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Ennis Road, , , Ireland. Tel: +353 (0) 91 632333 Fax: +353 (0) 91 632332 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ladygregoryhotel.ie Contents Editorial Page 2 Community Centre Refurbishment 3 needs a united voice 3 Newcomers to Kinvara 4 Kinvara aids Tsunami victims 6 Third World projects 7 Letter from America 11 Town Plan 12 Editor Credit Union News 13 Caoilte Breatnach Cruinniu na mBad 13 Phil Moylan: Memories of Winkles 14 Assistant Editor Robert Cresswell remembers Kinvara 1956 16 Richard Broad Blacksmith Tommy Griffin 18 Frank Lee 19 Lady Ampthill of 20 Editorial Team St Coman's Church restoration project 22 Brendan Dunford Genealogy 23 Kathleen Kenny Doorus House and Orchard Project 25 Martin Ryan Seapark House 26 Matti Twomey Playground for Kinvara 27 Paul Tierney Pride of Place award 28 Richard Broad Fun Run 28 Roger Phillimore New Burren Initiatives 29 Stan Mac Eoin Kinvara Bay: Something consumed is something gone 30 Sewage Treatment Plant 31 Advertising Kinvara Bay pollution 31 Jim Fennell Swimming and Lifesaving 32 Brownies 37 Bridge Club 37 Layout and typesetting Kinvara Community Drama Groups 37 Johan Hofsteenge Kinvara Bay Sailing Club 39 Mercy Sisters: The Nuns come to Town 40 Published by: Mercy Sisters-Seamount 41 Kinvara Schools: Kinvara, Doorus, Northampton 42 Community Council Notable Arts 45 Kinvara, Co Galway Kinvara's Young Folklore Collectors of 1937 46 [email protected] Short Story competition 49 Kinvara Golf Society 49 Printed by: Profile: Kate Thompson 50 Clodoiri Lurgan Kinvara Community Children's Centre 50 Kinvara Table Tennis Club 50 Tel 593251 Profile: Maire O'Keeffe 51 Community Games 52 Front cover photos by: GAA Scrapbook 53 Kim Rigney (centre) and Ger Ryan Tir Eolas 21 years in publishing 54 Back cover photo Sailing: Fanai 55 Ger Ryan Sailing: Northabout 56 Arrival of Garda Siochana in Kinvara 57 Some views expressed in Tracht POEMS PAGE 58 Magazine may not necessarily Afghanistan Diary 60 reflect the views of Kinvara Holy Land 62 Community Council. Obituaries 63 Kinvara Community Council Transitions 67 accepts no responsibility for errors Broadband 68 or omissions in this magazine. Ar aqkaidh te cherte

TRACHT IS THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of Kinvara Community Council. We would like to thank our contributors, and the team who volunteered to produce this edition, without whose help there would be no magazine. Likewise, many thanks to our advertisers and retail outlets for their continued support . Go raibh maith agaibh go leir.

As we go to press we note the plight year's magazine reflects a thriving because of market pressures? of many thousands of Irishmen and community conscious of its place in And yet we do find a generosity women in the US who are hoping to the world. of spirit in abundance when it is regularise their residency in America. The Irish economy has boomed in called for, as shown, for example Similarly, we note the arrival of many recent years, and so has Kinvara's. by the Tsunami appeal last year newcomers to our shores, including With the rise in wealth comes the in Kinvara. Whether helping out Kinvara, and we are appreciative of challenge to our values and our in sport, education, recreation their reasons for coming here. A priorities. Nationally, our health and community work at home and journey to another country is the service is a huge issue which still abroad, the Kinvara community has beginning of another, inward journey, remains to be resolved. Locally, in been more than generous. We all and we hope that newcomers here Kinvara, we still have no sewage have a contribution to make and we will fare as well as the Irish have in treatment plant, and we struggle to owe it to future generations to make England, America and elsewhere. keep our Community Centre open. this a fine place to live in, in every In a sense, Tracht magazine is a Development land is worth a fortune, sense. chronicle of ourtimes here in Kinvara. so try to find a site for a children's As we go to press we lament the The articles we publish provide a playground! Affordable housing is a recent passing of Toddie Byrne, a record of ongoing events in the parish, growing problem, and we hope for man who embodied the true spirit of a community reflecting on its life better facilities for our young and of voluntary work, whose life was in terms of its past and present, and old people. In an age of affluence, devoted to serving his community. Ar looking to its future prospects. This must social priorities be marginalised dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. Community Centre Update AS WE GO TO PRESS, the roof on the What happened to the New Community Centre is being replaced. Community Centre? This, and other work including the The original proposal to build a new provision of new fire doors, improved Centre proved too expensive. When ventilation and upgrading the wiring the project was conceived, we were mean that the Centre will be secure informed that up to 90% funding and its future assured into the next would be available. However by 2004 decade. when the plans were finally ready Galway Rural Development provided such grants were no longer available. a grant of €25,000, a sum of €30,000 Inevitably, building costs had risen. came from the building fund, and A feasibility study commissioned by a Credit Union loan was secured. A the Community Council concluded number of fund raising events are that the maximum funding in grants that all funds will be put to good being planned to pay off this loan of (excluding the creche) was only use. Many thanks also to everyone around €35,000. €300,000. With building costs at over involved in organising fundraisers €2 million, the project was considered and other efforts. We are grateful to RENOVATION a non-runner. Joe Byrne and John Britton for their This is the first stage in the A decision was then taken at the help in designing and supervising refurbishment of the Community Community Council to refurbish the construction of the new roof Centre. The second phase will the existing building and to pursue and to Jim Fennell who secured the include the strengthening the walls, the creche as a separate project. financing. We are grateful to Padraig dry-lining the interior, new toilets Unfortunately, the architect's bill of Burke for his donation of €6,000 and improved disabled access. The over €30,000 for work already done to the building fund and for a very Community Council hopes to finance seriously depleted the building fund. generous bequest of €10,000 from half the cost of this from grants. It is The Community Council is very the late Mary Kate Brenn. hoped to have the Centre open again grateful to all who contributed to the before the summer. Building Fund and can assure them Richard Broad Kinvara needs a united voice IT SEEMS THAT THE PACE OF LIFE extend ourselves for our friends and to lead, let's initiate and share our has speeded up and the easygoing, neighbours. highest ideals of community living. traditional way of village life has been overtaken by global, commercial Making a difference and material concerns. People speak The most powerful Kinvara needs a united voice to be of not having enough time — the weapon on earth is heard in the places that will make a stress and demands of today's busy difference for our community. United, lifestyle. the human soul on fire. we can focus on our common goals, Yet whenever there is a bereavement Ferdinand Foch or tragedy, we see the instant, We are made wise, not by compassionate response of The global tendency isto highlightthe the recollection of our past, neighbours and friends. Everyone differences and fragmentation of the downs tools, without hesitation, and world. We seem to be obsessed with but, by the responsibility extends themselves to be of help worldly opinion. If we look closely, for our future. and comfort in any way they can. our own back yard, too, contains George Bernard Shaw The members of our community can the disharmony we see in the world. always be counted upon to lend a While we might feel powerless to fix helping hand, to be there for each the pain and suffering in the world, with enthusiasm and the good of all other in times of need. we are in a perfect position to assist members of our growing community our own community, and develop in our minds and hearts. We can Our compassion a community spirit and unity which extend ourselves beyond the outward This ability to extend ourselves does not need tragedy to unite. differences that have divided us for shows that we have not lost contact Enthusiasm for a united purpose generations, and show that we are with what is really important, might be a good motivation, actively willing to work together for a worthy and our preoccupations fade into cultivating a unified community purpose. insignificance when called upon to vision. Instead of waiting for others Maeve O'Toole Recent newcomers to Kin vara IF YOU TAKE A SPIN around the wouldn't change it for anything. She gets homesick but manages to go village centre and visit any shop or is very happy here, working in Londis, home every year. She would love to pub, you are bound to meet all kinds where she makes more money than stay in Ireland and says of Maura of nationalities. One Saturday, over she was doing in Malaysia. Her dream Fallon: "She is like my mother." little more than one hour, we met would be to win the Lotto and buy the following people, from all parts a house in Kinvara and settle down of the world. All very interesting here permanently. She goes home with many things to say about their every year. She actually likes the Irish impressions of Kinvara. weather as the Philippines can get very hot. The thing she misses the most is the food: rice and fresh fish.

Closer to home is Jacques Coccollos Sercia Sullivan is from Mindenau, from Paris who has been in Kinvara First, we spoke to Jean Hernandez Philippines. She is three years in since 1998, working first in the from Mindoro, Philippines. Jean came Kinvara, also working in Londis. She is Merriman Hotel and for the past to Ireland in 2003 and worked in married to James Sullivan (no, he is few years in Mac Mahon's hardware. Supermacs in . She arrived not Irish, even with a name like that!). He says he fell in love "with Kinvara in Kinvara in March 2005 to work in James is from Manilla and has been and in Kinvara." Of his arrival in Londis and is very glad she did. The working in Keoghs for the past year. Kinvara, he says that people gave him conditions in Londis are much better, a great reception for the first three she says. Although she sometimes months and then when they found gets homesick and misses her family out he was staying they changed. a little, she loves living in Ireland and Then, after those difficulties, things finds the pay good. were fine again and it was like "I was adopted and I had become part of the furniture." What he misses most about Paris is good food and good wine. He is sad that Ireland has changed so much and so fast. When he came in 1998 there were wild places but now it's becoming like continental Europe. As Jacques puts it "Ireland is looking like a concrete yard." Still when all is said and done, he likes it here and would not move back to Paris. Elsa Fernandez comes from Luzon, There are many more nationalities in in the Philippines. She first moved Kinvara apartfrom the few newcomers to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, seeking From further afield is Rosilene (Rosa we refer to above. We understand better pay before coming to Kinvara - pronounced Hosa) Chaveiro from that in this small community, there in 2002. Kuala Lumpur is a big city Jaiara Anapolis, a big city, she says, are Polish nationals, Sri Lankans, and very, very different to Kinvara. in Brazil. Rosa works in Fallon's. She Belgians, Israelis, Germans, Americans, Elsa says that Kuala Lumpur was "full has been in Ireland for four years, Cubans, Dutch people and many of pleasures" very fast and buzzing. first working in Galway city before more. Kinvara is indeed becoming Kinvara was a big change but she discovering Fallon's in Kinvara. She very cosmopolitan. Newcomer

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN PRINE on receiving a Grammy award this year. Fair & Square spent 13 weeks at the top of the US Americana radio charts and , was followed in 1986 earned him the artist of the year awards last September. The self-produced by the Grammy nominated album album is a beautifully mellow collection of love songs, humour, and social German Afternoons, and the 1988 commentary: classic John Prine. On the cover is a photograph (by Nutan) of Grammy-nominated John Prine Live. John walking the New Line with his Guitar. John and his wife Fiona chose He later won a Grammy for 1991's Kinvara as their "Irish Home" and it was the inspiration for the song My The Missing Years, which featured Darling Home Town. They spend as much time as they can here with their Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, two boys Jack and Tommy. and consequently became one of his best selling albums. In 1995, he John's music career took off in 1971 people say that's exactly how they released Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, when Steve Goodman took Kris feel. That's the most gratifying thing followed in 1997 by . Kristofferson to hear him play at about songwriting for me: it's always 1999 saw the release of the Grammy- a Chicago club called the Earl Of been a real outlet for me - being able nominated , Oldtown. Prine went from being a to put those feelings down". featuring duets with Lucinda Williams, local singer/songwriter to national Among the songs that Prine wrote Trisha Yearwood Melba Montgomery, fame, lavished with praise from critics during this period were such classics Emmylou Harris, Dolores Keane, Patty around the country. Throughout as Please Don't Bury Me, Fish And Loveless, Connie Smith and Fiona Prine's major label migrations, which Whistle, and Souvenirs; and there were Prine. would eventually cover eight albums also the more humorous offerings If you are lucky you may wander and two companies, he continued which proved that Prine could find into Mary Green's some evening and refining his voice and attracting the irony in it all: Dear Abby, Sabu find John sitting around a table with fans who closely identified with his Visits The Twin Cities, Illegal Smile, friends, singing That's The Way The emotive sharpshooting. even Christmas In Prison. World Goes 'Round . . . small world! "It's a great feeling when you put After moving to Nashville, his Paul Mulligan something in a song and other first independent release in 1984, Y

Kinvara helps Tsunami victims EARLY IN JANUARY 2005, following through their fundraising activities. A Islands. Many thanks to everyone who on from the devastating Tsunami number of donations were provided helped and contributed including that hit many countries of the South directly to the local credit Union anyone we may have forgotten to East Asia Region, the people of account. In total over €12,000 was mention. Your help eased the suffering Kinvara embarked on a very worthy raised by the community. The funds of many in these communities. fundraising campaign. A number were donated to Goal to help their of events were organised to help work in Sri Lanka and the Andaman Hayden O'Connell the cause with a large number of volunteers contributing their time to Kinvara Xmas Cards raise help. There was a series of concerts in the Community Centre, with all €1,200 for local good causes musicians providing their services free of charge. There was also much GER RYAN PHOTOGRAPHY would like to thank the shops in Kinvara for rattling of buckets on the market supporting the sale of the Kinvara Christmas Cards during the last two years; square and donation buckets placed especially John Burke at Londis, Niall Fallon at Costcutter, Mac Mahon's in shops and pubs prompted a great supermarket, Liz Murphy at Murphy Store and Carmel Ryan at the Post Office. response locally. Many events were The cards raised €1,200 for two local causes. A cheque for €600 will be organised by the younger members of presented to the Kinvara Community Council for the Community Centre the community through their schools fund, and a cheque for €600 will be presented to the Kinvara Childcare or local Scouts and Brownies. The Committee who are looking to develop a childcare centre in Kinvara. local GAA made a significant donation ~1 Kinvara children hel p Comoros Islands SUHA IRELAND would like under 5 in the Comoros Islands enrolled sincerely thank all those who have and actively attending school. Every continuously supported our child will have a quality mosquito work in the Comoros Islands ** ■ net and a visible knowledge of especially the children of disease prevention. We also Kinvara National School. The bring practical items to the Cuckoo Dunk takes place schools, such as First-Aid kits on Monday, May 1st. and mosquito nets. SUHA I Malaria is the number Ireland has given over 3,000 one killer in the world nets to school children today. The Comoros with your help. 100% of Islands are one of the all monies raised buys nets poorest regions in the and helps save the lives world where educational of these children. Go raibh facilities are poor and maith agaibh. Thank you, school attendance is low. and Marahaba mingi! We are a voluntary More information SUHA organisation whose aims are Ireland, , Co. to raise awareness and prevent Galway. Tel: 087 930 4233. infection of Malaria in children www.suhaireland.com under 5. We hope to see every child Triona Griffin

MAIN STREET, KINVARA, CO. GALWAY Welcome to Kinvara and to Keogh's where we have taken the best of traditional Irish foods and prepared a menu to appeal to all contemporary tastes. Breakfast 10.00am - 12.00 Lunch from 12.30 Dinner 6.00pm - 10.00pm Bar Food all day until 10.00pm Ideal venue for confirmation, Communion & Christening Lunches & Dinners Beer Garden available for Bouncy Castle Winners of the Phone 091-637145. Fax 091-637028. BIM Seapooc CiRCle [email protected] Pub Lunch Award 2004 Not Just a School Learning from India

HAVING REACHED RETIREMENT Traffic policemen, who stood at were then brought to our economy after a very fulfilling teaching and intersections, but who seemed to hotel nearby, where we stayed for management career in education, I have no control over the traffic, €3.50 per night! looked forward to going places and wore handkerchiefs around their We soon got used to life in Calcutta, a doing 'new' things. The experience mouth and nose, as did some of city of 18m inhabitants, 5m of whom that made the greatest and most the better-dressed pedestrians. The live in complete destitution - no lasting impression on me and my overall impression was one of chaos shelter, no social welfare, no income wife, Moya, was the time we spent in and pollution. We had never seen or very low wages. An electrician India in November/December 2005. so many people before. Slum huts earns €1 a day; a plumber does a little When we emerged from the airport, were built on every available space; better getting about €1.20! A visit to about 20 young men and boys people were lying on the footpaths; a doctor costs less than €2, but that is descended on us wanting to carry stalls and small workshops were two days' pay for a tradesman. our bags, and begging. Even when set up along the streets; emaciated we were in the taxi and moving cows wandered on the busy roads A true vocation away their hands were outstretched oblivious to the chaos around Sr. Cyril, from Bray in County through the window and we were them; the waterways were stinking, Wicklow, is 69 years old. Six weeks concerned for their safety. there was litter everywhere. We after she joined the Loreto Sisters wondered if we could survive in this at 18 years of age, she was sent to Culture Shock environment. India - a three-m^th journey by The journey into Sealdah was a real Sealdah Convent was a haven of boat. Her work has been recognised culture shock. All the cars, buses and tranquility and harmony. We were by the Indian government and by taxis appeared old and battered. given strong sweet tea, bread, a hard the United Nations. She has inspired The exhaust fumes were terrible. boiled egg and a banana, and we many others in India, Africa, South America to initiate similar projects destitute elderly women has now We worked mainly with the Rainbow for the poor. been established. Children and the Barefoot Teacher Sr. Cyril decided in 1979 that 50% of • Childline is run by the older girls projects. We also spent five days in the places in her school would be in the school. If they get a phone Assam, an hour's plane journey from reserved for poor children. In 1985 call at any time of the day or night Kolkata. This was a huge contrast - she started her 'Rainbow Children' from a child who is in distress, clear skies, cooler, beautiful scenery. project where orphans, street for any reason, in any part of the We spent each day helping highly- children and other 'at risk' children city, they can go with one of the committed teachers to perfect their were brought into the school and caretakers in the school and have English. Their new school was to given accommodation, food, clothing the child back within 45 minutes. open on 24 January, intended as a and medical care. At present, they • There is much Hidden Domestic model of good teaching and support number about 300. Child Labour in Kolkata. The for other schools. The dedication students seek out such children and was amazing. They were building a Other Projects try to get the 'employer' to allow big technical school as well, which is The children who are helped in the child to spend an hour a week scheduled to open later in 2006. Sealdah are imbued with a spirit of with them. Sometimes the child We were impressed by a visit we paid service to the poor, from whom they opts to stay in the Loreto School. to the apartment of six students, themselves have come. • TheShikalaya Prokalpa(orBarefoot originally Rainbow children - three • Every week pupils from the Loreto Teacher) Programme extends the Hindu, two Muslim and one Christian. School go out to Sealdah railway benefits of education as far as In their flat they had one shrine station and into the streets to possible. Young people who might incorporating sacred aspects of each help the destitute elderly. They have reached the equivalent of our of their religions. distribute food, clothes and Junior Cert are given one month's When we were leaving Kolkata medicine and, above all, spend intensive training in Sealdah. They nothing seemed quite as bad as it time talking to the old people. are then sent out to teach in did when we first arrived. We will The project is called FOKE, Friends villages and slum districts. Over return. of Kolkata Elderly. A residential 26,000 children have been helped home for a small number of so far. Stan Mac Eoin

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KINVARA WAS FOR ME a happy All that remained was to find lodging sprawl, becoming a mere bedroom accident. A trip to Ireland in July for the night. And there on the community to the City, and the fear 2002 was a 60th birthday present Main Street was Fallon's B&B. Maura that if the town caters exclusively to from my wife of thirty-seven years. Fallon, as charming and gracious a the Galwegian invaders, it could lose Astonishingly enough, I would only person as anyone could hope to meet its unique character entirely. Bigger, be the second descendant of my four in this life, provided us with rooms alas, is not always better. Irish-born paternal great-grandparents for the night. The night stretched to I try to document the Kinvara of the to make the trip back home. As many a week, and we reluctantly departed present with my pictures, inspired, in in the huge Irish Diaspora, I have so that we could spend a meager two part, by Kinvara: A Seaport Town no precise idea where any of those days exploring Kerry. on . It would please me ancestors came from. The West always That one visit has expanded to to know that, long after I am dead, seemed the most attractive part of the six by the time you read this. And some future historian might make Country, so we decided to start the visit much has come to pass in Kinvara. use of some of my pictures to show in Galway City. We landed at Shannon We were much saddened to learn what Kinvara and its people were like just after dawn and headed for Galway that we could only know Marty way back in the early 21st Century. City. The City, early in the morning, Fallon through his fine, loving family. Kinvara is that happiest had not quite the allure we sought, Rosaleen's has gone, and Winkle's combination of great company, so we headed for the countryside. The seems destined to follow. Old Tim no breathtaking scenery and fine Rough Guide (which we subsequently longer lords it over the traffic passing music, just to mention a few of its discovered had a photo of the Cafe on Tully's on the Main Street. There has qualities. May it never suffer too the Quay on its cover) had a short but been a dismaying proliferation of much change. favorable description of Kinvara, so McManor Houses on all of the roads Kinvara it was. into and out of Kinvara. And with Arriving in Kinvara, it was clear that looms the spectre of Kinvara's Slainte. that we had made the right decision. being engulfed in the Galway urban FF Town Plan a poor exercise in local democracy?

