See also Library Events and Clare Focus - What's On Today (external link)

 

JANUARY 2009:

• Sunday, January 4th, 2009
  Seventh Annual Sponsored Burren Walk
  The walk is in support of the Alzheimer's Society and begins from O'Donoghues pub.
  Please call 065-6868621 for more info.

DECEMBER 2008:

• Saturday & Sunday 20th & 21st December 2008
  Ballyvaughan Christmas Market
  Ballyvaughan Farmers' Market is delighted to announce that this year they will be joining forces with Burren Crafts Fair to host their first Ballyvaughan Christmas Market. Located in the community hall. There will be a wide selection of fresh local produce and a variety of quality local crafts all with a festive influence.
• December 17th, 2008
  Club Ragairne
  X-PO, Kilnaboy 8.30pm.
  Irish language social group that meets for chat and fun - all levels of Irish welcome.
  For further information contact xpo.community@gmail.com
• Saturday & Sunday 13th & 14th December 2008
  Ballyvaughan Christmas Market
  Ballyvaughan Farmers' Market is delighted to announce that this year they will be joining forces with Burren Crafts Fair to host their first Ballyvaughan Christmas Market. Located in the community hall. There will be a wide selection of fresh local produce and a variety of quality local crafts all with a festive influence.
• December 8
  Clare Archaeological and Historical Society
  Standing Stones of Co. Clare: A study of the Bronze Age monolith tradition and its landscape setting in Clare
  by Tom Moloney, M. Litt.
  Lectures held at Clare Museum, Arthur's Row, Ennis at 8.30pm.
  For further information tel. 065-6823382 / 087-9165916 or email egreene@clarecoco.ie
• Saturday & Sunday 6th & 7th December 2008
  Ballyvaughan Christmas Market
  Ballyvaughan Farmers' Market is delighted to announce that this year they will be joining forces with Burren Crafts Fair to host their first Ballyvaughan Christmas Market. Located in the community hall. There will be a wide selection of fresh local produce and a variety of quality local crafts all with a festive influence.
• Saturday, December 6th, 2008
  Cois na hÁbhanna, Gort Rd., Ennis
  Clare Traditional Boats and Currachs Conference
  The Clare Heritage Section of Clare County Council in association with the Heritage Council present
  Boats, Place, People
  9.30am - 4.00pm
  Speakers include:
  • · Pádraig Ó Duinnín from TG4's popular series Muintir na Mara
  • · Criostóir Mac Cárthaigh, editor of the major new publication Traditional Boats of Ireland
  • · Richard Collins of the West Clare Currach Club
  • · Darina Tully, chief consultant on the Clare Traditional Boats and Currachs Study, 2008.
  The conference will also include presentations on the Maritime placenames of County Clare and "Forth they go for to rescue or to die!" the dramatic rescue of the French ship LEON XIII by Quilty Fishermen in 1907.
  The Conference surrounds the official Launch of Clare Traditional Boats and Currachs Study, conducted across county Clare in the summer 2008. The winner of the Clare Maritime Heritage Photographic Competition will also be announced!
  THE CONFERENCE IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. EARLY ATTENDANCE IS ADVISED.
  For further info contact Tomás Mac Conmara at 065- 6846456.
• December 3rd, 2008
  Club Ragairne
  X-PO, Kilnaboy 8.30pm.
  Irish language social group that meets for chat and fun - all levels of Irish welcome.
  For further information contact xpo.community@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 2008:

• November 30th
  Ballyvaughan - Fanore Walking Club Walks Calendar
  Muckinish / Aillwee (4hrs). Leader: Kevin McCormack, telephone 086-3272472
  Meet at Parish Hall, Ballyvaughan at 10.30am. Walk at 11.00am.
  http://www.ballyvaughanfanorewalkingclub.com/
• 27th - 29th November
  Falls Hotel, Ennistymon
  Co-operation and Integration: The key to Successful Tourism
  Presented by Clare Tourist Council and Clare County Council
• November 23rd
  Ballyvaughan - Fanore Walking Club Walks Calendar
  Caherbullog (4hrs). Leader: Michael Queally, telephone 086-0767776
  Meet at O'Donoghues Pub, Fanore at 10.30am. Walk starts at 11.00am.
  http://www.ballyvaughanfanorewalkingclub.com/
• November 19th, 2008
  Club Ragairne
  X-PO, Kilnaboy 8.30pm.
  Irish language social group that meets for chat and fun - all levels of Irish welcome.
  For further information contact xpo.community@gmail.com
• November 17th - December 6th
  Foyer of the County Museum, Ennis
  50 Years Past
  An exhibition of paintings by Patrick Ryan and Christina Watkins featuring images and items from the artists' childhoods.

Travel, especially by air, is getting cheaper than it has been in quite a long time, and the trend may continue. According to USAToday.com, air travelers can expect more promotions, more upgrades, and faster check-in times with less people at the airports.

