Local History, NUI, Maynooth, Graduate School of Engineering,TCD, Dublin Civic Trust. Ms. Marie Mannion: Marie is Heritage Officer with Galway County Council for the past ten years. Prior to that she was Manager of Galway Family History Society (West) and also lectured in Heritage Studies in the GMIT. Mr. Gregory O’Connor: Gregory has worked at the National Archives of Ireland since 1989. He has had responsibilities in the areas of accessioning, arranging and describing legal records taken in from Court Offices, Solicitor’s (Attorney’s) Offices and from private individuals. Gregory is extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of genealogy and local history sources. He has lectured extensively both in Ireland and abroad. Ms. Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill: Kathleen is a native of Clifden and the author of five books and numerous articles on the history of Connemara. Her books include History of Clifden 1810-1860 (1982), Beyond the Twelve Bens: A History of Clifden and the District (1986), Patient Endurance: The Great Famine in Connemara (1997), History of Kylemore Castle & Abbey (2002) and her latest, Alexander Nimmo and the Western District (2006). Pre-booking is essential as there is such a large demand for this seminar and the two people who should be contacted are as follows: Ms. Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill at 095-22746 or by e-mail at vtk@eircom.net or Ms. Ma-
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
The Clifden and Connemara Heritage Society in partnership with Galway County Council and The Heritage Council will hold their second Genealogical Seminar on Saturday April 17th at the Clifden Station House Theatre. This seminar will be titled ‘Tracing My Family History- Useful Sources’. It will begin at 10am and run until 5pm. Registration starts at 9.30am. The last seminar which the society ran was a great success and this time it is hoped that many more people will attend. It will also build on the information which was given at the first seminar, which was designed as a starting point. On the 17th April, there will be a different group of speakers who
rie Mannion at 091-509-198 or mmannion@galwaycoco.ie. Photos contributed thus far for Clifden 2012 from top: Mary Ann Mulkerrin (nee Healy) with daughters Annie (24) in the white dress and Mary Margaret (38) taken in Ardbear in 1934. Clifden Boys School mid 1930s. James B Joyce with his son, Shane, and Maurice Foyle in early 1960s.
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Clifden Caught in Extra Time Cross’ Fire
Connaught Colleges Senior C Championship Final Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina 2-14 Clifden Community School 0-19 “From the heart of County Galway, To the fields of victory, Our backs are strong and sturdy, Our forwards quick and true, And we’re marching on to victory, In the colours of the white and blue”. The Jarlath’s anthem rang out once more loud and clear in my head for the first time in over a quarter of a century as I proudly observed the blue and white of my local secondary school in their first ever provincial decider. I hadn’t attended a schools match in almost 20 years, but it was worth the wait. College’s football is the purest brand of all and Cross’ and Clifden didn’t disappoint in Clonbur. Quite simply, what unfolded before my eyes on March 6th last, was the most
captivating, entertaining and exciting Gaelic football match that I have ever witnessed, and I don’t expect to see the likes of it again in my lifetime. As a spectacle, this encounter between two evenly matched sides had all the ingredients that make Gaelic football such compulsive viewing. It was a privilege to witness the glorious high fielding, the wonderful point scoring from all kinds of angles, the flowing incisive movements, the superb blocking and shot stopping, the accuracy of the free taking, the precision of the passing, the last ditch defending and of course the usual quota of naive mistakes and costly errors on both sides. In the end, Clifden blew it badly. Four points up with four minutes of extra time remaining, they should have closed ranks and circled the wagons, but this was their maiden voyage at this level and inexperience cost them dearly in the final analysis. The Mayo lads never panicked, found another gear when it mattered most and blazed a trail of destruction
at the death to plunder the spoils of battle. The Connemara camp was a scene of devastation afterwards, but when the dust eventually settles and a full review is carried out at the end of the present academic year there can surely only be one conclusion-the GAA is here to stay! (Continued on page 16) Photo above: The Clifden Community School Football Team. Back (l-r): Niall Black, Peter Cullen, Simon Heanue-Joyce, Brian O’ Toole, Shane Sweeney, Christopher Holmes, Jack Vaughan, Derek Heanue, Eamon McCann, John O Sullivan, Shane Kerrigan, Connor Nee, Ian Heanue, Cathal O’ Neill, Diarmuid Walsh, Ronan O’ Donnell, Coach John Coyle. Front (l-r): Martin Walsh, Ian Batley, Sean Nee, Niall Curley, Eoghan Killkenny, David Black, Conall Joyce (Captain), Brendan O’ Farrell, John Mannion, Liam DeCourcey, Gerald Gibbons, Fergal Moran, Liam Mitchell, Josh Stoney, Niall Staunton, Roddy O’Donnell.
Six to Minor Panel In March six young players from north and west Connemara were selected for the Galway minor football panel. The six are pictured left (l-r): Derek Heanue (Renvyle), Ronan McCann (Clifden), Conaill Joyce (Clifden), Cathal O’ Neill (Renvyle), Jack Vaughan (Clifden) and David Black (Clifden). There has been delight in Clifden and Renvyle at the player’s selections for the panel, with many commenting on the positive impact the reintroduction of football at Clifden Community School has had on the development of these talented young players. The new Minors will join fellow Connemara panel members Philip Ezergailis (Moycullen), Niall Walsh (Killannin), James Keane (Barna), Éanna Ó hEochaigh (Spiddal) and Fintan Ó Curraoin, Fiach Ó Béara and Peadar Ó Gríofa (Micheal Breathnachs). Photo courtesy of JJ Mannion
Judo Gold
The Connemara Judo Academy took home gold at the Waterford Open Judo Championships in March. Pictured above are (l-r): Chris Hickey (Oranmore), Luke McCabe (Clifden), Dara O’ Connor (Inagh Valley, Recess), Joseph Mulkerrins (Mynish, Carna), Ryan Hehir (Clifden) and Carna Head Instructor and Coach of the Connemara Judo Academy Paraic Hernon. For more information on the Connemara Judo Academy contact Paraic on 086-356-5590. Photo courtesy of Eileen Ward
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April 2010
Connemara SportsView
Rugby Season Winds Up Since the last edition, we had a good win at home against Navan. We started well in this game and were 10 points up after fifteen minutes. The visitors settled and scored a fine try after some quick passing between backs and forwards. Sean Joyce added another penalty to make it 13-5, just before half-time Navan closed the gap with a penalty. Ten minutes into the second half, Navan kicked another penalty to make it 13-11. Our boys responded well and good work from Emmet Ferron and Kevin Barry brought play into the 22 and when the visitors handled the ball in the ruck, Sean Joyce kicked his third penalty to make it 16-11. Navan put a lot of pressure on our line, but tackles went in fast and hard and we kept our line intact. They did get a penalty with five minutes to go and we had a nail biting finish but we held out and got a badly needed 4 points. As results came in from around the country we were a bit surprised to hear that both Portadown and Naas had won against top of the table teams; this meant that there was no changes at the bottom of the table. It was great to see such a big crowd of supporters at the game with a lot of visitors from Navan who enjoyed their weekend despite the result. Last Saturday March 27th we were in Carlow and while the home club needed to win with a bonus point to have any chance of surviving, we needed to win to keep out of the drop zone. Carlow started to run everything from the start, but mistakes cost them when a pass went astray and Peter O’Toole was quickest to react and scored a try, minutes later Sean Joyce added a penalty to make it 8-0. The home side continued to run at every opportunity, one long pass was intercepted by David Newman and he ran under the posts. The same player ran through the cover ten minutes later for his second try and the conversion made it 25-0. That’s the way the first half finished and although we were playing against the strong breeze in the second half, we expected to get the bonus point after another good break by Newman almost yielded a fourth try five minutes into the second half. The Carlow out-half used the wind to good effect and put back into our 22. After some good inter passing on their side and poor defence on our side, they got in for a try under the posts. Five minutes later they were in for another and suddenly it was 14-25. Eight minutes later, it was 21-25 after missed tackles on our side. While our lads were under pressure, they settled and defence improved, we started to attack again. David McDonagh went very close to getting over and Sean Joyce lost his footing as he was just about to kick a penalty. Carlow attacked again but Paddy O’Toole got the ball on his own line and ran the length of the field only to be caught two meters from the line. The home side came down field again, but after a knock on, the ref blew the full time whistle much to the relief of the big support we had in Carlow. Again we were on the phone to see how Naas and Portadown had done. Naas won at home while Portadown were unlucky to lose out to an injury time drop goal against Navan. The last game of the AIB AIL of the season is on Saturday April 10th at 2.30pm in the Monastery Field. It would be great to have a big crowd there as some of the lads are talking of retirement. Youth Roundup The Youths rugby is coming to an end with the U15’s in the final of the plate after a good win over Galwegians in the semi final. The U11’s went to Athlone in the Connacht Blitz and came away undefeated winning 4 games and drawing 1. The U9’s went to Westport and while the results were not great they had a good day out. We had a car boot sale at the Monastery field on Sunday last with proceeds going to the youth’s section. This was the first one and the response from all was to have another one again soon. Everything was on offer, from unwanted gifts flowers, bikes, shoes, fire guards, baby clothes to name just a few so we will have another one soon. Peter Keane The Connemara Rugby Team that defeated Navan 1613 on Saturday March 6th. Back (l-r): Tomás King, Alan Keogh, David MacDonagh, Cormac McDonnell, Dara Sweeney, Brian Flaherty, David Keogh, Emmet Ferron. Front (l-r): Sean Joyce, Martin O’ Malley, Kevin Barry, Kevin Keogh, Mark Foyle, David Newman, Peter O’ Toole. Photo courtesy of Charlie Bourke
Connemara SportsView
West Coast Utd News Seniors Well Poised in League The seniors had two league games in March and thankfully came away with away wins in both. The first game was away to Athenry on a small narrow pitch. Being used to the huge spaces of our home pitch it took us quite a while to adjust. Conceding a soft goal after five minutes made life even more difficult, but we settled down and gradually took control. Stephen Heanue headed his tenth goal of the season just before half time. Cathal O’ Neill was dangerous throughout from dead ball situations. West Coast controlled the second half but had to wait until the dying moments for Shane Lydon to unleash an unstoppable volley to the Athenry net. Much of the credit for the win must go to centre backs Finian Sheridan and Danny King who drove the Connemara lads forward all day. Our next opponents were Oranbay 90 and as always they gave us a tough game. Again the pitch wasn’t great which made it difficult to play our usual passing game. The home side were dogged but Brendan Kane headed West Coast ahead from a brilliant Mark Gannon cross. We should really have been more than one goal in front at the break and we looked solid at the back with Tommy Walsh and Danny Coyne in control. Oranbay sneaked a goal early in the second half and we really had to push on to gain the three points. Danny Sammon, Neil Lydon, Peter Wallace and Stephen Heanue were all playing well and eventually Wallace set up Shane Lydon to hit the winner for the second game in a row. West Coast are joint top of the division with one game to play. If both ourselves and Cois Farraige win our remaining games the league will be decided with a play off. Our last game is at home to Oughterard and will not be easy. We will have the utmost respect for them but have enough belief in our own ability to hopefully shade it. Please come to Letterfrack on April 3rd and support the boys. The game kicks off at 2pm. Under 13’s in Fine Form The under 13’s continue to power towards the first division title with wins over Oranmore and Renmore. With a panel of 18 fine players the title is in their own hands. Having played seven league games and won all of them confidence is high, and some of the football is a joy to watch. Fechin Mitchell, Nathan Staunton and Gary Mullen got the goals in a tight 3-1 win against Oranmore and Mitchell, Staunton, James O Farrell and Brendan Regan shared the goals in a facile 9-0 victory over Renmore in Galway. There are only four games left so keep it going boys. Under 14’s The Under 14’s have qualified for a semi-final in the Connacht Shield. Their opponents will be Hibs/Foyle from Galway city at a date and venue to be yet decided. Last year the under 18’s were defeated in the Connacht final so hopefully the 14’s will bring West Coast its first Connacht title. Under 11’s The 11’s continue to train on Thursdays in Letterfrack and the numbers continue to grow. They will have games coming up and more info can be had on joining the ranks from Finian Sheridan at 086-088-2941. Summer Soccer Schools Bookings have opened for the FAI summer soccer schools which will take place in Letterfrack from August 16th-20th. This year the camp is open to boys and girls aged 6 to 14 years. We guarantee five exciting days of football, great fun and
April 2010
friendly high quality coaches. If you have never played football before this is the place to start. Book on-line at http://www.fai.ie/ or phone 1890-653-653. For more information or for postal applications contact Joachim Lydon 086-409-8814 or anyone at West Coast Utd. Joachim Lydon Stephen O’Callaghan presents Cailtlin Salmon with a €1,000 cheque after winning first prize at the Renvyle GAA St. Patricks Day Draw. Also in photo is Jerry Salmon. Photo courtesy of Colleen Kane
Renvyle Annual GAA Draw The annual Renvyle G.A.A. St. Patrick’s Day Draw took place on St. Patrick’s Day. The support of all the sponsors is greatly appreciated and the results were as follows: Caitlin Salmon-€1000; Thady Salmon-Old Convent, Clogheen, Co. Tipp; J & A Gibbons-Carlton Hotel, Tralee; Aidan Keane-The Mill Times Hotel, Westport; Peter Coneys-Dinner for 2-West Hotel; Willie Lydon-Dinner for 2 Renvyle House Hotel; C & H Bowman (Co.Kilkenny)-Leenane Hotel; David Walsh (Kylemore)-Dinner for 2-Station House Hotel; Fr. Gerry Burns-Supervalu Voucher; Pat Davitt (Recess)-Voucher for Country Shop Letterfrack.
The Ronhill Connemarathon
The behemoth that is the ‘Connemarathon’ will once again take over the highways and roads of Connemara on April 11th. The Connemarathon is comprised of a Half Marathon, a Full Marathon and a 39.3 mile Ultra Marathon all taking place on the one day. The 2009 event attracted a sellout of 3,600 entries with representation from 31 Countries and this year’s event is once again sold out and has been for some time. The course meanders past bogs, hills, lakes, and the Twelve Pin mountains rising up over the great expanse of Killary Lough, through the quiet village of Leenane, around the Maam Turk Mountains and all the way back up to Maam Cross. International participants report great enjoyment of the Irish welcome, the sense of comradeship on the lonely route, and unmistakable buzz throughout the day. Of course there will also be local entrants running various lengths of the three distances on offer and they will be hoping for good support from onlookers, and of course a good day’s weather. The action will be taking place in and around Maam Cross on Sunday April 11th from early morning as ‘the most scenic Marathon in the world’ gets underway.
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Impressive Catch The Oughterard Regatta 50 team fly fishing competition, presented by the Oughterard regatta committee took place at Baurisheen bay on Lough Corrib on the weekend of March 27th and 28th. The total prize value was over €11,000 with a first prize of two Yamaha 9.9 HP 4 stroke outboards, sponsored by the regatta committee and Tuck’s tackle shop.
The winning team pictured above was David Dinsmore and Mike Shanks of Irish Angler magazine with the heaviest fish on Sunday at 4.266 kg and heaviest over Sat/Sun at 6.786 kg. Photo courtesy of Tom Broderick
Historic Team Honoured The Oughterard Intermediate team who were crowned County champions in 1984 were special guests at the Oughterard GAA social held in March at the Oughterard Golf Club. The team won the West Board Cup, the County Cup and the Centenery Cup in 1984. On the night each member was presented with a DVD of the 1984 Championship semi final and final. The Clubs junior team were also guests having won the West board final that year and narrowly beaten in the county final. Intermediate Team of 1984 pictured above right. Back (L-r): Roddy Joyce (Manager), Conor Gibney, Paddy Clan-
cy, Martin Lydon, Conrad Keogh, Tom Sullivan, Henry Keogh, Mike McGauley. Front (l-r): Kevin Clancy, Pearse Clancy, John Morley, Matt Tierney, Richard Lee, Harry Walsh, Damien Vahey. Missing were Mike Walsh (captain), Eamon Walsh, Kieran O Sullivan and Paddy Geoghegan. Photo courtesy of Harry Walsh
Mud Plugging Motoring A demonstration of off road driving skills was displayed over the weekend of March 27th in the grounds of the Connemara Gateway Hotel in Oughterard, Co Galway. The main trials took place in a field adjacent to the Station Road. This was the Leinster Motor Club’s first venture into Connemara for a weekend of car trials also known as mud plugging. Pictured on the right (standing l-r): Noel Carter of Roscahill, John Nolan of the Connemara Gateway Hotel, Padraig O’Toole of Oughterard, who gave permission to use the field and Paddy Healy of Oughterard. (Kneeling l-r): Christopher Evans British rally cross champion and Paddy Cahill of the Leinster Motor Club. Photo by Tom Broderick
Community Games Success The Conamara Thiar Theas U13 soccer team did themselves and Connemara proud on Sunday March 7th in the final of the indoor soccer of the Galway Community Games in Ballygar. After receiving a bye in the first round they faced Miltown (MKK) and their nerves soon eased with a fine display of passing and moving football. They outclassed their oppenents and won convincingly 6-2. In the semifinal they faced tougher opposition in the form of Athenry who they eventually overcame to win with a fine 3-1 victory. In the final they came up against the favourites Glenamaddy and this was the final most people expected after seeing the early rounds. The game lived up to the expectations of the crowd. Glenamaddy were well organised and tough to break down and CTT showing great skill and flair. Glenamaddy took the lead with a quickly taken free kick which took CTT by surprise, but they fought back and equalized with a terrifically worked goal finished by Jack Walsh. The game ebbed and flowed with both keepers saving well, especially the Glenamaddy keeper who saved two penalties from the unfortunate Aonghus Ó Cualáin and a string of fine
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April 2010
shots. CTT were undone by a breakaway goal and couldn’t find a way past the outstanding opposition keeper. It was a great performance by all the squad members who can hold their heads high and prepare for next year. Below, Conamara Thiar Theas (back (l-r) Bearthla Ó Loinsigh, Jack Walsh, Eoin Folan, Cian Ó Fatharta, front (l-r): Oisin MacDonnacha, Joe Ó Gubáin, Cormac Folan, Aonghus Ó Cualáin. Seán Walsh
Connemara SportsView
Oughterard Golf 14/03/10 15 Hole Voucher Competition. 1st Tom Naughton (26) 41 pts, 2nd John Walsh (21) 37 pts, Gross: Hugh Walsh (2) 32-2=30
248 pts, 2nd Mannions 243 pts. Mens: 1st Iorri Griffiths (9) 39 pts, 2nd Paddy Gannon (15) 38pts, 3rd Michael Moran (16) 37pts. Junior: 1st Fergal Moran (17) 24pts. Ladies: 1st Kathleen Burke (23) 31 pts, 2nd Carmel Gaughan (25) 28pts Back 9 3rd Julie Donnellan (15) 28pts. 10/03/10 Open Singles.1st: Norman Deacy (14) 40pts, 2nd: John Royliston (9) 39pts, 3rd: H McClafferty (21) 38pts 13/03/10 Open Singles. 1st Ciaran O’Flatherty (9) 40pts, 2nd: Eamon Conneely (9) 37pts,Gross: Liam O’Reilly (4) 33pts, 3rd Ray Lyons (20) 37pts,CSS 36pts. 14/03/10 Singles: 1st Mary Geoghegan (25) 32pts, 2nd: Kathleen Burke (23) 31pts, 3rd: Anne Murphy (26) 31pts, CSS 33pts. Mens: 1st Pat O’Toole (19) 42pts, 2nd: Darren Little (11) 40pts, 3rd Tony Walsh (13) 38pts, CSS 37pts. 17/03/10 Open Singles. Mens: 1st Derek Joyce (11) 38pts, 2nd Tim Hickey (16) 38pts 3rd John Heanue (20) 36pts, CSS 35pts. Ladies: 1st Josephine O’Neill (29) 37pts, CSS 33Pts. 20/03/10 Open 4 Ball. Sponsor: Clifden Service Station, Esso. Ladies:1st Julie Donnellan (15)/Carmel Gaughan (25) 38pts. Mens: 1st Derek Joyce (10)/Aidan Griffin (13)39pts. 21/03/10 Open Singles. Sponsor: Clifden Service Station,Esso. Ladies: 1st: Deirdre Murphy (16) 37pts, 2nd Carmel Gaughan (25) 34pts, 3rd Carmel Murphy (21) 33pts, CSS:34pts. Mens:1st Stephen Gamble (12)
41pts, 2nd Michael Dolly (12) 38pts, 3rd Conor O’Malley (14) 38pts,CSS: 37pts. 24/03/10 Open Stableford. Mens: 1st John Laverty (19) 41pts, 2nd Brian Kelleher (23) 40pts, 3rd Derek Joyce (10) 40pts. Ladies: 1st Anne Laverty (28) 34pts, 2nd Deirdre Murphy (15) 33pts. 28/03/10 3 Ball Scramble. 1st: Michael Dolly/ Padraic Malone/Sean O’Toole 59, 2nd: Gabriel McNamara/Joachim McHugh/ Bernard McNamara 60, 3rd: Sean Birmingham/
Feichin McDonagh/Kenneth Coyne 61, 4th: Agnes Stokes/Paddy Aspell/Julian Jeff ries 61. Pictured above are the O’Dowds Team, the Connemara Golf Club Pub League Winners 2010, being presented with the Veldon Cup by Vice Captain Aidan O’Halloran, Lady Captain Marie Bourke and Paddy Aspell representing Veldons. (L-r): James DeCourcey, Carmel Gaughan, Marie Bourke lady Captain, Michael King, Paddy Aspell and Aidan O’Halloran, Vice Captain 2010.