THE KINVARA INTEGRATED AREA PLAN quintuple Kinvara's population. virtually all of these submissions . . e i (IAP), drawn up by the local community, Planners normally expect two waved aside. We only learnt of t~ s was launched in the Community Centre fifths of zoned land to be actually rejection on the day the plan . in March 2004 at a meeting of nearly developed. So they were planning for discussed by the Co Council. 300 people, the largest in Kinvara's an increase of 200% - double what living memory. This ground-breaking the community thought appropriate Kinvara needs to be convinced pilot project to involve local people in and manageable. Furthermore, in Crucially, the Council's plan had no par the planning process took two years Kinvara's case, such is the demand of action or priorities, and conseque^- to draw up and involved consultation for development land now fetching it has done little to implement * with the entire community on four upwards of a million euro an acre Kinvara, for its part, is doing a lot separate occasions. It formed the basis that this figure of 'two fifths' is development of a community crec'e for 's statutory almost certainly an underestimate. the provision of broadband, plans Kinvara Local Area plan (LAP) published Nor were there provisions to phase a children's playground and a drop-i- some 18 months later. and thus control the pace of this centre for teenagers are just a fe» Drawing up the plan had brought development. In theory, all 150 acres examples. But a year on, not a singte together people with very different could be developed immediately. improvement or initiative for which ”e perspectives and backgrounds Council is responsible has resulted fro'- and clarified the planning issues Co Council ignoring local plan? the plan. surrounding Kinvara's future Kinvara's growth may now be dictated The IAP was an important atterrc development. New social networks by what developers think profitable of national significance to give a were set up, bringing the community rather than what is appropriate for community's aspirations statutor. closer together and useful contacts the town's coherent and sustainable authority. So its core concerns shoulc made, particularly with the County development. Ireland is full of have been accommodated. The LAP Council. communities blighted because of this. includes imaginative and constructive The Council's plan incorporated The proposal to construct a second proposals, many taken from the much of what was in the community's main street came out of the blue. IAP. So the detail is there but a plan, particularly its detailed and The community's plan made only one coherent strategy but the measures specific suggestions. So, in that sense, passing reference to this as something needed to implement it are not the project was successful. However that might be considered in the There is no date for the construction there were important omissions, an future. Recent land sales suggest it of a sewage works, no context or unexpected proposal to build a second will be constructed soon. That will planning provisions with which to 'main' street for the town and a undoubtedly divert investment away manage Kinvara's growth effective!) fundamental difference over the pace from the town centre. Furthermore, the and no programme to implement its at which Kinvara should develop. Council's plan prohibits new buildings key proposals. Overall, the Council’s there from connecting to the foul plan leaves us to be convinced that Three basic concerns sewer system, making its development the aspirations expressed in the IAP. The Community's document had three even more problematic. So this priority the vision that Kinvara has for itself, basic concerns. Firstly, the development is doubly compromised. will be achieved. of the town should be measured and In the community's plan, different That said, however, Kinvara is better sustainable - residential development views were accommodated and most off with the plan than without it. It should be matched by the services and people reasonably happy. The LAP'S provides a context for the ongoing infrastructure needed to support it. This consultation period was brief and there discussion on howto make Kinvara an was encapsulated in the provision 'that were only two ways to influence it. One even better place. Many of its provisions the town should not more than double was lobbying local councillors, largely set high standards for developers and in 10 years' to which, locally, there was used by landowners wanting more land make it easier to effectively object to no dissent. Secondly, the overriding to be zoned. Some were successful. crass or inappropriate development. priority should be the development of The other was to make written Nor is this the end off the matter. The a town centre, and thirdly, the provision submissions. The Community Council Council will review its plan in 2011 of sewage treatment, already urgent, and others re-submitted proposals in and the community will reconsider was absolutely crucial to the town's the community's plan ignored by the theirs in 2013. However disappointing further development. Council and raised the above concerns. the outcome, we were at least asked However, this overview was not There were also specific and, in some what we wanted for our town and, reflected in the Council's plan. It cases, compelling objections. Seamount as such, that is a long overdue start to zoned 135 acres for residential school pointed out, for example, that a democratising the planning process. development, far exceeding the IAP proposal (not one of community's) for Ger Ryan (Secretary) Liz Murphy recommendations. The Council's a drop-off point for the school was on and Richard Broad (members of elected representatives increased land they owned and had earmarked the Steering Committee of the this by 15 acres, making enough to for additional classrooms. Inexplicably, Kinvara Integrated Area Plan) Your Local Credit Union and the provision of a modern office in members who request secured loans the town centre is a clear manifestation (loans of less than or equal to their of the success of this venture. This shares/savings). office was officially opened on Sunday The office opens at 9.30 am 18 April 2004 by the President of the six days each week: Mondays and Irish League of Credit Unions, John Saturdays it closes at 1pm. The office O'Regan and blessed jointly by the is open on Fridays until 7pm and KINVARA & DISTRICT CREDIT UNION Parish Priest, Fr. Larkin and the local until 4pm Tuesday to Thursday. began offering its services from the Church of Ireland representative Rev. Service is also provided in St John's local Community Centre in 1991. O'Sullivan. The office is staffed by Hall, on Thursdays The arrival of the Credit Union in two full-time staff, Mona Gill and from 11am, to 12.30pm. The Credit Kinvara was supported at the time by Helen O'Connor and also by Maureen Union movement in general is a very Stan MacEoin, Toddie Byrne, Marian Heffernan on a part-time basis. Some successful organisation and deserves Connolly, Mary O'Shaughnessy, Paddy members also assist from time to time your support. If you are not already Kavanagh and Don Devanny. I had on a voluntary basis. a member I would encourage you just come to live in the neighbouring to join immediately. Kinvara Credit parish of . Having heard, Success follows success Union can be contacted by phone at Mass, about the possibility of the The success of the Credit Union or fax at 637525 or by e-mail at establishment of a Credit Union I can be seen from the fact that in [email protected]. decided to go along to a public excess of 2,500 residents of the area In conclusion I would like to thank meeting in Kinvara. I was made very from Ballyvaughan to Clarenbridge the 2,500 members for their support welcome and was later elected its have become members and have a and also anyone who helped in any first chairman, which I consider a combined savings in excess of EUR way and in particular those who are great honour. 4m. These savings are lent out to sadly no longer with us. Ar Aghaidh There is no doubt that the arrival members at very competitive interest le Cheile! of the Credit Union to the locality is of rates plus free insurance, and special great benefit to the local community, rates for community groups and Michael Organ, Chairman Cruinniu na mBad THROUGH THE GENEROUS enthusiastic and competitive crews. sponsorship of Cityjet and our other This year, it is intended to start the patrons, we hope to secure Cruinniu 28th Cruinniu na mBad on Wednesday na mBad as the flagship of Ireland's 16th of August and continue through traditional sailing festivals. In 2003, to Sunday the 20th. Many boat we had our 25th anniversary, with owners, especially those who travel a weekend of sailing that included long distances to attend the Festival not alone the sailing tradition of have suggested that confining the the turfboats, but also the recently- festival to effectively two and a half revived Mackerel Boats and Towelsail day weekend is too short. Yawls of West Cork, Bantry Longboats, In September 2004, one of Wexford Cots, Achill Yawls, Donegal Cruinniu's greatest friends, Johnny Drondheims, a couple of traditional Bailey, passed away. For many years, boats from the Continent, as well with his family, he had carried as our Kinvara-based Manx Nobby turf across the Bay to the people [Vervine Blossom], Scottish Zulu [Fairy of Kinvara, in the family boat, An Queen], and Bob Francis' Cornish Capall. Every year, for our festival, he Bawley. We hope to have these loaded turf into the Capal at Sruthan boats back at all future festivals, Pier for the Turf Race destined for which will ensure Cruinniu na mBad's Kinvara. Every year, that same turf unique reputation as a national and was delivered to the pier by Tommy international event. Corless from Dunguaire, another The recent construction of currachs good and loyal friend, who sadly around Kinvara has inspired the passed away recently. Ar dheis de go revival of currach racing in the Bay, raibh a n-anamacha dilis. and the very active Heron racing fleet will ensure a continued supply of Michael Brogan Phil Moylan: Memories of Winkles 1988-2005

Carna, had ideas of reviving the maritime traditions between and Kinvara. The last turf boats to Kinvara had been in the '50s . He spent our savingsof £700 to buy turf in Connemara and then had some job persuading the boatmen in Connemara to fill their boats and bring it to Kinvara. However, many had tears in their eyes that August evening when they saw the hookers coming in. The turf was sold by auction and we made our money back that year! After that a committee was set up and a few events apart from the races took place: greasy pole, tug of war and horseshoe-throwing competitions. Bob Quinn made a film of the turf-cutting in Connemara, the sail over and the races and the film was shown in Kinvara. I remember putting up the boatmen in a big shed we had at the back of the house in Dunguaire. We borrowed bunk beds from Mylotte's Hostel in Carna and We settled in a house in Dunguaire, one night..!" My very first customers Sheamie Mylotte who had this huge 50 beside the vet. Winkles was then run were Paul Coady and Seamus O'Reilly. foot boat, the Julia T brought it over by Ciaran and Tiffy Moylan. Tiffy had Tony decided to stay with the trad. for us. We set them up in the shed at inherited the pub from her parents, We started regular Saturday night and the back, very quickly renamed "St. Rose and Bal Winkle. They had acquired Sunday morning sessions. The musicians Anthony's Ward"! Winkles in 1914, having moved back would normally be put upstairs for the from America. Rose and Bal operated night and then come down for breakfast Fleadh na gCuach Winkles as a pub and seed store. When in the morning and join in the Sunday The Cuckoo Fleadh was started in much Tiffy inherited the place from her morning session. I had to choose who more recent times. In 1994, Ireland got parents she was working as a teacher could stay in the hotel on Saturday nights a new bank holiday - May Day. It was in Doorus. At that time, teachers were because often sessions would go on all decided that this would be the ideal not allowed to live in a pub. To get night. We had some memorable sessions date for the Fleadh. Tony together with around this Winkles became a hotel! and soon acquired a reputation. People the first committee ( Seadna Toibin, Music was already in the place then used to come in at midnight from Galway Peter Bermingham and Cathal Connolly as Ciaran was very fond of it and used after sessions there. We were forever among others) got the pubs to back it to sing himself. He was a popular having trouble with the guards. The best and Heineken to sponsor it. As we had man and also acted in plays staged in night ever was a session in 1989. It was a lot of contact with musicians already Johnston's Hall, Labane and others. during the Cooley weekend in Gort. The it was a huge success. His daughter Roisin (Tony's sister) was Sunday morning session started with In 1991, we leased the place to a beautiful singer as well and used Sharon Shannon and Sean Smyth. They Frankie Gavin. Things were slumped to perform in the Castle and also were soon joined by Jackie Daly, Niamh at that time. We had contemplated sing in the church, pantomimes and Parsons, Dolores and Sean Keane and selling up but felt a high profile might of course in impromptu sessions in many others. Everyone came down from turn it around. It didn't work. The most Winkles. Johnny Leary, the box player Gort for it. We started at 12 noon and worrying time for me however, was the was a frequent visitor and Ciaran Mac we finished at 6am on Monday morning! renovation in 1993. Staf Van Velthoven Mathuna made regular trips collecting The place was jam-packed and yet you did the plans. He did a brilliant job. We and recording music and songs. could still hear a pin drop when someone had to knock down some supporting sang. I have visions still of making endless walls to extend the bar. We also put Running Winkles plates of sandwiches for the musicians to down a wooden floor for set dancing. In 1988, Tiffy retired and Tony took keep them going. We eventually ran out Winkles were closed for one year and over the pub and we continued to run of all drink in the house! I started a job in the VEC in Galway. In it as a hotel and pub until 1994. Our 1995 I started running the place on my children, Sinead and Ciaran were 9 and Start of the Cruinniu own, keeping the dayjob and opening 8 respectively. I remember clearly my first Winkles is associated with the two at nights and weekend. I continued with day behind the bar. I had never pulled a festivals in Kinvara. In 1979, Tony, fresh the trad and started the set dancing- pint in my life. I felt like I was on stage. back from attending Feile Mhic Dara in le d a jr a e ir r, t 5 1 t J S Sean O' Neill and Michael Naughton blues, rock, everything. the place I suspect Tony will be more I were the musicians and Miles O'Kane Looking back, the customers affected by this decision as it was his > gave the classes. that stand out in my memory are: family home. I felt however that I was I Mike Naughton (Curranroo), Mattie going out on a high note and it was the Many musicians played in Winkles Whelan and Pateen Keane and the right time. During my years in Winkles I I've seen many musicians in my time musicians: Ollie Diviney, Jackie Daly, experienced lovely sentiments and felt in Winkles and not all trad. John Charlie Harris, Des Mulkere, Sharon the respect of much of the community. Conneely's band Aravnik got their first Shannon and Sean Smyth. Winkles is now known worldwide for gig there. The singer/songwriters night Closing the place last summer was its music and set dancing and I feel was an idea from America and was hard. I took 8 years mulling over it. great regret that it may not continue started by Stuart Cowell and Rob Stein. None of the children were interested as a pub. It started off electric and then went in continuing the business. Although acoustic. The pub has seen old-timey, I became personally very attached to In conversation with Matti Twomey

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Check our website: www.richardlarkinauctioncers.com for all our properties Richard - (087) 2522085 or Fenella - (086) 2684690 Robert Cresswell remembers Kinvara, 1956 In 1956, Robert Cresswell spent a year doing an anthropological study in Kinvara. He was born in New York in 1922, later moving to Philadelphia. He came to Europe witr the US army and arrived in Paris after D-Day 1944. He remained in France, and after obtaining a degree in Ethnology he joined the National Centre for Scientific ResearcF in Paris. His research was done in French; he taught in the Sorbonne, and his study, Une communaute rurale de I'lrlande, was published in 1969. It examines the social and cultura structures here in the 1950s, and from a European perspective his work paints a clear and striking picture of the distinctly traditional Irish life in sharp contrast with the modern rural life in Europe. But first, perhaps a few words about anthropological research. Anthropology is the study of man in all his dimensions: as a member of society, as a producer of foods and services, as a parent and spouse, as a participant in whatever system of beliefs and spirituality is prevalent in his environment. In a word, this type of study is all about linksand relations between facts, beliefs and people. I came to Eire for a variety of personal and professional reasons, among them a conviction that although there is a wealth of literature about Eire and Irish countrymen -Crohan comes to mind, or Robin Fox or again Arensburg and Kimball for - there is little about the down to earth day-to-day technological activities.

Living and working in Kinvara One of the traits of anthropological research is the principle that unless you live yourself with the people whose lives you are trying to record, Arriving in Kinvara the two other guests, Dr. O'Malley and take part as far as you can In 1956 I spent a little more than a and a rural engineer, and Kieran in their daily activities, you cannot year in Kinvara doing anthropological Moylan, one of the parish's three really get to understand what it research. Part of that time, from April teachers. Mrs. Moylan asked me if I all means. Since one of the main to September, if my memory serves would like my tea. Thinking that we thrusts of my study was the role of me correctly, I lived in a small cottage would doubtless be having supper technology in the life of the parish, in Cloonnasee with my wife and two- soon, I said, no thanks. Whereupon I tried to learn a little about each year-old son, Alan. The rest of the the two guests sat up to their tea, and every skill. I thatched roofs. This time I stayed in Winkle's hotel. I well Kieran went off to get his and I experience led me to correct a notice remember that first night I spent at was left alone by the fire. I had just in the exhibit of Irish thatching in the hotel having just arrived from learned that the evening meal in Eire the museum in Dublin which said, Paris with enough baggage for a was called tea. Wishing to cause no if my memory is not at fault, that a year's stay in the parish. After a long trouble or embarrassment to anyone thatching hammer is used to flatten two-day trip, which is what it took in I said nothing. Very much later on I the straw. I helped shear sheep with those days by train, boat, and bus, I learned that I had thus acquired a hand-held shears — I think my best was finally comfortably ensconced by certain aura of saintliness for having time was around 20 minutes, three the fire in the hotel's dining room with "fasted" that Saturday evening. or four times the going rate - with hand-held shears, I washed sheep my interminable questions to sketch coming to Kinvara I knew that Eire as in the sea beneath the walls of out some of the conclusions I came a whole had lost 56% of its people Dungory castle, I ploughed many a to in this work. The first general in that period of time, but I did not field — and caught many a knock conclusion to which I came was that expect to learn about 80%. Among when the sock hit a stone— and the boundaries of the social group other things such a loss destroys the often that with two horses not of centred about Kinvara only partly very fabric of a society where kin plays the same size. I also spent many an correspond to the institutional the important role it did in traditional hour in the smithy taking my turn at frontiers. The economic unit goes Irish life. No longer was it easy to call the bellows. In a word, I tried to do out to the west past Ballyvaughan on a cousin or an uncle to cross half personally what every farmer had to and to the east to the Gort-Galway the parish with his loy to join the do so as to be able to write with a road. In a certain sense the south­ workgroup of kin relations helping to minimum of knowledge about the western boundaries are of a make a lazy bed. They were deceased technological, economic and social geographical nature, the eastern or had emigrated. And this at a time of problems each one of them had to ones are sociological. As for the other great changes: the increased use confront. Among other things I found groups inside the parish itself, of the swing plough, the diverse land I had to take a good look at some of there was, until the First World Acts which froze the boundaries of the the preconceptions I was carrying War, a certain tendency for the fields and created a nation of farmer­ around in my baggage. For example parish to be divided along a north­ owners, and the continuing exodus of I had to redefine "traditional". I south line, the road from Kinvara to the rural population to the cities, to discovered that the Irish farmer Gort. For instance, of the some 396 England, to the USA. However my stay using the most traditional methods marriages that took place between in Kinvara convinced me, as I maintain of growing crops, raising sheep and 1868 and 1917, only 14% had the in the last paragraph of my book, that cattle, wearing homespun clothes, bride crossing that road. the Irish having overcome the Fir Bolg cooking on a turf fire, was well and the Normans, the Cromwellian aware of the world around him. He Decline in population Puritans and the Penal Laws, and the knew which way the Australian wool Of course, the fact that stands out Famine and the absentee landlords, will market was jumping, and would put above all the others is the loss of among many other things, transport aside his wool to wait for a more population. Between 1841, the last into the computerized industrialized favourable price. Of course the ups census before the Famine, and 1956 world of tomorrow the poetry and the and downs of the wool market could (the year I spent in the parish) the imagination of the Celtic soul. This may play havoc with a small farmer who population went from 7,751 to 1,531. seem little; I think it is of fundamental has neither the room to stock wool No society in the world can lose 80% importance for the future. nor the cash reserves to be able to of its population in 115 years and not hold off selling his wool until the undergo deep social changes. Before Robert Cresswell prices come right again.

Generosity of Kinvara people I have many memories of my year in the parish, the calm of the Irish countryside, and how I would ride Tigh CJi home at night after visiting, on the dirt roads where my bicycle lamp would give me maybe a second's Conghaile warning of the large stone looming up under my front wheel. I remember thinking how pleasant it was to ride The Quay, KinvaRa, Co. Cjalajay in the darkness without a care in the Tel: (091)637131 world, save maybe an odd thought Cathal and Olga Connolly for the black hand I was told would reach out from behind a wall on the Kinvara-Gort road to snatch me away. Also, running at full speed through the fields alongside a road, trying to leap the walls without knocking them all down, in a usually unsuccessful effort to get ahead of the cow I had let get past me. I think I owe it to the many persons who gave so generously of their time and patience to answer Memories of Tommy Griffin; Blacksmith, 1942

The Griffin brothers, Mattie and Tommy, great-grand uncles of John Griffin, were blacksmiths in Kinvara, who moved to Galway in the 1940s. Tommy had a forge at the junction of Abbeygate St and Market St. and Tommy's forge was in Frenchville Lane, near the railway station. During the war years, with very little petrol, horsepower was much in demand, and the horse worked hard, so much so that the story is told (in jest) of the following vacancy: Man wanted - horse dead. Tommy Griffin was described as a huge, muscular man. He once exchanged blows with an unbeatable champion Galway fighter, and knocked him flat in seconds. As a child, Brendan Geoghegan of Galway, found a welcome in Tommy Griffin's forge:

Connolly's Forge Kinvara; c. 1920. L-R: Paddy Connolly, Richie Burke, Mathie Regan, (?), John McCormack, Brigicf Staunton, John MacMaho. Courtesy of Paddy Connolly. Mr Griffin, known to one and all as La Shoeing the horse acrid smelling smoke arose from the Garbh ('bad old day') was a very patient First he removed the worn shoe horse's hoof on making contact with and kind man to us as children. He from the horse's hoof. Then using this shoe. allowed us to come into his forge and a special knife, he pared down the After a few moments, he placed watch while he worked at shoeing the hoof in preparation for fitting a new the shoe on the anvil to adjust its horses. Mr Griffin allowed us children shoe. The next operation entailed shape to fit the particular hoof. to operate the bellows for the fire, as the shaping of the new horse shoe. Then the nails were hammered required by him. He inserted this shoe into the fire into the slots on the shoe and I recall seeing him all dressed up area, but the fire had to re-kindle to piercing the outer edges of the for Sunday Mass, a beautiful navy the desired temperature necessary to hoof. Where the nails protruded, blue suit. He wore a cap, a shock of re-shape this shoe to suit the horse's Mr Griffin broke off these pieces black curls appearing under the peak hoof. This shoe was then applied to with a large pincers. To complete of his cap. He had two daughters and the hoof to check for size and then the operation he used a large file his brother Fergus was his assistant. replaced in the fire. A plume of to clean up the hoof. Frank Lee

Frank Lee lived for many years in Kinvara. He lodged with Jack and Mary Burke in Cartron for a time in the 1990s and died in a nursing home. He had been writing his memoires, an extract of which we include here. I FIRST KNEW THE There was a Zeppelin raid on know that town a little. Her parents, LIGHT OF DAY in Coventry about this time. We saw both Irish, Mr and Mrs John Power a Staff Cottage the searchlights working, throwing lived there on property owned by at the rear of great shafts of light in the sky and the War Office. Stoneleigh Abbey heard the guns going off. I think they When the northern part of in Warwickshire, in must have brought one down, as a Germany came under British 1908. Next year we schoolmate of mine brought a small occupation in 1945, two British moved to Abbey piece of it which his father had found officers on patrol near the Danish House, Ashow near next day. border spotted a man who they Kenilworth. My thought might be Lord Haw-Haw. He parents, myself and "His shoes are cracking, for the lack had committed treason by making two elder sisters of blacking, and his baggy little pro-Hitler broadcasts. Right enough, lived there from trousers they want mending, before it was the man himself and they 1909 till 1936. My youngest sister, Joan, was we send him to the Dardanelles." arrested him. He was charged with born in the front bedroom there in 1910. the offence before a military court This was all part of the estate of 1916 was the year conscription was and found guilty, brought back to Francis Dudley, Lord Feigh. He must introduced. All men over 18 years England and shot. Years later, his have owned a few thousand acres of age must join up. Kitchener, the remains were disinterred and finally in this part of the county. We kept Minister of War, had said that he laid to rest in his native Connemara. a few ducks at this time, there was a wanted a million men. Near the Burren in Co. Clare I stream flowing through the orchard So 1917 came and went and still had bought a house. I spent a long so they had somewhere to enjoy no sign of victory. Steel helmets time working on a farm near Kinvara themselves. were introduced for the soldiers at doing the usual farm work in the When I was a boy I used to go bird­ the front to avoid the shrapnel. I daytime and boiling potatoes for nesting. I won't mention blackbirds' remember an uncle of mine coming the pigs in the evening as late as and thrushes nests because they were straight from the front with his midnight or even to 1 a.m., up at the most common. I found a yellow- rifle and gas mask and helmet and cockcrow next day. hammer's nest in a small blackthorn knocking at the front door at 5 a.m. bush as it flew off the nest when My Mother knew immediately who I walked near it. One day I killed a it was. "That's Jack," she said, so we nuthatch with an airgun. I was very all got up and sat down to breakfast sorry about it afterwards as it is a with a ration of home-cured bacon rare bird. It is the only one I ever saw, and a cup of tea. Off to school then. likewise I only ever saw one kingfisher. I took my first public examination in 1925, the school was a centre for My father was a great cricketer in thisand itwas held in the gymnasium. his day and my mother took us all to I passed with credits in English and Stoneleigh Abbey to see the Cricket Drawing. As I was leaving home for Club. The game was played in the the first time, my father handed me parkland in the forefront of the his gold watch and chain, a wedding Abbey and must have been one of present from my mother. In London, the last before the outbreak of the we called at no.14 Bedford Place, First World War. off Russell Square. This was very We all used to go for a walk convenient as University College is on Sunday. After the outbreak in only a short distance away. So after August 1914, there was a gathering of saying goodbye at the entrance gate, Soldiers on Motorbikes at a junction I heard my first lecture there. near our home, which they made I met my future wife Eileen in the their H.Q. There were a few Cavalry summer of 1939, the year war was about too and I saw them watering declared. She came from Chepstow their horses. on the Bristol Channel so I got to Childhood memories of Lady Ampthill IT HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO, this exotic looking woman towering over me. Lady Ampthill's hair was covered with a turquoise turban type affair and as she read my palm, a low hanging pendant made from seashells swung from side to side like a large pendulum. My fortune teller said I would live to a great age, and marry at least twice, apparently the second time in my sixties!

in 1926 the Judicial Proceedings Act became law and still applies today, restricting reporting of English divorce cases solely to the facts given in the judgment and not to the actual evidence itself. In 1935 on the death of his father, John Russell became Lord Ampthill and Christobel, still legally his wife, became Lady Ampthill. She then divorced him, becoming known as Christobel Lady Ampthill.