European superbudget RyanAir has started talking about buying airplanes from companies desperate to get rid of them, and has hatched the idea of someday offering transatlantic flights for as little as $13 each way. (This doesn't sound possible, but it's printed at the bottom of this article.)

Even if that sounds unlikely, don't give up on the idea that international travel will get cheaper. Southwest is considering international service.

And international adventure outfitters like Wilderness Travel are already slashing some of their prices, by as much as $700 per person on some vacations. 

--Melanie Lidman

Irish Way
Summer Study Abroad for High School Students

Applications being accepted for the 2009 Irish Way program.  Students currently enrolled in high school are eligible to apply.  Students will spend the month of July experiencing the culture, people, landscape, history, and heritage of Ireland. 

KATHY SHERIDAN, The Irish Times

THE SATURDAY INTERVIEW: 'I HAVE NEVER called a reporter in my life. They come to me," said Pádraig Ó Céidigh a few years ago. Aer Arann's owner had been crowned Irish entrepreneur of the year. The plucky little airline's upward mobility seemed assured. He was a "big fan" of Michael O'Leary. Heck, he even talked like him.

"With me what you see is what you get. I have no time for plámás or bullshit," he told TG4, before tearing into smug "Dublin 4 types".

Fast forward to the Clayton Hotel near Galway, after a nightmare week for Aer Arann, which had announced it was laying off 100 people - almost a quarter of its staff. Ó Céidigh is still a man with no time for bullshit but is gracious with it, and it's fair to say that he is no longer a "big fan" of Michael O'Leary. But he still hasn't called a reporter.

Famously, the native-Irish-speaking, Jesuit-educated Galway boy was first an accountant, then a teacher for 11 years, then - after pursuing a law degree at night - a solicitor. His love of teaching in Coláiste Iognáid, his old school, and slow, painful disenchantment with the politics of the staffroom reveal much about the man himself.

there's more

Houses on Inis Bofin have been saved from falling into the sea in a multi-million euro project. Decades of coastal erosion had threatened several cottages and a major road on the island off the coast of Co Galway. The eight million euro Government project included coastal protection, the construction of a new slipway and major pier improvements. Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv said: "There was a pressing need for many years to protect the island from the detrimental effects of coastal erosion and the very real danger of the island's main road and houses actually falling into the sea." The works on the island, which has a population of almost 200, were carried out under the supervision of Galway County Council. "The project will be of great benefit, socially and economically, for this vibrant island community for many years to come," Mr O Cuiv said. An airstrip was recently completed on Inis Bofin. Last month a 14 million euro harbour was opened on Inis Meain, one of the Aran Islands.

A TV Documentary about Inis Meáin broadcasts tonight Tuesday 11th Nov on TG4 at 8.30pm
Made by a friend of ours on the island, a beautifully shot short film about the life of Máirín Thomáis. Máirín is a local lady who is a world-famous knitter and one of the last known people to be able to make the traditional crios on a homemade hand loom. If you missed the documentary made about ourselves and aired in September and would like to see it, it is available to view at www.rte.ie/tv/oileain/inismeain.html