Gross. 3rd Jones Ferriss (7) 35 pts (19b9), 4th Richard McNamara (8) 35 pts (18b9), 5th Seán Coyne (18) 34 pts (21b9, 5b2 Pictured above at the Captain’s Drive Off at Oughterard Golf Club on Saturday March 13th were Lady Captain Peggy Blehein and Captain David Walsh. Photos courtesy of Tom Broderick
Connemara Golf 03/03/10 Wednesday Open. 1st Iorri Griffiths (9) 38pts, 2nd Patrick MacLynn (5) 37pts. CSS: 38. 06/07/10 Open Stableford. Ladies: 1st: Aideen Ni Fhlannchadha (24) 30pts. CSS: Mens: 1st: Liam O’ Reilly (4)39pts, 2nd: Coilin O’ Flatharta (16) 38pts, 3rd: Sean Og De Paor (20) 37pts, CSS: 37pts. 07/03/10 Pub League Results. 1st O’ Dowds
Connemara SportsView
April 2010
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Connemara Adventure Challenge An exciting new one day event, the Connemara Adventure Challenge, will take place in Co. Galway on the 8th of May 2010. The event is a shorter version of Gaelforce West, the large 65km adventure race that takes place in August. The Connemara Adventure Challenge encompasses three disciplines; running (walking and jogging also allowed!), cycling and kayaking. The event is approx 26km in length and the route takes in sections of the western way, the foothills of the Maaumturks and the Killary Fjord. Mona Purcell the event director says “the event is achievable by everyone with a little bit of training”. The event will see 1,000 competitors at the start line. “These 1,000 competitors and their supporters will be staying in the local area for the weekend and will provide a boost to the local economy” states Jamie Young. The Gaelforce team hope that this shorter event will encourage more of the local community take up the challenge set by the 26km course. For those who are new to adventure challenges and are a little apprehensive to sign up for future events, Killary (continued from page 12) There can be no going back now. Put the cream of Renvyle and Naomh Feichín together and they are potentially a match for any school in Ireland within the appropriate grade. No less than six members of the present team have graduated to the ranks of the Galway minor panel for this summer’s Connaught Championship campaign. Gortnor Abbey, in contrast, had the services of players from six different clubs. ‘Not really a level playing pitch’, you might add, but Clifden’s players and management alike won’t use the above as an excuse, because they know that in many respects they were the architects of their own downfall. The redeployment of one of the forwards as an extra defender backfired badly with Cross’ taking full advantage (continued page 16)particularly in the first half. Defensive indiscipline, resulting in the cheap concession of far too many close-in frees, also served to undermine much of the productive work being carried out further up the field and allowed Gortnor to stay in touch on the scoreboard against the run of play. Clifden also spurned more scoring opportunities then their opponents, particularly in the second half. The unprecedented amount of scores from general play on both sides are too numerous to catalogue in the space allowed. Suffice to say that they were all of the highest quality, apart from the opening goal which was very fortuitous. The same cannot be said of the second however, a clinically constructive move that rippled through the heart of Clifden’s beleaguered defence, culminating in an explosive finish into the top corner. It was a defining moment in this final but not the only one. Clifden’s failure to convert two gilt edged goal chances, allied to a costly goalkeeping error all inside the space of five minutes towards the end of the first half, ultimately proved to be their undoing, because if Lady Luck hadn’t deserted them on those three occasions they would have won the match comfortably in normal time. That crucial goal which was gifted to Cross’ edged them ahead by a single point at the interval on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-9, and the match remained on a knife edge throughout the second half, with scores becoming harder to come by. The key moment after the resumption arrived with less than five minutes remaining, when the Clifden custodian stood strong and firm against an onrushing insurgent, after the last line of his porous defence had been all too easily breached. His individual brilliance inspired his teammates who were
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Adventure Co. are running a training weekend for complete beginners on the 28th of May. For more details on the training weekend visit www.killaryadventure.com. Killary Adventure will be holding a public meeting in the Leenane Community Hall on April 14th at 7.30pm. They will be discussing what the event involves, how the local community can benefit and how locals can get involved. They will also be answering any questions that people may have. For more information on the event visit www.gaelforceevents.com or contact Siobhan at 095-42006.
Top Prizes for Champion Heifer Eamonn Connolly from Magheramore, Oughterard (right) attained three first places with his Charolais heifer at the Athenry show on Tuesday March 9th. He claimed the titles of Best Beef Heifer, Champion Female of the Show and Supreme Champion of the Athenry Show. This was Eamonn’s second time to take top place at the Athenry Show and he is the only Connemara man ever to do so. Photo courtesy of Tom Broderick
trailing by 1-10 to 0-11 at the time. Instilled with a renewed sense of self belief, Clifden rallied once more and two quick fire points inside the final few minutes earned them a well deserved reprieve at the end of normal time. The momentum was now well and truly with the West Connemara lads
and they blossomed in extra time. Released from the shackles of the counterproductive sweeper system, they played with much greater purpose and conviction, rattling off five unanswered points in the process. With less than five minutes remaining, John Coyle’s charges appeared to be on the brink
April 2010
of an extraordinary football achievement, but it never materialised. What happened subsequently can only be compared to Offaly’s Lazarus like comeback against Limerick in the 1994 All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final. Clifden, like Limerick that day, were suddenly on easy street and thought they had sealed the deal. They took their foot off the pedal, dropped their guard and were hit with a late series of knockout blows. Cross’ threw caution to the wind, hit 1-2 in blitzkrieg fashion and landed a Connaught Champion title in the process. The agonizing nature of this defeat will haunt their opponents for many a long day, but they can be incredibly proud of their contribution to a classic encounter that was surely worthy of a higher grade. Unlike St Jarlath’s, Clifden Community School has no Gaelic football tradition to boast about, but that won’t be long changing if they continue to build positively and productively on their outstanding achievements thus far. Paul Gannon
Connemara SportsView
Connemara Pony Spring Festival The sixth annual Connemara Pony Spring festival took place from March 24th to 28th in Clifden. An exhibition of photos by Nina Gustafson, who has been photographing Connemara’s since 1979 opened the weekend at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, and a full line up for the weekend included the colt inspections, the ever popular table quiz, a lecture by Pat Lyne on the Arabian influence in the Connemara pony and an auction. While the Saturday pony sales were far
from brisk, some lots made decent prices as the challenging market persists. The popular Spring Weekend finale, the Stallion Parade on Sunday March 28th once again showed the Connemara breeding stock in all their splendour. There were many fine stallions on display from the locality, in addition to many who travel to the event yearly showcasing the best of the breed. Photos: Left: Declan Ridge and Margaret Sheehan’s newly registered Earl of Clonriff. Below left: Ann Conroy Conneely’s and Patrick Conneely’s prizewinning Errismore Rocky. Below: Cailin Conneely’s prizewinning Letterfdyfe RiRa. Below right: Looking for good homes at the Connemara Pony Sales on Saturday March 27th.
Midlands International Connemara Pony Conference ‘Let’s Talk Pony’, an International Connemara Pony Conference will take place at the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday April 24th .The programme includes talks by Mr. Jeremy Stanley, Chairman of the Master Farriers Association, Ms. Wendy Conlon, Equine Specialist at Teagasc, Athenry, Ms Stefania Bucca DV M Somerton Equine Hospital, Co. Kildare, Mr. David McCann, M.R.C.V.S., Nina Gustafson. Ms. Mary McCann and Ms. Tuula Pyoria, President of the International Committee of Connemara Pony Societies. Subject matters include: Starting on the Right Foot-shoeing techniques, The Feeding Regime form Birth to Bridle, Breeding the Problem Mare and the Advantages/Disadvantages of Natural Cover,A.I. and F.S., What the Inspector should look for through the eyes of a Vet, the Influence of the Connemara Pony in Sweden from 1968 to 2010, Producing for Peformance and A Global Perspective of the Connemara Pony. Pre booking is essential. For further details or registration please contact Ruth Rogers on 087-254-0164 or rodgersruth@eircom.net.
Connemara SportsView
April 2010
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Clifden
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April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
Fundraisers Inishbofin Annual RNLI Dinner Dance, Saturday April 10th, Inishbofin House Hotel. Music by ‘The Amps’ and raffle on the night. Tickets are €50 and are available from Rita on 087-968-0514 or Orla on 086-837-2702. Spring Buy & Sell in aid of the Clifden Community Playschool. Rent a table for €20. Sell your wares, treasures, hand-me downs, new or nearly new. Home baking table. Bring a cake, bread, buns, biscuits, something YUMMIE to eat. Saturday 17th April. Station House Hotel. 11am3pm. Lucky dips, weight of cake and plenty more for everyone. For a table contact: Lisa: 086-079-2376. Sandy: 087-762-6917. Connemarathon Sponsorship Quiz Night. Mannion’s Bar on Friday 9th April at 9pm. Teams of 4 cost €20. Spot prizes and a special bumper draw for the Grand National on the night. All funds raised will go to Cancer Care West.
Art & Antiques
Roundstone Ceramics in Michael Killeen Park, Roundstone is open daily 10am-5pm. We make a wide range of functional stoneware and unique hand decorated porcelain. We also make porcelain jewellery, all sold exclusively from our workshop. We welcome individual orders for commemorative pieces, house signs & original commissions. 095-35874. roundstonepottery@eircom.net Prendergast Antiques. Lower Market St., Clifden. For that unique gift or special piece for your home why not peruse our extensive collection of antique furniture, silver, ceramics, collectibles, antique and reproduction glassware, prints, mirrors. Best prices, 32 county delivery, worldwide shipping, trade welcome. www.clifden.biz. Phone 087-629-6195 anytime. Clifden Antiques & Irish Art. Station House Courtyard. 095-22230. 087-664-9845. clifdenantiques@eircom.net. Reopening April 1st. Make your home beautiful by investing in wonderful Antiques & Art. It’s a great time to buy as prices have decreased considerably. Come in – you may be pleasantly surprised, it’s a chance to invest your money wisely.
Catering A la Carty Catering: For all your home catering needs contact Joe and Olive Carty. 095-22842. 087-260-5961. alacartycatering@gmail.com.
Children’s Products
Brats of All Ages. Unit 1, Market St, Clifden. 095-22952. Berg Go Carts. Didi Cars. Games Workshop Agents. Childrens clothes, accessories, toys, communion and Irish dancing tiaras. Also pet baskets and accessories.Party decorations etc only €1 per pack.
Computers & IT
Calf Dehorning and Tagging Service Available - Portable Gas Burner for calves aged 3 weeks - 3 months. Larger cattle also done under local anaesthetic with no pain or blood loss to the animal. Call Donal Staunton on 087-992-2301. Get Henpecked. Coops & Runs for Your Chickens. See ad on page 32. Visit our website at www.Henpecked.ie or call Brian Casey in Cleggan on 087-249-8097 / 095-44924. sales@Henpecked.ie. Poultry For Sale. Point of lay Lohman Brown pullets & growing pullets. Light Sussex, Marron, Plymouth Rocks, Bluebells & Black Rocks. Now available: Alyesbury Ducklings. Purebred Hatching Eggs. Taking orders for Goslings. Poultry housing also available. Call Daragh in
D&N Auto Store. Suppliers of: Oils, parts, batteries, accessories, body kits, alloys, number plates. Now stocking tractor parts. Open 6 days 9am-6pm. Unit 4, Clifden Business Park. 095-30615. 087-274-4165. Omey Tyres. Connemara’s 1st complete mobile tyre fitting centre. Our Recession Beater For You: Wholesale prices on new tyres. The best prices - Every day – Guaranteed. 24 Hour - 7 Days. Call Out Service throughout Connemara. Call Daniel Ryan on 095-44979 or 086-831-3462.
Books & Periodicals
Cafés, Pubs & Restaurants Page 37 Cards, Gifts & Flowers
Connemara Florist. Main St., Clifden. Monday -Saturday 10am-5.30pm - 095-21565 connemaraflorist@gmail. com - www.connemaraflorist.net. Fresh flowers for all occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, births, funerals and weddings. Great gift ideas - whatever your budget! Delivery throughout Connemara. We cater for all budgets!
Connemara View Newspaper
Employment
Entertainment Page 37 Farming
Automotive
King’s Paper Shop. Main St, Clifden. 095-21119. Newspapers. Magazines. Lotto. Huge Card Gallery. Gifts. Sweets. Cigarettes. Colour photocopying and faxing. Clifden Bookshop. Main St., Clifden. Offering a comprehensive range of titles with particular emphasis on local Connemara history, Irish literature, guide books, maps, memoirs and book tokens. Extensive range of books currently selling at parity. Best sellers/thrillers/biographies. Also stockists of artist’s materials, cards and stationery. Provides ordering and mail order service. theclifdenbookshop@eircom.net. 095-22020. Open Monday – Saturday 10-5.30pm
Yellow Door Expressive Arts End of term Production 1st of May ‘Practically Cats’ 1pm Tickets 5 euro available on the door. Shooting Lessons: From the complete novice to the most experienced gun with Shane Bisgood. Coaching for over 30 years in Ireland & the Americas. Call 086-279-5118 or email: shanebisgood@eircom.net. Spring Garden Seminars 2010. Cashel House Hotel. 09531001. www.cashel-house-hotel.com. Garden courses with renowned plants man, lecturer & garden writer Ciaran Burke. Practical demonstrations in the mature gardens of Cashel House Hotel. The Fruit Garden-Planning & Pruning April 10-11. Propagation Workshop April 24-25. Price per day (including lunch): €60. Weekend Rate (2 nights B&B, 2 dinners, 2 lunches): €290. Limited places. Please book early. Art Classes. Would you like to learn watercolour painting? One to one and small group classes available. Take a one off class or several. I can also come to your small group. Patricia Morrison. Derrigimlagh, Ballyconneely. 087-656-9255.
Education & Courses “Dusty Banjos” Trad session for beginners/improvers (adults). Learn tunes, play music with other people. Friendly relaxed atmosphere, slow pace. Suit all melody instruments. €5/night. Tuesdays 7.30pm – The Bens Music Shop, Clifden. Info – Heather: 095-44845. New faces always welcome! Connemara Judo Academy. West Connemara Sports & Leisure Centre, Clifden. Sunday classes at 1pm. Contact Paraic on 086-356-5590 to enrol or for information on other training times. Piano, drama, singing, ballet, hip hop, yoga, tai chi lessons for beginners to intermediate level available at Yellow Door Productions and Expressive Arts School. Yoga with Aoife Lyden, Tai Chi with Emilio Bucko, Piano and voice Emmy Wallace and Drama and Dance Elaine Enright. Contact Yellow Door Director Elaine on 085-154-4664.
April 2010
Barna on 087- 136-9714. Calling ALL REPS Farmers. Do you want to get paid to learn? 10 – Hour REPS Courses. 5 – Hour REPS Courses. For further information call 086-827-8031. An extensive range of animal feeds including the Red Mills and Gain brands now on sale at Clifden Fruit & Veg. Main Street, Clifden. 086-836-5864.
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Farming Diamonds. Renvyle. 095-43486. For all your farming, building supplies & home heating needs. Hay, straw, bedding, cement, steel, blocks, stakes, fencing, animal feedstuffs, gates, posts, coal, briquettes, Eco-Logs, wood pellets, fertilizers and much more. March Specials: 18% E&L Ration €235. Beef Ration €220. Polish coal “Champion” €325/tonne (25 x 40kg Bags). Briquettes €418/pallet (128 bales). Fertilizer now in stock. For the best prices & free delivery throughout Connemara call us today on 09543486.
Fashion, Shoes & Accessories
Stanley’s Sale Room. Any 3 Items €50. Sale Starts April 3rd. Lower Market St., Clifden. 095-21039. Belle Blu, Market Street, Clifden. 095-21321, sales@belleblu.com. Award winning Belle Blu Lifestyle Boutique offers a unique range of fashion solution products that you will wonder how you ever lived without them! New costume jewellery and accessories in store and 20% all styles of YUMMIE TUMMIE body shapers!!! New Opening Hours: Mon – Sat, 11-6 (closed for lunch 2-3) Remember you can always shop online at www.belleblu.com/! Hehir’s Woolen Store, Market St, Clifden. 095-21282. Fabulous new fashion Spring collections at amazing prices.. now stocking “Not Your daughter’s Jeans”-lose a dress size instantly! La Femme Bleue. The Square. 086-129-5548. jtmchantal@ hotmail.com. New range of unique and colourful products. Everything you will need to complete your outfit. Ohh! By Gum. Station House Courtyard. 095-21334. 086-025-9568. ohhbygum@gmail.com. An eclectic mix of fashion, vintage & organic, accessories and arts & crafts. NEW: ‘I Love Clifden’ re-useable bag. A percentage of profits raised go to Cancer Care West. New Spring collections for our younger customers. Many of these labels are new to Ireland so come and be the first to see. The sweetshop corner will have lots of new treats to try so come and find your new favourite.