After the Second World War, Lady Ampthill relocated to Ireland. She bought Dungaire Castle, Kinvara, which she set about renovating. As it was inhabitable, she first stayed in Glynns Hotel before moving to Kilcolgan. Mrs. A, the restorer of Kilcolgan Castle, arrived home one afternoon in 1962. Outside wasa large piece of cardboard daubed in blue paint, It read "Called you were out - wish to stay C.A." Christobel moved in, but not before renegotiating the fee requested, this was the first of many skirmishes.

Mrs. A worked hard in her new She arrived in our house on numerous developed a passion for dancing. guesthouse but since the arrival of occasions; herarrival usually heralded During World War 1 she carried out Lady Ampthill she became curious by requests for a bath, food, and factory work, marrying John Russell in about the fact that she had no other sometimes both. Occasionally she 1918. His family however had hoped guests. Lady Ampthill used to insist on arrived to see my Dad who was their son would marry royalty. They eating in the kitchen and one evening a local G.P. in Athenry. I can only considered their daughter-in-law rather as dinner was being prepared they imagine that this was not an easy "fast" who, to their dismay, opened a both heard a car drive up to the castle. relationship. If proof were needed a dress shop in Mayfair in 1920. To be "in Mrs. A was about to go out to greet mutual friend told me recently that trade" was unacceptable at the time what she hoped would be potential Lady Ampthill arrived at her house for a family with connections to the clients when Lady Ampthill said "No, one day, shouting "that little viper Royal family. Eleanor, you are busy cooking, I'll go." Rozario says I have double vision and After a surprise pregnancy in Luckily Mrs. A followed her outside he won't let me drive"!! 1922, which Lady Ampthill claimed and heard her say with authority, However, she was always extremely arose after "injudicious use" of a "Oh no, I'm afraid there is no room kind to me. I didn't realise how sponge in a bath that her husband at all here, she is fully booked"! fortunate I was. had just vacated, there followed Wishing to remain an only guest, a divorce and trial which changed Lady Ampthill had been sending Christobel Hart was born in 1895 in British law forever. The trial had much needed clients away. Thinking England. After her father's death, her ended inconclusively. However, the quickly, Mrs. A said "Christobel don't mother moved Christobel and her sister racy details were deemed to be too you remember I told you about that to Paris. Christobel dabbled in art, and much for public consumption and cancellation" and welcomed the new guests. However, as the evening wore announcing that her horse box had a Bronze. She passed away in 1976. She on, Lady Ampthill's hostility grew. puncture. She said she couldn't wait always stated she wished for her body Finally unable to contain herself any for Mattie Byrne in Oranmore to fix to be given to the hounds of the Clare longer, she asked this elderly couple it as she would miss a days hunting Harriers. She was buried in England. how long they had been married. on Sunday with Molly O'Rourke. The wife replied 37 years to which "You must fix it," she said. Mrs. A My short and happy day is done, Lady Ampthill scoffed and said how explained how ill she was feeling The long and dreary night comes on; dreadful. The wife rallied briefly and but Lady Ampthill would not let And at my door the Pale Horse stands, said they had been a very happy it rest. To get some peace Mrs. A To carry me to unknown lands. 37 years and her husband agreed. decided the simplest thing would (The Stirrup Cup, John Hay) Christobel retorted "Oh, imagine be to change the tyre for her and waking up every morning for 37 years send her on her way. Mrs. A strode Annie Rozario and looking at that revolting face on across the field quickly with Lady the pillow next to you." Needless to Ampthill trotting along behind. In say the new guests checked out the exasperation Mrs. A called back over very next morning and Christobel her shoulder "I'm only a doormat for went back to being a solitary guest you Christobel" The gusting wind with the attention that guaranteed!! carried the reply "Oh no dear Eleanor After nine long months Lady you're my red carpet!" Ampthill moved into Dungaire Castle, Hunting while riding side-saddle however she still kept her horse at was a large part of Lady Ampthill's Kilcolgan Castle. On a dark, wet, life, and by becoming joint Master windy evening in February Mrs A with the Clare Harriers she ensured was nursing a bad flu. She was alone that when in England she could hunt in the kitchen making a medicinal without incurring the normal fees. hot whiskey, when a bony white Aged 78 she rode around Australia. hand reached up out of the darkness Shortly before her death, Lady and rapped on the kitchen window. Ampthill moved to a cottage near It was Lady Ampthill. She came in Craughwell with her faithful hound, Treat ( yoursel} to a touch of traditional Irish

A unique body wrap for improved health and wellbeing Web: wiviv.vistek.ie Email: [email protected] Phone: +353(0)91 637761 www.seaweedtreatmenl.com Phone: 087 653 7898 / 091 637 000 Heritage Project: Saint Coman's Church and Graveyard small band of dedicated volunteers. Another grant was secured from the Heritage Council for this project for 2006. The next stage is to clear out all the rubbish and soil accumulated over the years inside the church walls, and to uncover the gravestones within. This work will be monitored by an archaeologist and we will need many volunteers to lend a hand. If you would like to help us with the work or have any queries about the project, please contact myself on 637613 or Anne on 637452.

Marian Coady

Extract from Jeff O'Connell's article on Kinvara's Hidden Church in Tracht 1995196:

A HERITAGE PROJECT commenced worship during the Penal Laws, passed In November of 1866 Kinvara's in 2004 to preserve Saint Coman's in 1695. By the late 18th century it was graveyard was the focus of Church and graveyard. This is an already in ruins, as we know from the correspondence between Fr. extremely interesting and complex writings of Daniel Augustus Beauford, Francis Arthur and Lord Gough. site. Many facets of its modern who visited this area in 1788. He Lord Gough, chairman of the Gort manifestation remain unexplained, described it as "a ruined church (not Poor Law Union, informed the such as lack of public access and the marked on any map)". authorities that, because the still­ almost complete absence of historical The graveyard seems to have functioning cemetery was a serious information. continued to be the burial place for health hazard, it should be closed. Situated in the very heart of the the Catholic as well as Protestant Fr. Arthur paid a personal call on town, it is almost completely hidden families of the town. The family Lord Gough at his home of Lough from view. Walking into the town names on the gravestones, many Cutra Castle, south of Gort, and told along the Castle Road, its ivy-covered of which are still legible, include him that unless the order banning gable can be seen in the trees above Burke, Cavanagh, Connole, Corless, further burials was rescinded, he the two-storey terrace of houses at Fahy, Fallon, Hynes, Kelly, Larkin, predicted there would be serious the quay. The church was probably Linnane, Nestor, Staunton, Ward and disturbances. built in the 15th or 16th century. In Winkel, among others. In 1985 two The report by the Board of his Ordnance Survey letters dating gravestones were uncovered inside Guardians of Gort Union described from 1839 the Irish scholar John O' the walls of the church. These were how 'the ground reaches up to Donovan writes: dated by experts to be as early as the within six feet of the second storey "The old church of the parish is 13th or 14th century. A photograph of the houses on the principal situated in the fast improving little of these along with a photograph street. Many had to board their seaport town of Kinvara. It is in very of the church, taken in 1910, can be windows to keep out the effluvia good preservation but certainly not seen in Kinvara, a Seaport Town on arising from the bodies buried more than 500 years old as anyone can Galway Bay published by Tir Eolas there because the bones and skulls see from the form of the windows. It is in 1997. It is likely that other ancient were almost falling in the windows very probable that it occupies the site gravestones lie nearby under the soil still left open. There is not six inches of an earlier church as it is dedicated that has accumulated over the years. of soil in any part of the graveyard to Saint Coman who is said to be one In 2004, with a grant from the available for burying coffins, there of the early Irish saints." Heritage Council, we commissioned being nothing but loose stones and The building may have been handed a conservation report for the site the remains of former graves.' over to the Church of Ireland during and a drawing survey of the building Nonetheless, Fr. Arthur knew his the Reformation in the latter half of was begun. In 2005 the drawing parishioners and urged that the the 16th century, as many Catholic survey was completed and we began order be rescinded. Eventually a churches were at the time, though a clean-up of the graveyard. Many compromise was worked out and we have no record of this. It would horizontal gravestones covered with the authorities did not insist the no longer have been used for Catholic ground ivy have been uncovered by a graveyard be completely closed. The Branches of the Ui Fhiachrach Ul FHIACHRACH AIDHNE, the tuath in which the parish of Kinvara is situated, was divided into a number of cineil (tribes) which themselves were divided into a number of septs or clans. These clans or septs first emerge around the 10th and 11th Centuries with the emergence of hereditary surnames. Many of these septs are obscure; often only the surname survives. The only septs to survive up until the end of the 1600s as recognisable clans or septs were the O'Heynes, O'Clearys, Mac Kilkellys and O'Shaughnessys.

• 6 Cleirigh - anglicised (O) Cleary/ • MacGiollaCheallaigh-anglicised • 6 Cathain - anglicised (O) Clery, Clarke. The first Kings of (Mac) Kilkelly, sometimes Kelly as Keane. Chiefs of Cineal (n)lanna, Aidhne to adopt a hereditary is the case around . which was a branch of the Cineal surname. They lost their position Chiefs of Cineal (n)Guaire by which (n)Guaire. 6 Cathain was also chief as Kings of the tuath in the 11th name their territory, the parish of of Cineal Setna. century and at the end of the 13th Ballinderreen, was known. They • 6 Mochain (6 Machain) century they were driven out of the were also a branch of the O'Clearys. - anglicised Mahon, Maughan, territory. One branch eventually • 6 Seachnasaigh - anglicised (O) Vaughan. A branch of the Cineal ended up as poets and historians to Shaughnessy (O) Shannessy. Chiefs (n)lanna. the O'Donnells of Tir Chonaill! This of Cineal (n)Aedha na hEchtghe • 6 FOireachtaigh - anglicised branch, who resided at the castle which covered the old parishes of Heraghty, Heraty. Also a branch of of Kilbarron near Ballyshannon, Kiltartan, , Beagh and the Cineal (n)lanna. were the chief compilers of the Kilbeacanty. They originally only held • 6 Marcachain - anglicised Annals of the Four Masters and western Cineal (n)Aedha / Kinelea. Markahan, Markham, Ryder. A other important works. • 6 Cathail - anglicised (O) Cahill. branch of the Cineal (n)lanna. • 6 hEidhin - anglicised (O) Heyne, Chiefs of eastern Cineal (n)Aedha • Mac Fhiachrach (Mac Fhiacra) - Hynes, Hines. A branch of the na hEchtghe and sometimes of anglicised MacKeighry, Mac O'Clearys, from whom they seized the whole district of Kinelea. Like Keaghery, (Mac) Keary (Largely the title of King of Aidhne in the O'Shaughnessys, they were absorbed by the name Carey) the early 11th century. After descended from Aedh who may Chiefs of the Oga Beathra which the Anglo-Norman invasion of have been a son of King Guaire were possibly located in Doorus. , the territory held by Aidhneach. The Oga Beathra are believed to O'Heynes was largely confined • 6 Maghna-anglicised (?)-Chiefs have originated in the district of to Coill Ua bhFiachrach, i.e. the of Cineal (n)Guaire before the Ealla which is an area near Mallow/ modern parish of Kinvara. Kilkellys. They were also chiefs of Maigh Ealla, Co. Cork. the Caonraighe Aird Aidhne. • 6 Duibhghiolla - anglicised Divilly, Diffely, Deely. Chiefs of Cineal (g)Cinnghamhna which is iLil. said to have been located near Ill u r p hy Store. Kinvara. • Mac Conghaola - anglicised ‘Irish Arts, Crafts & Gifts from the Sea’ Mac Neela - often changed to MacNeely. • Mac Conghamhna - anglicised Gaffney, Caulfield. • 6 Ceadaigh - anglicised Keady. • 6 hAirmheadhaigh - anglicised Harvey. • 6 Scannlain - anglicised Scanlan, Scanlon. • 6 Dubhagain - anglicised Duggan, Dugan. • 6 Cathmbogha - anglicised Coffey. • 6 Comhaltain - anglicised lest cojjee you ll ever taste Coultan, Coltan. The Quay, Kinvara, .Tel: 091 637760. www.murphystore.com CoIm 6 Seachnasaigh Northampton, Kinvara, Co. Galway This impressive house is set in stunning location Tawnagh West, Tierneevin, Gort, Co. Galway just off the main Kiltartan/KInvara road, on a quiet This fantastic property stands on a 0.5 acre site cul de sac. This property is located c. 2 miles in the peaceful and serene area of Tierneevin. It from the village of Kinvara and is situated on is situated in close proximity to Gort Golf Course. a 1.33 acre site. This site also hosts a garage. Stunning views of the Burren Mountains can be The property extends to c. 300 sq m (3,230 sq enjoyed from this property. The dwelling extends ft) and accommodation includes porch, entrance to c. 200 sq m (2,150 sq ft) and accommodation hallway, sitting room, living room, kitchen, dining includes entrance hallway, lounge, kitchen/dining room, utility, hotpress, w.c., office, 5 bedrooms (2 area, utility, shower room, study, 4 bedroom (1 ensuite) and the main bathroom ensuite), hotpress and bedroom. Price on Application Price Region: €355,000

Aughinish, Kinvara. Co. Galway 48 Gort Na Ri, Gort. Co. Galway This cosy properly is set on a c. 0.5 acre site 4 bedroomed detached dwelling short stroll to which overlooks Galway Bay. It is located in an Sliabh , Ennis Rd., Gort. Co. Galway Gort town centre in a high profile location in the area of serenity and natural beauty. Aughinish Excellently designed three bedroomed semi bustling town of Gort in the new development of is located c. 4.5 miles from Kinvara and holds a detached house located in the new development Gort Na Ri which fronts onto the golf course road sense of complete tranquillity. Accommodation of Sliabh Carran just off the N18, short stroll to Acc (1323 sq ft) and includes: Hallway, sitting in this property includes entrance hallway, sitting The Lady Gregory Hotel. Accommodation includes room, kitchen/dining room, utility, w.c., 4 spacious room, kitchen/dining area, 4 bedroom (2 ensuite) entrance hallway, sitting room, kitchen/dinlng area, bedrooms (1 ensuite) and main bathroom. Own and the main bathroom. Also contained on site is a utility, w.C„ 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. garden space also utility shed to the rear of the house. Price Region: €210,000 Price Region: €280,000 Price Region: €450,000

Coole, Gort. Co. Galway This stunning dormer is set in a excellent location under 1 mile of the N18, the main Galway/Limerick Curtaun, Gort. Co. Galway route. The house has been built and finished to a This newly constructed dormer style house very high standard. It stands on a c. 0.5 acre site stands on c. 0.5 acres with spectacular views of with ample parking for 5/6 cars. Accommodation the surrounding countryside. Accommodation in in this property extends to c. 186 sq m (2000 sq this dwelling extnds to c. 193 sq m (2,077 sq ft) ft) and includes entrance hallway, sitting room, LAND FOR SALE includes an entrance hallway, sitting room, kitchen/ kitchen/dining area, utility. w.C., conservatory, a ■ 11 acres approx, in Hollymount. Peterswell- dining area, conservatory, utility, w.c, office/study, 4 bathroom, a shower room and 5 bedrooms (2 en - Subject to PP for one dwelling bedrooms (1 ensuite) and main bathroom suite). A detached garage is also contained on site - Elevated with stunning views Price Region: €315,000 Price Region: €360,000 Asking Price: €145,000

DEVELOPMENT LAND FOR SALE 2.6 ACRES in Kilbeacanty village with development potential 2.6 acres in Cartron, Kinvara- Zoned Residential 7.0 ACRES in Ballyvaughan Village- Zoned Other Settlement DEVELOPMENT SITE in Ballyhugh with FPP* for 7 dwellings

DEVELOPMENT SITE in Rental properties, 2 bedroomed apartments, 3 & 4 Kilbeacanty with FPP for 8 bed houses in Gort and surrounding areas also in detached dwellings Kilcolgan residential houses available TO LET 2 Bed house in Kinvara village to Let- Furnished, 0.6 ACRES in Gort town with prime adjacent to shops etc., development potential - Zoned PICK UP YOUR FREE ‘CITY & COUNTRY Residential MAGAZINE' IN OUR OFFICE TODAY, WHICH INCLUDES PROPERTY IN COUNTY GALWAY & Contact our office for details NATIONWIDE Doorus House Youth Hostel By inviting musicians to play at the hostel, hosting neighbourhood picnics, opening up the walled garden to the fabulous work of the local Doorus Orchard Project volunteers and having classes taught in painting, basket weaving and craftmaking by area teachers are ways we have tried to become involved with the community.