- Inis Meáin Knitwear Store Christmas Shopping
Special openings on Saturday 22nd November and Saturday 6th of December with complimentary soup & brown bread supplied by Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites in store, when you spend over e100. Ideal christmas present offers like cashmere and baby alpaca scarves at 45e each, and hats and ties at 25e each with a complimentary third scarf, hat, or tie of your choice when you buy two.
Your itinerary for a shopping outing with a difference:
- Drive to Rossaveal to catch the 10.30am ferry, arrive to Inis Meáin at 11.30am, walk 15mins to the Knitwear Store
- Buy lots of lovely warm christmas presents and browse the knitwear ranges sold in the best stores in the world, but available in Inis Meáin at very special prices
- Enjoy our warming soup and brown bread and set off on a walk to explore the beautiful island sights
- Catch the 4.30pm ferry and arrive back to Rossaveal at 5.45pm. More travel info available on www.inismeain.com in the Contact > How to Get Here section
- Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites Christmas Gift Vouchers
Available in denominations of 50e and can be sent directly to your recipient in a beautiful package. Just email us with your request. Give those closest to you something to really look forward to in 2009!
- Restaurant of the Year Award from Hospitality Ireland Magazine 2008
Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites was delighted to win one of 3 Restaurant of the Year Awards from Hospitality Ireland at the Four Seasons in Dublin on the 30th of October. The other two award winners were Locks and The Residence, both in Dublin. Judges include food critics Tom Doorley, Ernie Whalley and Domini Kemp.
The next time we write will be in the New Year, so for when the time comes we wish you a very happy Christmas shared with family and friends and we hope to see you in Inis Meáin when we reopen the Restaurant & Suites on 1st May 2009!
Le gach dea-mheáin,
Ruairí & Marie-Therese de Blacam
Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites
www.inismeain.com
A chairde,
Nóta beag le sibh a choimeád ar an eolas faoi saoil in Inis Meáin!
- Scannán Teilifíse ar Inis Meáin anocht, Máirt 11ú Samhain ar TG4 ag 8.30i.n.
Déanta ag cara linn, scannán álainn mar gheall ar saol Máirín Thomáis. Is cniotáilí an-cháiliúl í agus tá sí ar ceann dena daoine deireanacha atá in ann an crios traidisiúnta a dhéanamh le lámh. Má chaill tú an scannán a bhí déanta orainn a chraoladh i mí Meán Fómhair tá sé le fáil ag www.rte.ie/tv/oileain/inismeain.html
- Siopadóireacht na Nollaig i Siopa Cniotáil Inis Meáin
Tá an siopa ag oscailt go speisialta ar Sathairn 22ú Samhain agus Sathairn 6ú Nollaig le anraith agus arán donn le fáil saor in aisce sa siopa nuair a chaitheann níos mó ná e100. Tá an-deis bronntanais nollaig a fháil le scairf cashmere agus baby alpaca ar e45 agus hataí agus carabhat ag e25. Agus nuair a cheannaíonn tú péire de aon cheann acu sin, faigheann tú do rogha an triú ceann saor in aisce!
Seo an sceideal is fearr a bheadh agat agus tú ag teacht don lá:
- Tiomán go Ros a Mhíl leis an bád ag 10.30r.n a fháil, scroichfidh tú Inis Meáin ag 11.30r.n. agus beidh siúlóid 15 nóim go dtí an siopa.
- Ceannaigh go leor de do bhronntanais Nollaig agus breathnaigh ar an bhfaisiún cniotáile is déanaí atá sna siopaí is fearr ar domhain ach atá ar fáil i Siopa Cniotáil Inis Meáin ar praghasanna an-speisialta
- Bain taitneamh as anraith agus arán donn agus téir ag siúl le breathnú ar áilleacht an oileáin
- Faigh an bád ag 4.30i.n. le bheith ar ais i Rossaveal ag 5.45i.n. Tuilleadh eolas ar chonas teacht go Inis Meáin ar www.inismeain.com sa roinn Teagmháil > Taisteal
- Dearbháin Bialann & Seomraí Só Inis Meáin
Níl le déanamh ach sonraí a chur chugainn ar rphost agus is féidir linn dearbhán i bpacáiste álainn a seoladh amach chughat nó díreach go dtí do chara. Beidh rud deas le tnúth leis i 2009 ag aon duine a gheobhfadh dearbhán mar seo!
- Duais Bialann is Fearr 2008 ón iris Hospitality Ireland Magazine 2008
Bhíomar an-sásta an duais seo a bhuacaint in éinntí le dhá bialann eile sa tír - Locks agus The Residence i Baile Átha Cliath san óstán Four Seasons i mBAC ar an 30ú Deireadh Fómhair. I measc na breithimh don duais seo tá na scríobhnóirí bia Tom Doorley, Ernie Whalley agus Domini Kemp.
Sin a bhfuil don t-am i láthair. Ní bheimid i dteagmháil arís go dtí an chéad bhlian eile mar sin bíodh Nollaig shona agat fhéin agus do chlann nuair a thiocfaidh an t-am sin, agus tá súil againn tú a fheiscint in Inis Meáin i 2009!

Ireland's western region has 40% of the country's renewable wind power generating capacity, according to a plan to double the electricity transmission network.

Eirgrid, the independent electricity transmission system operator, launched its Euro 4bn Grid25 plan to develop the grid infrastructure of which Euro 1bn is to be invested in the west.

Ireland's transmission network could be doubled by the year 2050, boosting current capacity and supporting renewable energy development, according to the operator.

Gillian Buckley, chief executive officer of the Western Development Commission, told the Mayo News: "The western region has about 40% of the entire country's renewable capacity, making it a key natural resource for the region.

"It may be fair to say that wind and ocean energy are the western region's own clean sustainable oil-fields."

She added that existing transmission systems is inadequate to support future renewable power as well as current needs and praised the Grid25 plan, saying it would stimulate investment in renewables.

Ireland has 6,000 kilometres of overhead transmissions, 4,000 of which are set to be upgraded and 1,000 more constructed to meet a predicted 60% growth in electricity demand in a decade.

Islands off the coast of Ireland could be powered completely by renewable resources from their environment, a minister has claimed.

A feasibility study is being carried out to determine whether wind and wave power and other renewables could provide islands with their electricity, heat and transport needs.

The study is to be conducted on the Aran Islands, which rely on the mainland for energy, but with an eye to extending the lessons to other islands.

It has been commissioned by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

Minister for communications, energy and natural resources Eamon Ryan said: "The development of an integrated wind and ocean-powered energy system could make the islands self-sufficient in terms of energy supply, would create jobs, boost tourism and could even provide models for improved use of natural resources for the whole island of Ireland."

Last month, Mr Ryan said that Ireland aims to generate 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Speaking to an Economist Business Roundtable he said that part of the answer to problems of climate change and energy independence was the development of clean energy.
Edie.net