Financial / Legal
Recession Busting Review: Why not avail of our Free financial review to see if we can save you money on all your insurances. Then you will know for sure you are getting the best deal. Call Hennelly Finance on 091-586-500 or call Helena on 086-809-5607. Hennelly Financial Services Ltd. T/A Hennelly Finance is regulated by the Financial Regulator. Bookkeeping & Accounts service for self employed and small businesses. Very experienced financial administrator is available for all your bookkeeping requirements. VAT/ PAYE/PRSI returns, payroll, monthly accounts etc. Contact: Marian Herriott 087-647-8303. email: mherriott4@ gmail.com. Cashel-Connemara Credit Union. Clifden Office relocation new premises beside Bank of Ireland from March 25. 095-21101. Cashel Office 095-31128.
Therese Thornton, Solicitor, Clifden, Co. Galway. Professional, comprehensive legal service at reasonable rates. Call 087-262-5385 or email ThereseThornton@gmail.com for advice or a quote with no obligation.
Food & Wine
Geraghty‘s Supermarket. Carna. 095-32239. Clifden Fruit & Veg. Main St., Clifden. 086-836-5864. Full selection of fruit and vegetable at great prices. Now selling an extensive range of animal feeds. Connemara Hamper. Lower Market St., Clifden. Large selection of Irish and European farmhouse cheeses. Organic wines, fruit and vegetables. Freshly baked breads and baguettes. Gourmet lunches and Illy coffee to go. Open all year. Thurs-Sat 10-5pm. 095-21054. Des Moran Family Butchers. Main Street, Clifden. 095-21232. Home of the national award winning sausages, white pudding and black pudding. Catering to all of your meat and poultry needs. Malone Meats. Lower Market St., Clifden. Stop in for quality and service from your local butcher. Clip out this ad to receive 10% off your purchase. 095-21868. SuperValu Clifden. The Square, Clifden. 095-21182. Opening hours: Monday-Thursday/Saturday 8am-9pm. Fri 8am-10pm. Sunday & Bank Holidays 8.30am-7pm. An Bhean Feasa Health Store. Market St., organic wholefoods, nutritional supplements, herbs, natural remedies, organic face and body care. Clinics in kinesiology, acupuncture, Bowen Therapy and massage. Professional, confidential and expert service in both shop and therapy centre. 095-30671.
Health, Beauty & Wellbeing Page 34 Home Furnishings
Teach & Baile. Main St, Oughterard. Open Mon – Sat from 11am. Contact Jackie on 087-280-3563. Slumber Night Mattress Sale. 3’ single only €100. 4’6” double only €150. While stocks last. Whistlestop “Gifts & Interiors”. Station House. 095-21532. 086-230-4210. whistlestop@eircom.net www.whistlestop. ie. Design-led home accessories at affordable prices. Lamps, mirrors, throws, glassware sourced world-wide. Baby gifts including award winning Organics for Kids babygros and an eclectic range of jewellery & silverware. Wedding list & personal shopping source available. Broderick’s Electrical Centres. For the BIGGEST selection of electrical appliances and LCD TVs in the West. Lodge Road, Westport 098-28130. Moneen, Castlebar 094-904-4735. Free Delivery to anywhere in Connemara.
Items for Sale or Rent Connemara Bouncing Castles for hire for all occasions, supplied with rain covers, delivered, erected and collected. 095-21219. Diamonds. Renvyle. 095-43486. Coal, briquettes, pellets, Eco Logs, sand, gravel. For coal & briquettes - Nobody beats our prices. Call today for a quote. Free delivery. Yamaha Farm Quad 450cc. 4x4. Fully reconditioned. €4250 Honda 350 4x4. 2004. Like new Fully serviced. Warranty. €3750.
Looking For… Friend: I am trying to locate a Martin Flaherty, who was a good friend of mine in New Zealand in the 60’s and 70’s and later in Australia. I heard he returned to Ireland a few years ago. He would be in his 60’s now. Any help would be great. Martin was from Connemara. Laurence Reilly, Brisbane, Australia. E-mail: dublin@e-access.com.au Family/Ancestors: I am trying to locate family members of my grandmother who was born in Keeraunbeg, Ballyconneely on January 6th 1894. Her name was Mary O’Donnell and her family was listed in the 1911 census as follows: Father Colman O’Donnell , Mother Maggie (Ridge) O’Donnell, Mary O’Donnell (my grandmother) brother Peter O’Donnell, brother Tom O’Donnell, sister Bridget O’Donnell, sister Maggie O’Donnell, sister Barbara O’Donnell, brother Pat O’Donnell. They were listed as residents of house number 6 in Keeraunbeg (Crumpaun, Galway). You may contact me at Scott M. Wells, P.O.Box#5751, Springfield, Massachusetts 01101, U.S.A. and my e-mail is keeraunbeg@yahoo.com. Any information will be welcome.
Marine
Information Services & Media Does your partner? Call you names, constantly criticise you? Control your access to money/phone/car etc? Monitor your time, threaten you and the children? If so you may be in an abusive relationship. For free, friendly, confidential advice and support call D.V.R. 091-866-740. Connemara AA. Tuesdays, Old School, Recess, 8.30 pm. Wednesdays, Clifden Day Centre, (behind the hospital) 8.30pm. Thursdays, Clifden Day Centre, 8.30pm. Fridays, Ellis Hall, Letterfrack, 9pm. Saturdays and Sundays, Clifden Day Centre 12 noon. Clifden Citizens Information Centre. Free and confidential service to the public. Galway Rd, Clifden. 095-22000 and 087-130-1100. Thurs 7pm-8pm. Friday 10.30am3.30pm. Connemara Community Radio. Letterfrack. 095-41616. Connemara View Newspaper. Clifden. 095-22888. AWARE Depression Support Group meetings take place at the FORUM Office (upstairs), Ellis Hall, Letterfrack on the 1st Thursday of every month at 8pm. Contact Margaret 095-21741 afternoons except Tuesday for more details.
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April 2010
Office Supplies Office Chat. We have closed our Clifden shop but you can still order direct from us for great value on office supplies, digital cameras and printers. Next day delivery. Quarryhouse, Rosscahill West, Mob.086-284-8603. 091-550-014.email:ian@officechat.ie. Visit our website at www.officechat.ie. 15% off all online orders in April. Homeware Plus. The Square, Clifden. Everything at discount prices! 095-21348.
Organic Fruit & Veg
Jagur Organic. Get your Organic Fruit and Vegetables from your local Organic Grower. Our produce is available in the Countryshop Letterfrack, Connemara Hamper and Duanes Fishmonger in Clifden.We will return to the Clifden Market at the beginning of May. Tel. 095-44855.
Connemara View Newspaper
Pets, Animals & Ponies Bingo and Chelsea are 6 months old, both spayed female kittens looking for kind homes, preferably together. One timid, one friendly and house trained. Please ring Deidre Elizabeth 087-938-3530. Babs 086-354-451. Jack Russell Cross Breed pups for sale. 7 weeks old. Ready to go in one week. Roundstone. 087-761-5624. Connolly’s Boarding Cattery near Rossaveal. Open all year for long or short stays. Designed for safety and comfort of cats following FAB guidelines. All cats must be vaccinated and males neutered. Tel. Maureen on 086-398-8179 or 091-572-000 or visit www.purr.ie.
tos restored, rescued & reprinted. Have your photos digitally scanned, burned to CD, ready for print. Open everyday. Mon-Thu 11-10pm Fri-Sat 11-11pm/ Sun 2-10pm
Pony Riding
No pets. Available furnished or unfurnished. Car space provided 086-398-9350.
Properties - BER
Properties House to Let. 3 bed house in Clifden Glen available for immediate long term let. Fully furnished and complete with cooker, fridge, m/w and dishwasher. €100pw. Rent allowance welcome. Tel. Fiona on 063-33400. House for rent long-term on the scenic Sky Rd. Ocean view. Close to Clifden town. Private parking. 4 bedrooms (3 ensuite). Central oil heating. 2 open fires. 086-354-7513. Rooms to rent in town centre. New house, all mod cons. 086-837-7120. For Rent: 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and rooms to let, 5 minutes walk from Clifden town centre, fully furnished. 095-44924 or 087-249-8097. Currently available for rent-modern & comfortable 3 bedroom house, located in quiet and convenient location just a stroll from Clifden town centre. Careful tenants only.
Building energy rating (BER)call today for a quotation, also a solar panel and heat recovery ventilation installer.SEI registered. Contact Aodan on 087-066-0755 or email at aodanmacdonncha@gmail.com. Selling your house or renting long-term? Then you must have a Building Energy Rating. Contact Oliver Coyne today! 095-35813. 086-238-4195. olivercoyne@gmail. com. Listed on the SEI Register of BER assessors. Book now for your Building Energy Rating certificate which is compulsory for all homes for sale or rent from January 1st 2009. If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you are entitled to a BER. BERs will be carried out by specially trained BER assessors, registered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). Call Sinead at Matt O’Sullivan Estate Agents on 095-21066 or e-mail property@mattosullivan.com www.mattosullivan.com. Listing properties for long term rental.
Quads
Galway Quads. Quads, buggies, repairs, servicing, accessories. Boley, East Barna. Contact Keith Trill on 087-988-6514 or email keith@galwayquads.com. www. galwayquads.com.
Restorations
Church-Castle and Monument. Architectural and ecclesiastical restoration and conservation. Our service: statues repair and repainting. Marble altar works. Stained glass windows. Outdoor statues. Towerbells and clocks. Fountains. Crypts. Church furniture. Stations of the Cross. Vestments. Chalices and monstrances. Grotto statues. Also sandblasting and metal engineering works etc. Nationwide service. Purchasing-Statue showroom. Michele Thierbach G.R.A.D. www.studio-michele.com. www. nicholas-antiques.com. 091-556735.
Photography & DVD Services Video Vault. Main St, Clifden. Call 095-22033. VHS to DVD transfer. Disc repair: 5 discs repaired for €10. Pho-
Signs
Professional signage, display, design and print solutions by Grand Designs. Gortachalla, Moycullen. To view samples of some of our work please visit - www.gdesigns.ie For a free quote phone Patrick on 091-556-844. 087-781-3491. email pcusack@gdesigns.ie. Traditional Irish sign writing by ‘Studio Nicholas Connemara’. Moycullen-Tullokyne. 091-556-735. 087-220-3898.
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
Page 21
Taxi Service
gates, posts, coal, briquettes, Eco-Logs, wood pellets, fertilizers and much more. March Specials: 18% E&L Ration €235. Beef Ration €220. Polish coal “Champion” €325/tonne (25 x 40kg bags).Briquettes €418/pallet (128 bales). Fertilizer now in stock. For the best prices & free delivery throughout Connemara call us today on 095-43486.
paints and care products, call Matrix Custom Interiors on 091-395-707 or 086-366-5768. Painting and Decorating: Interior and exterior, timber floors sanded and varnished. Neat and tidy job guaranteed. Also offering garden and lawn maintenance service. Competitive rates. References available. Contact Johnny Coyne, Renvyle, 086-857-0302.
Plant Hire
Noel Connolly Plant Hire. Site work & land drainage. Top quality graded topsoil. Large volume of material available at €70 per load. Prices on extensions and renovations. Keenest prices around. C2 Reg. 095-23781. 086-247-6610.
TV/Satellite/Broadband The National Broadband scheme is rolling out in your area soon, for more info contact Frank 083-408-2480. Affordable Satellite Broadband. Satellite Broadband Ireland is an internet service provider who can install satellite broadband at your home, place of work or anywhere you wish.Your system then sends and receives signals via satellite. Sales 044-933-3200. Free to to air satellite service from Harrington Electrical Connemara. Full standard installation with box and dish €160. Hundreds of free to air channels. Call Paul on 087-144-1118. Wireless broadband. Aerial and satellite installation and repair. Peter Keane, Clifden. 095-21827. 087-668-7468.
Upholstery
Upholstery Service. Loose cover. Curtains. Blinds. Materials and swatchbooks available. Custom projects. Call Maurice or Agnes. 095-44902. 085-723-1774. 087-762-4983.
Websites
Website Design: Creative, professional and affordable websites by Cuán Mara Design, Letterfrack, Co. Galway. For pricing and to view portfolio visit www.cuanmaradesign. com. For a competitive quote phone Caroline Herriott on 086-079-1918 or email caroline@cuanmaradesign.com. Two Dog Computer & Business Solutions. Visit our new retail office on Bridge Street. 095-22194. 086-404-3125. Website design and development.
Wedding Services
Vintage and modern cars available for weddings, social or corporate travel and airport transfers. Our rare and unique cars are fully PSV licensed and insured. Special midweek rates. Visit our website or call us on 091-506-896 or 087-990-2294. www.getawaylimos.com. Wedding Videography by Pat Coyne. Professional, friendly service. Two camera operators digitally capture your big day while blending into the background. Portfolio of videos available for review. References available. Package includes 4 copies of the edited video. Packages to suit every budget. Renvyle, Connemara. 095-43756. 086-406-2394. email: fiddisco@mac.com www.fiddisco.com. Connemara Weddings. Music for your perfect day. Call Eithne on 095-43928 or 087-768-4921. ehannigan@eircom.net.
Trade Supplies & Services
Chimney Cleaning John F. Hynes Chimney Cleaning. In business for over 30 years. Fast, clean, reasonable rates. Phone 091-555-317 or 087-231-5401.
Gardening & Landscaping
Neighbourhood Gardening. Lawns mowed. Tidy beds and borders. Hoeing and weeding. Hedge planting and clipping. Lawns raked and seeded. Tree holes dug. Light pruning duties.Garden labour assist. Kerbing around lawn. Sleepers laid. Base for garden sheds. Compost areas created. Raised bed built. Fence posts replaced. Broken paving fixed. Stone pointing. Servicing all of Connemara. Contact Peter 087-147-3308. NeighbourhoodGardening@gmail.com. Tree pruning, crown reductions, crown thinning, deadwood removal, tree removal, hedge cutting & chipping, est 1998. Alan Linnane. West Coast Tree Surgery. 086-284-8340. Homeware Plus. The Square, Clifden. Everything at discount prices! 095-21348. Gardening Pots, Boxes, Gloves, Tools & more from €1.
Gates
Connacht Gates Moycullen. Manufacturer of wrought iron gates domestic and commercial. Side gate, railings, balconies, stainless steel handrails, glass balustrades, customised stairs, fire escapes. Registered contractor. 091-868-803. 087-261-6947. Email: conncoatfab@eircom.net.
Gutters
Connemara Seamless Gutters. Suppliers of roof line cladding and guttering systems. Over 17 years experience. Aluminum, UPvc. Wide range of colours. Free quotations. 095-41180. Gerry: 086-103-1053. Peter: 085-760-4130.
Insulation
West Coast Insulation. Your local cavity wall and attic insulation specialists. Eco bead Platinum. The ONLY SEI Grant Approved Installer in Connemara. Call us on 087 14 2 14 14. Patrick & John Folan, Letterfrack. westcoastinsulations@gmail.com.
Kitchens
Alternative Energy Airflow Renewable Energy Solutions, Ballybrit, Galway. 091-764-761.www.airflowireland.ie. Daikin air to water heat pumps. Ground source geothermal heat pumps. IVT heat recovery ventilation. Solar panels. System design & project support. Domestic & commercial. SEI approved. Cut your oil bill by two-thirds with solar powered water heating. Call Michael Carey for a free no obligation quote. Testimonials from satisfied customers available. SEI grants available. Carey Solar Powered Systems. Sky Rd. Clifden. 086-603-9299. www.careysolar.com. Liam Shannon Plumbing & Heating Contractor. SEI Registered contractor for Home Energy Savings Scheme. Specialists in Oil, Gas & Renewable Energy Heating Systems. Solar Panels. Boiler Maintenance/Service.Sheeauns, Cleggan 086-248-8853. liamshannon@eircom.net.
Building Contractors & Supplies
Diamonds. Renvyle. 095-43486. For all your farming, building supplies & home heating needs. Hay, straw, bedding, cement, steel, blocks, stakes, fencing, animal feedstuffs,
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Plastering & Tiling Tiler specialising in all types of floors & walls; Ceramic, mosaic, marble, terracotta, porcelain, slate, paving. Call for FREE quote & advice. Commercial & residential. Competitive rates, professional throughout. Paul Davis. Tel: 095-23803 Mob: 085-110-3035.
Plumbing
Liam Shannon Plumbing & Heating Contractor. SEI Registered contractor for Home Energy Savings Scheme. Specialists in Oil, Gas & Renewable Energy Heating Systems. Solar Panels. Boiler Maintenance/Service.Sheeauns, Cleggan 086-248-8853. liamshannon@eircom.net. Michael Carey Plumbing & Heating. Specialists in remodeling and air-to-water heat system. Boiler Servicing. OFTEC registered. 086-603-9299.
Sand, Gravel & Stone
Stonetech, Clifden. Call Seamus on 087-668-7437. The Original Bagged Sand Supplier. Soft & sharp sand, washed gravel & decorative chippings. 1 ton bag delivered only €60. 5 to 30 ton loads of sand, gravel & stone available from €25/ton. All prices exclude vat. Corbett Stone. Natural Connemara Building Stone. 095-21744. 086-247-5619. www.corbettstone.com. Cut stone by the bag or hand picked at rock bottom prices. Any quantity. Flag stones for paving. Unusual shaped stones for your garden. Good quality topsoil by the truck load or 1 ton bags. Delivered promptly. Our prices won’t be beaten. Washed and graded sand and gravel. Decorative stone chippings in a variety of colours for pathways, driveways and patios. Choice gardener’s bark mulch. Free delivery to your door. Just need a bag or 2 of sand, gravel, decorative chippings or bark mulch? We are now supplying 25kg, 50kg and 250kg bags. We also sell in bulk. Free delivery throughout Connemara. Mongan’s Stonecraft. Derryinver, Letterfrack. 095-43473. 087-130-7752. 086-199-1988.
Tarmacadam
Croke Concrete. Moycullen. The Specialists in Tarmacadam & Precast Concrete. 091-555-233. 086-247-2881. crokeconcrete@eircom.net
Windows
Memorials/Headstones Headstones. Surrounds, cleaning, inscriptions. Mongan’s Stonecraft. Memorials-fireplaces-flagstone-signage. Derryinver, Letterfrack. 095-43473. 086-199-1988.