Cosy, comfortable place Kinvara has warmly reciprocated. Guests who stay at the hostel notice this. When walkers get a lift from a local or a fabulous evening of music and fun is shared in the warm atmosphere of the village pubs as well as the hostel itself which offers a cosy, comfortable place to sit in front of an open turf fire. These experiences are shared with other holidaymakers when guests move on to other parts of Ireland on their THE FIRST TIME Brent and Melissa Bishop drove through own travels, which accounts for the steady increase in Kinvara in 1997 they knew this was a place for them. numbers over the last five years. Structural and other It was two more years until their dream of moving to improvements to the hostel are ongoing in order to Ireland from America was realised and it took a further provide a better service for the guests. two and half years to make their way to Kinvara. This beautifully situated historic old house overlooks Doorus House Youth Hostel has been a labour of love Kinvara bay, the Burren and is just a few minutes walk to for Brent and Melissa Bishop. Sharing that with people Tracht Beach. Doorus House is open every day of the year in the community, as well as the 23,000 guests who have and is part of An Oige and the 5,000 strong International stayed at the hostel since they took over four and half Youth Hostel Association. Brent and Melissa can be years ago, has generated rebirth of the physical structure reached on 091.637512 or [email protected] and the attractiveness of the hostel as a place to stay and feel at home. Brent and Melissa Bishop Doorus Orchard Restoration Project

DOORUS HOUSE, near Tracht Beach, a charity, and therefore safe from sale We soon realised we could spend was built by Florimond de Basterot or commercial development. the grant of EUR 5,000 three times in 1866. It is now a hostel. Two years The experienced group involved over as the project got going. We ago, I got chatting to the Hostel's in planting up of this orchard decided to plant plums and apricots managers, Brent and Melissa, and we include Lynn O'Keeffe and husband and peaches on the south facing decided between us to try and make Nicola Lascar, Anna Jeffrey-Gibson, wall, to have as wide a selection of something out of the walled garden Amanda Brown, Donal Keegan, Roger fruits as possible in the Irish climate, of about half an acre. We found Phillimore, and Sinead Macken who erect picnic tables, plant flowers etc. paths under the grass made of stones has also been organising fundraising. Thanks to everyone who supported and gravel, and seven large original our tree-sponsorship scheme (€25 trees remain. A Beauty of Bath and Heritage Council awards grant per tree); 70 trees were sponsored. a Lady Sudley, both dessert apples, In 2005, we secured a local heritage We will have another 10 plums etc. two Doyenne du Cornice Pears, which grant from the Heritage Council and soft fruits to sponsor soon. would once have been trained along of Ireland for infrastructural work, By the time this article appears, the East facing wall, a fig, and two and we will have 80 or so trees plus the garden will all be planted and Brambly apple trees, all of which are bush fruits. blossoming. This orchard could be a still fruiting after 100 years a growing. We ran an Art competition in all real asset for Kinvara. Old Irish fruit The Irish Seed Savers, based in three primary schools in Kinvara and varieties are part of our heritage. Scariff, Co. Clare, have gathered over the 14 winners got to sponsor and One of the varieties we have is called 100 different old Irish apple varieties plant a tree in March 2005. The art the Ballyvaughan Seedling, what in Ireland. Four growing sites have work was brilliant and the kids all better apple to grow in Kinvara? For been selected in Ireland, and here in turned up on the day at the hostel, more information, or if you'd like to Kinvara we'll have the west of Ireland to plant their trees and see their art sponsor a tree or lend a hand, please orchard. The land is in trust to An Oige, work displayed. phone Lynn on 091-638099. from St. George of Tyrone. His eldest son, Hyacinth Edward Donelan, is the person listed in the 1826 tithe list for Dungory. Edmond died in 1819 and was buried in Forthill Cemetery, the low hill overlooking the docks area of Galway City. I think it quite probable that he, as an elderly man, lived at Seapark House while his son and heir, Hyacinth Edward and his wife resided at Hillswood and SEAPARK HOUSE is the ruined two- O.S. map calls Seapark House. after his death, Captain Lewin and his storey house located in the So who built the house and when? wife settled in the now vacant house, of Ballyderry overlooking an inlet of There is not enough evidence to answer where they continued to live until 1829, Kinvara Bay and known locally, as Foy's these questions with certainty. But and possibly later. House, though the origin of that name is I would suggest that it was Edmund Edmund Donelan's ownership of unclear. It appears in the 1st edition O.S. Donelan. As his sister, Annabella Carrownamadra is interesting because map within a demesne bordering the (Donelan) French died in 1776, the it explains how in 1895 it came into townland of Cartron and Dungory East. house could have been built sometime the possession of Hyacinth Golding, The 1821 Tithe list names H. E. Donelan before then. Annabella's son, Patrick, who was the son of Richard and for Dungory and Griffith's Valuation lists was given as his second name Donelan. Margaret (Donelan) Golding. Edmund Edmond Donnellan as the proprietor of Her nephew, H.E. Donelan, is clearly H. Donelan's marriage was without 132 acres in the townland of Dungory the person identified in the 1821 Tithe issue, and so the property passed to East. The townland of Ballyclerry was list. In Griffith's Valuation of Rateable his nephew, Hyacinth Golding. part of the extensive St. George estate, Property c. 1854, Edmund Donelan Seapark House was probably let so presumably H.E. Donelan rented the - this would be H.E. Donelan's son who out to tenants, such as Captain and land on which the house stood from the is shown, as we have noted above, as Mrs Lewin, most of the time, as landlord of Tyrone House. owning 132 acres in Dungory East. the house in Hillswood, was the In the 1820s, Captain James Lewin, It is unlikely that the Donelans regular family residence. In 1848, who had married Nicola French St. who had property in Hillswood Co. H.E. Donelan donated Seapark George in 1819, livedinSeapark House. Galway resided on a permanent basis House for use as a temporary fever He was the eldest son of James Lewin at Seapark House, although they hospital during the Famine. Local of Oaklands, Co. Antrim. Nicola was certainly must have used the house Folklore tells of the many deaths that the daughter of Christopher French occasionally, and the connection with occurred here and, not surprisingly, St. George and Rebecca Clyne, a Kinvara was certainly important. when the Famine was over and the Roman Catholic, with whom he lived Edmond Hyacinth Donelan is buried at fever hospital closed, no one wanted though apparently never married, Bushy Park, in Galway; the inscription to rent a house with such grim after the death of his wife, Anne. on his tombstone reads (in part): In associations and it fell into decay. Captain Lewin and his wife had at the Most Holy Name of Jesus I Pray John Flatley of Kinvara refurbished least four children: Margaret, Robert, for the Soul of / E.H. Donelan Esq. / of the house a number of years ago, Catherine and James St. George, a Hillsbrook and Kinvarra I Co. Galway / hoping to make it a home for his soldier who died in India in 1849. Who died April 21st 1873. widowed mother. However, the old The Ardrahan Church of Ireland How do we explain the presence of associations lingered and Mrs Flatley register, in which the baptisms of Captain Lewin and his wife at Seapark never lived there. Now, roofless and the first three children are listed, House or Lisheenaprehane which was derelict, weeds, bushes and a few gives the address of the parents as probably a local name, referring to a stunted trees choke the abandoned Lisheenaprehane, Kinvara. This name ring fort in the area? My suggestion rooms and hallways and this has disappeared today. However, is as follows: Edmond Donelan, the abandoned ruin awaits the inevitable Larkin's 1819 map of Kinvara shows it brother of Arabella French, built visit of the bulldozer. as identical with what the 1st edition Seapark House, probably on land leased Jeff O'Connell

The O'Donelans were one of the most of Calla; four sons and four daughters the Earl of Clanrickarde. The third son, ancient Irish families, tracing their survived out of a much larger family. The Edmond, married Margaret Hozier of descent from Cahal, second son of eldest daughter, Mabie, or Annabelle (as Holliwell, Co. Galway; their eldest son was Morough Molathan, king of Connacht it appears on the French tomb in Duras), Hyacinth Edward, who married Honoria (d. 701), whose eldest son was the was the wife of James French. Her sister, Meakle of Cunandoe. They had three founder of O'Connor-Don. Cahal was Frances, was the wife of Oliver Martyn of children: Edmond Hyacinth, married to the father of Arligeal, king of Connacht, Tulira. Malachy, the eldest son, married Maria-Theresa Clarke of Larch Hill, Co. a descendant of whom, c. 936, built a Mary, the daughter of Thomas Power Daly Galway, Margaret, who married Richard castle at Ballydonelan. of Dunsandle; their children were Mabie, Golding of , Co. Mayo, and Belinda, Col. Melaghlin O'Donelan, who was who married William Burke of Ballydugan; a nun of the Presentation Convent in wounded at the Battle of Auglirim, was John, who married Mabie, the daughter of Galway City. Rebecca's youngest sister, the father of John O'Donelan. His wife Matthew Hoare; and Anne, who married Nicola, married Theobald Butler of was Mary, the daughter of Charles Daly Col. Denis Daly of Raford, nephew of Seamount House, Kinvara. Playground wanted for Kinvara children

KINVARA PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE making spacefor kinvara's kids

THE KINVARA PLAYGROUND to incorporate public spaces into adults of Kinvara to send to the Committee continues to search for a their developments - spaces that County Manager, asking the County site in Kinvara that would be suitable can be enjoyed by all members of Council to provide a safe play space for 4-12 year olds. To date, no the community. While planning for both the children of Kinvara and landowner we have approached has is granted for more houses and those visiting. Thank you to those been able to donate or lease a site businesses, who is ensuring that who have signed. We will continue that could be used as a playground. amenities for the community are to keep a high profile - the voices of We have now approached Galway provided? As traffic on our roads Kinvara's children must be heard! County Council in their role as increases it is more dangerous to For more information, see our providers of safe public play areas let our children play outside. Do webpage: www.vistek.ie/kinvaraplay. for children. We have asked them to we want our children to play in Can you help us? Developers, consider making safe the site by the isolation, each in their own back landowners and businesses - Kinvara's bottle banks - but admittedly, there gardens? The Kinvara Playground children need your help! You can email are a number of obstacles. Committee wants a safe place for us: [email protected] or you can In the meantime we believe that children to play together. talk to any of the committee members the County Council should be doing We have been collecting in confidence: call Ruth Maddison on more to encourage developers signatures from the children and 087 6319334 for further details.

Marker Hall, Gort, Co. Galway. Tel.: 091 631866

pRopnieTOR: PaiRicia KiLkeLLy

‘The OuU Tiaid Sfiawl Tubbic douse Main Street 'Kinvara Co. QaCway STReams rd: (091) 637400 Beaury Rooms Something Consumed is Something Gone IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID that Irish towns turn their backs on water. The Suck creeps through unnoticed. stands aloof from the once pristine waters of Lough Derg. Who can even name the stream that flows through . Where is the great spring that gave its name to Oranmore? The Innagh surges through but the houses of the town crowd around the visitor as if to prevent him seeing the most vibrant water in county Clare. to infill the shallower parts as a way of increasing building land or for constructing a by-pass! And by then, a by pass would be a Godsend to Burren-bound tourists anxious to avoid the sheer boredom of yet another half suburb of Galway City strung out around Galway Bay. Throughout this sequence our natural resources (free wealth) are degraded inexchangeformoneysaved or money gained. An understandable bargain, you might think, in a part of the world where money was a very scarce commodity barely a generation ago. But it is a very foolish bargain in our own time: living on your capital is BUT KINVARA IS DIFFERENT, we tell each akin to gambling than to dining. rarely anything else. Precisely thesame other, it is somewhere special. It clusters We are caught in a modern dilemma: trade-off is underway around the around its harbour and looks up its increasing consumption matched by a world, from the Three Gorges Dam in long bay, pier on the left, castle on the collapsing environment. In a very real central China to the squandered fish right, and no mystery about its name, sense, we are consuming Kinvara Bay. stocks of the Canadian Grand Banks, Cinn Mhara: the head of the sea. The Something consumed is something and the dried out bed of the Colorado name is the town. Or so we like to think gone and not coming back. river. We are blowing our natural and haven't we got Cruinniu na mBad, This dreary pattern is all too well inheritance, our natural capital, and ocean-going yachts and baid mhora known to ecology. First the wild imagine we are creating wealth when at anchor and even a new fleet of resources are mismanaged or over- all we are really creating is man-made heron dinghies to give substance to our exploited; the carelessly introduced squalor. A squalor in which future feelings. Boats, music and prosperity, Bonamia disease has put paid to generations must live, unless we leave the essence of the town or perhaps the Kinvara's native oysters. By now, them something better. essence of our self-delusion? the bay has lost its most tangible Ultimately that is the reason why assets, its shellfish stocks, its clean Cairde Cuan Chinn Mhara want a Wild resources mismanaged water and its capacity to produce clean and beautiful Kinvara Bay. If Increasing prosperity of the town safe food. Its remaining less tangible we cannot reverse environmental has been matched by the steadily but very real qualities are now on degradation in our own community, declining welfare of its bay. There the block. Increasing population with then the outlook for poorer, less- was a time when children used dive no investment in sewage treatment fortunate parts of the world is grim. from the town pier to collect white leads to increased pollution, making Clean water, abundant fish stocks, plates lying on the seabed, now the bay unsafe for swimming or small successful shellfish production, the water is too murky. Swimming boat racing. varied wildlife, safe swimming, races from pier to castle were once a busy harbour, lots of visitors, a a feature of Kinvara summers. Too Very foolish bargain beautiful town - these constitute many infections caused by raw Thebay'sfinalasset, itsphysical beauty the distinctive wealth of Kinvara. sewage discharge has put paid to that and wildlife is then compromised by This wealth, our wealth, can only be enjoyment. Up to 15 years ago, there endless attempts to realize the value assured if we value the Bay itself. If was a fine oyster bed at Crushua; of bayside property by unrestricted the Bay is allowed to degrade further oyster disease has now destroyed it building and development. The our own impoverishment is assured. and too much pollution makes eating final logical step, nearly reached in shellfish from the inner bay more the case of Dublin Bay, would be Kilian Roden Sewage treatment plant promised

Cairde Cuan Chinn Mhara, has been reformed. The group held a successful public awareness day in January. The 'Loo Launch' also attracted much interest. Both the Community Council and CCCM are strenuously lobbying politicians to get Kinvara included in a provision that allows for the fast- tracking of small sewage schemes without being continually referred back by the Ministry. This could bring the Kinvara scheme forward by a year. But don't hold your breath. Keep badgering the politicians and, meanwhile, don't let your kids fall in the bay. Richard Broad

Pollution of the bay

• 70,000 gallons day of untreated effluent goes into the bay every day from a pipe, exposed at low tide, 70 metres from the Pier Head. • It is unsafe to swim in water with pollution levels above 100. Those above 2,000 are considered a serious public health hazard. Levels in the tens of thousands have been recorded in the bay adjacent to the town. IT NOW LOOKS as if Kinvara may explanation for these delays a nd takes • Kinvara bay is a designated shellfish get a sewage treatment plant by months to reply to correspondence. water area but is so polluted that the 2008/9. However since the scheme The Government ignored the EU Department of the Marine has ruled has continually been pushed back ruling in September 2003 that it that its shellfish are unfit to eat. by the government over the past should 'establish the pollution­ decade, nothing should be taken reduction programmes' for Kinvara The bay is long and narrow, so for granted and the pressure on bay. A first warning for failing to sewage does not wash out to sea. politicians both local and national comply was issued in 2004. A second It remains beside the town, being needs to be unremitting. warning is imminent, after which the dumped into what is, in effect, The Kinvara Sewage scheme Government will be fined. a lake one kilometre long, half a was included in Galway County Sewage treatment is a basic kilometre wide with a mean depth Council's Water Services Investment utility that no community should of a metre. programme for 2004/6, announced be without. People in Kinvara are Turds and faecal slicks foul boats in in 2003, with financing apparently in angry at the hold-up, wondering the bay and can be seen in the harbour place. However, the County Council whether it is due to administrative and along the shoreline around the plans for the scheme went to the incompetence or wilful neglect. The town. In summer the stench can be Department of the Environment for government remains culpable, and is bad enough to empty restaurants and approval in February 2003 and are seemingly indifferent to the risks to pubs adjacent to the harbour. still there three years later. Some our health, the impact on our tourist So Kinvara's greatest natural asset minor changes were requested and industry, the constraints on Kinvara's is blighted. It cannot be developed for accommodated by the Council in June development etc. tourism, prosper as a harbour or be last year, and further clarifications A petition calling for immediate safely used as a recreational facility. sought in February 2006. action attracted almost a thousand The cost of providing sewerage The Department offers no signatures and the pressure group, treatment for Kinvara is €2.8 million. What can we do to protect the Bay?

REMEMBER, what goes down your Use biodegradable washing powders. blockages use a mixture of 2oz/60g of plughole goes into the bay. Toxic You can also add 4oz/125g of baking salt with the same amount of baking waste in an already polluted bay could soda to soften the water and reduce soda and 1oz/35g of cream of tartar. create a dangerous ecological cocktail. the amount of powder you use. Pour down the sink followed by jugs Very unpleasant bugs indeed have of hot and cold water. turned up in similarly polluted coastal Disinfectants waters in America and Scotland. Some commercial disinfectants and Steam cleaners So use eco-friendly soaps and toilet cleaners contain ammonia, These machines clean carpets, floors, detergents where possible and chloride, formaldehyde and other windows and worktops effectively don't put anything down the sink or chemicalsharmfultothe environment. without using any chemicals at all. toilet such as bleach, paint, oil, and Those using oxygen or hydrogen pesticides. This applies to people with peroxide are marginally safer. Keep Rubbish Out of the Bay septic tanks too, as the presence of How long do things take to degrade these chemicals in the tank reduces its Drain Cleaning in sea water? It takes 2 months ability to break down the waste and it Before using highlytoxic chemicals, try for a cardboard box, a year for a may leech into the bay anyway. a plunger. If that fails pour 6oz/200g biodegradable nappy (450 years of salt and 6oz/200 g of baking soda for an ordinary one!), 2 years for Washing Clothes down the sink followed by a pint of plywood, 50 years for a Styrofoam Avoid detergents containing boiling water. Leave over night and cup, 400 years for an aluminium can phosphates. They will fertilise the algae. then flush with water. To prevent and 450 years for a plastic bottle.

In anger at the continuing Umpa Lumpa Dumaty doo, delays in providing Kinvara Bay is covered in poo Kinvara with a Sewage Minister, Minister what will you do. Plant, a lavatory bowl Our lovely bay is a horrible stew was ceremoniously left floating on a raft in the Minister, Minister where will we swim harbour during a Day Mum and Dad won't let us in of Protest in January. Ecoli faeces, horrible pong The large crowd heard Tourists they don't stay for long. speeches outlining the current situation, and the If this were happening in Dublin 4 Children's Drama group, You'd be knocking at our door dressed in protective Wildlife dies and shellfish choke clothing, performed a We're being fed a load of smoke. song composed for the occasion:

The Day of Protest was organised by Cairde Cuan Chinn Mara (Friends of Kinvara Bay). The group was reformed after learning that plans for the scheme had been awaiting approval in the Department of the Environment for nearly three years. Photo: Gery Ryan Swimming and Lifesaving While the name of the group is Kinvara Water Safety, members come from far and wide - Galway city, Claregalway, Clarenbridge, Athenry, , Ardrahan, Craughwell, Gort and other places. The local examiners are John Curley and Colin O'Loan of Clarenbridge and Helen O'Connor, bringing the total number of examiners in County Galway to six. One of the present trainee instructors, Jennifer O Neill, was on the County Galway women's lifesaving team which was placed sixth in the national lifesaving championships (out HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN have learned past 25 years. When they settled down of 12 teams) in Donegal last year. As to swim since 1969, thanks to Kinvara as young parents in Kinvara, neither with the swimming, lifesaving classes Swimming Club. As a result, many can could swim. They attended swimming are conducted by dedicated voluntary now enjoy scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, classes for adults run by the club instructors. Pool time is free, thanks to surfing and other aquatic sports. and then went on to become fully- the Brothers of Charity, their generous Members and past-members of the club qualified instructors; they still give of contribution towards helping reduce have saved people from drowning on their time on Saturdays, even though the number of drowning fatalities beaches in Galway, Clare and further their families are grown up. Helen has every year (about 150). afield. Others have become swimming become a lifesaving instructor also, coaches and pool or beach lifeguards. and is now a lifesaving examiner. Beach Lifeguards Approximately 60 children are taught On Sundays, between September Christmas Day Swim swimming on Saturdays by fully-qualified and February last, a group of six Last Christmas hundreds turned up instructors, assisted by Level 1 teachers. underwent training at Traught Beach in Tracht for the Christmas Day Swim, No less than six instructors, usually more, and at Crushoa Pier. They swam the big social event of the year. The are at the pool every week. long distances, used rescue boards club raised €3,400 for the relief of and surf-skis (a cross between a Training of teachers victims of the Kashmir earthquake canoe and a surf board) and rescued For the past number of years instructors and for promoting swimming. Safety simulated victims using can-buoys, have been trained to Level 1 standard Officer on the day was John Forde rescue tubes and sometimes without in Kinvara and Kilcornan, over six of Toureen, whose father is John Joe rescue equipment. Some exercises weekends. Parents who completed the Forde, originally from Crushoa. It is were timed, e.g. running 400 metres course over the past two years: Rose hoped to streamline the organisation and then swimming a further 200 O'Connor, Chris Kearns, Michael Tully, in future years, as it has become such metres to rescue a casualty. At the Patricia Kavanagh, Bernie Niland, John a big community event. end of the course they were subjected Conneely, Maeve O'Toole, Sandra Harvey. Lifesaving classes to a rigorous test in the sea. The They have given reliable and excellent Eligible swimmers aged 12 or over brave and determined lifesavers service in promoting swimming, assisted can join the lifesaving classes held were CoIm Conole (Crushoa), Aoife by student instructors who may only be on Saturday afternoons, 5.00 to 7.00. Burke (Caheravoneen), Geraldine and free to help when living at home and Half of the class is for learning theory, Cathriona Howley (Ardrahan), John not facing exams. This year, Michelle safety and basic life support (artificial Forde (Toureen) and Seamus Treacy Mulleady and Nicola Lascar qualified as respiration and cardio-pulmonary (Craughwell). Their instructor was Level 1 teachers, along with ten students. resuscitation) and the other half in the Rory Divilly of Newtown, Ballindereen. It is committed young parents like Nicola pool, building up stamina, learning Since then, they have undergone and Michelle on whom the club relies. survival techniques and lifesaving further gruelling pool training, Classes are open to every child in our approaches, breaks and carries. At received certification in Occupational community. We believe that every child present over 50 candidates attend First Aid and have completed written has the right to learn to swim. Any parent lifesaving classes every week, organised tests in safety on beaches. who cannot afford the fees should speak by Rose O'Connor of Mountscribe. Stan Mac Eoin in confidence to the treasurer, chairman or chief instructor. Water safety is everyone's concern. Safety on the beach, safety in boats, well-maintained rescue equipment in strategic positions, are the concerns of Roll of Honour Bridie Corless and Helen O'Connor are us all. Do your bit to reduce the number of drownings. Be safety conscious. two instructors who deserve special Report any stolen or damaged ring buoys. Look up the website of Irish appreciation for their work over the Water Safety, www.iws.ie Community Games Hockey under-16 team representing Kinvara in 2005.

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Kinvara Social Services Committee members at the Senior Citizens' Christmas Party held in Jan 2006.

Avril McHugh and Darragh McCarthy: awarded Students of the Year, Doorus

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Mary and Mr McAleese with Louise Donohue, 2005. Young Citizen Awards were presented also to Laura Keane and Molly Reid. Francesca, 2nd class, Doorus. KINVARA PHARMACY Now Stocking Full Range of Burren Perfumery

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Seirbhisi tri Ghaeilge

Telephone: 091 563139 e-mail: [email protected] Kinvara Bay Sailing Club Hamish Rodgerwhile Vanessa and Mark Haugaard took the Connolly Cup. Races were also held during the Bank Holiday weekends in conjunction with Kinvara's two music festivals in May and August. The throngs of visitors to the village are finding the races to be particularly enjoyable to watch as they stroll the quay or knock back a pint. Besides the racing and the recreational sailing this year, the club organized a week of sail training including man-over-board and capsizing drills. Although the brave were still sailing into December, the season was effectively culminated aftertheStephen's Day Race, when activities are wound predominantly north-south. With been here long but the KBSC now has down. Around Paddy's Day most of us the prevailing westerly winds, the more Heron-class dinghies sailing than venture out again. This year's calendar Kinvara Bay Sailing Club (KBSC) find any other club in the world. The 2005 of events promises to be just as strong it well suited for dinghy sailing. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Frostbite and hopefully the club will organize Although most of the shore is lined series were comprised of 4-6 races each. more junior events and sail training. The by jagged limestone, safe haven The fleet typically ranges between 7-18 club is open to all - whether you own a can be had at The Quay, Crushuoa, boats for any given event. dinghy or not. To learn more about us, Tarrea, and Parkmore. Three trophy races were held in 2005. visit www.KBSC.info. Founded in 2004, the Club has just The Tully Cup (May) and Bellharbour completed its second season, boasting 25 Trophy (July) were won by Sarah and Chris Dufresne

Hot Deli Esso Petrolstation Gas Coal Briquettes The Nuns come to town

THE DEDICATION OF St. Joseph's Esq., of Northampton who made St. Joseph's Convent opened a Church and the blessing of the £4,000 available for the building and small boarding school about 1926. Convent took place on Sunday April endowment of the Convent, and to In 1973, it was closed and the Sisters 28th 1878. Kinvara was in festive Captain Blake-Foster who donated transferred to Seamount College. The mood; boats in the harbour were three acres of land. primary school continues to flourish decked with flags, the town was in a modern, well-equipped building. looking its best, and an estimated School opens 4,000 people watched the splendid The Sisters were appointed to the Seamount House donated bands of St. Patrick's Temperance school on July 8th 1878. Their work in Around September 12th 1921, the Society and the Gort Total Abstinence the school was greatly appreciated. Sisters heard the good news that Mrs Society, as they paraded through the Extra-curricular activities included Elisabeth Nally wished to make a gift street wearing uniform caps of the music, art and crafts. Payment for to them of Seamount House and its national colours and green sashes; music lessons was not a problem. surrounding five and a half acres of Mr Guilfoyle of Galway had chartered The people of Kinvara valued the land. Mrs Nally had feared for the the steamer, The City of the Tribes prayer life and lifestyle of the Sisters. house during the time of the Black and had invited over 300 people to A very close bond grew between St. and Tans and the outbreak of the make the crossing from Galway to Joseph's Convent and the people of Civil War. The Sisters were advised "Old Kinvara Quay". This great sense the parish over the years. Prayers to put this magnificent property to of occasion heralded the coming of were requested forthe sick, forfamily some use at once. Various projects the Sisters of Mercy nuns from Gort needs, for the safety of animals, were discussed. It was decided to Convent to Kinvara. the saving of the hay and the turf; begin a small school in association Their foundress, Catherine scapulars and miraculous medals with the Convent Primary School in McAuley, believed in the power of were sought for those emigrating to Kinvara. Almost coincidentally with education to bring "new life, hope foreign lands. The Sisters in turn were this happening was the decision of and freedom to all". Convents had well-cared for by the shopkeepers, the government to close down all already been established in Gort farmers and fishermen, enjoying local hospitals and workhouses in (1857) and in Ennistymon (1871). In from time to time nice fresh eggs, the 26 counties. Gort lost its hospital. 1878, the Sisters began their long and a leg of lamb, country butter, fresh Three Sisters of Mercy were employed fruitful apostolate in Kinvara, thanks fish, a bag of carraigin and often, at in the hospital at the time. They to the generosity of William Murray, Christmas, a fine fat goose. received £300 each on terminating their services there, and this was duly became known as Seamount College. expenses. invested in Seamount. Furniture and The name Seamount has been The people of Kinvara were justly all the necessary equipment for the retained in grateful remembrance of proud of their Secondary School and Chapel and kitchen were transferred our generous donor, Mrs Elisabeth supported the Sisters in every way from the Convent in Gort Workhouse Nally. It is worth noting that in 1925, they could through difficult times in to Seamount. The first refurbishment there was no Secondary School for the late sixties and early seventies and extension carried out (1923-24) girls nearer to Kinvara than Galway when threatened with closure. cost £1686.18.2. To meet the cost, to the north, Loughrea to the east The story of the growth of the Sisters borrowed £500 from the and Ennis to the south. education in Kinvara in association National Bank, donated the £900 Numbers increased and further with the Sisters of Mercy is a great which the Sisters had received on extensions were added in 1929-30. In human story of generosity, sacrifices, finishing in Gort Workhouse and 1931, Seamount had its own electric co-operation, appreciation and a lot paid the remainder from the funds plant installed. The assistance at the of hard work. It is the story of an of St. Joseph's, Kinvara. time of the new P.P. of Kinvara, entire community working together In 1925, after Departmental Canon Fahy, is always remembered to build a future for themselves and inspection, it was proposed that the with gratitude. The school joined their children. school should be registered officially the E.S.B. at its coming to Kinvara There are memorable times and under the Department of Education, in 1941. times of hardship and difficulty, but Secondary Branch. Money was very scarce By September 1938thethree-storey we always move together as a people and the Sisters were somewhat hesitant, building was complete. Mr Ralph of faith, believing in a God Who, in but trusting in God's Providence, they Byrne, Suffolk St., was the architect the words of Venerable Catherine took up the challenge. and Mr Owen Larkin, Ballinasloe McAuley, is leading us to "new life, the builder. The total cost of the hope and freedom for all". It is a College takes in boarders building was approximately £22,000. wonderful privilege for us, Sisters Late in the school year 1925-26 it was Savings from school capitation, local of Mercy, to be part of the story of decided to provide accommodation fundraising and £8,500 borrowed education in Kinvara. for boarders. The Secondary School from the bank helped to defray Sr Maire Crowe Seamount: "A flower growing on a rock" In the Francis A Fahy archives, we on the hill above the town. Many have not only to teach, but in the come across a letter headed 'Kinvara', years ago Mother Aloysius, one of majority of cases: feed the children from which the following extract. It the most heroic of the Irish Sisters who come to them for education. appeared at Christmastime (possibly of Mercy, then Reverend Mother of There are many worthy and needy in an American newspaper, around the Convent in Gort, came to this cases which claim our help in Ireland 1911). The author, who may have spot, which seemed forsaken alike by but there is hardly one which makes grown up in Kinvara himself, appeals God and man, and founded a little a more pathetic appeal than the to readers to send donations in convent to minister to the spiritual needs of the little convent at Kinvara, support of the convent in Kinvara. and educational needs of the place. which a recent visitor compared to a How the community managed "flower growing on a rock." The to exist can only be explained on coming of Christmas inclines Christian the ground that it enjoyed a special hearts everywhere to an outpouring measure of Divine Providence. There of charity, and prompts one of the it still stands shedding its benign readers of the paper to send out this influence on the children, the aged little appeal to his fellow-exiles for a and the sick. Seven Sisters, faring as measure of help, however small, to scantily as the poorest, fight a hard help the Sisters in their emergency. battle against overwhelming odds. Commissioner John J. Murphy, who Lately the last source of revenue to has visited the convent and who the town, a barley market which knows the facts, will gladly receive used to be held there, has ceased and forward any contribution which Francis Fahy and his fiance, Agnes Duff; 1890. because of the dissolution of the may be sent to him at THE IRISH- "The depopulation of the countryside firm which used to buy the grain. AMERICAN office, 185 Madison by emigration has left but few to The Sisters alone have the enterprise avenue. New York. A good deed support the two or three stores that and courage to project some venture is its own adequate reward, but in still remain. A Sabbath stillness is the which will save the small community addition the grateful prayers of the dominant feature of the place. But from utter destitution. They have not Sisters and their little flock will be one object of general interest can yet been able to decide what form offered for the givers." invite attention of even the most the industry will take and their scanty friendly visitor. It is the little convent resources are almost exhausted. They Caoilte Breatnach Kinvara National School

THE EXTENSION to the St Joseph's and camoige-training take annual school pageant at Christmas. National School was opened in November place during school hours for junior Pupils who play musical instruments are 2005. From September 2006, an area pupils and after school for senior actively encouraged to use their musical within the new extension will be used as pupils participating in the schools talents regularly to further enhance a Pre-School/Breakfast Club, in addition competitions. On Fridays, with the the wonderful work of the choir. Art to an After- School /Homework Club. help of parents, the senior pupils and Craftwork are also important in The current enrolment of Kinvara N S. also take part in rugby, basketball, school and the pupils often take part in is 179 pupils and the school has seven handball and soccer training and skills competitions throughout the county. classroom teachers, a Resource Teacher, development. A chess club has recently Drama features strongly and St a Learning Support Teacher, a Shared been established and is proving very Joseph's has been represented at Learning Support teacher, two Special popular. all levels of the Feile Dramaiochta. Needs Assistants and a secretary. Is comortas lan-Ghaelach e an Feile Cross-curricular activities seo, agus trfd pairt a ghlacadh i Commitment of staff and parents The school was presented with their ngniomhaiochtai mar seo, ardaitear Staff at the school are committed and second green flag recently at a meas na bpaisti ar an teanga agus ar an dedicated to the education of every pupil presentation in Dublin. The musical gcultur i gcoitinne. All of these cross­ inthe school, all of whom are recognised development of each pupil is enhanced curricular activities help to boost greatly as unique and special individuals. through participation in the school the cognitive, affective, aesthetic, The school enjoys the support of the choir. As well as singing at Mass once a spiritual and moral dimensions of parents, the community, clubs and month, the choir sings at the ceremony each pupil's development in Kinvara sporting agencies in encouraging the of confirmation, communion and the National School. children to be active and to participate Junior Infants 2005-2006 in activities on offer in the community. Roisin Quinn; Conor Francis; Patrick Byrne; Nicole Ward; Lily Breslin; Luke The local Drama Club, GAA , Swimming Conors; Darren Kilkelly; James Killeen; Muireann Fordham; Karim Mullery; Club and I.R.F U. offer their expertise Michael Donnelly; Abaigeal Ryan; Ronan Gaughan; Keelan O Flaherty; for which the school is grateful. David Whelan; Lara Fitzpatrick; Simon Whelan. CASEY AUCTIONEERS, VALUERS & ESTATE AGENTS The Coastal Property Specialists! Thinking of selling your property? Contact our Kinvara Office for a free and confidential consultation.

Kinvara 091 638237 065 7074273 www. casey-pr operty. com www. my home. ie Northampton National School also recited poems and sang carols. we share our digital photographs on The junior classes with Mrs. Costelloe a website with many schools across excellently performed their Nativity Europe under the topics of 'Time play and the hilarious 'Elves on Strike'. and Place' and 'Routes and Routes'. This year we have a coach called We are using a programme called Gavin Carey coming to teach us the Photoshop Elements to change the skills of hurling. We also have another photos in artistic ways. coach, Peter Wolfe, coming to teach The Write a Book project is now us rugby and Mr. McDonagh organises in full swing in the school. We hope games for us every lunchtime. We have that children in other schools will a lot of matches in hurling, camogie enjoy our books and we look forward and football lined up ahead of this year to reading theirs. Later on this year IN NORTHAMPTON N.S. are having a so hopefully luck will come our way. we will be having pottery lessons brilliant year so far. In October we took We had a Credit Union Quiz from Catherina Kennedy; it should a trip to Airport. We saw in February. Two teams from be great fun. Also people from a a fire engine in action and how the Northampton came second in the heritage group are coming to show us luggage security system worked. We two age groups and also in the Credit an exhibition of old-style instruments had a great day. After our mid-term Union Art Competitions. We had two and we still have the school tour, a break we went to see the Seamount people from Northampton winning: nature trail and a special science week play 'Grease'. It was very good and Roisin Linnane, 5th Class, and Kate to look forward to after that. I would have liked to have seen it a Kennedy from Senior Infants. Niamh Connolly, 5th Class second time. Just before the Christmas In March, we went to see a play holidays we had our concert. We played in the Town Hall Theatre called 'The Junior Infants 2005-2006 fiddles, tin whistles and percussion Biggest Adventure in the World'. Amy McGourty; Sarah O'Malley; instruments. We did a funny sketch We're entering an Internet project Rachel Helebert; Sarah Sheehan; called 'Northampton News' too. We this year called Art Exchange, where Aisling Fahy ‘Padvaia (McInerney insurance Cross Street, Athenry, Co. Galway. Tel: (091) 632300 Fax: (091) 632322 For all your INSURANCE needs as follows: Motor Vehicles and Family Home cover Farm: Home, Outbuildings, Livestock & Public Liability Pensions for the Self Employed Life Assurance and Serious Illness Business: Shops, Offices, Surgeries etc. Employers and Public Liability Holiday Homes and Thatched Cottages

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Padraig McInerney trading as Padraig McInerney Insurance is regulated by the Financial Regulator as a Multi Agency Intermediary. LON DIS # BURKE'S LONDIS SUPERMARKET OFF LICENCE MAIN STREET, KINVARA TEL: 091-637250 FAX: 091-637508

(Kinvara and (District Credit Union Ltd.

• Kinvara and District Credit Union Ltd. is a community based banking service • We are a non profit-making co-operative - run by members for members. union • We encourage savings and provide loans at the lowest Kinvara and District possible interest rates. Credit Union Limited • We are available for advice and options on personal Main Street, Kinvara. finance and related issues. Tel:091-637525/ • Dividends are shared equally between members. 637856 The more members we have the more there is to share. E-mail: kanddcu@ • Currently we have in excess of 2,200 members, and eircom.net would welcome many more from our growing community. OPENING HOURS Kinvara: Mon. 9.30am - 1.00pm Current members opinions of the services provided by Tues. 9.30am - 4.00pm Wed. 9.30am - 4.00pm Kinvara and District Credit Union: We are a Valuable and Thur. 9.30am - 4.00pm Essential Community Service • Professional • Convenient Fri. 9.30am - 7.00pm Sat. 10.00am - 1.00pm • Accommodating • Flexible • Reliable • Understanding • Ballyvaughan: Discreet • Efficient • A Pleasure to do business with. Thur.11.00am - 12.30pm Closed for Lunch: 1.00pm - 1.30pm: Tues. Wed. Thurs. We are committed to providing an effective, Friday : 1.00pm - 2.00pm: supportive and caring service to our community Doorus National School During the wet weather indoor games including snakes and ladders, draughts and chess helped to occupy their thoughts and energies. The skills acquired during those wet days led to the children travelling to other locations and also hosting chess tournaments. These tournaments were coordinated by Paddy Donavan, one of the parents, whose dedication and help was greatly appreciated.

Green flag award In the summer of 2005 the school was awarded the Green Flag. The Junior Infants 2005-2006 pupils' attention and care of the Hannah Donnellan; Maeve de Courcy McDonald; Ailbhe McGann; Kate Ann school grounds and environs is to be Bermingham; Ruan Sweeney; Oisin Purdy; Oisin Donnelly-White; Jake Cornyn; complimented. Daffodils and shrubs Michelle O'Reilly; Leah O'Connor; Dylan Kelly. adorn the grounds, thanks to the THIS YEAR, between the children Sports heroes pupils and staff. attending the Montessori and The Boys Football Team proudly The pupils were also involved in quiz the after-school service, the total emerged as winners of the Football competitions: the Credit Union quiz, attendance of children in Scoil Blitz held in Gort in November 2005. Library quiz and Spraoicheist Gaelach. A Chiarain's Educational Facility is Not to be outdone the Girls Football team, including Odran Donavan, Fionn over 100 daily! Doorus Montessori team got involved in a similar blitz in Carney and Sharon O'Hara emerged as which is attached to the main school February 2006 and displayed amazing winners of the Spraoicheist Seachtain opened officially on June 19^ 2005. skills and team spirit. na Gaeilge Quiz. We have four permanent teachers The Girls' Camogie Team are in Finally, the children have been taking on the staff. Pupils were involved training and aim to add another part in a local history programme in many activities during the past county title to the two they took in under the guidance of Zena Hoctor. year. The school participated in a 2004 and 2005. Boys' hurling is in They have visited local areas of interest very enjoyable10-week swimming progress throughout the year. A coach including St. Ciaran's Bed and dolmen programme, fulfilling the new attends the school weekly developing in the Burren. In June after a local study curriculum activity of aquatic and the children's skills and of course the for the Fionn Science project, pupils physical education. In the final gala, children also form an integral part of compiled a report on the tidal mills of the children gave a display and the under-10 and 12 parish teams of Doorus. This was entered into the Irish competed for medals and certificates Kinvara! Olympic handball also proved Independent Local Heritage Awards of achievement. to be a very popular sport this year. and the school received a DVD player.

New Traditional Arts Production in Kinvara and loves being close to the Burren. They will use their Company launched in Kinvara experience to bring the spotlight down on traditional music and arts in MIKE CONSIDINE AND SANDRA websites, arts consultancy and the region. They would love to hear RESTREPO are starting Kinvara's television projects. from anyone who has project ideas first independent arts production Mike is no strangerto Kinvara as his based on local people, events and company specialising in the traditional mother Nora Considine (nee Mogan) the traditional arts. arts. Sandra is a freelance Television was born in Gortskeagh, Moy Road, www. noteablearts.ie Director and Mike is a freelance and his parents lived in the Moy Email: [email protected] event, music and project manager. Road until 2003. He returned from They have worked on events from New Zealand in 2005. Sandra the Rolling Stones Tours to the Lord has been coming to Kinvara of the Rings Films in New Zealand. for the past seven Kinvara is the perfect backdrop years from the U.S. for the traditional arts projects being before settling here undertaken by Noteable Arts which in 2003. During this noteable^4/27^ creating the space for the traditional arts to flourish will include educational seminars, time she has made www.noteablearts.ie traditional arts projects, affordable many close friends Kinvara's Young Folklore Collectors of 1937

IN 1937 AND 1938, over a period of written in their copybooks... and range of material collected was eighteen months, nearly one hundred These...should be transcribed by largely dependent on the teacher thousand Irish children from five selected pupils into the official and the teachers for the Kinvara and thousand primary schools were sent out Manuscript Books which were district schools were as follows; Maire with copy-books and pencils to collect issued to all National Schools C. Ni Ghriobhtha (Killina), Tomas 6 folklore from older members of their in March, 1934. All Manuscript Domhnallain (Northhampton), Siur communities. The results, commonly Books...should be forwarded to M. Bernadette (Mercy Convent), S. P. referred to as the 'Schools' Scheme', this office at the end of the current 6 Maolduin (Kinvara Boys) and Sean run to nearly 500,000 manuscript school year- June 1938...' 6 Mearachain (Duras). pages, and collectively represented the biggest folklore collecting scheme However, as well as the manuscripts Hidden Treasure in the world to date. 'Sceim na Scol', books, many of the original copy books Some of the material collected is or the Schools' Scheme, was the used by the pupils were sent. The unique to the area, but many of the brainchild of Seamus 6 Duilearga young scholars of county Galway stories are repeated from school' to and Sean 6 Suilleabhain of the Irish alone were responsible for collecting school and even within schools. There Folklore Commission. 6 Duilearga 35,100 pages of 'pisreogai', songs, are stories of hidden treasure to be was influenced by similar schemes in riddles, customs, beliefs, prayers, found in Kinvara, Mountscribe and northern Europe, especially Estonia. proverbs, cures and recipes. Carraig an Droighneain. Interestingly, At local level, the scheme was co­ while most stories tell of buried gold, ordinated by National School teachers. In the Kinvara area Cill Einne (KiIlina), the treasure in Crissey Ryan's story, They were issued with a circular by the Northhampton, Clochar na Trocaire collected from Mary Bermingham, is Department of Education which gave (Mercy Convent), Cinn Mhara books, involving a man who 'Once the following instructions; Buachai 11 i (Kinvara Boys) and Dubhros upon a time' lived about four miles (Duras) schools are all represented. from Kinvara 'Material collected by the pupils The collection for Duras is in Irish, may be entered in their school while those of the other schools are in 'One day he heard about books jotters and the compositions both Irish and English. The standard that had been hidden in the old church yard. So this day he came over and went to the spot where the books were hidden. They were hidden under a stone. It was the Danes who hid them. When they were going away out of the country, they hid these books under a stone and they had not the chance to come back again and take them. The man who was looking for the books under the stone did not get them because there were so many stones in it he could not find the right one. Not long after that he saw a large eagle standing on one of the rocks. The man went over to where the eagle stood. When the eagle saw the man approaching he asked Convent of Mercy, Kinvara, 16th November 1949 him what he wanted. The man Front Row (L to R): Mary Quinn, Ann Nolan, Nell Fahy, Kathleen Nolan, Peggy said that he was in search of some Kilkelly, Maura Byrne, Frank Finn, Paddy Curtin, Frank Nolan, Tom McCormack. books which he believed to be 2nd Row (L to R): Joe Corless, Breda Brogan, Mary Moylan, Philomena hidden under one of the rocks... Halvey, Julia McMahon, Mary O'Sullivan, Maureen Forde, Maureen Linnane, 'I will tell you where they are' said Mary Lynch, Desmond Leech, Francis Keane. an eagle. 'They are hidden under 3rd Row (L to R): Gertie Linnane, Christina Forde, Frances Keane, Bridie Whelan, yonder rock'. The man thanked Ann Kavanagh, Ann O'Loughlin, Michael McMahon, Phonsie Flatley, Pat Connell, the eagle and proceeded to where Agnes Curtin, Gerry Brogan, Tomas Flatley, John Fahy. the eagle had guided him. Back Row (L to R): Mary Quinn, Kathleen Naughton, Lily McCormack, He [.. ] a slab from the mouth of the Patsy Halvey, Kathleen Quinn, Mary Connell, Kathleen Kilkelly, Roisin Moylan, rock and it was there he found the Phil Burke, Bridie Forde. treasure that had been hidden' Festival Customs they string the egg-shells and they Perhaps the most interesting cure Customs associated with festivals and tie them to the ceiling. They leave from Killina is this one feast-days are also a common feature. them there until Easter Sunday Mary O'Leary from the convent school comes again' For constant 'splitting' headache collected these 'Festival Customs' the people here (Killina) get their from Patrick O'Leary Killina Cures heads 'measured' by Pat Linane These old cures and healing customs Cappacasheen or by Pat Joynt At night fall on Saint Brigid's eve were collected by the pupils of Poulataggle, to cure them. They the man of each house brings in Killina school do it with a piece of twine. They say a bundle of rushes and with these certain prayers about the Blessed each member of the family begins Asses' milk for 'consumption' Trinity when they do this cure to weave "Crois Brighde" as it is (taken fasting) called. A garment belonging to Carry 3 small potatoes in your Some of the children who were the each member of the family is pocket for rheumatism or collectors were Micheal 6 Fathaigh and collected and these garments are for toothache Margaret Cavanagh (Killina), Peggie placed on the door-step at bed­ Ferrets 'leavings' cure for measles Regan, Crissey Ryan, Michael Leech, time on Saint Brigid's night. Foxe's tongue to take out a thorn Maighread Ni Seacneasaigh, Mary On Saint Martin's day the usual Goose grease as an embrocation Leary and Kathleen Fallon (Kinvara), and custom is to kill a cock. When for stiff knees or joints Nora Ni Cuinn, Una Ni Faolain, Brigid Ni the cock is killed the blood is Rub snail on corn-hang up on Fathaigh and Maire Ni Ghloinn (Duras). sprinkled on the four walls of each tree seven days. Repeat if corn is Microfilm copies of the collection may house. This custom is performed not cured be consulted by prior arrangement at to keep evil and bad luck out of Rub gold wedding on sty in the county library headquarters, Island the houses... On Easter Sunday the eye House, tel. 091-562471. people eat more eggs than usual Boiled garlic juice and when breakfast is finished for rheumatism Geraldine Curtin

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All Rooms En-Suite with TV and Tea/Coffee making facilities. Open All Year Round Phone 091-638088/637483 www.kinvara.com/fallons No Place like Home Burrenbeo sponsored a short-story competition for the fourth-year students of Seamount College under the broad theme of Kinvara and its environs. From a range of quality entries (see www.burrenbeo.com) the winning piece, selected by an independent panel, came from Louise Flaherty. Congratulations to Louise and to all who took part, with special thanks to their English teacher Ms. Kavanagh for all her hard work, as reflected in the high standard of the competition entries received.