Painting
Auro Natural Paints...let your house breathe again! Auro products contain no environmentally harmful additives like petroleum based solvents. For more information about our extensive interior and exterior high grade
April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
Coast Guard Station, Moorneen, Cleggan In earlier days Connemara was a haven for smugglers, with its many bays and inlets making it perfect for hiding small boats which would rendezvous with larger ships in the hours of darkness. There are many stories of famous or perhaps infamous smugglers who worked these treacherous waters during the 18th and early 19th centuries and even earlier. The smugglers didn’t come from any one section of society and there are reports of both ordinary people and the gentry being involved. It is said that the wines and spirits served by the Martins in Ballynahinch Castle were of the very best quality, but there was no mention of where these drinks had come from. It has been estimated that in the middle of the 18th century, 50% of the spirits in Britain were smuggled. Of course this smuggling was bad for the government, losing them a lot of revenue through these illegal activities. They had naval patrols at sea, customs officers at ports and the local police and army forces to back them up, but nothing seemed to work. As well as hitting Government revenue, it was also bad news for the merchants and ship owners. Something needed to be done about it. A number of bodies had been set up to try and stamp out the practice, and from the 17th century onwards there had been in existence around the British coast a number of different authorities including the Coast Blockade and the Preventive Water Guard. Then, in the early years of the 19th century a new system was adopted, and coast guard stations were set up all around the coast. By the early 1820’s a report
was given to the House of Commons which claimed that the whole line of the Irish coast had been surveyed and that 160 stations had been established. The service had in employment 1821 men (chief officers, chief boatmen and boatmen) and 33 inspecting officers, as well as 200 casual boatmen brought in during the winter. The station at Cleggan followed the standard pattern for Coast Guard Stations, consisting of in this case, an eleven bay two storey building and a detached officers house, and it was built around 1865. The buildings have hipped roofs, rendered facades and projecting porches. Like all other stations, it was set on an elevated site overlooking the sea. A small boat house or maintenance shed was also part of
the buildings. Each of the houses would have had their own gardens where the residents could grow vegetables and fruits. These houses would have been occupied by the men who were a great source of diversion in the area, being popular at dances and parties. They were often the backbone of local churches, and a number of them helped out as scripture readers and teachers. They often married locally, but they seldom stayed very long in any station. The records for these men are easy to follow if you have their name and dates. For instance, W.H Goslin was commanding officer in 1843 and James Penman took that role in 1866. There may have been others in between these two men. Each station followed fairly similar designs although there were many different aspects incorporated into each location.
Inishbofin Mailboat discovered in Canary Islands! One of the precious gems of the Canarian Archipelago is the beautiful and International Nature Preserve of La Graciosa Island, situated a short distance off the north coast of Lanzarote. Arriving last February on the island ferry from Lanzarote’s little northern fishing port of Orzola, and berthed alongside a pontoon on the island’s most attractive and neat little harbour, we saw what looked like a Connemara Hooker, except that from a distance the stern didn’t look quite the same shape. Naturally the first thing to be done was to check this out immediately and imagine our great surprise to discover this was the well-known ‘Leenan Head’ from Inishbofin! The ‘Leenan Head’ was built in Arbroath, Scotland, in 1906, the last example of her type, for the Congested Districts Board. She is known as a Zulu boat or a Herring Drifter,
and was first based in Aran. Later, and for very many years, she was then owned and based in Inishbofin by Paddy O’Halloran for the mail boat run. In 1995 she was sold to a French owner and in July 2005 was discovered again by the friend of a Galway skipper in Martinique in the West Indies. When first built, she carried a mizen mast which no longer appears on the accompanying pictures and the present rig is identical to the hooker which is what first caught the eye, all except the stern shape. Together with Robert and Ann Jocelyn from Cashel and Lynn and Elizabeth Temple from Donegal who were also on the island, Christina and I enjoyed a chat with the young French skipper who also showed us around on board. The owner was on a break elsewhere on the island, but unfortunately we failed to locate him and the boat was due to sail in a couple of hours. They had just arrived two days previously from Madeira and were leaving for a short trip to explore the coast of Lanzarote and do some hill-walking on ‘terra firma’. Following her restoration in Martinique the Leenan Head has sailed to Britain, Spain, West Africa, the Azores, the
Connemara View Newspaper
Around here, it is easy to see that the Clifden Station is very different from Cleggan, but you can see similarities between all of the others around the coast. The stations were built somewhere between 10 and 20 miles apart, and if you look to the immediate district, you will see buildings in Roundstone, Bunowen, Clifden, Cleggan, and Tully. Of special note at Cleggan is the officer’s house on the west side of the station, which is painted black. The tradition is that the building was painted that sombre colour as a mark of respect towards the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. On early maps you can see that the coastguards also had a station down on the quay at Cleggan, behind the village. Presumably this was a boat house from which they could launch boats when they needed to. As well as acting as revenue police, they also had a role to play in safety at sea and the search and rescue associated with all aspects of the marine world. In fact as the smuggling trade declined, they took on this work until safety at sea was taken on by the RNLI. The coastguard station is now used as private housing, although the small boat shed at the side of the road is used by the Irish Coast Guard. One of the houses in the terrace played a major role in community development. The Irish Countrywomen’s Association was founded in 1910 and branches grew throughout the country at a pace. The Cleggan Branch leased one of the houses in the mid 1940’s and then decided to buy the house. This was a brave decision at a time of economic problems, but once the decision was made, they went for it with all the ingenuity they possessed. The money for the purchase was loaned by Mary Browne of Cleggan Farm, one of their leading members. Cake sales and raffles, craft sales and anything else which could raise a few pounds were undertaken, and by the early 1950’s the local women were the owners of the property. Regular meetings taught the women new skills and gave them a confidence boost which is still evident in Cleggan to this day. Breandan O Scanaill
Canaries and many other exotic places across the Atlantic. She has three double berths for visitors, an extensive library, self-sufficient energy including a solar shower and a large and practical sewing machine which obviously takes care of the sails! She offers charters from 3-15 days for between 2 and 6 people
was capable of being lifted again. Sadly they then pocketed the insurance money and disgracefully disbanded our young people’s sail training programme ‘Coiste an Asgard’. But who knows? Perhaps a Frenchman might now lift and restore her! Anthony Previte
in Europe or the Caribbean coast, or Transatlantic voyages for a maximum of 4 people. This was a most delightful and encouraging boat and undertaking to encounter on this magical island. For a 104 year old wooden boat of such character and enterprise, this was a welcome antidote to the inaction of our miserable Dept. of Defence which has left our own relatively young national sailtraining brigantine ‘Asgard II’ at the bottom of the sea for over a year, despite surveys showing she
April 2010
Page 23
April Bogman 59
Bogman Across
1 Sounds like I will shortly go there by boat. (4) 9 Being there, do a jig a couple of hours before midnight. (10) 10 Is remote, confused and annoying. (8) 11 Though the container contains a container it’s empty. (6) 12 Can any critic be involved in such fine and delicate work. (9) 14 The one who spells with a hundred between the last two letters. (5) 17 It’s not so much that it’s followed on for a learning experience. (4) 19 Coming from county, right for head of town or city. (5) 20 Not feeling like taking the hesitation away from a certain amount. (4) 21 Holy one heading for holy vessel is completely naked. (5) 22 You and I are members near a much confused crowd. (5,4) 25 So it might grow about one in a flexible way. (6) 27 Visible sign of affection after a date with a vampire? (8) 29 Though neither experienced nor heavy, one shows drive. (5,5) 30 Time to come back and give out. (4)
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Enter crossword answers into a draw of correct answers for a voucher for Homeware Plus in Clifden by April 28th.
Connemara Crossword 65
Connemara Crossword 63
1 Signs meant to be deciphered to show what the job is. (10) 2 There’s nothing in the clock to show it’s out of this world. (6) 3 Graduate is alright, coming up with a shark. (4) 4 With the gross cruelty involved take a little gentle exercise. (7,4,4) 5 Just one of the scoundrels in a pack. (5) 6 Contains changes so authorise it. (8) 7 Be a model in around company. . . (4) 13 . . . when groom is company doctor. (4) 15 John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson’s journey is in the papers. (5,5) 16 Is plural a way to find the extent of 18 Down(4) 18 Planes like experts on the big waves. (8) 23 Contract fatal condition from interfering with Serbia. (6) 24 Is it quiet yet? (5) 26 Attractive way to break rule. (4) 28 Spoiled vote can overrule a decision. (4)
Across
8. Chronicled (8) 9. Amuse when asleep (6) 10. Set fire to (6) 11. Gifted (8) 12. Prompt (6) 13. Discontinued (8) 15. Fermanagh lake (4) 17. Derange explosive device (7) 19. Performer (7) 22. Goad (4) 24. Calculate (8) 27. Tempt (6) 29. Top secret (4, 4) 30. Endured (6) 31. Cut of meat or fish (6) 32. Badgered (8)
Drop to the Connemara View Drop Box at King’s Paper Shop, Main St, Clifden, post to Connemara View, Clifden, Co. Galway or e-mail to news@connemaraview.com.
1. Type of dog (6) 2. Stance (8) 3. Turned up (8) 4. Issue (7) 5. Granny Smiths (6) 6. Herb (6) 7. Hazardous roofing material (8) 14. Dandy (4) 16. Respite (4) 18. Russian mad monk (8) 20. Chasm (8) 21. Loyal servant (8) 23. Maybe (7) 25. Respire (6) 26. Grown-ups (6) 28. Sagacious (6)
Winner of March Bogman 58: Graham Sales, Tullyvoheen. Winner Connemara Crossword 63: Margaret Kelly, Oughterard.
who are having difficulty paying their bills. If you cannot pay your bills because of exceptional circumstances you may be able to get an exceptional needs payment from the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, arrears on a bill alone do not usually count as an exceptional need-your family’s situation I have a huge electricity bill after the last cold snap. I’m worried will be taken into account. Contact your local Community Welfare about getting into arrears with my bills. What are my options? If you don’t pay your gas or electricity bills your supply may be cut off. Officer. If you are a vulnerable customer (for example an older However, most utility companies will only cut off supply as a last resort person or someone with special needs) you should sign up to the special services register, which ensures that disconnection due to when all other arrangements with you have failed. Contact your supplier as soon as possible. They can agree a repayment non-payment of arrears will not occur during the winter months. plan that will take into account your income and situation. Don’t make Older people and some social welfare recipients may also be eligible for the Household Benefits Scheme which includes free gas and arrangements to repay amounts that you know you cannot afford. That electricity units. You can also contact the Money Advice and may only make your situation more difficult. Make sure your bill is Budgeting Service (MABS) helpline 1890 283 438 (9 am–8 pm based on a current meter reading and not an estimate. All energy suppliers are required to have customer charters and codes Monday to Friday) for more advice and information. of practice that protect customers. For example, these codes of practice Further information is available from Clifden Citizens should outline how and when disconnection can take place. You can Information Service which provides a free and confidential service visit the website of the Commissioner for Energy Regulation (http:// to the public.Tel: 095 22000 or 087 1301100 / Email: clifden@ www.energycustomers.ie/) to find out more. In addition ESB Customer citinfo.ie. Address: c/o VEC, Statoil Apts, Galway Road, Clifden. Supply and Bord Gáis Energy have agreed a code of practice on fuel Open Thursday 7pm-8pm, Friday 10:30am-3:30pm. Information debts with the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA). The is also available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the code of practice outlines supports available to social welfare recipients Citizens Information Phone Service, Lo-call 1890 777 121.
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April 2010
No winner of Quiz 17, prize money is now €50.
Geography: Name the capital city of the only South American Country that borders the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Ocean. History: What decorating practice has been around for over 5000 years? Sport: The International Rugby Board has a membership of how many? Maths: How many prime numbers are there? Science: What secretes FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)? Food: What fruit was a fertility symbol to many ancient cultures? General Knowledge: A person of which profession invented the electric chair? Politics: By what name was Mao Tsetung’s purge on liberal dissidents in China between 1966 and 1969 known? Music: Who invented the CD and when? Entertainment: In which year was the Rose of Tralee first televised? Literature: Who invented the words “assassination” and “bump”? Irish Interest: In which year was there no Irish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest?
March Quiz Answers
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What Do You Know? Quiz 18
Geography: Where is the Teleport Town located? Answer: Tokyo. http://www. google.ie/search?hl=en&q=teleport +town&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f& oq= History: What country’s supreme court was the first to rule in favor of same sex marriages? Answer: Nepal. http://geography.about.com/library/ quiz/110809/blquiz110809.htm?lastQ uestion=15&answers=0&submit=Nex t+Question+%3E%3E&ccount=4 Sport: Why was Ronan O’Gara originally ruled out of Six Nation Matches in 2003? Answer: Ankle Injury. http:// www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/sports/ rugby_union.html Maths: How many yards are there in a pole? Answer: 5 ½ . http://www.stubaby.f2s.com/quizbase/rand02.php Science: Plato and Aristotle developed this form of reasoning. Answer: Deductive Reasoning. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ science Food: Where did plant cultivation first begin? Answer: Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East. http:// cookingwhiz.com/cookhistory.htm General Knowledge: What is the currency of Oman? Answer: Riyalomani. http://www.stubaby.f2s.com/ quizbase/rand02.php Politics: What is the only country in the world today that does not have universal suffrage? Answer: Saudi Arabia. http://licensetothrive.org/fact/ index/theme_id/1/page/1 Music: When was music sent through a phone line for the first time? Answer: 1876. http://didyouknow.org/fastfacts/music.htm Art: Which artist coined the idea of everyone having 15 minutes of fame? Answer: Andy Warhol. http://artsociety.suite101.com/article.cfm/weird_ facts_about_andy_warhol Entertainment: Tap dancing originates in which country? Answer: Ireland. http://didyouknow.org/fastfacts/music.htm Irish Interest: What does the Irish prefix ‘Dún’ mean? Answer: The preface “Dun” means “fort of a chieftain.”. http://www.ireland-fun-facts.com/ ireland-facts.html
Connemara View Newspaper
APRIL Horoscopes Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) Happy Birthday! Mighty change is coming your way this month Aries so be as ready as you can for it. Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) Happy Birthday! Be bold and daring for your birthday Taurus. Charge into the future and make it your own. Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) You are close to finishing what you are working on at this time so keep it up. Cancer ( Jun 22-Jul 22) Don’t give out more than you can afford to. Remember that charity begins at home. Leo ( Jul 23-Aug 23) Something that was out of your grasp before may now actually be achievable. Try! Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 22) Don’t let money be an issue for you this month, make plans when necessary, i.e. budget!. Libra (Sep 23-Oct 23) Happy days are here again so get on out there and enjoy it all. Dress up-just because you can. Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) You must be in charge of everything this month. Make sure that you are the top dog in all things. Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21) When you least expect or want something to occur, that’s usually exactly when it’s going to happen. Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20) ‘Cry me a river cause I cried a river over you’. It appears to be the achy-breaky heart month. (Sorry!) Aquarius ( Jan 21-Feb 19) Begin to make the right plans for some new project or development that you want in your life. Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) Whatever you do this month, know that you can and will do it well. All things are within your power.
Tarot In the past there where two clear choices about an issue and a path was walked down. Now there appears to be some suffering as a result of what you think was a wrong choice. The future will clear up all of the confusion and you will be happy and content with the outcome.
runes If you don’t take advantage of an opportunity that is presented to you it will weaken your position. You will feel blocked and out of control; you need to be clear with yourself about what you want. Break free from the everyday or typical part of your life. Rely on your inner strength to see you through the disruption.
“Embrace Radical Discontinuity”
April DVD Releases Fourth Kind There are four kinds of alien encounters. The fourth kind is abduction. In remote Alaska, citizens have been mysteriously vanishing since the 1960’s. Despite multiple FBI investigations, the truth behind the phenomena had never been discovered... until now. Law Abiding Citizen A taut and tense thriller, packed with action and explosions, this vigilante vengeance movie is seriously confrontational and
totally exhilarating. Gerard Butler (300) and Jamie Foxx (Collateral) star. 2012 As the world faces a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, cities collapse and continents crumble. 2012 brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. Sherlock Holmes Explosive action, baffling mystery and astonishing intrigue follow the two in a race to uncover and foil a terrifying plot that threatens to destroy the country.
Connemara View Newspaper
The Sun is in the constellation of Pisces at the start of April, moving into Aries on the 19th. Full Moon was on March 30th. During the first week of April, the waning gibbous Moon is rising after midnight; it comes up later every night, and further towards the south. It continues to set in the middle of the morning. New Moon occurs at 12:29 UT on Wednesday April 14th. We could see the new crescent in the west after sunset, any evening from Tuesday 15th onwards. Each night it stays up later, and sets further towards the north. Full Moon is at 12:18 UT on Wednesday April 28th, when the Moon is in Virgo. At this phase, the Moon is on the opposite side of the sky to the Sun; so it rises in the east at sunset, shines all through the night, and sets in the west at sunrise the following morning. Then, as it wanes to gibbous again, it goes on rising later every evening, but continues to set just after sunrise. Mercury is at its greatest elongation east of the Sun on April 8th. So this month we have a pretty good chance to spot this little planet, in the W sky after sunset. Any evening during the first week of April, try looking out to the W about 9 pm. The really bright planet Venus should be obvious. Mercury will be to the right of Venus, about three degrees away-the breadth of a finger at arm’s length, or perhaps a little more. Mercury is much fainter than Venus, but it should still be visible with the naked eye. Very cool. By the middle of the month, Mercury is falling away below Venus, and getting even fainter. But if you can find the very new crescent Moon on the evening of Thursday 15th, Mercury will be close to the upper left of it. By April 28th, Mercury is at inferior conjunction – almost directly in front of the Sun. Venus is now becoming easy to see, low in the W after sunset; it doesn’t set until at least two hours after the Sun. The “Evening Star” is so brilliant it can be seen even against a bright twilight sky. Relative to the stars, Venus is moving rapidly north-eastwards. It leaves Aries and crosses into Taurus on April 20th, and passes below the Pleiades or “Seven Sisters” star-cluster towards the end of the month. Mars is high in the S sky at dusk, and it doesn’t set in the NW until dawn. Relative to the stars, Mars is moving steadily eastwards through the constellation of Cancer, passing just north of Praesepe-
Director Guy Ritchie helms the all-action adventure reintroducing the great detective to the world. Robert Downey Jr. is the new Sherlock Holmes! Alvin and The Chipmunks 2 ‘The Squeakquel’ brings back our favourite furry brothers, Alvin, Simon and Theodore. School presents new challenges to these rock stars, like dealing with peer pressure, school sports and of course, girls!