THE BRAVE, YOUNG, swallow disorientated from the collision. his wake. He landed quite clumsily soared majestically over the rugged The swallow heaved a sigh of on the roof of the ancient monument landscape of the Burren. He took relief as he glanced back revelling and scrambled through the crack he in the smells and sounds he had so at the menacing hawk. The sharp had first found three years ago. dearly missed. He knew birds of his hawk caught his eye and again thrust Just as he caught his breath a kind needed to migrate in winter, forward to catch his prey. Luckily a high-pitched squawk vibrated the but still it upset him each year when distance had developed between the floor from outside. he abandoned his own place. With two so the swallow had a fighting The hawk wasn't ready to give up a feeling of ecstasy he watched his chance. He soared ahead with all the just yet. He too needed a means to shadow cast over the clints and grikes strength he could muster, desperately survive. of the limestone pavement. Only searching for sanctuary. As he flew The swallow stood frozen, he had now could he appreciate the true over Kinvara he remembered his old lost control of his body. He was beauty of the Burren. hiding place. He was so close. He hungry and delirious from the long He longed to return to his family had to continue despite his aching chase. The hawk's beak was now after hours scavenging for food. His limbs. Thinking of his family huddled protruding through the crack. The daydream was suddenly interrupted waiting patiently for his return gave swallow knew his time was up. He when he caught the staring eyes him a spurt of energy. peered out the glass window to his of death in the corner of his eye. A He glided down through the left and studied the carefree tourists swift, warrior like hawk, most likely main street of Kinvara, noticing the on the quay below. They were going a stray from the north, was darting people's heads turn as he passed. for boat rides, sitting on the benches towards him like an arrow. There was He suddenly felt a strong sense of bathed in the cool, evening sunlight no time. The swallow ducked to his self belief. He looked ahead and was and just relaxing from the usual left and just felt the tip of the hawk's instantly captivated by the outline bustle of life. The swallow took a outstretched wing brush against his of Dunguaire castle against the red, deep breath and turned to face the side. Instinctively he turned around evening sky. This majestic sight sent grimacing hawk who had made his and raced forward at full speed. him racing like a bullet leaving the way into the castle. The hawk had been left behind. now exhausted, frustrated hawk in Louise Flaherty

Kinvara Golf Society was Niall O'Shaughnessy, while follows: President - Des Leech, Captain Attheir AGM held recently in Sexton's Joe Keane won the Sexton Cup - Kevin Sexton Jnr, Secretary - Gerry Bar, Society Captain Tom Barry Matchplay. Congratulations were Ryan, Treasurers - Paul Dalton and thanked everyone for their support extended to Sue Madden on her Paddy, PRO - Garret Byrne, Handicap at all the outings, including both ladies captaincy of Gort Golf Club Secretaries - Niall O'Shaughnessy and membersand sponsors, and hisfellow 2005, and to her husband, John Joe Keane. committee members - Joe Byrne Madden, on his captaincy of Gort Fixtures and sponsors for 2006 are (President), Gerry Ryan (Secretary), Golf Club 2006. currently being finalized. Outings will Sue Madden (Treasurer), Josie Collins Winners of the Christmas 3-Ball be held in Roscommon, Oughterard, (PRO) and Niall O'Shaughnessy Scramble were a team consisting of Gort, Woodstock, Claremorris and (Handicap Secretary). Outings during Brian O'Driscoll, Tom Barry and Sue Ballinasloe. For further information 2005 were held in Gort, Connemara, Madden, and this hugely enjoyable please contact Kevin Sexton at 087- Ballinrobe, Shannon, Belmullet and outgoing was co-sponsored by Fallons 2421707, or visit our website, at www. Bodyke. Golfer of the year 2005 Spar, Kinvara. Incoming committee vistek.ie. members for 2006 were elected as Joe Byrne Kate Thompson; Winner, Whitbread Children's Book Award 2006 I AM ORIGINALLY Mary Green (Murray) are also in the the pace of the town has changed. It from Yorkshire book. I don't think I have offended does make one feel unsettled. and have lived anyone in Kinvara in the book. If I have I am not sure if Kinvara is my in a lot of places no one has told me - yet! home. I have lived here longer than around the world. The book has had an amazing I have lived anywhere else and I love I lived in Inagh, reception. It won the Guardian's it here in so many ways. I am really County Clare and Children Book Prize: an award from my attached to the landscape. I have the came to Kinvara in own country, a first for me. The icing Burren all around me. I used to go up 1994.1 had been to on the cake, however, was winning the Burren regularly for long walks Kinvara on previous the Whitbread Children's Book Award but I have got out of the habit. occasions for the in January. It has been a flurry of Since the girls have grown up and Cruinniu and had interviews on the radio (Radio 5 live) moved away I have no routine. They quite liked it. and television (BBC north) and I came were eight and ten when I moved to Then I moved to Moy in 1999 and within a hair's breadth of winning the Kinvara. I suppose I kind of miss the have been here ever since. I am very overall Whitbread prize, as the press old school runs and the routine it comfortable here and I have good reported! I was also beginning to get brought. It takes a bit of getting used friends in the area. I suppose although used to the media thing and began to. I also miss the regular contacts it I had written books before moving enjoying it for the first time. brought with friends and neighbours to Kinvara, most of my books were Now I am back in Kinvara getting outside the school gate. I am kept busy published whilst I lived here. Since 2002 I back to normal, trying to do some though. At the moment I am involved have been getting awards for the books work. My friends had a party for me in in organising the music for the audio in Ireland. I have won the Irish Bisto Green's pub. It was a great homecoming recording of The New Policeman. I Award three times: for The Beguilers and I felt very appreciated. I couldn't have to get some musicians to do in 2002, The Alchemist's Apprentice in wait to play the fiddle. I am not quite it and I have to learn some of the 2003 and Annan Water in 2005. as mad into it as I used to be but I still tunes from the book myself! I also The New Policeman is the only book love it. It is hard to find time for all the have to finish another book before that I have set in a real place. I enjoyed things I do. I have a quirky take on this the summer. In July, I am leaving for writing it. Itstartedoutofthefundraiser 'time' thing in The New Policeman. Australia for six months. I will be based for the Community Centre in Kinvara. You can be busy all the time and allow in Melbourne but I intend to take some There was an Auction of Promises, and yourself to be in a driven condition but long train journeys. I have never been I was asked if I could give a promise to I think it is also a state of mind. to Australia and that is something I am put someone's name in my next book. Time is our responsibility. It is really looking forward to. And then I Anne Korff was the successful bidder. important to prioritise and make time will be back in Kinvara in December... Once I started writing, the whole thing for the things you want to do. Kinvara took off. It was a lot of fun with the is changing so fast as is the rest of In conversation with music and the story. Seadna Tobin and Ireland. In just a short space of time Matti Twomey KINVARA Kinvara Community Children's Centre KINVARA COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S applied for a capital funding grant TABLE TENNIS CENTRE COMMITTEE was established from the Department of Justice, and in June 2004 in collaboration with the are awaiting a decision in mid-2006. CLUB Community Council to investigate the A great need has been identified in possibility of establishing a childcare the area for before and after school THE KINVARA TABLE TENNIS CLUB facility for residents of Kinvara. We care. Our committee met with the was set up in October 2005. Meeting meet each Tuesday in the Merriman board of management of St Joseph's on Thursday evenings at 9pm, the Hotel at 8:30pm. National school and the Galway city and sport has proved very popular with There is a great need for a county childcare committee. A room in a lot of existing and former players. childcare facility in Kinvara, and we the school has been made available Currently with 2 tables, the club hopes are offering a service to children to us to set up an out of school care to add further tables as membership from 3 months to 12 years. A site programme, hopefully to commence increases. So if you have a good for the facility has now been found, in September 2006. Should you have forehand smash or would simply like planning permission was granted any queries about the group or would to learn how to play contact, Una late 2005, and it will be located next like to join we can be contacted on 087 Jordan on 065 7078237. to the Community Centre. We also 9507681 or 091 637542. Scenes from a life: Maire O'Keefe, Fiddler

to get through the county and Munster Australia fleadhs - not for the sake of the All­ I took a career break in 1992 and went Ireland but for the Scoil Eigse, which to Australia for a year. The Sydney was where you met all your friends Irish musicians had a scheme that from round the country. I remember subsidised you in return for teaching being there in Buncrana in 1976. All and playing some sessions. They were we fiddlers wanted to do was play starved for Irish music in Australia at everything on the latest Bothy Band the time. Once they knew you were Album (skipping the songs of course). in the country, you would get invited One day, our teacher, Paddy Glackin, to festivals, workshops... I remember took us all in a busto hear John Doherty. opening a drawer in my room and As we walked through a bar to the pool seeing five or six plane tickets, thinking room at the back, I noticed a little old "Where am I going next?"! Eventually man wearing a cap, filling his pipe at I knew it was time to come back from the bar. We all sat down on the floor Australia - I had a shocking phone bill! and waited for this famous fiddler to I missed home too much... appear. In walked the old man in the Tralee, Kerry cap.... I can still remember the hairs on Kinvara I WAS BORN IN TRALEE, County Kerry. the back of my neck standing up as he I started playing regularly in Kinvara My mother was a teacher and when started to talk and then to play... You with Jackie Daly. Then I was asked to I started school I used to sit in the just knew you were present at a special give a fiddle class in town. The first corridor, swinging my legs - waiting moment in time.... night I was to teach, the tide was so for her, because she didn't finish until high I was afraid to go into town, half past three whereas I'd be finished Marino, Dublin so I cancelled! When I eventually at one. This lovely nun, Sister Kevin, I was in teacher training college in went in the following week, there took pity on me, basically. She taught Marino. The Christian Brothers ran was a huge gang of people, most of music in the school and she used to the college and one of them, Brother whom I didn't know. It was a great take me into her little music room Cassidy, was teaching in Ardscoil Ris, introduction to the community for - which was like Aladdin's Cave to me. down the road. He formed a Comhaltas me. We had great crack... and I There was a piano and she used to let branch and brought in older musicians ended up staying in town since. me thump away on it at first. I think and singers from all over north Dublin: Kinvara has everything - there's no she discovered I had a good ear and John Naughton the concertina player question about that. Dancing, music, eventually she started teaching me from Feakle, Joe Broderick the Kerry singing... it's all here. So many musicians, to play. Nearly every afternoon was singer, Pearl O'Shaughnessy, Dinny at so many levels. It's a huge social thing. spent in that room, with the piano O'Brien, Viney Crehan... Of course, All the sessions. For me, the bottom line - we didn't have a piano at home for there was no drink! about music is that it HAS to be a social years. She got me into doing the music I was still playing my original £30 thing. I love the music; it's a language, exams - which I eventually hated. fiddle. One day I was shown a room it's a form of communication. You can Nobody played music at home, full of abandoned instruments in sit down with people without a word although my mother was a Begley! the college - fiddles, cellos, a double of a common language between you We used to go back to my aunt's bass and more, all flung in a heap. - and communicate. house, west of Dingle on Sunday Apparently there had been an orchestra Kinvara has become such a hub, afternoons. They never had an in the college way, way back and even since I came here. It's become instrument but there were plenty of the instruments had been dumped at totally accepted to be able to play sets danced! My uncle-in-law used some stage and completely forgotten music-whether or not you're brilliant to play the comb and paper - like a about. He had just rediscovered them. at it. You can play it and enjoy it any kazoo. That was where the draw of He told me to take whichever one I night of the week, any time of the traditional music started, I suppose. wanted on one condition - I had to year. You can go into any pub in leave my own fiddle in its place! It was Kinvara and sit down to play music Scoil Eigse, Buncrana a gorgeous fiddle - especially after Rab - and they will be more than happy When I was about thirteen, I refused Cherry did some work on it a few years to have it. It's a magical space.... to take the piano exams any more. later. Rab later built a new fiddle for I have no fears or worries about the I started to play piano, by ear, with me - the one I play now. My younger tradition. No matter what influences the local Comhaltas group which was sister Aoife still plays the Brothers' corrie into it, the tradition itself will organised by Maire Griffin and her one. When she was very young, I choose what it wants... husband, Paddy. It was there I started used to play to her to keep her quiet to play the fiddle. The aim was always - doesn't work with my son Donal! In conversation with Martin Ryan Kinvara Community Games THE COMMUNITY GAMES idea first as music, dance, art, choir, culture came to prominence in Dublin in corner, table quiz and projects. 1967, when Joe Connolly organised a Children must be underage on 31st group of adults to help him deal with July to enter events and volunteers the problem of lack of leisure-time are always in demand to help with activities for young people. Galway activities. Last year, having just won Community Games started in 1976 and the International Festival Queen of Kinvara is one of 46 areas affiliated. Ireland title, Emma travelled the Children from the Kinvara area take next day to Mosney to referee the part in many team and individual National Camogie Finals events and our local athletic Sports South Galway is represented on Day is always popular. Each year, the Galway committee by Catherine the best boy and girl athlete are Kilkelly and Marian Connolly, both presented with cups to recognise from Kinvara (treasurer and assistant their achievement. The cups were treasurer), Ashling Murray who teaches originally donated by the Quilty at St. Joseph's National School, Kinvara Family and Kinvara IFA. is Child Officer, Gerry Mannion, Events take place at the pitch on Labane, is Development Officer and the Moy Road and we appreciate the Eamonn Mannion is Youth Officer. P.J. Kelly, Knockaculleen, Doorus, support of Kinvara GA Afor facilitating If you would like more information representing Galway at the National us. The athletic County finals have or have an interest or expertise in All Ireland Community Games Athletic taken place in Ballinderreen for the a particular sport or you would like Finals 2005 in Mosney. Pictured with past few years and it is a very secure to help organise an activity please his sister, his Mother, Helen and and confined area for competitors contact the Secretary, Catherine Galway officials Marian Connolly and and their families. Children can Kilkelly at 065 -7078058. Catherine Kilkelly. also take part in other events such Marian Connolly

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Tel: 091 631 291 Fax 091 631895 Email: [email protected] * Website: www.galwayproperty.com permanent tsb A Scrapbook History of Kinvara GAA - Do you remember that Under-12 hurling title win in 1983? - The most famous County Intermediate Hurling Title in 1966? - Or when "Killina lads were too powerful"? - What's that story behind Kinvara's four different jersey colours in the past 50 years?

THESE AND MANY MORE MEMORIES articles and newspaper reports on games, as a lot of information from were compiled by the late Toddie all aspects of the club. Information the early years to the late seventies Byrne, in his extensive and wide- on earlier years of the book proved was lost and forgotten. reaching history of the GAA in Kinvara. difficult to source, but there is still This book will prove a fascinating In 2001, Toddie began compiling the enough to tell us about who were read to anyone connected with complete history of Kinvara GAA. A the main players in Kinvara GAA in Kinvara GAA. It is hoped that anyone lot of his work involved visits to the the early 1900s. Only in the 1950s do who ever caught a hurl for Kinvara or County Library and Connacht Tribune more records become available, with kicked a football will be mentioned in Galway, spending days trying to find references to South Board Hurling or even surprisingly appear in a team information and articles about Kinvara and Football titles being won. photo (one photo from a 1986 Junior GAA. From there, the kitchen table The first photograph of a Kinvara Hurling team comes to mind, with a at home became his work station. Hurling Team is the 1952 South Board few lads from Moy and Boher Bui). Evenings were spent compiling, writing Junior Hurling Champions. The '60s The book will also be of interest to letters, and checking other local books main highlight was the winning of other clubs in the county, and there and GAA magazines. Before he died the County Intermediate Hurling title must be at least one match report for in April, Toddie had put the finishing in 1966, beating Oranmore in the every club that have hurled against touches to the records for 2005, right county final. The '70s will always be the "unpredictable seasiders"! Indeed up to the AGM reports for the Senior, remembered for the Kinvara Senior South Galway clubs will enjoy it more, Juveniles and Camogie Clubs. Most of hurling team reaching the County as up until 1975 most match reports are the book is now ready for print, and is Final for the first time, in 1979. from the South Board Championships due to be published later this year. Unfortunately they were defeated by - where the rivalry at times provided What is unusual about Toddie's a great Castlegar team, backboned heated match reports! book is that it takes the form of by the Connolly brothers. The 1980s The book will be available locally, a scrapbook. Original newspaper onwards provide the bulk of the book, and Toddie would have been cutting, photographs, minutes of as more records and reports were proud to have seen his major work meetings, etc. are original copies. The available then. Also, cameras were a published. For more information or book begins with the formation of bit more popular, so photographs are sales queries on the book, please Killoveragh GAA Club in 1889, which included of nearly every team that contact Garret Byrne at 087-9513442, brought together the men of Kinvara won a final in the last thirty years. or any committee member of the and Dooras. The club later changed its An important lesson from Toddie's Kinvara GAA club itself. name to Kinvara GAA Club. From there research is the importance of keeping we come across stories, memories, records and taking photographs of Garret Byrne The Book of the Burren, edited by Jeff O'Connell and Tir Eolas in Doorus: Anne Korff, 1991. The Book of Aran, Over 21 years in publishing edited by John Waddell, Jeff O'Connell and Anne Korff, 1994. ANNE KORFF first came to Kinvara covering the Burren, South Galway, Kinvara, a Seaport Town on Galway in 1965, when she stayed at Doorus Kinvara, Medieval Galway and Loch Bay, written by Caoilte Breatnach Hostel. On another visit in 1978, while Corrib. They give detailed information and compiled by Anne Korff, 1997. walking the northern shoreline from on the archaeological and historical Women of Ireland, Tracht, she noticed a steeple (Doorus sites, the birds, animals and flowers by Kit and Cyril 6 Ceirfn, 1996. Church) and went to investigate. to be seen and the natural features The Shannon Floodlands, Crossing the field, she came across the found in the area covered by each map, by Stephen Heery, 1993. old house (Elly McCooke's birthplace), covering the Burren and South Galway. Not a Word of a Lie, by Bridie which later she bought from the Quinn-Conroy, 1993. Curtins. She moved to Newtownlynch, Tir Eolas Guides and Maps Doorus in 1980. Ballyvaughan, , O'Brien New publication Tir Eolas started publishing maps Country, Medieval Galway, Corrib Anne Korff's latest book, written by and books in 1985 and is now Country, Kinvara, and Kiltartan. Gordon D'Arcy, celebrates the Burren recognised as one of the foremost wall in photographs, illustrationsand quality publishers in Ireland. The Tir Eolas Books quotations, and informs about social company produces books, guides Alive, Alive-O, the shellfish and and natural history, from the earliest and maps that combine text and shellfisheries of Ireland, prehistoric examples to the most illustration to an exceptionally high by Noel P. Wilkins, 2004. modern, indicating how different standard, with information on Irish The Shores of Connemara, by styles may be attributed to specific history, archaeology, landscape, Seamus Mac an lomaire, translated periods of construction. culture and tradition. by Padraic de Bhaldraithe, 2000. For further information, contact Tir Tir Eolas can be translated as A Burren Journal, Eolas, Tel/Fax: 091 637452 or visit: "knowledge of the land". The company by Sarah Poyntz, 2000. www.tireolas.com has published seven Guides and Maps, HEAD Bar & Restaurant The Quay, Kinvara, Co. Galway, Ireland. +353-91-638188

Situated in the picturesque seaport village of Kinvara, the Pier Head, as the name suggests, can be found on the pier.

The location offers stunning views of both Kinvara Bay and the nearby Dungaire Castle.