April 2010
the ‘Beehive’ star-cluster, Gerry Coyne’s favourite hehehe! Mars is heading away from Castor and Pollux, the ‘Twin’ stars of Gemini, and moving towards Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. The ‘Red Planet’ actually shines with a steady orange glow, and it appears brighter than any of the nearby stars.On the evening of Wednesday April 21st, the First-Quarter Moon will be below Mars, about 7 degrees away. Jupiter is rising in the east less than an hour before sunrise; it will be very difficult to see the giant planet this month. Saturn was at opposition to the Sun on March 22nd; this month it’s very slightly further away from us, but rather more conveniently placed for evening viewing. It rises in the east in the late afternoon and it reaches its highest point in the sky, due south, in the late evening; it doesn’t set in the west until sunrise. Relative to the stars, it’s moving slowly north-westwards in Virgo. It’s about midway between the bright star Regulus in Leo, to its upper right, and the slightly brighter star Spica in Virgo, to its lower left. But Saturn appears slightly brighter even than Spica, and it shines with a steadier light than any of the stars. Many of Saturn’s moons can also be seen in a telescope; the brightest one is Titan. Titan will be 3 arc-minutes to the west of Saturn around April 4th and 20th, very close to the north around the 8th and 24th, 3 arc-minutes east around the 12th and 28th, and very close to the south of the planet around the 16th. On the evening of Sunday April 25th, our own gibbous Moon will appear below Saturn, about 8 degrees away. Meteors: The Lyrid meteor-shower is active during the third week of April, peaking probably in the afternoon of Thursday April 22nd. The meteors seem to radiate outwards from a point in the constellation of Lyra, close to the bright star Vega, which is high in the south-east after midnight. The best time to look is in the early hours of the morning, before the sky grows bright towards dawn; near the peak, on the 22nd or 23rd, we might expect to see one Lyrid every 10 minutes or so, and there will be little interference from the waning Moon. Meanwhile, sporadic (non-shower) meteors may be seen at any time, on any night, in any part of the sky. Connemara’s skies are still dark in most places, soon to be spoilt forever in Cloon and Laghtanabba, by an airstrip of all things. John Claró
Clifden St. Patrick’s Day Parade saw some fine men rowing in for the RNLI. Page 25
Well the gardens have finally burst into bloom; it was a long slow process, but once the weather warmed up in the middle of last month they really took off. Everything in the garden has been about five weeks behind and I am wondering whether the rest of the season will be delayed or will we get a cross over in the seasons? Although the days are getting longer and the soil warming up, beware of night frost which can still affect seeds and young plants. Most of your seeds should be put out during the day to harden off, but remember to take them in at night. I think I will start off with the bad news. The very heavy frost of the past few months doesn’t seem to have done much damage to the Gunnera. I was hoping that we would have seen a huge kill, but the one piece in my garden looks as healthy as ever. Maybe some of the more exposed growths will have died, but I doubt it. I think if we got a hard cold winter again this year it might help. Please contact me with reports on what effect the frost had in your area. Try and complete the cleaning up of flower beds this month. Within a few weeks, the weeds will be blooming and setting seeds. It is important to try and get to them before this happens, as they say one year seeding is seven years weeding. It is also easier to remove weeds and other debris before the herbaceous plants have fully grown. Dead vegetation can be added to your compost heap, but take great care not to add seeds or roots of difficult weeds. I would never put any part of montbretia into the compost, as it has a habit of springing from almost any part of the plant. I am on an anti montbretia campaign at present. I have been clearing an area for shrubs and trees and the amount of corms of this invasive plant is quiet staggering. I have pulled out three or four bucket loads from an area, about 1 metre x 2. They are in long lines of attached corms, the youngest at the top and the oldest at the base. There are single large ones, spread out from a central corm, but attached by roots and even just growing tips with no corms
attached. Each time I turn over the soil, I find more. It is probably a total waste of time spending time on this but if I want the new plants to have any hope of surviving, I have to try. Montbretia is a member of the Crocosmia family, and as we know, a very beautiful flower, especially in massed plantings along the roadside in late summer, but it is a thug and there are no two ways about that. Originally a garden introduction from South Africa, it has left the garden and become a pest and even when in the garden it is still a pest. If there was a way to keep it under control it would be more beautiful- it has a lot going for it other than its invasive nature. Other members of the family are not as invasive and are worth growing, the most popular is ‘Lucifer’, with its deep red flowers. It is good value, as it is easy to propagate; just divide the corms. Its one drawback is that it needs staking. Another striking variety is ‘Citronella’ with its yellow flowers. All of these plants grow well in pots, but need to be divided every few years. I have been asked to suggest plants which will do well in a shady border. The first thing to look for is how much shade; very dark areas are difficult, whereas light shade gives lots of opportunity. The next most important question is whether it is wet or dry shade. Once you know the answer to these questions it is fairly straight forward. I will have to say that there is a large selection which is suitable and you should be able to have interest almost all year round. If you have a wall, Hydrangea petiolaris, or climbing hydrangea is a great choice. It is self clinging and spreads fairly quickly; the white flowers are like those on a lace cap hydrangea. Of course ivy in all its forms works well and is also self clinging. For shrubs, you can grow most of the hydrangeas, but one of my favourites is Acuba japonica, or the so called spotted laurel. This is evergreen, and has a light green leaf spotted with golden blotches. It is hardy, loves being neglected and is easy to propagate, although it can take a few years to get going. This plant will brighten up the shade with its striking colour. Another shrub which has striking colour is Pieris ‘Forest Flame’. As the name suggests, this has wonderful bright red shoots and it has the added bonus of white bell shaped flowers early in spring. A number of Skimias and Viburnums also grow well in shade. Smaller plants might include Alchemila molis, or lady’s mantle. The lovely light green leaves are complemented by
lime green to almost yellow flowers. I love the structural leaves of Arum italicum, with their richly veined, white to silver, dark green leaves. It bears poisonous, red berries in autumn. Lots of bulbs are quite happy in shade, including daffodils. If not too dark, bluebells and snowdrops are also good plants and both will spread. Cyclamen hederifolium will give great colour in autumn, while the various Hellebores give winter colour. Any of the Pulmonaria do well, with the white flowering ‘Sissinghurst White’ especially good. Don’t forget our common primrose and wild garlic. A variety of ferns also fill in many corners, and there are many different types which keep their leaves all year round. You should be planting up containers now. As I have said before, wash old containers with a little bleach and water to kill off pests and diseases from the previous year. Add plenty of drainage and if your containers are heavy, mix a good proportion of polystyrene into the base layer to make them easier to transport. Top up with good compost and plant your selected plants. Don’t limit yourself; trees and shrubs can make focal points, herbaceous and annuals can be mixed and you can add creepers and climbers for interest. Also, herbs can be grown in pots-if kept near the kitchen door they are always to hand. I was talking to someone recently who had a problem with a tree that died, in fact, not one but two. The first one died two years ago and they replaced it, then this one died. It is not recommended to plant anything, particularly trees, in a place where a tree has died. There may be some fungus or disease still in the ground. Often in older gardens, the tree might have died a few years ago and you have forgotten it was there, or it might have been removed but some or all of its root system left in the ground. I suppose you could treat the ground chemically; I remember reading years ago, about using a disinfectant such as Dettol to treat an infected area. I am not sure how effective this would be, but it might be worth trying. My advice was not to plant a tree there but move it somewhere else if possible. Also maybe grow some herbaceous plants or shrubs, and see if these would survive. Start watering and feeding indoor plants on a more regular basis from now on. If any of them are pot bound, change them into a slightly bigger pot. Remember that indoor plants can be divided like their outdoor companions and it is also possible to grow some of them outside for the summer. Happy gardening. Breandan O Scanaill
Saint Mary’s Graveyard
to try and get this work underway. They have been successful in getting a small grant from the Heritage Council, which will allow a proper survey to take place. This survey will look at the history, the flora and fauna, and the architecture. It will also look at ways that improvements can be carried out. As a first step to this improvement, the committee will be taking part in the Clifden Tidy Towns Super Sunday cleanup on the 18th of April. We will be clearing the rubbish from the site. If you are interested, join the volunteers at the Ball Alley at 12.30 on that day and help us to clean up an important part of our history. Breandan O Scanaill
Normally known as the ‘Old Graveyard’, this site which sits between Main Street, the Westport Road and the top road leading to Church Hill and on to the Sky Road, is a very historic area of the town. It contains the ruins of the earliest Catholic Church in Clifden, and also an extensive graveyard, containing the tombs and graves of some of the original families of our town. Unfortunately, it has been neglected for years, although a number of attempts were made to improve it. The last clean up led to the planting of daffodils, which bring a lovely splash of colour at this time of the year. But now the condition of the structures, the end wall of the chapel, the surrounding walls, and the graves are in a very dangerous state. The vegetation has become completely overgrown and ivy is rampant. Added to this sorry state, dumping has become an issue, and the graveyard is littered with plastic, glass and tins. The accompanying photographs will illustrate this point. The Clifden Parish Council, have decided to do some work on this site and a small committee have come together
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April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
See more pictures of Clifden’s Parade page 9 and 18
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
Page 27
Planning Applications
A United Front In my youth, my primary school marching band (I played the flute) was in the Boston St Patrick’s Day Parade every year. This was an event of high esteem and great excitement which warranted many extra band practices and loads of patience on the day over seven miles of stopping and starting. My memories of this are filled with crowds of smiling faces waving the tricolour. Many years later, my role has switched to photographer of the annual Clifden St Patrick’s Day Parade. It’s so pleasurable to see children of friends and relatives in fancy dress enjoying the cheers and smiles of the community that are so proud of them. I am continually amazed at the zany creativity of individuals who are adults on other days. Please don’t tell them in Boston, but this parade means so much more to me. Maybe it’s because it is one of the few events in the North West region of Connemara when the entire community come together for a day of fun. This year’s parade was one of the largest in my thirteen years here and it was magnificently filled with comedy, drama and professionalism. Therefore, it pains me to mention discontent of any kind, but unfortunately I must. There have been a significant number of complaints to the Connemara View regarding the prize giving. Specifically, the gripe is that there was only one overall prize given and that there were none for the school groups. I admit to being surprised myself at this, particularly since I was one of the co-ordinators of the parade a number of years ago and there were numerous prize categories at that time. When I learned that there are discussions of villages starting their own parade next year, I realised that there was a chance that one of the few opportunities for us all to bond as a region could be spoiled. The Clifden Chamber of Commerce has overseen the parade for many years. In a time when business people are faced with great stress due to economic factors, time for volunteer projects has been lessened. The moneys for prizes and donations from businesses are not as plentiful. What was not communicated on the day was that the Chamber would be giving certificates of participation and sweets to all the school groups. These have been distributed since, but the bad feelings had already surfaced. This year, the Chamber had approached the new Clifden District and Community Council (CDCC) to take over the running of the parade. The CDCC preferred to assist this year with a view to taking it over next year. At the recent CDCC AGM, a subcommittee was formed to begin organisation for next year. They hope that other regional organisations will join them including the Councils from the surrounding villages, sports organisations and social groups. Let us not let any of this overshadow the joy of our marvelous parade. Bringing all of our villages together for a day is more important now than ever. As Aesop’s fable tells us “United we stand, divided we fall.” Ellen McDonough Editor/Publisher
10306, Williams, Tim, Cashel, 04/03/10. To extend and renovate the existing dwelling (28sqm) and outbuildings (32sqm) and relocate the existing shop from the dwelling to the outbuilding. The proposal also includes permission for all associated landscaping, site services, access, carparking and new boundary treatments. 10315 Kelly Meldon, Fiona, Derrigimlagh, 04/03/10. For alterations and extension to existing dwelling comprising single storey kitchen/dining extension (107sqm) to rear, porch extension to front and new raised roof with dormer windows to front and rear, also for a separate garage incorporating garden store and boiler room to the rear including anciallary site works. 10325 Barry, Caroline, Currywongan, 08/03/10. To demolish existing semi-ruinous dwellinghouse and replacement of demolished house with new dwellinghouse, septic tank, puraflo sewage treatment works and all ancillary site works and site services. 10332 McDonnell, Michael, Dohulla, 09/03/10. For the retaining of the existing walls of the shed and the construction of an extension with an additional 54sqm as well as a new roof. 10350 Treacy, J, Ballynew, 11/03/10. To construct a dormer dwelling, septic tank treatment system with percolation area, domestic garage, site access and all other associated external site services. 10360 Scoil Naisiunta Oughterard, Board of Management, Carrowmanagh, 12/03/10. For the following (1) demolition of existing school, (2) construction of new single story 16 classroom school with a gross floor area of 2219sqm (3) new access junction and footpath (4) all associated signage, parking and external play area (5) connection to existing public services and all other ancillary site works at former Scoil Chuimin Naofa. 10366 Kearns, Noel, Derrigimlagh, 16/03/10. To construct a single storey extension to side of house and associated siteworks.
Letter to Editor Refuse on Road Dear Madame Editor,
I am a part-time resident in Errislannan and I appreciate how lucky I am to live in such a magnificent area. The situation is one thing but great neighbours are special, and I am blessed with both. Cycling is my hobby and what a fantastic area Connemara is for same. But a week ago I invited German friends of mine to Ireland to cycle around Clifden. What a disaster. I was never so embarrassed in all my life. On the main road from Recess to Clifden, each side of this route, there was nothing but refuse bags, plastic bottles and paper tea cups every few feet. My guests were astounded and I was mortified. Did no one else see this abomination but I? Every day thousands of cars must travel on that road and have our public representatives not been informed-what about our Chamber of Commerce? Does no-one take pride in the drive way to such a beautiful area? I don’t understand the logic of spending millions of on the new route to Clifden when a few hours of conscientious cleaning of the old route would be as constructive. I hope my suggestion is acted upon and when my continental friends visit me again and cycle on this new proposed cycle laneway they will also appreciate a new clean beautiful Connemara. Robert Canavan
Send in your news, views & photos to news@connemaraview.com Page 28
April 2010
10367 Conneely, Padraic & Jimmy, Belleek, 16/03/10. For the retention of works to an existing quarry and for extension of that quarry under Section 261 of the Planning Development Act 2000. The development will consist of the extraction by blasting and rock breaker of stone for filling and building and include ancillary works, road, crushing, temporary site office, portaloo, wheel wash and all other associated development works all on a site of total area circa 2.00 Hectares. The application includes landscaping, topsoil/overburden and screeneing berms. 10375, Hagan, Jenny, Ballynakill, 18/03/10. To demolish existing dwellinghouse and replace with new dwelling (190.41sqm), treatment system, garage/fuel store. 10390 Development Council, Roundstone, 18/03/10. For car parking, public lighting and ancillary works and services. 10401 O Hora, Simon, Clifden, 19/03/10. To construct a new extension at 93 Clifden Glen. 10407 Mc Namara, Gabriel & Mary, Aillebrack, 23/03/10. For extension to existing dwelling house. Source: www.galway.ie
Connemara View Newspaper 7,500 copies distributed monthly throughout Connemara 095-22888 087-290-9351 news@connemaraview.com www.connemaraview.com Editor-in-Chief/Publisher: Ellen McDonough News Editor: Catherine Pryce Distribution Mgr: John Dunne Graphic Design/Layout: Marie-Noelle Biddulph, Paula Bann Contributors: John Amenhauser, Ann Marie Bennett, Claire Bird, Shane Bisgood, Charlie Bourke, Tom Broderick, Kathleen Burke, Rita Burke, Robert Canavan, Terri Conroy, Eileen Coohill, Mary Corbett-Joyce, Ann Coyne, Gerard Coyne, Oran Daly, Mary Day Lavelle, Kathleen Diamond, Priscilla Diamond, Su Eldred, Paul Gannon, Sandy Glynn, Dr. Marian Hanrahan, Michele Hehir, Aoife Herriot, Claire Joyce, Mary Joyce, PK Joyce, Colleen Kane, Michelle Keane, Peter Keane, Ness Kelly, Joachim Lydon, Sean Lynch, Brendan Madden, Declan Maher, Declan Mannion, Pat McCann, Lisa McCarthy, Connor McDonough-Flynn, Kathriona McHugh, Theresa McLoughlin, Aenghus McMahon, Paul McNamara, Ann Mitchell, Áine Máire ní Fhatharta, Sheena O’ Malley, John O’Neill, Breandan O’ Scanaill, Maurice O’ Scanaill, Emma O’Sullivan, Ailbhe Patten, Anthony Previté, Seán Pryce, Rose Rima, Paddy Rock, Ruth Rogers, Janet Schley, Chris Shanahan, Margaret Sheehan, Mary Shevlin, Piotr Sikorsky, Melissa Wallace, Harry Walsh, Marie Walsh, Sean Walsh, Pat Walshe, Declan Weir. Plus many local schools, groups & organisations. Photography by staff unless credited otherwise.
Next Issue: Thursday, May 6th Ad Space Reservation Deadline April 23 News Deadline April 28 Directory Classified Deadline April 30
095-22888
www.connemaraview.com Connemara View Newspaper
Photo Corner Musical Legend: (Left)Anthony Gibbons of Oughterard, a lifelong fan of Johnny McEvoy, met the legendary folk singer after his performance at The Forge, Moycullen on Saturday March 13th. Photo by Tom Broderick New Arrival: Pictured (middle), is baby Sophia Bird, who was born on March 16th, daughter of Wilson and Claire Bird of Clifden, shown here with her big sister Ciara. Photo courtesy of Claire Bird Meeting a Mentor: One of Emma O’ Sullivan and John O’ Halloran’s most dedicated supporters during their run on the All Ireland Talent Show was Steven Coohill of Sky Road, Clifden. He is pictured (right) with TV star and judge and mentor for the West, Daithí Ó Sé. Photo courtesy of Eileen Coohill Wedding Bells: Congratulations to Oran and Kimberly Daly of Portfinn Lodge in Leenane who were married in Birr, Co. Offaly on January 16th.(L-r): Father of the bride Charles Hill, mother of the bride Cynthia Cranford, Kimberly and Oran Daly, parents of the groom Bríd and Rory Daly.
Send in your news, views & photos to news@ connemaraview.com
Super Valu Photo Contest March Winner The March winner of the Kavanagh’s Super Valu Photo Competition with the theme ‘Signs of Spring’ was Gina Pryce’s ‘Mother Goose’, pictured here. Every month, Kavanagh’s Super Valu of Clifden are offering the fantastic prize of a €50 shopping voucher for the photo judged best on a different theme each month. The winning entries, judged by a panel from Super Valu, Clifden, will be displayed on the wall behind the checkouts in the store and on www.connemaraview.com. The theme for the month of April is ‘April Fool’, so funny or humorous photos are what will catch the judge’s eyes. Themes may be interpreted in any way imaginable-so think creatively and get snapping! The closing date for entries is Wednesday April 28th. The Connemara View and Kavanagh’s Super Valu of Clifden will have the right to reprint and/ or display the photos, both in the Connemara View newspaper and website, and in store at Kavanagh’s Super Valu in Clifden. Photos must be original, have not previously been published or entered into competitions, and be relevant to the Connemara region. Please keep copies of photos entered as they will not be returned. The competition is open to entrants of all ages. They can be dropped to the dedicated Photo Competition box next to the express till at Kavanagh’s Super Valu Clifden, posted to Connemara View, Clifden, Co. Galway, or e-mailed to news@connemaraview. com (approx 1Mb in size).
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
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1st Clifden Trad Festival
Clifden Comhaltas are delighted to announce the first Clifden Traditional Music Festival which will take place on the weekend of the 23rd April. It’s going to be a weekend of the very best of Irish music, song and dance! Top class visiting musicians from all over the country including Sligo, Fermanagh, Clare, Galway, Leitrim and Mayo have been invited with a host of All Ireland Champions among them. The weekend kicks off on Friday the 23rd April at 7pm in the Clifden Station House Hotel with our official opening. This will be followed by a concert of local and visiting musicians, singers and dancers with special guest Emma O’ Sullivan, fresh from her All Ireland Talent Show success. On Friday night, there will be pub music sessions from 10pm in Lowry’s and the Central Bar with Emma O’ Sullivan also dancing. Saturday starts off at 11am-1pm in the Alcock and Brown Hotel with Music workshops with All Ireland Champion visiting teachers and a sean nós dance workshop with local celebrity Emma O’ Sullivan. The cost is €10 per person with registration on the day. This will be followed by a youth session in the Alcock and Brown Bar at 1pm. Afternoon music sessions on Saturday will be from 3-5 in Guy’s Bar and 5-7 in Vaughan’s Bar with visiting and local musicians. At 8pm on Saturday night there will be live music on the outdoor stage on the Square with special guests The Cunningham sean nós dancers. At 10pm that night there will be pub music sessions in Lowry’s, Mannion’s and Tom King’s with musicians, singers and dancers. Sunday starts at 11am with a traditional music Mass in St. Joseph’s Church. It will be followed by our farewell ‘One for the Road’ session in Foyle’s Hotel at 1pm. It promises to be a great fun filled weekend of music, song, dance and craic! All are welcome and importantly, events are free! So Mark it in your diary now- the first Clifden Traditional Music Festival, 23rd-25th April. Dont miss it!
Sean Nós Stars Shine
Connemara dancing star Emma O’ Sullivan and box player John O’ Halloran have completed their run on RTE’s All Ireland Talent Show with a much deserved runner up place in the final, which was won by 13 year old Chloe Coyle from Co. Tyrone, representing the North. In the live final Emma and John once again put on a thrilling display of music and dance and their reinvention of their routines consistently throughout the show drew great praise from the judges. All the finalists celebrated together af-
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the show att an aft the Ratter th h fter party t iin th R mada Hotel in Bray which was attended by all of the finalists as well as a few hundred supporters. A large group of Connemara supporters were also there ensuring a great night! Emma said “The highlight of the night was a massive session of songs and music featuring Na Fianna, Michael Lawlor, Inishbofin musicians, Chris Geoghan, a Dublin representative in the earlier show and John Creedon who stopped in for a quick visit to congratulate all the acts. Myself and John would like to say a massive thanks to all who gave so much praise, support and encouragement over the series”. Having now made a significant impression on the national stage, Emma will continue to teach sean nós in Connemara and Galway through workshops and classes and is looking forward to sharing her talent and passion for sean nós with everyone. Photo: Pictured are Renvyle’s Emma O’ Sullivan and Inishbofin’s John O’ Halloran after their All Ireland Talent Show appearances together.
Sean Nós Weekend
Emma and John will also feature prominently in Renvyle House Hotel’s sean nós weekend taking place from April 16th to 18th. The line up for the weekend also includes Don Stiffe, Nan Tom Taimín, Meaití Joe Shéamuis Ó Fátharta, Johnny Connolly, Liz Kane, the Devanney family, Marie Walsh, Ronan Canavan, the Hernon family, Ger Butler, the Reel Mix dance troupe and a host of All Ireland sean nós dance champions. More details for what promises to be a spectacular weekend are available at www.renvyle.com or 095-43511, and Emma O’Sullivan at 086-252-0672.
Women’s Book Club
A women’s book club is starting up which will be meeting in An Bhean Feasa on Market St in Clifden. Considering that women are nurturers, carers, healers and instinctively intuitive, many women at the moment are feeling that ‘something’ is going on. There is a change in the air and it is going to affect us and our families and our planet. How do we filter that information? How can we make sense of the world
today? What does it mean to be a womt an? a What is our role, now and in the future? The books we shall be sharing f together are all about health, happiness, t spirit and the times we live in. They will s shake us up; make us laugh and cry, s make us ponder the big questions. To m join the book club is free-just read and j turn up. All are welcome. The first three t books and authors under scrutiny are b Siri S Hustvedt’s ‘The Shaking Woman’; Caroline Myss’s ‘Defy Gravity’ and C Robin Sharma’s ‘Leader Without A R Title’. Contact Anette Mulkerrins for more information on 087-771-1513.
Ceol Theatre
Thanks to the staff at JC’s and everyone that came or participated in the ABBA/Karaoke night on the 26th. The production of Pirates of Penzance which was to take place in June has been cancelled at this time. Please see posters for future plans. If you would like to be a part of any of Ceol Theatre’s productions please contact John at 087 750 4697.
Oughterard Arts Festival
Oughterard Arts Festival will take place from April 23-25th and will broaden its base this year to include youth, adults and families. There will be projects taking place in the weeks before the festival and a wide variety of exciting workshops and performances on the weekend itself. Check www. oughterardtourism.com for updates and information as it becomes available. There is also an UachtarArts Facebook page and the committee may be contacted at uachtararts@hotmail.com or 091-557-633.
Single Handed Returns!
RTE and ITV have recommissioned the popular TV drama Single Handed, filmed entirely on location in Connemara, starring Owen McDonnell as Garda Jack Driscoll. Single Handed enjoyed an audience of over 4 million on its ITV debut and audience shares of up to 38% when aired on RTE. Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group, will begin shooting in April and continue for 3 months filming around Clifden, Tully, Tullycross and the Renvyle peninsula. The six episodes filmed will be broadcast in September. Extras and special extras parts will be sought throughout the filming. There will be open casting sessions on Wednesday March 31st from 4-7pm in The Maol Reidh Hotel in Tullycross and Thursday April 1st from 4pm to 8pm in the Station House Hotel in Clifden. For people who cannot
April 2010
attend, all they need to do is to send a recent photograph of themselves with name, address, contact number (mobile and landline), age and availability to Extras Casting, SH4 Ltd, Station House Complex, Clifden, Galway. Extras will need to be available all day for filming.
Station Theatre Highlights
The Station House Theatre has a number of highlight acts lined up this spring for the month of April. Talented Irish songwriter Declan O’ Rourke returns to Clifden on Saturday April 3rd. He will be performing songs from his hit albums Since Kyabram and Big Bad Beautiful World in his unique and distinctive voice and style. Tickets are €20. Younger audiences will be well catered for in April, with the Hannah Montana/High School Musical Tribute Show on Tuesday 6th April at 3pm (€15) and Mickey Mouse Club House on Wednesday April 7th at 3pm (€15). Adrian Knight, Comedy Hypnotist promises to be a highly entertaining show on April 7th at 9pm. Adrian has delighted and excited audiences for more than 15 years, playing to packed shows and entertaining tens of thousands of people every year. You will be amazed to see friends and colleagues move off the stage and into the crowd under the influence of Adrian’s outrageous suggestions! ‘We are for the Dark’, performed by Other Voices Theatre Company is a stage play centring on an aging actress who is interviewed by a young journalist who is not what he seems and a woman trapped in a nightmare of the past, while another faces a nightmare of the future. It takes place on Friday and Saturday 9th and 10th April at 8pm €15/€12. For tickets and bookings contact the Station House Theatre on 095 30303 or e-mail info@stationhousetheatre.com.
Youthreach Art Winner
Gary McDonagh of Clifden (photo below) and student of Youthreach Letterfrack was recently awarded first prize in the National Youthreach Art Competition for his impressive piece.
Connemara ArtsView
Aidan Coyne Market Street, Clifden, who passed away on 25th February 2010. Aidan’s parents Owen and Anne, sister Catherine, brother-in-law David, nephews Eoghan and Darragh, Aunt, Uncles, Aunts-in-law, Uncle-in-law, cousins and extended family would like to thank most sincerely all those who sympathised and supported them in their recent and sudden sad loss. Sincere thanks to the Ambulance Crews who kept Aidan safe on his journeys to both Galway and Dublin. Thanks to the Medical Team in the A&E Dept. University College Hospital, Galway. We are extremely grateful to the staff in the Richmond ICU, Beaumont for their tremendous care and respect to Aidan during his time there -we cannot express in words how wonderful they are. Also to Mr O’Brien, Dr. Colm and the Neurosurgery Team. Thanks to Dr. Ciaran McLoughlin, our family G.P., who supported us throughout this time and to Dr. Linda Keaveney who attended to Aidan on February 4th. Special thanks to Fr. Eoin Hughes of Beaumont. A very special Thank You to the members of Clifden Fire Service who went beyond the call of duty in their support to our family – for preparing Aidan’s final resting place with such care and attention and for providing a Guard of Honour. Thanks also to the Garda Siochana and Community Warden who assisted with traffic arrangements for the removal and on his final journey. Thanks to Doris and John-Brendan of Mannions Undertakers for their sensitive and professional handling of all arrangements. Thanks to all those who called to our home, telephoned, sent Mass cards and letters. A special thanks to all our neighbours, relatives and friends who provided refreshments and who helped in so many different ways. We are deeply grateful to those who travelled long distances to be with us and to all who attended and helped during the removal, funeral mass and burial. To Fr James Ronayne for his very moving and meaningful celebration of Aidan’s Requiem Mass. Special Thanks to the Altar Servers,
New Writer of The Year Competition In 2010 Over The Edge sponsored by Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop is continuing its exciting annual creative writing competition. The competition is open to both poets and fiction writers. The total prize money is €1,000. The best fiction entry will win €300. The best poetry entry will win €300. One of these will then be chosen as the overall winner and will receive an additional €400, giving the overall winner total prize money of €700 and the title Over The Edge New Writer of The Year 2010. The 2010 Over The Edge New Writer of The Year will be a Featured Reader at a reading to be scheduled in Galway City Library in Winter 2010/11. Salmon Poetry will read without prejudice a manuscript submitted to them by the winner in the poetry category. Entries should be sent to Over The Edge, New Writer of the Year competition, 3 Carbry Road, Newcastle, Galway, Ireland with an accompanying SAE. Entries will be judged anonymously, so do not put your name on your poem(s) or story. Put your contact details on a separate sheet. The closing date is Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010. A longlist will be announced in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010. A shortlist will be announced at the Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, August 26th. The winners will be announced at the Over The Edge reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 30th, 2010. This year’s competition judge is James Martyn. For further details contact Over The Edge on 087643-1748, e-mail over-the-edge-openreadings@hotmail. com or see http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com.
Connemara View Newspaper
Musician and to Jim Walsh who sang most wonderfully. Sincere thanks to those who gave donations to the Richmond ICU Unit of Beaumont Hospital. As it is impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our sincere and heartfelt appreciation. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions. The Coyne family
Michael O’ Toole The recent death of our colleague and friend Michael O’ Toole has brought great sadness to all at Connemara Community Radio and we would like to extend our sympathy to his family and friends. Michael joined us in 2002 to fill in for a few weeks for Brendan Ridge, but like many a volunteer before him the weeks extended into years. With his family background in music Michael was a natural, and with his vast knowledge of country music soon gained himself a wide listenership to his Thursday evening programme ‘Take it Easy’. He could at times be heard singing along to the music with his long time technician Bernie Dignam. Michael was a great volunteer and attended all events from training to socialising and was always good for a song and a chat. Michael will be dearly missed by all at Connemara Community Radio and now has his chance to “Take it Easy”. May he rest in peace. From all your friends at Connemara Community Radio
Gus Barry We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who organised the musical tribute for Gus in November, the musicians and singers, all who took part and supported the event. A special thank you goes to Matt Keane, to Brian and Michelle Hughes for the venue and those who sold tickets and kindly donated spot prizes. It was a wonderful night and a fitting tribute to Gus and his love of music, and he would have been very proud to see all of his friends together in song. At this time we would also like to thank everybody who has supported and comforted us during the last year-your kindness is much appreciated. Mary, Lorraine and Daniel Barry.
Acknowledgements & Remembrances Price per word: €0.25. Photo: €5.
Death Notices Brigid (Bridie) Bolger (née Mullen), Ballyconneely John Bonner, London & Moyard Mairtin Tim Conroy, Finney, Clonbur Margaret Fitzpatrick (née Holloran), Renvyle Canon Paddy Heneghan, Oughterard Theresa Kane, Rossroe, Renvyle Sheila Lyons, Camp St, Oughterard Kathleen MacNamara (née Dunne), Oughterard John McDonagh, Roscahill John McGloin, Glann, Oughterard Michael Nugent, Fountainhill, Claddaghduff Mark O’ Malley, Aillebrack, Ballyconneely Michael O’ Toole, Aughrismore, Cleggan Sarah Patricia Rutland, Clifden & Bray Dave Tarpy, Ohio, USA & Clifden Alissa Walsh, Tullyvoheen, Clifden The Connemara View would like to extend sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. This list is compiled from various sources and we apologise for any errors or omissions.
April 2010
Connemara Community Radio Weekly Schedule Broadcasting 11 am to 9 pm each day on 87.8 FM & 106.1 FM Weather Forecast & Community Notices at 3pm, 4pm and 8pm. Sponsored by Broderick Electric, Sweeney Oil, Gannon Sports and The Oil Company.
12-4pm: Repeat of previous evenings broadcast. * Indicates Sponors
Monday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme
with Heather Heanue and Colleen Curran. 4-5pm: Listen Here with Pete Ball. 5.05-6pm: Hooked on Music with John Duane. *Clifden Chamber of Commerce. 6-7pm: Alternate Weeks - As Gaeilge with Caitriona Nic Ghiollaphadraig OR Heyday with Bobbi O Regan. 7-8pm: Talk Sport with Vivian Cotter. *Galway CoCo. 8pm: Roundstone Report with Richard de Stacpoole and Anne Conneely. 8.15-9pm: Ann’s Mixed Bag with Ann Conneely. Tuesday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with Cliona Sheehan. *Connemara View Newspaper. 4-5pm: Reelin’ in the Years with Louisa Jack. 5.05-6pm: Jack’s Spot with Jack Tomlinson. 6- 7pm: Live with John Dunne. 7-8pm: Community Matters with Pat Walshe. *Tullycross and Cashel Credit Unions. 8pm: Cashel Report with Bernard Lee. 8.30-9pm: Classical Half Hour with Pat O’Toole. Wednesday: 11am-12 Noon: Magazine Programme with Mary Roe. 4-6pm: Gateway Hour with Mickey Mac. *SuperValu Clifden 6- 7pm: My Kind of Music with Martin Conroy. *ClifdenSupply Centre.78pm: Lift the Latch with Michael O’ Neill and Helen King. 8pm: Clifden Report with Breandan O’Scanaill. 8.15-9pm: Music with Pat Keaney. Thursday: 11am-12 Noon: FORUM Programme with Cathy Keane and Brendan O’Malley. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Kathleen O’Brien. 5.05-6pm: Fáilte with Mary Corbett Joyce. 6- 7pm: Take it Easy with Michael O’Toole. 7-8pm: The Great Outdoors with Breandan O’Scanaill. *Acton Construction.8 pm: Cleggan Claddaghduff Report with Mary Gordon O’Toole. 8.15-9pm: Specialist Music with Breandan O’Scanaill. Friday: 11am-12 Noon: Friday Fix with Samantha Heanue & Priscilla Diamond. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Tonya Ni Chuirínn. 5.05-6pm: The Friday Feeling with Margaret Sheehan. 6-7pm: Lyrical Allsorts with Linda O’Malley. 7-8pm: Injury Time with Dave O’Halloran. *AIB Clifden. 8pm: Ballyconneely Report with John O’ Malley. 8.15-9pm: American Country with Brendan Ridge. Saturday: 11am-12 Noon: Monkeying Around with Heather Kearney. 4-5pm: Gateway Hour with Tommy Roe and Keefa Mullan. 5.05-6pm: Pretty Good Day so Far! with Sean Halpenny. 6- 7pm: Blue Highways with Lol Hardiman. 7-9 pm: Music Spectacular Alternate Weeks - Shelter from the Storm with Dave O’ Halloran or Coast to Coast with Paul Phelan. Sunday: 10-11am: Sounds a Bit Irish with Eamonn McLoughlin.11am-12noon: Mass from Clifden. Listen Here with Pete Ball. 5.05-6pm: Words & Music with Kathleen Faherty . 6- 7pm: Footappin’ Time with Tom Mongan. 7-8pm: Senior Side of the Street with Josephine De Courcey. *FORUM. 8pm: Ballinakill Report with Paddy Gannon. 8.15-9pm: Decades of Hits with Michael Coyne.
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Crazy about Chickens! We are now well into Spring in Connemara and I am delighted to report that I am getting great enjoyment and satisfaction from my ever growing flock of hens and chickens, with last year’s birds laying full time since January and another six about to start laying in the next few weeks. In fact, when all hens are laying, I will be somewhere in between producing too many eggs to consume at home and too few to sell, but a box of free range eggs is usually well received in any house, so they make great gifts to neighbours and friends! After building up and adding to the flock over the last year, I have now reached a balance of breeds and birds that are healthy, productive and very enjoyable. Probably the most interesting part of the process has been watching the qualities of the different breeds emerging and this is the reason I chose a few different breeds to concentrate on, to see which ones appealed to me with a view to breeding in the future.
Buying Your Chickies As I mentioned in a previous article, the selections of breeds available to buy in the West can be somewhat limited or at least I have found it to be in the past. Ideally, you should buy direct from a breeder so you can see the birds where they are kept normally, but many breeders will sell at markets and fairs and this is realistically where most people will buy poultry in Ireland. A number
of sellers from around the country can be found in Maam Cross now on Saturdays when the mart is on. Go early to get the best of what is on offer. I personally have fallen foul of buying unhealthy birds at a market in the past, tempted by the breed, but the pullets in question never improved as they grew and three of them died overnight during the cold spell in the winter. It turned out that they were unable to gain weight as they had intestinal worms, which can be treated with a single drop of wormer, so thankfully the others from that batch survived and improved once they were treated. A vet will tell you that if one bird is sick, then they all potentially are, so for any problem, the whole flock that lives together will need to be treated. If antibiotics are given to laying hens (usually in their water supply) then the eggs should not be eaten during that period. The recreational keeper of 4-6 hens should not expect many problems if the birds are healthy when obtained. They should be alert, scratching the dirt, looking for food, or preening - generally constantly on the go. Have a look under their feathers if possible to check for parasites and the droppings should be fairly firm, never liquid. The comb and feathers should be colourful and healthy looking, but growing or almost adult birds can be molting which makes them look a bit less than their best. Underweight birds will have a breastbone that is sharp and protruding or easily felt and while they could be underfed it is usually a sign of digestive ill health. It does not take an expert to tell a healthy bird from an unhealthy one - just resist the temptation to buy if you are worried about their quality.
What type? Boys vs Girls If all you want is eggs, do not keep a cockerel. Hens are perfectly happy and fully productive layers without a cock being run with them,
Clockwise from top: Barred Plymouth Rock Rooster, Welsomer hen, Plymouth Rock Pullet, White Leghorn Pair.
so unless you want to breed there is really no need to keep a rooster. They can be loud and irritate nearby neighbours and while they do look nice in the garden or coop, they are really best kept only when necessary. Also, for example, a broody hen could hatch six eggs, any amount of which could be male, so you may end up with more related males than you want or can handle and then have to look at getting rid of them. Surplus males can be a real nuisance to breeders. Be careful when buying young birds not to get duped into buying cocks; it’s hard to tell the difference until they are almost adult. Cocks usually have bigger combs, but this is far
from a reliable way to tell with young birds. Hybrids For first-time chicken keepers or those who just want home laid eggs, there is absolutely nothing better than the brown/ red hybrid hen. On a recent trip to Wicklow I admired a friend’s attractive wooden ark in her garden, in which she was keeping six ‘red hens’. They provide her with six large brown eggs every day for most of the year, and while not exotic in either colour or appearance they certainly do what hens should do best and most consistently, that is, provide large brown delicious eggs. Continued on next page
School For Hens The students of Ballyconneely National School are currently keeping some chickens in their school grounds and sent in these photos and news of how they are getting on. We have three hens in our school their names are Dolly, Polly and Holly. We bought them a little chicken coop and got it painted red, yellow and blue. The chickens are fed every morning and the pupils in sixth class clean out the coop. Hens always go into their coop when it is getting dark so someone from the senior room has to volunteer to shut the door to keep them in for the night. At first, we got lots of eggs but the hens have stopped laying now, probably because of the cold weather. The eggs are shared out to every student but we hope to sell them later on to buy more food. A local man called Marty Earley gave us the hens. A big thank you to Marty and Ann for all of their help and advice and a special thanks also to Evelyn Nee who looks after the chickens when we are stuck.