The restaurant offers a full a-la-carte menu. While specialising in locally caught sea food, all tastes are catered for! Voyage Of Fanai 2004/2005 The following is a short extract of from the ship’s log of Fanai’s visit to Sal, off the African coast. Built and sailed by Eugene Lambe, who sailed across the Atlantic, setting out on 25 August 2004. Route: Galway-Corunna-Lisbon-Faro-Madeira-Canaries- Cape Verdes- Tobago (Caribbean)- Grenada- St. Lucia-Guadaloupe-Les Saintes-Nevis-St. Maarten-Azores-Dingle-Galway (31st July 2005). Total distance: approx. 9,000 miles. Most of the fishing is done from small open boats with outboard motors. About 20 years ago the Japanese gave the islanders free outboards but since they are so poor they have never been replaced. This sometimes has tragic results. In recent years, two boats that went out fishing overnight had engine failure and in both cases they drifted out to sea. The NE trade winds carried them both to the southwest but very slowly. One took three months to reach Brazil and all the crew lived. Another boat with a father and son was blown offshore and the father died one week before the boat reached the Brazilian Thursday 10th February / Here in Palmeria, the main Port in coast. There is one old local who will Saturday 5th March 2005 Isla do Sal (built by the Russians), we swim not give up his sails for an outboard Sal, Cape Verdes. from the boat. Sharks, (including the and I think he is a wise man. After 7 days at sea we dropped Great White and the Hammerhead) Rusting remains of machinery lie anchor off Palmeira, 800 miles south are common but we were assured everywhere and the remnants of an of the Canaries. that they do not attack during the overhead cable car system that was The place looks like Africa, the day. They also say that because Cabo used to transport the salt from the nearest point of 'the dark continent' Verdeans do not eat sharks they do crater is very much in evidence. A being only 300 miles to the east. It feels not eat Cabo Verdeans. We can only string of barges and a small tug boat so very different from the Canaries. We hope that the sharks remember this lie on a railway rusting like ghosts had a walk around the town and then fact and that they don't find out that from a bygone era. After almost one back to Fanai for a well-earned rest. neither of us is Cabo Verdean. month in the Cape Verdes I stocked Like the Canaries and Madeira, We were told that there were only up with provisions for the Atlantic the Cape Verde islands are volcanic in four shark accidents over the last 10 crossing to Tobago in the Caribbean origin.They were 'discovered' by the years. Two involved divers, one of 2,300 miles away. Portuguese in the 15th century, fought whom had freshly shot fish on a belt over by Spain and Portugal in the 16th around his waist. The other was a Returning home century and became a clearing-house German who was diving near one of In July 2005, as we made our return for slavery from Africa. Felling of trees, the deserted islands (llheu Branco). He journey, we had fair winds for the lack of rainfall and overgrazing in the swam into an area where fishermen first few days with runs of up to early years of colonisation resulted in were cleaning fish and got mixed into 126 miles. But the wind soon came an arid landscape. Repeated droughts the shark's dinner. Two other accidents against us and for the last six days, over the last 200 years caused at least involved the illegal use of dynamite we had constant headwinds and had 100,000 deaths and, as was the case for fishing. After the blast a fisherman to motor sail to keep our course. Our with our own Famine, the Colonial was scooping the stunned fish out of alternative was to tack into Biscay or power of Portugal did little to alleviate the water from his boat when a shark towards Newfoundland and neither the suffering. took him overboard by the arm. of those choices appealed to either of us. After 13 days at sea, most of Swimming and sharks Free outboard engines which were grey-skied and damp, The Cape Verdes eventually got There are 5 species of lobster in these we dropped anchor in Dingle bay, their independence from Portugal islands. The locals used to fish them by rowed the dinghy ashore, had a walk in 1975. It is now an independent jumping into the sea with a large rock around the town and said hello once Republic, struggling to keep afloat. to bring them to the bottom. There again to the Emerald Isle. The official language is Portuguese were so many casualties that this is now but the natives speak Creole. illegal and they are caught with pots. Eugene Lambe Northeast Passage ON JUNE 23RD 2001, Northabout We met Sasha, a Russian departed Clew Bay fully laden with meteorologist, out hunting. He took 3 years' supplies for the North us to Dalstroi, an infamous prison West Passage It was to be the 13th camp, where 40,000 people, forced boat to make the passage and the to work in the local gold and zinc first against prevailing winds and mines, died. As the first westerners to currents. Northabout, designed for see the camp, collapsed watchtowers Polar exploration, was built of strong and barbed wire was a grim reminder aluminium by Jarlath Cunnane in of a cruel political system. Knock in only 13 months prior to our As we travelled west, the ice departure to the ice-clogged waters worsened and a thick fog, common in that separate the Atlantic from the the Arctic, lasted for days and on the Pacific ocean. East Siberian Sea we were trapped in We over-wintered the boat in the ice. Two miles away a Russian cargo Nome, Alaska, in Sept 2001 with ship was waiting for an icebreaker the intention of bringing her home to get her through to the Khatanga to Westport through a 12,000-miie River. When it didn't turn up, the We over-wintered Northabout in voyage through the Siberian and captain decided to force a way out. a village on the Khatanga River and Russian Arctic. In 1913, the Karluk Realising that we could be trapped returned to Ireland. failed to make the passage and for the winter we decided to follow in The Siberian winter of 04/05 was Russia's own Valerian Albanov saved, her wake. Her propellers threw back very cold so we expected that the ice Shackleton-like, his crew when their huge lumps of ice, like depth charges conditions would be better when, ship, the St. Anna, was crushed by ice against our hull and we started taking in August, Northabout, with the in the Kara sea in 1912. water. But the Northabout survived same crew, sailed into the Laptev Sea My brother CoIm, a fluent Russian and we made repairs the next day. again heading for Cape Cheleuskin. speaker living in Moscow joined the In Tiksi we met a Dutch sailor on With luck, we should be able to get team and by January 2004 we were his yacht, Campina on his second year through to the Kara Sea. sailing north up the Bearing Strait making the same voyage as us. We By mid-August we had rounded into the ice. The Siberian winter of decided it would be safer for the two the Cape, only to find polar ice 2003/2004 was unusually mild and boats stay together but the Campina blocking our path. For two days we mild winters are usually followed by had engine problems and fell behind. tried to find a lead through, when a severe summers. So we met ice much We still had the most difficult 500 north-westerly storm was forecasted. earlier then expected in the Chukchi miles of our journey ahead past the Our only chance of shelter was Sun Sea. As we advanced through leads, most northerly point of the Eurasian Bay, in Bolshevik Island, 30 miles making 50 miles on some days and Continent, Cape Cheleuskin. In these away. Surrounded by ice on all sides, none on others, we called to the few latitudes, what passes for summer we eventually broke through, and 12 habitations along the coast. It was can change to winter in a matter hours later were in Sun Bay. here in Siberia that the notorious of hours and 150 miles southeast of On the fourth day as the storm Soviet prison camps, the gulags were Cape Cheleuskin, we encountered abated, we got news of a nuclear established. very heavy pack ice. icebreaker 15 miles away, escorting No one we met had ever seen a For eleven days we waited, hoping a ship into the Kara Sea. Soon we sailing boat; few had met foreigners for a lead to open and allow us were following in her wake into and most were reluctant to talk. into the Kara Sea. The temperature clearer water, through to the Barents However, our secret weapon was dropped to minus 10 degrees. That, Sea. We had left the ice behind but music. With myself on the fiddle. and curious polar bears, stopped us now sailed into the teeth of gale Jarlath on the harmonica, Paddy leaving the cabin. The sea around after gale on the last 1,000 miles to Barry, Rory Casey, cameraman Garry us started to freeze and we were in Murmansk where we celebrated the Finnegan on guitars, and Kevin danger of becoming trapped in the first ever westward circumnavigation Cronin on the bodhran, we played ice for the winter. We got a radio of the Arctic. to break down barriers wherever call from Campina crushed between we went. The people are a mix of two icebergs and in serious trouble. Eskimos and Russians; many were Ordered by the Russians to go to her For a more details see visit our left behind after the prison camps assistance, we towed her through website: www.northabout.com. A were shut down. These proud and heavy ice, 35 miles south, where she documentary on our voyage will be resourceful people survive in Siberia was lifted onto the deck of a passing broadcast on RTE later this year. where winter temperatures fall to ship. Her attempt at the Northeast minus 60 degrees. Passage was over. Dr. Michael Brogan Arrival of Garda Sfochana in Kinvara In 1923, the Parish Priest in Kinvara, of Guards established in the place I am Barracks in Kinvara, 1924 Canon Fahey, wrote to the Ministry of satisfied. The Barracks was officially opened on 28 Home Affairs stressing the urgency of I hope this letter will meet with Feb 1924, and the premises occupied by a the provision of a Civic Guard Station consideration and remain, sergeant and four guards. Correspondence for Kinvara: Yours faithfully, between the Chief Superintendent and M. Canon Fahey P.P." the Deputy Commissioner however shows "As Parish Priest of Kinvarra, I wish to dissatisfaction with the arrangements. put before your Department the need A Garda station for Kinvara The main concern was the sleeping of establishing in this town a strong The prompt reply from the 'RUNAIDHE' accommodation. It was separate from body of Civic Guards. The old barrack in the Ministry said that "the proposed the station proper and accessible only by which was used by the R.I.C. and establishment of the Garda Siochana a stone stairway on the outside of the wrecked during the Black & Tan regime provides for a station at Kinvarra, Co. building. Alterations were to be carried out could easily be restored so as to house Galway. The difficulty at the moment is to windows and doors, and the exterior them. The Coast line from Oranmore the securing of suitable accommodation rendering was in urgent need of repair. The to Ballyvaughan, a distance of about 25 there. It is hoped however that suitable building was considered utterly unsuitable miles, is entirely unprotected, and Poteen quarters may become available in the for the purpose of a police station. in large quantities is constantly brought near future when a unit of the Garda will Improvements were carried out by the ashore from Connemara to the ruin of the be sent to occupy Kinvarra." Board of Works, making it more habitable. people who are so freely supplied with it. The Commissioner of the Garda Siochana The first Gardai had very uncomfortable People who are considered "respectable" reported that the Chief Superintendent conditions. The Sergeant's office and are known to be Poteen merchants on a at Galway was in favour of a permanent bedroom combined was approached large scale, wholesale distributors in fact. In premises at Kinvara. Attempts to secure the by a ladder from the kitchen, until a this town there are 15 licensed houses & no old R.I.C. station (where Sexton's lounge is stairways was installed in the early 30s. An supervision whatsoever except an occasional now) failed. The old schoolhouse, owned interesting statistic shows that 60% of the visit at day time from a Civic Guard Station by the Representative Body of the Church of parish spoke Irish in 1926 in Ardrahan, distant about 6 miles by road Ireland was rented as a temporary barrack. Sgt. John McLoughlin and his wife, Rose, - an exceedingly bad, dirty one. A few of A letter from the Commissioner's had the building converted into a very these houses are open publically up to 11 Office pointed out that the premises comfortable living quarters. In the small o'c at night. Some others close the shop but would suit the purpose when properly kitchen, many mini-meetings were held in continue the sale of drink behind closed repaired. They would not, however, organising events for the Carnivals in the doors. Those who observe the licensing contain married quarters and the fresh 60s and 70s and making arrangements for laws are thus handicapped owing to the water supply would be half a mile from the opening of the new GAA pitch. facilities enjoyed and employed by the rest. the station. There was no lock-up on Toddie Byrne (R.I.P.) There have been a number of raids the premises nor any out-office that This article was compiled from for money in the locality and several could be used for this purpose. However, documents researched by Bill other annoyances which the parties who there was a garden containing 10 perches Dooley as part of his contribution to suffered have to put up with owing to attached to the house and a cell could be Kinvara Community Council's Social there being no local quarters to report to. erected on a portion of it. Employment Scheme in the 90s. The biggest & chief grievance is however the Poteen traffic. The old R.I.C. barrack was able to house Gardai in Kinvara since the Formation of the Force 9 men. It is in a most convenient position for 1924 Martin Egan; Peter Reilly; 1940 John Gleeson supervision. The owner of the barrack was Patrick O'Hare; Hugh Maguire 1941 Martin Loftus an elderly respectable lady named Mrs. Nally. 1925 Thomas P.Cummins 1945 Pat Howard After the destruction of the barrack she sold 1926 William Doherty 1946 Dominick Keighan; John Healy; the site & the ruins to a local person, named 1927 Thomas Kerins; John Murphy Michal Hanlon for sum of £30. She has been Michael Spillane 1951 Michael McCabe allowed £700 towards rebuilding, but is in a 1929 Martin Horkan 1952 Thomas McDonagh difficulty having parted with the site. If the 1930 Thomas Brennan; 1955 Francis Allen; John McLoughlin place was taken over by the Government it Peter Me Teigue 1962 Patrick Kelliher would be easy, I think, to arrange with Mrs. 1932 James Rafferty 1964 Michael Cunningham Nally and Michael Hanlon. There is no other 1933 John Waters 1965 Patrick Walsh; John Weir site available which would be so convenient 1935 Francis Me Hugh; Eugene 1978 Desmond McAuley; for supervision. Kearns Daniel Peter Duffy My motive in writing is for the peace 1936 Patrick Ryan; Henry Ryan 1987 Patrick Collins and moral good of the district. I have no 1937 Pat Byrne; Hugh McCabe 1995 John Gormally personal interest in Mrs. Nally or Michael 1938 John Nolan 1999 Ernie White; John Nilan Hanlon & provided there be a good body 1939 Michael Brogan; Edmond Stack 2000 Pat Fahy Walking with Michael Amen (The dark night of the soul) While walking with Michael on New Year's Eve, Despite roaring traffic our thoughts we made weave And yet again the awakening terror of When we paused for a moment to view the sea that unwelcome dawning consciousness as it When a whisper of wind came, momentarily, Invades the sanctuary of your anesthethised mind To darken the surface, and suspend the reflection You struggle towards the light of life above your head Of a heron ahunting avoiding detection. Dragging the demons of your past behind you While a hundred or more plumed plovers on wing Bursting through, you savage the air that once did bathe Landed to face what their futures might bring. your soul Silent witness, perhaps, as another year ends, Oh Christ, why must this life go on To the fate of such wildlife, and destiny's trends. Lying, spent upon the shore Preserved, as they were, from the rush and the strife Drenched in the sweat of guilt By the slimmest of barriers to their frontier on life. A pathetic voice you recognise as your own That delicate balance between nature and man, Damns your very soul and torments you Personified there in our all peaceful scan. with the never ending cries of A cormorant, then, vied for submarine space, Why, Oh Why, Oh Why With the sleekest of otters, indefinable grace. No pity do I feel for you Each avoiding the other, they were content, You failed, and failed again In their own, their only environment. A life that promised much Goldeneye ducks paddled proudly in pairs, Full of love and opportunity Whilst snipe and redshank made the mud margins theirs. You threw it all away They all seemed unaware, as a mute swan unfurling, Talents wasted, sweet apples tasted Preened into its ballet on the smooth tide's turning. Pleasures were your goal All this in a few seconds' pause in the middle of day, You shook off the clinging arms of loved ones Over Kinvara's walled seafront, above Galway Bay. And scorched your way through their burning lives All the beauty of nature preserved in this place And the fires you started took hold of you Surely needs more than just a few years grace. and destroyed the great man inside Brian Wynne Gone was the will to fight the fight Gone was the love of God given life Now all you sought was peace And peace had long since fled Not even God to turn to now For God knows that promises from you Mean nought, and yet you pray

"Dear Jesus, help me. help me Just get me through today Tomorrow I will try again Just take this pain away You sit there looking down on me Sad look upon Your face Just put Your Arms around me, please, And take me from this place The love for life which once I felt That strength to see me through I lost somewhere alongthe way My only hope is You If dying has to be my lot Before I rise again Then gladly I will come to You Amen, Amen, Amen". David J Hogan

Photo: Mike Considine About The Unwordly Corcomroe Abbey Lapwings Non-wordy Philosopher my soul skims A swarm of lapwings Swept over He sezz "nothing" along the strand the lake Just lives in space, along the ancient stones And wheeled in a brief indecision With "nothing" on his mind, and sacred bones Until the sun caught them With fine fun on his face. that rest in Corcomroe And turned them In his being is gracious grace. To glittering splinters of gold my soul knows And dropped them He is 'simple and quiet' to follow the moon All over the shore. Is deeply into "reality's clear that hangs in a lapis sky Kate Thompson Clean light. where it tries His soft sincerity to keep the winds at bay Amores Perdidos Is not just now and then, and keep the storms away It is happily in harmony Los amores perdidos en tu amor With the 'now' my soul dreams Pradera mia cerro dorado In the mellow manner of a sacred space Monte dorado que alia se fue Of zen. of a place Bordeando el rio de la indolencia where spirits foretold Y sin la cupula de la inocencia The non - wordy of the light between Mezcle mi amor contra corriente Unworldy philosopher Corriente fuerte que me envoivia Sezz "nothing" all day, the living and the dead Pero saciandome hasta mi eje Just does the just thing, of sacred words kept unsaid Placercambiapor rebeldia And goes on his way. until revealed Y rebeldia cambia por pasiones So if you meet him, in the mind's eye Corri sin rumbo alguno Just smile or nod, and the land is healed Como la brisa de norte a sur He likes it that way beneath a lapis sky De este a oeste The peaceful philosopher Alex Venegas Desvaneci, me hice fuerte Who is elegantly eccentric Cruce montanas, rios, Iagos And openly odd. Down at Cush amor vino, amor se fue All day and all nite Amor rogue, amor llore He sez "nothing" She hovers to the East Amor mendigue, amor implore (But) to the infinite just above Slieve Aughty. Me fui, me esfume He does softly, sweetly. Her yellow Van Gogh Entre volcanes, praderas Silently, and sincerely sing. smile shimmers on Aughinish Bay. Entre los mares Joe Staunton He is regal in the West Amor paso con mascara azul cresting Roundstone Hill, R Mercedes Varona Pereira To Peter St George tossing a velvet cloak over the Martello (Translation) When she took the boat back then at the causeway down at Cush. Former loves are lost in your love Who'd ever understand My meadow, my golden hillside. How land is really worthless I stand where the full tide Golden woodlands now gone from me in the end. laps gently by both shores. Winding along the river of indolence Right hand caresses With no dome of innocence above. Swept along against the current Sprung from rock and driven womb the Moon Goddess's tresses. A stronger current that takes hold of me A sapling frail Left hand stretches Pleasing me to my very core Clings to the rock for the Sun God's crimson stream Pleasure turns to innocence In hopes to find on the causeway down at Cush. Love turns to insurgency Solid ground. Rebellion turns to passion Caoilte Breatnach He kisses the horizon I ran, aimless and bids us both goodnight. As a breeze from North to South She swells in full reflection East to West of His glorious light. / faded away, I came back strong Colours blend and kindle I crossed mountains, rivers and lakes. Love came and love went an amber glow in my heart, I asked for love and I implored for love at the full moon in Leo Until there was nothing left of me on the causeway down at Cush. Amidst volcanoes, meadows Jean Folan In the depth of the oceans Love, behind a blue mask, passed me by. Translation Lorna Shaughnessy Afghanistan Diary 1880 Extracts from the diary of Henry Francis Brooke, of County Fermanagh, my great- great-grandfather, from 1880 during the 2nd Afghan War.

2nd April busy looking then coming up quickly execution and he accepted his fate Almost nothing required by the and stabbing one in the back. Fine with the most perfect coolness. European troops are to be got in handsome men. No women are ever Afghanistan, which renders a war seen, except very old ones, and even 7the June such as we are now engaged in they generally wear the Yashmak or The last idea the Ghazis have taken a fearfully difficult and expensive veil. Lieutenant Willis of the Artillery up is to send quite young boys to matter. Transport animals are in was murdered in broad daylight by make the attack as naturally men thousands - camels, horses, bullocks, a Ghazi. The Ghazis are fanatical hesitate to deal out summary justice, ponies and donkeys. Beside these, Mohammedans who bind themselves even in self defense, on a child. some 3,000 cavalry and artillery by vows to kill one or more of the horses and about 1000 horses, the infidels (that is us) and thereby 11th June properties of officers, to be fed every earn a positive certainty of going The heat is very much greater these day. straight to heaven. They are perfectly last few days. On one occasion 124 (F) indifferent as to whether they lose in the shade. 11th April their own lives in the attempt. Real Into Quetta. Houses after the English Ghazis never use fire-arms, only 3Oth June fashion have sprung up. The Civil swords or long Afghan knives and Ayoub Khan has, it is said, about 10 Authorities, of course, say the people always try for a personal hand-to- times a larger force than we have. It like our Administration, but I doubt hand encounter. Everyone carries is thought by the Political People he it, as they are a very independent loaded revolvers. The soldiers have will endeavour to come to terms with lot, and prefer, I think, injustice and to fix their bayonets and altogether us, put in his claim for the Amirship oppression from their own people we live in a regular state of siege. and say he does not want to fight. than justice and order after an The Viceroy has ordered up another English pattern. Sun 25th April complete Brigade from the reserves. The Chief Administrator is a Service in the open. The men are great supporter of pushing forward formed up three sides of a square 5th July our frontier into Afghanistan and - a pile of drums acts as reading desk Infantry Brigade marched this interfering in the internal arrangements and pulpit. Everyone is fully armed morning. For the extra Ammunition of that country. I think we have gone ready for business at a moment's alone, there were 250 ponies and much too far in that direction. notice. bullocks.