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in the our Photo Competition. Check page 29 for details. Page 32
April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
Indeed, well known food critic, writer, reviewer and TV personality Paolo Tullio told me recently that his hybrid hens even continued to lay throughout the past cold winter, and as a food enthusiast he certainly appreciates a good egg when he eats one! These reddish/orange hybrids are often referred to as Rhode Island Reds which is inaccurate more often than not. True Rhode Island’s are large utility birds and are a darker red in colour and more rectangular in shape than a hybrid. While the commercial laying hybrids do often have their genetic roots in the Rhode Island Red, it is inaccurate to call them Rhode Island Reds. However, either hybrids or true Rhode Island’s are very good beginner birds as they are calm, easy to manage and good layers. Different breeds have very different characteristics and it is wise to do a little bit of research if you are interesting in being more experimental or keeping different breeds together. As I am planning to breed, I spent a few months keeping a few different hens to see which ones I preferred, before deciding on what type of rooster to buy for breeding. A brief description of the breeds I keep and their characteristics is below. White Leghorns: I have a pair of white leghorns which are great birds. They are dazzling white, with long yellow legs and reddish eyes. The hens have very large combs which are entirely lopped to one side and in the weeks of freezing weather this past winter, this caused a slight problem as one of the hens combs had actually frozen and cracked. She wasn’t too troubled by it but I applied some Vaseline to their large combs to prevent it from happening again. They can also catch these large combs in bushes and twigs and tear them so they are a bit high maintenance. Leghorns are rarely broody, but good layers, laying around 200 white eggs a year, which was a lot in the days before hybrid heavy laying breeds were developed. They are not easily tamed, a bit skittish and flighty and prefer not to be handled, but they are very attractive and interesting hens to keep.
Welsummers: I have three Welsummers, which are lovely traditional looking hens, with their feathers and markings resembling that of a partridge. They are timid, a bit moody, and don’t like to be pestered too much and lay a lovely large dark brown speckled egg. They lay a lot less in winter so don’t depend on them for a lot of eggs. Their eggs are quality rather than quantity. I had a problem with one laying her lovely big speckled eggs out in the bushes recently which required a lot of hunting. Interestingly, she started laying back inside once I provided a very dark private nesting box, with hay in it rather than wood shavings-so they are a bit fussy it has transpired! Plymouth Rocks: These birds have very quickly become my favourites and the ones I intend to breed, so a Connemara breeder kindly sourced a nice young rooster for me in the midlands a few weeks ago. They are by far the tamest and most entertaining chickens I have ever come across and regularly eat from and perch on my hand. They are extremely sociable as well as being great looking birds, and will come running over as soon as there are people around. The rooster I have is a Barred Plymouth Rock which refers to his two-tone grey and white feathers and I also have four lovely looking barred point-of-lay pullets. Black Rocks have also become very popular in these parts recently and I can certainly see why. I only have one young Black Rock pullet at present, but she is calm and quiet and a lovely shiny black colour with a green tinge. I will be on the lookout for a few more of these in the future as they are very satisfying birds and great layers, too. I also have a couple of white bantams and a couple of mixed breed hens, all of which provide colour and diversity. Other breeds that are popular in this part of the world include the Sussex and light Sussex, which are very calm and placid and great layers and mothers; Marans, which lay a dark, almost chocolate coloured egg and don’t forget the bantams. They are ideal when space is limited. True Bantams are breeds of which there is no large variety, while many
Disdain for AEOS Scheme
this closure including people living on the Islands. In the future Connemara farmers will have to travel to Athenry to avail of the services of Teagasc. At present many farmers will get a bus into Galway to visit their advisor in the Teagasc office. In the future if this closure goes ahead they will have the extra inconvenience and expense of having to travel to Athenry. People travelling from the Islands may have to overnight on the mainland in order to visit the Teagasc office in Athenry. Cllr. Mannion said that the closure of the Galway office will be a further burden on Connemara farmers who are already suffering with the closure of REPS to new entrants. This is a further erosion of a much needed service in an already disadvantaged area. Connemara farmers pay for the services of Teagasc and it is of vital importance to farmers in this disadvantaged area. Cllr. Mannion said if the Teagasc office in Galway has to be closed down it should be moved nearer to Connemara farmers not further away. Cllr. Mannion is calling on and lobbying Teagasc to reconsider their decision and keep their Galway office open to cater for the one thousand Connemara farmers who use and pay for their service.
The proposed new Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) is of little use to Connemara farmers Councillor Eileen Mannion has claimed after attending the Connemara IFA Branch meeting held in Clifden in early March. Cllr. Mannion stated that farmers in Connemara are facing cuts of up to 70% under the proposed new scheme. She said “Under the new scheme payment rates will be reduced from €242 per hectare to €75 per hectare for farmers in SAC areas as well as non designated commonage areas. Farmers in SAC areas should be getting higher payments because of the restrictions placed on their land. Farmers with SAC designated land have to comply with ongoing environmental restrictions and they should be adequately compensated for this – the new Scheme does not seem to compensate these farmers in any way”. “Also, farmers in SACs and commonage areas to be eligible to apply for the Scheme must have a Sustainable Management Plan prepared by an agriculturalist. The cost of this will further erode into the payment received by farmers”. The AEOS provides for a maximum payment of €5,000. The average payment to a Connemara farmer will be approximately €2,500, on the present REPS scheme the average payment is €6,500. It would appear that the administration costs for the new Scheme will be more than the REPS Schemes while the payment to farmers will be reduced. Cllr. Mannion said that special consideration has to be given to farmers in this unique area. “The Scheme as it is proposed does not take into consideration the widespread designation of lands in Connemara-farmers must be adequately compensated and the Department of Agriculture must either reopen REPS4 to new entrants or propose a Scheme which will be of benefit to the farmers in Connemara” she concluded.
Teagasc Office Concerns Despite the fact that the lease on the Teagasc office in Galway runs until 2015 there are fears and have been for some time, that the Board of Teagasc are planning to close it down and transfer services to Athenry. Cllr. Eileen Mannion recently stated that up to one thousand Connemara farmers will be directly affected by
Send in your news, views & photos to news@connemaraview.com or phone 095-22888
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
breeds have miniature forms. Their small size also means small eggs but they certainly have their advantages. The popularity of keeping a few chickens in the back garden is without a doubt continuing to grow in Ireland and it is great to see the enthusiasm with which newcomers take to having their own supply of eggs and feathered friends. The internet is also a mine of information for anyone looking to get started. Fellow keepers and breeders are always happy to discuss the quirks and experiences of keeping fowl and I am clearly no different, so any enquiries or comments are more than welcome (contact details below). Happy chicken keeping! Catherine Pryce, 095-22888. catherine@connemaraview.com
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Beauty
Complementary Health
Reflexions Beauty Salon would like to invite customers to try out the latest Matis facials benefitting from 20% off for the month of April. Also available are many great offers on Matis products.Market Street, Clifden. 095-22751. The Treatment Rooms at Abbeyglen Castle offering hot stone massage, luxury Yonka facials, indian head massage, reflexology, Zen spa pedicure/manicure, waxing, California tanning. Non residents welcome. Open 9-6pm Monday to Saturday. Sunday 12–5pm. 095-21306.
Reiki / Seichem. Experience the calm & healing energies of this beautiful treatment, which is drug free & non-invasive. These powerful energies can heal one on the mental, emotional, spiritual & physical levels. Qualified Reiki / Seichem Master & Practitioner, Call Yvonne for appointment. 086-365-3266. Acupuncture Clinic, Maara Mulgrew Lic.Ac. - Acupuncture is a powerfully effective and naturally relaxing form of medicine used to treat a wide range of health concerns. Ciúin Health & Beauty, Bridge Street, Clifden. For appointment contact 087-970-1648. For more info see www.acupunctureclinic.ie. Damien Stoney : Neuromuscular Therapist ANMPT, Sports, Deep Tissue & Relaxation Massage, Dry Needling, Physical Therapy, Change Sensations In Your Body. Contact 087-125-2578. Do you suffer from anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, digestive disorders, depression, headaches, lack of energy, ME, MS, muscle tension, stress? If so, contact Lucy Lydon (BEHA Dip) on 087-757-9237. True Awakening Plexus Bio-Energy Therapy. Clifden Holistic Centre. Kinesiology, food testing, acupuncture, Bowen Therapy, massage and hypnotherapy at An Bhean Fheasa Health Shop, Lr Market St, Clifden.095-30671. Open Mon-Sat 10-5 p.m. Peace Meditation followed by Pranic Healing from 10-12 with Martha Conneely every Wed morning.
Counselling
Cancer Care Clifden Outreach Service by Cancer Care West at the Clifden Health Centre opposite Clifden Hospital on the 4th Thursday of every month. Drop- in, information and support service. 091-545-000. www.cancercarewest.ie.
Give the Gift of Life Organ Donation Awareness Week is currently taking place in Ireland and runs from March 27th to April 3rd. The annual campaign highlights to the general public the plight of people with organ failure and the ongoing need for organ donation for transplantation, encouraging more people to make an informed decision to carry an organ donor card and to donate their organs in the event of their untimely death. TV star Ryan Tubridy has once again lent his support to the media campaign for the fourth year in a row and public awareness and action on the crucial lifesaving procedure has certainly improved in recent years. 2009 was a record year for donations and kidney transplants. There were 270 organs obtained from 90 individuals, an increase of 21% on the previous year. Of the organs offered, 172 were used for kidney transplants, 68 for liver transplants, 17 for heart transplants and 13 for lung transplants. The number of kidney transplants increased by 11% and there were 18 living-donor kidney transplants performed during the year.
Page 34
Fitness
Counselling and psychotherapy. Úna McKeever M.Sc., M.I.A.H.I.P., M.I.A.C.P. is a fully accredited Psychotherapist/Counsellor who offers private and confidential counselling. For an appointment call 087250-5015. email: unamckeever21@gmail.com.
Connemara Judo Academy. West Connemara Sports & Leisure Centre, Clifden. Sunday classes at 1pm. Contact Paraic on 086-356-5590 to enrol or for information on other training times.
5 Rhythms® Movement Classes. We dance for joy, for fun, for keeping fit and we can also dance to feel rooted and steady in life, to feel supported in your way of living. An exhilarating, creative, movement meditation practice. Caitriona Nic Ghiollaphadraig, www.deorade.com. Clifden Station House Leisure Centre. 095-30433. leisure@ clifdenstationhouse.com. Fitness classes, Swimming Lessons, Aqua Aerobics, Circuit Training, Pilates, Personal Training.
Health Insurance
Why pay more than you have to for your health insurance? No penalties if you switch. All served waiting periods are recognised by Hibernian Aviva Health. Call Hennelly Finance on 091-586-500 or call Helena on 086-809-5607. Hennelly Financial Services Ltd. T/A Hennelly Finance is regulated by the Financial Regulator.
Opticians
Ní Ráighne Opticians. Bridge St., Clifden. 095-30995. Eye exams. €35. Medical cards and PRSI welcome. April Offer: 50% off selected Designer Glasses.
There are currently 600 patients awaiting transplantation in Ireland and just one donor can potentially help nine other people. There are on average 80 donations in Ireland a year resulting in approximately 250 transplants being performed. All organ donations in Ireland are coordinated through the Irish Organ Procurement Office at Beaumont Hospital. Strict ethical guidelines protect the interests of organ donors, their families and transplant recipients, anonymity is maintained regarding the identity of the donor and recipients. If you wish to become an organ donor after your death you should inform your next-of-kin of your intentions. In Ireland, consent is never presumed, even if a donor card has been signed. Your next-of-kin would always be consulted and asked for consent in order for donation to proceed. The Irish Kidney Association is the organisation charged with the promotion and distribution of the organ donor card in Ireland on behalf of all patient groups with an interest in organ donation that form the Irish Donor Network. Information fact files which accompany organ donor
cards can be obtained (free of charge) from the Irish Kidney Association and are available nationwide from pharmacies, GP surgeries and Citizen Information Offices. Organ Donor Cards can also be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association LoCall 1890543-639 or Freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visiting the website www.ika.ie. Sources: www.organdonation.ie and www.ika.ie
April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
Sweeter than Honey The benefits of honey are well known to many of us, but with the startling array of types, colours, flavours and sheer variety out there on shop shelves today, one might wonder where to begin in order to get the most from this ubiquitous foodstuff. When it comes to simply eating the stuff, it really just comes down to a matter of personal taste. As a general rule, the lighter in colour the honey, the milder the taste will be, with darker colours suggesting a more intense flavour. The flavour of honey is directly dictated by the plant nectar the bees that made it had access to; in other words it all depends where the bees buzz. For example, if you see Acacia Honey in the supermarket, the bees that made that honey were collecting nectar from Acacia blossoms, and so on. Bees also blend honey naturally by collecting nectar from many different plant sources and blending is also carried out in the manufacturing process to obtain the desired flavour. There are 4 categories of honey: • Comb Honey (honeycomb). This is honey filled beeswax comb direct from the hive. • Liquid Honey (extracted) .This is where the honey is extracted from the combs. • Creamed Honey (granulated). This is firm honey made by combining finely granulated honey with liquid honey. • Chunk Honey. This is a comb in a jar with liquid honey poured around it. So we all know that honey is good to eat, but how many of us know just how beneficial it is to our health in this day and age of modern medicine and antibiotics? The use of honey as medicine has been mentioned in the most ancient written records-from ancient Greece to the Koran. The Bible regularly refers to the benefits and uses of ‘milk and honey’, while it was used to dress the wounds of soldiers up until the Second World War and the advent of antibiotics in the 20th century. Its uses include soothing and healing sore throats and coughs, producing a calming effect on the mind and promoting sleep, helping to relieve indigestion and even asthma.
However, the area in which honey has been shown to have the most dramatically healing effects is as a treatment for wounds. Countless scientific studies carried out worldwide in recent years have shown that wounds treated with pure natural honey have healed faster and better. It has been shown to work quickly, without any ill effects whatsoever on disease/diabetes related wounds, insect bites, animal bites and skin disease and cuts and burns. It is a natural antiseptic and its high sugar content kills many kinds of bacteria, including some antibiotic resistant germs. Applied as a topical dressing, it creates a moist environment which speeds up the healing process and minimises scarring. Any preparation applied to a wound must keep germs and bacteria out while maintaining the integrity of the skin affected and it appears that honey is exceptionally efficient at this. Unlike other antiseptics applied to skin, it causes no tissue damage; in fact it has been demonstrated that it actively promotes the healing process. Mad About Manuka One particular honey that has received much attention and extremely positive publicity in recent years is Manuka honey, due to its higher levels of antibacterial properties compared to other honeys. It is powerful enough to even combat the antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria MRSA and is capable of clearing Staph infections. UMF (Unique Manuka factor) is the name given to the unique antibacterial factor found in some strains of Manuka
Connemara View Newspaper
honey (not all Manuka honey contains this). UMF was first discovered by Dr Peter Molan, MBE, of Waikato University’s Honey Research Unit in New Zealand. UMF rated honey indicates the strength of its beneficial activity with a guide to the ratings as follows: 0-4: Not Detectable, 5-9: Maintenance levels only (ideal table honey but not recommended for therapeutic use), 10-15: Useful levels endorsed by the Honey Research Unit at The University of Waikato, 16 and over: Superior levels with very high activity. You will notice that Manuka is a good deal more expensive than other honeys for this reason, and the prices increases drastically along with the UMF factor. As UMF is a trademarked name there are other manufacturers who use other very similar rating systems, for example the AMF (Active Manuka Factor). The special antibacterial factor is only found in Manuka honeys with a UMF or AMF of over 10; anything less than this is simply a good honey to eat. High activity Manuka honey has been shown to be very effective when eaten in spoonfuls or on bread or crackers to aid digestive complaints, colds, coughs and more and as it is 100% honey, you can have as much or as little as you like. For first aid, it can be applied generously to minor cuts, grazes and burns. Simply clean the wound (making sure your hands are also clean), apply the honey and cover and keep dry, but change the dressing at least once a day. Always cool a burn first under cold water before applying honey. This is only suitable for minor injuries-always consult a doctor or healthcare professional for the treatment of serious wounds or health problems. While the high price tag of Manuka honey may raise eyebrows, the results and health benefits it can achieve are often a great surprise to people who are newcomers to its impressive properties. It’s a small wonder then that the historical references to honey and its benefits still ring truer than ever today. For more information on Manuka Honey check out www. manukahoney.com or ask your doctor or nearest health food shop for advice. Catherine Pryce
Strange Fruit? An EU regulation that was amended in 2009, allowing the sale of misshapen fruit and vegetables in supermarkets, has now also been credited with indirectly improving the health of many people who consume these irregular food products. Retailers and producers across Europe had been lobbying the EU for years to change the regulations preventing non standard shaped fruit and vegetables from being sold and will welcome the new revelation that ‘wonky’ produce actually has some strange and unusual benefits. Dr Lia Porlof of the Irish Campaign for Irregular Produce Inclusion (ICIPI) said “Studies carried out in our lab and via interaction with consumers have shown that strangely shaped fruit and vegetables are in fact of higher nutritional value and have more benefits than standard examples. We have had reports of increased hair growth in bald men from eating straight bananas and women have commented on improvements to the condition of their skin directly as a result of eating gnarled and twisted carrots”. She claims that the reason for this is the mutative process the fruit and vegetables incur in the growth process which appears to give them so called ‘superfood’ powers. For more information on how strange shaped fruit and vegetables can improve your health go to the official website of the Irish Campaign for Irregular Produce Inclusion at www.icipi.ie.
April 2010
How to clean your glasses! It is important that frames and lenses be washed regularly. Oils and residues from the skin and hair are acidic and if left on the glasses can cause damage to both the frame and lenses. These oils can also cause damage to the anti reflection coating on the lenses. Proper cleaning of your glasses will not only improve your vision, but prolong the lifetime of your frame and improve their appearance.
Wet cleaning Wet cleaning glasses involves using water as opposed to just a dry cloth. Wet cleaning causes less scratching of the lenses. Cold water is best as long term use of hot water can damaged the lens coatings. • Washing up liquid is ideal as it rinses away without leaving a residue. • Rinse the frame with cold water. • Next apply washing up liquid with the fingers and lather. • Hold the frame gently at the temples or the bridge, taking care not to warp the frame • Next, clean the nose pads, either using the fingers or a soft toothbrush. • Rinse the frame with clear water. • Try not to rub the lenses at this stage as you will transfer oil from your fingers to the lenses. • Hold the glasses vertically and most of the water should run off. • Use a soft lens cleaning cloth to dry the frame and lenses.
Dry Cleaning • Using a clean lens cleaning cloth, gently bat the cloth against the lens. • Next, hold the frame at the bridge and wrap the cloth around the lens. • Wipe the cloth against the front and back of the lens and at the same time wipe the lens in a single continuous movement. • Do not rub over and back or in a circular motion as this may scratch the lenses with time. • Wipe from nasal edge to temporal edge. We wish you many enjoyable hours of spectacle wear! Ailbhe Patten Ní Raighne Opticians, Bridge St, Clifden, (095) 30995.
MS Ireland Collection The Galway Branch of Multiple Sclerosis Annual Churchgate Collection takes place on the Easter Weekend of April 3rd and 4th in all churches in Connemara. Your support for this worthy cause would be greatly appreciated.
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C o n s u m e r Watch dog: Sc a r ewar e & Pet I n s u r an c e
PC Online Help: A Cautionary Tale Unsolicited phone calls which attempt to scare first and then offer the solution in the form of their product or service have become quite common. Some telemarketers are more gifted than others. The situation that I will describe below is a current campaign in process and I thought that the public should be made aware of it. At West PC Repair, we have been receiving calls from concerned people in the area that have been contacted by a company calling themselves “Online PC Doctors”. The callers received the impression that they were affiliated with Microsoft. This was not true. The caller will ask to take remote control of your PC to “fix” it for you. They then ask the person to enter a service contract with them, which is €99 minimum for a “one PC protection plan”. I investigated further and called their head office and asked a supervisor a few questions. He said their engineers had qualifications, but couldn’t state which ones. He also said that they will back up your data as they are “fixing” your PC, so that your data is safe. When queried they said that they use the FTP (file transfer protocol) method to transfer the customers data. This would not be a secure process. The biggest problem with FTP is that the server can only handle usernames and passwords in plain text, ie not encrypted. A close read of the EULA (End User License Agreement) for “Online PC Doctors” reveals that they take no responsibility for loss of data, or even if they break your PC: “[…] shall not be liable to client for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including, but not limited to, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses (even if Online PC Doctors has been advised of the possibility of such damages)”. Here is an extract from an email sent to us by a concerned person who received a call from these people: “[…] I was contacted by a Member of the above named company, stating he was doing a survey for Microsoft, and that “my PC was running slow”! [...] I then contacted Paul at WPCR and asked if he had heard anything about the above company or if Microsoft where indeed doing the checks on virus’? He went straight online and done some checks for me about “Online PC Doctors” and found that a lot of people say that these people are scammers, and that I should not use them in any shape or form[…]” Searching for their company online, I found numerous warnings from people who had been convinced by the person calling them, some going as far as to give them their credit card number. The company use free-to-use programs to “fix” your PC and then charge for the service. These people operate on the same principles as “malware” also known as “scareware”. Scareware comprises several classes of scam software, often with limited or no benefit, sold to consumers via questionable marketing practices. The selling approach is designed to cause shock, anxiety, or the perception of a threat, generally directed at an unsuspecting user. Advice: Never give out your credit card number to an unknown person and always check the company out before you agree to anything. Paul McNamara West PC Repair, Market Street, Clifden. 095-22668. 086781-6037. www.westpcrepair.com
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Pet Insurance
As I watched my dog run out a gateway onto the road recently, I cringed as I thought of the cars, tractors and general traffic that travel that road at all hours of day or night. While he generally comes back when called and doesn’t ramble off alone, he is a young energetic dog and I couldn’t help but worry that one day he might be hit by a vehicle and either killed or seriously injured. Like most people, I am on a tighter budget these days, so I began to wonder whether I should take out pet insurance. High veterinary costs are causing more pet owners to insure their pets nowadays in Ireland, but we are still well behind our nearest neighbours in the U.K. where it is estimated that 25-30% of pets are insured (estimate by Allianz). Allianz and Petinsure.ie are the longest established pet insurance providers in Ireland and they have now been joined by Argos, who are also now offering insurance cover for pets. Understandably, it costs more to insure a pedigree dog than a crossbred. All quotes may be calculated online at the websites of the various providers and different breeds, ages and whether or not the animal is micro-chipped and living in an urban or rural area, all have a bearing on the quote. I would say that my actual dilemma is whether or not to spend in the region of €150 a year to insure a crossbred dog that I paid nothing for (he came from the dog pound). However, if he were to be seriously injured I think I would be very likely to want to have the appropriate treatment to get him back to health if possible. Therefore, my quotes were for a two year old crossbred, neutered male dog, in a rural area, that is not microchipped. Pedigree breeds of similar details could expect an extra €40-€80 approx. on top of the quotes I received. One thing to check is whether your policy will give continuous cover so your pet is insured for ongoing conditions. Some 12 month policies exclude cover at renewal for conditions that led to claims in the previous year. Also, as I conducted my research and obtained quotes online, I would highly recommend phoning the provider to be absolutely sure of any questions before proceeding to buy the insurance. Allianz Personal quote: €166.45 per year/ €13.87 per month. *Includes 10% online booking discount. Veterinary fees for injury and illness €4,000 Third party liability and legal costs €250,000 Boarding kennel or cattery fees €1,000 Recovery Costs (Advertise & Reward) €500 Death from Illness or Accident €1,000 Theft or Straying €1,000 Holiday Cancellation €1,000 There is an excess of €75 per claim towards vets bills which the customer must pay themselves. Allianz also offer interest free direct debits and a 10% discount when you buy online. There are also special premium reductions for multiple pet owners, pensioners, micro-chipped pets (applies for the first year only). Allianz also offers a ‘Covered for life’ policy for ongoing conditions. Petinsure.ie Care Plan Personal Quote: €107.80 per year/ €8.98 per month. *Includes €20 discount for booking online. Vet Fees €3,500 3rd Party Liability €250,000 Death by Accident €800 Death from Illness €800 Lost & Found (Advertising & Recovery) €500 Theft/Straying €800 Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees €800 Holiday Cancellation €800. This quote requires an excess payment of €150 from the owner. Multi pet discounts (10% for 3rd or more pets) and first year discount of €12 for microchipped pets also apply as well as a €10 discount for over 60’s. Care Plus Personal Quote: €130.00 per year/€10.83 per
April 2010
month. *Includes €20 discount for booking online. Vet Fees €3,500, 3rd Party Liability €250,000 Death by Accident €800 Death from Illness €800 Lost & Found (Advertising & Recovery) €500 Theft/Straying €800 Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees €800 Holiday Cancellation €800 This quote requires an excess of €60 from the owner, and offers a €15 discount for over 60’s. Multi pet discounts (10% for 3rd or more pets) and first year discount of €15 for microchipped pets also apply. Argos Silver Plan Personal Quote: €148.65 per year/€13.51 per month. *Includes online booking discount of 20%. Vets fees up to €2,500 3rd Party Liability (Dogs only) up to €250,000 Accidental Damage up to €500 Death from Accident up to €250 Death from Illness up to €250 Advertising & reward up to €250 Boarding Kennel/Cattery fees up to €250 Loss by Theft / Straying up to €250 Holiday Cancellation up to €250 Emergency expenses cover abroad up to €250. Gold Plan Personal Quote: €174.43 per year/ €15.86 per month. *Includes online booking discount of 20%. Vets fees up to €5,000 3rd Party Liability (Dogs only) up to €250,000 Accidental Damage up to €500 Death from Accident up to €1,000 Death from Illness up to €1,000 Advertising & reward up to €1,000 Boarding Kennel/Cattery fees up to €1,000 Loss by Theft / Straying up to €1,000 Holiday Cancellation up to €2,000 Emergency expenses cover abroad up to €1,000. The excess for both Argos plans is €75. Both plan quotes offer access to a bereavement counselling helpline, a pet legal helpline and a ‘Pay Vet Direct’ service. Rising premiums? As with almost all types of insurance policies, rising claims push up premiums. While pet insurance providers claim that individual policies are not increased following a claim, there have been instances brought to the attention of the media when this has happened. I think it would be safe to (continued page 37)
Connemara View Newspaper
Infamous April Fools Pranks
There has been a long standing tradition in many media publications for decades of printing hoax stories or news items on April 1st in order to fool unsuspecting readers. A selection of some of the best are as follows:
Pasta Harvest The BBC reported on a sensational pasta harvest in Switzerland in 1957. Viewers were informed of the troubles that the Swiss run into while trying to decide what to do with the harvest. “Winter was rather mild and farmers managed to exterminate pasta weevil,” explained a BBC reporter. The report caused major uproar in Great Britain. People were calling to the company’s headquarters to inquire about special methods to grow pasta.
Diamond Encrusted Grenades In 1996 the Russian information agency ITAR-TASS reported that one of the factories of the Russian Federation was planning to start producing hand grenades encrusted with diamonds. “In case you decide to blow up your enemy, it would be best to leave him covered with diamonds rather than lying in a puddle of blood,” stated the source.
Taco Liberty Bell In 1996, American fast-food chain Taco Bell announced that it had bought Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell from the federal government and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Outraged citizens called to express their anger before Taco Bell revealed the hoax.
Sat Nav Trainers In 2009 the British Sun informed readers of ‘sat nav trainers’ which would help the wearer to find their way around towns. The trainers came complete with an in-tongue display for your postcode and an LED light on each foot to tell you to turn left or right and a loud beep to tell you when you’ve gone wrong. And to conclude… The Guardian reported in 2009 that it was to become the first newspaper in the world to abandon print and be published exclusively on the social networking site Twitter and The Daily Telegraph claimed that harnessing the power of fish swimming through a river could hold the key to meeting future electricity needs. We have included a couple of our own April Fool pranks in this issue, as it falls on April 1st. Find both and enter into a draw to win a €25 voucher for BelleBlu Lifestyle Boutique in Clifden. E-mail to news@connemaraview.com, drop to the View Box at King’s Paper Shop in Main St, Clifden or post to Connemara View, Clifden, Co. Galway.
Eating Out & Entertainment Guide Cafés, Pubs & Restaurants Garden Teas in Toombeola at the Anglers Return. This Easter week, why not visit the beautiful natural gardens surrounding the charming big blue house overlooking the Ballynahinch River? The Anglers Return will be offering morning coffee and afternoon teas: in the garden if the weather is fine; by the log fire if it’s not. Please book ahead if possible - B&B also available. 095-31091. 087-126-2667. www.anglersreturn.com. Derryclare Restaurant. The Square, Clifden. 095-21440. Check out the NEW even more affordable menu at the Derryclare Restaurant. Dinner for 2 Any day. Any time. Only €58. Enjoy a 3 course meal including a bottle of wine. NEW Takeaway Menu. Let us do the cooking! Hot trays of our menu items available for all occasions.Confirmation and Communion menus available. Stop by or ring for details.Booking necessary. April Pizza Takeaway Special. 2 Cheese Pizzas (limit of 2 toppings per pizza) Any time. Any day. Only €15. Zetland Country House Hotel. Enjoy Easter Sunday overlooking Cashel Bay at the Zetland Hotel. 3 Course Meal from €20. Sunday Lunch served from 12.30 to 2.30 p.m. Christening and Birthday Parties welcome. 095-31111 to reserve your table. www.zetland.com. Cashel House Hotel. 095-31001. www.cashel-house-hotel. com. Afternoon Tea from 3-5pm, Bar Lunch 12.30-3pm. Sunday Lunch 12.30-2.30pm. Early Bird Specials 6-7pm. 3 courses from €32.Also available for special dinners. Award-winning Heritage Gardens open. Donation goes to ISPCC. €5/OAP €4. Kylemore Pass Hotel and Restaurant, Kylemore. Ideal for small weddings. Tranquillity Room suitable for civil weddings & therapy-use. Restaurant for a special meal. Sailors Bar for affordable meals. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries etc. Take friends for a drink in our unique bar. 095-41141. email: passinn@indigo.ie www.kylemorepass-hotel-connemara.com. Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. Sky Road, Clifden. Celebrating our 40th year. Cheers! Open for dinner 7 nights a week. Early booking is advisable. Tuesday night is Irish Night. Entertainment nightly. 095-21201. info@abbeyglen.ie. www.abbeyglen.ie. Clifden Station House. 095-21699. info@clifdenstationhouse.com. Celebrate your child’s First Holy Communion with lunch at The Clifden Station House Hotel Restaurant. 4 course menu €20pp. Children’s menu €9.50 pp. Easter Sunday Lunch with Kid’s Face Painting. 3 course menu €20pp. Children’s menu €9.50.
Griffins Bar. Main St, Clifden. 095-21370. All day breakfast served from 10am. NEW lunch menu served daily Mon-Thu 12-4pm / Fri 12-5pm. Takeaway now available. Watch sports in High Definition on our Big screen and 4 TV screens. Oliver’s Seafood Bar and Restaurant, Cleggan. Fresh seafood. Bar food served daily until 9pm. Trad Session on Saturday nights with local musicians. 095-44640. O’Dowd’s Bar & Seafood Restaurant. Roundstone Harbour. Open daily from 10.30am. Fresh seafood daily. 095-35809. Early Bird Special. 2 Courses + Tea/Coffee €19.50. (Available till 7.30pm). Evening Restaurant Menu Served from 5 to 9.30pm. Bar Food Served Noon to 9.30pm. Portfinn Lodge & Fjord Restaurant. Casual dining overlooking Killary Fjord in Leenane. Early Bird menu 6 to 7pm €20. Available for special occasions and events such as holiday parties, weddings, christenings and birthdays. 095-42265. info@portfinn.com www.portfinn.com.
Entertainment
Clifden Traditional Music Festival. 23rd- 25th April. A weekend of the very best of Irish Music, Song and Dance. Local Musicians. Top class visiting Musicians. Sean Nos Dance Workshops with Emma O’Sullivan. Music Workshops. Pub Music Sessions. Open air entertainment. See details in ad on page 2. For more information phone Marie on 086-401-5342. Sean Nós Dancing Weekend 16–18 April. At Renvyle House Hotel, Connemara. See details in ad on page 3. Live Music at Johnny O Loghlin’s Bar Cashel. Easter Saturday April 3rd Singer/ Songwriter Don Stiffe. Easter Sunday April 4th Killary Sound. Saturday April 10th Evergreens. Saturday April 17th Sporting Paddys. Saturday April 24th & Saturday May 1st Bracken. Music Starts at 10pm. Ros’ Bar (Diamonds) Tully Renvyle. 087-923-595. Sun April 4th 4.30 - 7.30pm. Easter Sunday Trad Music Session with local musicians. Wed April 7th 10pm Paul & Sean. Fri April 9th 10pm Edison. Fri April 16th 10pm Golden Oldies Disco. Thu April 22nd 10pm Paul & Sean. Fri April 30th 10pm Golden Oldies Disco. Station House Theatre, Clifden. Saturday 3rd April Declan O’Rourke 9.30 pm €20. Tuesday 6th April Hannah Montana /High School Musical Tribute Show 3pm €15. Wednesday 7th April Mickey Mouse Club House 3pm €15. Wednesday 7th April. Comedy Hypnotist Adrian Knight 9pm €20. Fri 9th and Sat 10th April “We are For The Dark”. 8pm €15/€12. www.stationhousetheatre.com. info@stationhousetheatre.com 095-30303.
Pet Insurance continued I think it would be safe to assume that premiums could be subject to increases after claims. Older Pets Allianz and petinsure.ie will accept policies for dogs over 8 if they are policy renewals, but will not take on older pets as new business. Argos will insure older dogs but at much higher premiums. Not Covered Routine treatments like vaccinations and check ups are not covered. All policies have fairly similar exclusions of pre-existing conditions, or will view conditions diagnosed very soon after the cover has been taken out as highly suspect. Dental treatment is also not likely to be covered. Conclusion Having perused the different quotes, I have not yet taken out pet insurance, but if I do, it will more than likely be the Petinsure.ie Care Plan quote of €8.98 per month, simply for budgetary reasons. While the majority of people are more conscious of unnecessary expenses these days, a much loved family pet can cause us to part with large sums of money after an accident or due to ill health. I personally know a lot of people who have spent enormous amounts of money on veterinary procedures, who would not have been hit nearly as hard if they had a pet insurance policy in place. I would rather not end up in the same position, so while it is certainly something worth considering, but also certainly needs close inspection and examination. Catherine Pryce
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April 2010
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Oughterard
and Inishbofin
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April 2010
Connemara View Newspaper
Business Notes New Credit Union Now Open
Cashel-Connemara Credit Union opened the doors of their new premises in Clifden (beside the Bank of Ireland), on Thursday March 25th. The project was first envisaged about 3 years ago when the Credit Union purchased the derelict building next to the then smaller building. Now in place is a three story building-the ground floor is the main Credit Union officeextending to an open plan first floor, which will hopefully be utilised for meetings and may also be available to groups or individuals who may need space for an event. This floor has already facilitated a group of students from the BTEI (Back To Education Initiative) who organised an exhibition of their Art Projects which was very successful. Some of their artwork will continue to be on display in the Credit Union office. The Second floor comprises of two offices which will be available for rent. The contractor was Martin Acton. In keeping with the Credit Union philosophy of contributing to the local community, Martin has given employment to many local trades people over the past year, for which the Cashel-Connemara Credit Union are very grateful.
The current opening hours of Thursday, Friday and Saturday will remain unchanged for the present, but it is hoped to be open full time in the very near future. Cashel Connemara Credit Union wish to thank all involved in the development of this building, and look forward to an official opening at a later date.
Excellence Award for Reflexions Reflexions, the Clifden beauty salon run by Sheena O’Malley and her team was honoured at the Matis Skincare
Head Office in Paris on Monday March 1st. The distributors of Matis in Ireland are SPI and having visited all the Matis Salons in Ireland they chose the award winners based on high operating standards, the best representatives of Matis, the quality of treatments and the level of techniques and training undertaken by staff. The prestigious award entailed an all expenses paid two day trip to Paris, a tour of the Matis laboratory and factory and an award presentation and fine dining evening at the world famous LaDurée restaurant on the Champs Élysées. Sheena O’ Malley accepted the MATIS Certificate of Excellence for 2009 from Ms Peggy Ribera, the MATIS Training Manager and Ms Catherine Harrington, General Manager of SPI, the MATIS distributors in Ireland. Reflexions was one of only seventeen outlets in Ireland to win the coveted award, which is awarded annually to a select number of MATIS salons and spas. Speaking after the award Sheena said “I was so thrilled to be chosen as one of the recipients of this fantastic award and prize and it is a great achievement for all of us here at Reflexions”. Photo: Pictured with their prestigious award from Matis Skincare are (l-r): Maureen Joyce, Louise McWilliams, Reflexions proprietor Sheena O’ Malley and Catherine O’ Reilly.
Alcock & Brown Reopens The building is dedicated to the Cashel-Connemara Credit Union founder members, whom were recently honoured at the 40th anniversary celebrations. The building is owned by all the members of Cashel-Connemara Credit Union and all members and non-members are welcome to drop in and visit.
The Alcock and Brown Hotel in Clifden is set to reopen in April. The business will be run by a new face in town, Mr. Mick Byrne. Mick hails from Longford and has a long background in the bar and hospitality business. He has recently made a number of changes to the property. The front of the hotel will now house a bar and a coffee house, serving food
Connemara View Newspaper
April 2010
all day, with a new restaurant to the rear. The hotel rooms have also been upgraded. Mick is looking forward to welcoming everyone to the landmark Clifden hotel on its reopening.
New Recruit at Hedz Hedz hairdressing has announced that Margaret Conroy (photo right) has joined the business as a new stylist. Clients may remember Mags as she started her hairdressing career in Hedz some years ago, before travelling for a number of years. Mags is now back on the Connemara scene and is looking forward to bringing her cutting and colouring expertise back to Hedz salon.
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