22nd April 26th May 11th July In the distance, the grey mud walls Another attempt by a Ghazi to earn Endeavouring to make Citadel of Kandahar. In many shops cheap Martyrdom. He was brought in a safe. General Stewart set his face Birmingham and Manchester goods prisoner. He said he had sold his against any Military Precautions, 'as are exposed for sale. We cannot go cow to buy a sword and was very the people were friendly to us'. The into shops, as the people have a sorry he had not killed the infidel. whole position is, strictly speaking, nasty trick of watching till a person is He was handed over for immediate untenable. 13th July to flight. Both Generals were said to and soon he was more composed. At Much excitement in the city, and the be dead. Enough to shock the stoutest 7pm I followed the last of the force merchant, jewellers etc. are hiding hearts and nerves. As we left camp into the citadel and shut the gates. and burying their property, which we began to meet fugitives, a more And so began a fresh act of this means they don't believe in our terrible sight I never witnessed. All extremely painful drama. power to defend the city. organization and discipline gone, each man, European or native, careful of 3rd Aug 15th July nothing but getting into safety. Since My birthday; 44 today. I could not News arrived from the Wali. The 4pm the previous day marching with help thinking much of all the dear whole of his army left him taking a cruel enemy on all sides, shooting ones at home, and feeling sure I with them the battery of guns our and stabbing every man who, too would not be forgotten on this day Government had been so idiotic to wearied to drag on, sat down for a especially. I have a camp bed up on give him. As there is a large number moment's rest. In the whole distance the walls. No one undresses, and of evilly-disposed men in the city of 50 miles, they had found water only sleep is taken in small snatches. we moved two 40-pounder guns in twice. I have never seen the retreat of position to shell the city. The great a panic stricken military force before. The diary ends on 11 Aug. On 16 objection to returning fire in a street, This retreat excelled in terror any than August, Henry Francis Brooke was it is always the unfortunate children I ever read of. Each inch of the road, killed in the attack on Deh Kojah. On and women who suffer, and not the until they met my little force, had 25th August his body was recovered men who deserve it. to be fought for against a set of and buried under a peepal tree. On blood thirsty savages, sooner than 31st August Sir F. Roberts marched 28th July fall in whose hands, several men shot into Kandahar and raised the siege. In Waswokeat 1.30am. Information of the themselves. 1881, the British Army left Afghanistan total annihilation of General Burrows' Almost last of all came poor never to return until the present time force. A great battle had been fought Burrows himself, who completely when there are again British and Irish the previous day; after holding out for broke down when he saw me and forces in that country. 5 hours under a terrible fire the whole could not say a word. I made him get force had been broken up and taken off his horse and take a little whiskey Roger Philimore

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HAVING LIVED ALL MY LIFE in we lived was the 'Lithostrotos' travelling from one area to another. this country, it was nice to get the which is mentioned in Scripture. One other place of special interest opportunity to spend a few months This was on the Via Dolorosa - Way located within the Jewish quarter is in Jerusalem in the Spring of 2001. I of Sorrows - which ultimately led the Western Wall or Wailing Wall as was part of a class of about 60 people up the hill to Calvary. You would it was once known. It is, in fact, the from many different countries all see groups following the way of remaining piece of wall of the first over the world. We took a course the Cross, especially on Fridays, for temple which was destroyed by the in the study of the Bible and this the different stations are marked Romans. It is a sacred place for the Jews included field trips to various biblical along the route ending with the Holy where they pray bobbing the head and places of interest especially those Sepulchre. It was thronged during upper body down and up in repeated mentioned in the scriptures. Holy Week, especially on Thursday, motion, lamenting the passing of the Israel is a fairly small country now Friday and Saturday. The procession temple. They come there in droves, - about the size of Munster. The Sinai with palm branches on Palm Sunday some wearing prayer shawls but nearly is part of Egypt and so a day's journey from the Mount of Olives was a all bearing the distinctive Jewish look would take you to anywhere within most memorable experience - much with long locks and little small caps. the country. A troubled country it is chanting, singing and waving of There is a strict segregation of the as we know from the news. One very branches. The donkey seemed sexes at the wall. It is quite amusing noticeable thing was the number oblivious of it all. and entertaining to watch their antics of young army personnel. They Another memorable experience as they gather in large numbers every were everywhere in droves around was the walk on Holy Thursday evening, but especially on Fridays - the Jerusalem, on the s’treets, on the evening from Gethsemane to the eve of the Sabbath. buses and most of them carried guns. accepted site of the house of Caiphas Only very rarely did we see them - the High Priest at the time of Much to offer called into action, but their presence the arrest of Jesus. This is also the Israel has many interesting places was a deterrent, I'm sure. The cost traditional site of the denial of Peter for the tourist. The district known of running such an army must be a (Mark14:72). In the crypt of this as Gallilee in the North is the most huge financial burden on the sate church are the ancient caves where it fertile and attractive region of Israel. of Israel. is said Christ spent the night before They cultivate the fruits there, mainly In Jerusalem, the Holy City, there being brought to Pontius Pilate. grapes, oranges and olives. They grow are two cities, really, the old and a lot of vegetables and corn also. Olive the new. The new is like any modern An embracing city Oil is one of their greatest exports. The city, shops, office blocks and lots of Jerusalem has a lure about it. The Sea of Gallilee is probably the greatest traffic. The old city is the interesting walls of the old city enclose without tourist attraction after Jerusalem. The place and this is where we lived. It is a dominating, limit but do not define. fish there are called Peter fish and we walled city built on a hill. There is no The impression of strength is an know why. They are lovely to eat in traffic in most of it for nearly all the illusion, for the city is not a fortress fact. The lake is surrounded on the streets are stepped in cobblestone and its walls are not a barrier but North and East by elevated land that and they are very narrow. Just walk a kind of veil. The visitor is drawn affords stunning views. Indeed the around and admire the many, many towards it, challenged and finally Golan Heights are surrounding it and shops and stalls. The study of the embraced. There are seven distinct we remember when our troops were various kinds of dress, expressions gates on the Old City wall, each on peace-keeping duty there. and behaviour is an occupation in bearing a particular name: St. If you live in a Muslim country, itself. If you shop there you had Stephen's; Herod's; Damascus; New; expect to be awoken at day break better know the value of things. Jaffa; Sion; Dung Gate. The three for the first call to prayer. We tried Even the most wary get fooled. We great religions of the world converge various methods ranging from ear were told not to buy anything for at within the Old City walls - Christian, plugs to cotton wool, but all to no least two weeks. Muslim and Jewish. avail. Total deafness would be the There are four quarters within the only way out. Way of the Cross Old City: Christian, Muslim, Jewish and In the cellar of the house where Armenian, but there is no difficulty in Fr. Frank Larkin Is iomai buachaill, lufar laidir, Achaithfeadh clai, sconnsa no bearna, Elly McCooke: 'Bheadh ag siul an tsraid trathnona Agus a bheadh ag dul faoin bhfod la Last of Kinvara's native Irish speakers arnamharach. his political party. Her patriotism (There are many strong athletic sprung from a genuine love of her boys who would jump a wall, a country and her heritage and had hedge or a gap, who would be nothing to do with the hope of found walking on the road in the rewards which some others hope afternoon and who would be dead to gain from 'involvement'. Such the following day.) cynicism was something Eibhlin could not abide or understand. Galar agus tri fichead Elly often recited the following 'Ta os cionn an peacach, beautiful (pre-journey) prayers. 'Paidir 6 rugadh e go dte se i dtalamh; roimh Aistear' she called each of them. Agus nil fhios ce'n ceann acu a thabharfas chun an reilg e. In ainm an Athar le bua, Agus an Mhic a d'fhulaing an phian, (Every sinner will experience sixty one Muire agus a Mac illnesses, and no one knows which Go raibh liom ar mo thriall one of them will be responsible for his going to the grave). Cuirfidh mise mo mhuinin agus mo dhochas as Mac De, An te nar mhuin Dia na an duine, As na tri Aspail Aingli ortha; muinfidh an saol e. ELLY MC COOKE'S death is an Is mo sin agus is cumhachtai i gCathair (The person who will not be led by historic milestone in the history of na Gloire; God or man, will learn the lesson Kinvara. She was the last native Irish Ag iarraidh ar Dhia agus an from life). speaker in the parish but, happily Mhaighdean Ghlormhar for her community, she passed on a Me a chumhdach, me a choimead Ni rachaidh an fial go hifreann go wealth of songs, proverbs, prayers agus me a shabhail, rachaidh grian go grinneal. and riddles in our native language. Agus me a thabhairt slan, (Ere a generous person goes to hell, She composed 'agallaimh beirte' Gach uile bothar agus bealach da the sun will sink to the floor of the (dramatic dialogues) with the late ngabhfaidh me. sea). Padraig Mac Conmara of Erris in Co. Mayo, who lived in Mountscribe, Ar dhuirt Eibhlin na paidreacha sin The Scoil Eigse in Doorus in which and they performed them to acclaim sul ar cailleadh i ar 29 Nollaig na Elly participated until the early 1970s in venues in Conamara. Eibhlfn bliana seo caite? Is ag Dia amhain came together to exchange their absorbed the values, depth and ata a fhios sin. Ach bheadh na stories, recall their shared history, wisdom of her heritage. Yet she paidreacha sin, agus paidreacha eile, remind one another of the songs, never advanced in school beyond the ag dul trina ceann an fhaid is bhi proverbs and customs which were primary level. Her knowledge, deep ciall agus reasun aici. 'Se is doichi go once an integral part of life in this Christianity and genuine interest in raibh si ullmhaithe don turas do na area. We remember these custodians others have humbled many 'better- Flaithis le tamall fada sular tharraing of our language and heritage with educated' people who have met her. si a hanail deiridh. pride:- Micheal 6 Cuinn (mar aon le In more recent times she Nora agus Bridie), Sean Mac Gloinn, participated in concerts hosted A wealth of proverbs and lore Micheal 6 Maoldomhnaigh, Caitlin during Cruinniu na mBad festivals Recalling Eibhlin's 'seanfhocla', prayers, Ni Fhearghail, Peadar 6 Mochain, by An t-Amhran Beo. Two years songs and stories gives us an insight Padraig 6 Suilleabhain, Padraig O ago, Professor Joe Watson of U.C.D. into the mind, spirituality and values hEidhin, Padraig 6 Cuaigh, Padraig launched a collection of her songs and of a profound and simple, wise and 6 Conchubhair, Mairtin 6 Maonaigh, storiescompiled by Caoilte Breatnach. trusting, generous and loving, patriotic, Liam 6 Caomhanaigh, Tomas O But she will be remembered, above unique individual. The Jansenism Lionnain, Micheal 6 Lionnain. Go everything else, for her kindness and Puritanism which afflicted many gcuiti Dia a saothar leo uilg. to friends and strangers alike, for Catholics from the nineteenth century her pride in her heritage, for her and throughout much of the last Eibhlin's death has left our community Christian values and for the joyful century was not to be found in her, as much poorer for her passing. But we sharing of her wisdom, knowledge evidenced in some of her more ribald can gain inspiration from her life, her and creativity. songs. Against that was a philosophical idealism and her love and warmth And she was a patriotic woman, outlook on life evidenced in sayings for others, especially, but not only, devoted and loyal to De Valera and such as the following:- her family. Toddie Byrne

Tireless worker worked hard to have the Community At a time of widespread emigration Centre built in 1979. He helped with and unemployment, a Handcraft Community Games, Tidy Towns, Social Cooperative was formed in Kinvara. Services and many other projects. Toddie took a risk in leaving his He promoted swimming through permanent teaching position to be his sponsorship of the Green Island its full-time manager. It soon proved Swim. He also supported Cruinniu an outstanding success, becoming a na mBad and was its treasurer for a sizeable export business in knitted number of years. garments, crystal and other He delighted audiences in the handcrafts, and in supplying other Community Centre with his many enterprises. It supplied fertilisers roles in dramas and concerts. His and seeds to the farming community, sense of community is summed up opened a boatyard where boats were in a line which he had in the most built and repaired and a building celebrated play created and produced unit was also established. After a in Kinvara, Manu - The Ballad of period, Toddie returned to his chosen Kilmarrrach: "You're one of us now, profession and succeeded the late Miss. No more strangers now." Kieran Moylan as principal of Doorus National School. Credit Union Toddie's vision extended beyond Toddie became a major driving force TODDIE BYRNE, who passed away on his immediate community, and he in the development of the local credit April 6th was a friend to everyone, stood as a candidate for Galway union, established in 1992 by Kinvara a benefactor of many worthwhile County Council. He succeeded on his Community Council. As treasurer causes, a wise counsellor, and a first attempt, and became its first he helped lay the foundation for committed community worker. His Fine Gael chairman in 1980. Diligent its impressive growth. He resigned community, in all its aspects, was and wise in his judgments, he was in 2004 but continued as an active his life. He was, above all, a man highly thought of by members of member of the Credit Committee, who loved his family and who, all political parties. He served on serving right up to a week before his with Grainne, raised his children to many committees, including the death. have the same spirit of service and County Galway Vocational Education Toddie's love of the history and friendship to others which imbued Committee, which he chaired for a heritage of his community is evident his life. numberofyears. Hewasalsochairman from the various articles he submitted Toddie trained as a teacher and of the Board of Management of over the years for Tracht magazine. It after a brief spell in County Mayo, Gort Community School and always is regrettable that he did not live to he was appointed principal of was available to its principal and see the publication of his major work Killomoron National School. He was Board to help in whatever way he on the history of Kinvara G.A.A. an active member of Kinvara G.A.A. could. For the past few years he was Due out later this year, it will give and the local guild of Muintir na Tire. chairman of Mervue N.S. Board of satisfaction and happiness to many. He worked tirelessly with others to Management. An avid gardener, Toddie took raise funds to buy and develop the Toddie stood for the Dail on a a justifiable pride in his beautiful land on which Faiche Padraig, the number of occasions but the garden. He will also be missed in Kinvara hurling pitch, now stands. geographical location militated Tully's, where he regaled all with his The annual marquee dancing carnival against him. He was successful, banter or with a rendition of such was the main fundraiser and this however, in being elected to Seanad songs as The Ould Plaid Shawl. He entailed working at leastthree nights Eireann on two occasions, on the was a good listener, a great friend. a week at many different tasks to Labour panel. He could be a formidable adversary ensure its success. but never held a grudge. The mark An accomplished hurler, Toddie's Commitment to community of a truly great man. None realise this greatest satisfaction was in promoting Toddie will be remembered, above more than his loving wife Grainne, the game, at all levels. He held many all, for his total and committed his six sons, two daughters and his positions in Kinvara Hurling Club and involvement in many areas of 10 grandchildren. Criostai amach is at county level, and became president community life in Kinvara. He was amach ab ea e. I mease na naomh of the County Board in 2005. active in the Community Council and go raibh se. Mikey Flanagan

MIKE FLANAGAN of Ballyclera village the lovingly grown produce of his passed away on 1 October 2004 to garden. He was born and bred in the great loss of his beloved niece Ballyclera, the son of Mary Joyce Mamie Linnane and other relatives and James Flanagan. He had two and friends. Everyone knew him and brothers, John and Patrick, and a wherever he came, he drew a crowd sister Mary Kate; all predeceased who enjoyed his good nature, yarns him. The following poem explores and songs. His door was always open the fondness we all had for Mikey for the chat and he could discuss Joe and his many talents including farming, politics and other issues his love for singing. with the best. Liz Forde who grew up near Mikey fondly remembers Michael Joseph Flanagan born 4^ "how his mind was as busy as his May 1921, "gone to the headland" generous hands were in giving on 1st October 2004. Hearth and Home (for Mikey Flanagan)

Every time I see a log fire this Fall in Michigan, I knew you'd see the summer out. I see your face Mikey Flanagan and we're back But there might not have been much to laugh about beside the hearth in Ballyclera where you brought me in. and you were a man that liked to laugh. "We never got the range in," you explain, Still I feel your presence everywhere, as though the range was just a recent fashion. so take a peep at where your brother might have come The fire was on the floor where it had always been, and see if you did not have the better share. harmonious with the old ways and practical too. "I like to put big branches on, it saves the saw blade." The farm in the village with its garden for the cabbage and the spuds, the cattle, Over here I measure every lit hearth and the little hills covered with thorn, against that cheery Ballyclera blaze. and spread with rock flowers and white bloom in the spring. I wonder why it's you I grieve so far away? And never one day the same as the last. Didn't we send you off just nicely in the cold October The singing in the bars rain? and the walk home to bed at all hours A throng of friendly neighbours, niece and cousins. until the road got busy only in the last few years. Wasn't there even music at the grave? The friendships old and new, A soft air on the flute and a farewell song and no time wasted on quarrels. for a man who loved to sing himself. The farming life, the single life, Though we didn't brave the soaking I admit. it didn't suit them all, but it suited you "We'll not see their like again"- truly spoken I see again the door thrown open wide, by Frank the parish priest in the Gaelic tongue. the welcome shouted when you heard the step Somehow that was not enough. upon the threshold "Come in, come in I seem to have you with me on this trip. Those magic words that kept you sane and kept the world's traffic to your door. It must be the story that you told that day of your brother Patrick's card one Christmastime Where Patrick's days were ended, sent from Southampton and sailing for New York. none of us now know. That was the last you heard of him, Could be here on Irish Row, Roscommon County save some sketchy news that filtered back, beside Lake Michigan, some injury sustained while driving. where the South Ausable river winds through stunted pine, How he fared, how long he lived, where winter has a five month frozen spell, you never knew, but reckoned he'd be gone by now. and no horizon's ever seen. Curiosity to know his fate must oftentimes have crossed Enough to know that you had the better deal. your mind. Through these shared eyes we prove the test. Rest now old Mikey, I'll warm the memory And how you know we're here I cannot guess. at every hearth aflame. I avoided calling up those last few weeks. "Brave Injun" that you were, Roger Phillimore Donough Forde DONOUGH veterinary medicine at U.C.D., as did Donough excelled at every sport in FORDE is his bother, Liam, who pre-deceased which he participated. He was inter­ remembered him. While there, Donough won varsity middleweight boxing champion as a great a county club championship medal for two years running and in 1949 he vet who was with Clann na nGael and came to was the Irish Decathlon Champion. committed in the attention of the Dublin senior Following his qualification in 1951, an extraordinary football selectors. After playing Donough worked in England, Achill, way to helping for a year with the Dubs he was Loughrea and Gort, before setting the farmers of called upon by his native county. He up his own practice in Kinvara. He the area. His won a county championship medal was the first vet to be based in courtesy and there, also, with Eire Og, and for the Kinvara and the farming community kindness left a lasting impression following four years he gave sterling quickly adopted him as their own. on all he met. He endeared himself county service, and he was on the His care and advice, given at all hours to everyone - his clients, their last Antrim team to win the Ulster of the day and night, contributed in families, the company he met when championship, in 1951. Hewastowin no small way to the improvement of socialising. another provincial title when he was animal welfare and standards. He Donough was born in Braide, selected on the Galway intermediate retired in 1998. Ballymena, County Antrim, one hurling team which won the Munster A remarkable man, Donough was of a family of five children whose championship in 1962, but which lost a great vet, convivial company, a parents were highly thought of as out narrowly in the all-lreland final. devoted husband, a loving father. He teachers by both the Protestant and For Kinvara, he played both hurling is missed by his loving wife, Phyllis, Catholic communities. His secondary and football with distinction. He by his sons, Sean and Donough, his schooling was at St. Malachy's also played with Fr. Griffin's senior daughters, Roisin and Siobhan and College, Belfast. He studied football team in Galway city. by his many admiring grandchildren. Sr. Laurence Treacy WIDESPREAD SHOCK AND SORROW received her teacher training in Sion Champion' every week were the followed the unexpected death of Hill Training College, Dublin. On sports pages! Sr. Laurence. She had spent her qualifying as a teacher she was sent Sr. Laurence did not confine whole life as a teacher and principal to Seamount where she spent her herself to the convent and education. in Kinvara and she became a fully entire career. During the last 10 years She was a very active member of integrated and committed person in of her life (in ’retirement'!) she was the community, involved in various the wider community. as committed as ever to education, committees and projects. She was Born in 1929, she was reared on a to the Mercy ethos and success of active on the Community Council and farm in Scariff, with her two sisters Seamount College and to her work gave great help in raising funds to and three brothers and was sent as on its Board of Management. Her build the Community Centre in the a boarder to St. Joseph's Secondary total commitment was evident in late 'seventies. She visited people School in Gort. On completing her her teaching, in her management in their homes and gave moral Leaving Certificate she joined the and in her perfectionism in all work, and practical support to families Mercy Sisters. Some years later she including cooking, sweeping, or in difficulties. After retirement washing and cleaning. she visited the nursing home in Sr. Laurence saw three generations Cloughballymore about three times go through Seamount. She knew all a week, where she knew all the the pupils and their parents by name. residents by name. She was considered strict but fair and Kinvara and other communities always approachable. throughout Ireland have been She was good company and rehabilitated, educated and enriched enjoyed a well-told story or a joke. by having religious such as the Mercy She got great satisfaction from Sisters. The lifelong and dedicated her embroidery, tapestry, cooking, commitment of persons such as Sr. gardening and art. She was an avid Laurence Treacy should never be fan of the Clare hurling team and forgotten. May she and all the Mercy she enjoyed traveling to matches in sisters who served in Kinvara know Limerick, Thurles and Dublin. The eternal thanks in Heaven and in the first pages she read in the 'Clare community they faithfully served. Tommy Corless, Dunguaire ANYONE who died in childhood. His father was known for his careful driving and his ever met Tommy Thomas Corless of Mountscribe and courtesy on the road. was impressed his mother was Mary Burns, an Irish He married Nora Lyons of Toureen by his quiet speaker from Glenina. The family and they had four children, Edward, wit, sense of lived in the village of Dunguaire. Kevin, Doreen, and Majella and he was humour, his When he left school, Tommy the proud grandfather of Kilian who is friendliness and worked as a helper to Tom Quinn, a said to bear a remarkable resemblance determination haulier in Kilcolgan, and after some to him. He was a great friend and to help. When years, began driving the truck. After neighbour. He enjoyed visiting and he one got to his employer died, 30 years ago, he brought happiness and good humour know him bought his own lorry. Until last year, into every house he entered. better his sense of duty, shown in he served his community through Tommy was diagnosed as having his punctuality and reliability, allied carrying seaweed to Conamara and lung cancer about a year and a half to his commitment to his religious Kilrush, bringing turf to Kinvara, ago. He accepted his condition in a observance, proved there was a cattle to and from the marts in truly Christian manner and he was an depth and strength in his character Gort and other places and carrying outstanding support to friends and which is not common in society. various other commodities, including acquaintances visited with the same He was born in 1935, the eldest builders' sand, cement blocks, disease. His died on 27th January of eight children, two of whom potatoes, etc. Tommy was well- 2006, and may he rest in peace.

Deaths: 2004 2005 Marriages: December January January Richard Cocollas & 2003 Kathleen Farrell Raymond Monahan 2003 Catherine Forde March Frank Fahy Johnny Sullivan March Gerard O'Donoghue Michael McInerney Ellen Fahy February Thomas Webb & & Sinead Morgan April February John Paul O'Connor Margaret Sullivan Mary McInerney Agnes O'Connor March Kevin Corless& 2004 May Bridget Quinn Angela Callanan Caroline Finnegan February Breda Mara April April June Paul Tierney & June James Ralph Paddy Fallon Brian Crossan & Clare Moroney Marty Fallon Norah Bligh May Sharon Tannian April July May Desmond O'Moore July David Noone & Edel Peggy Nolan Estie Sexton August Kevin Lynam & Quinn September July Sr. Laurence Treacy Mary J Huban James O'Grady & Mary Kate Brann Martin Kelly September August Brid Linnane Paddy O'Loughlin Peter St George Patrick Halvey Roy Bermingham & Michael Roughan & Mattie Quinn Gerry Donohue Sean Kelly Mary T Assheton Deborah Fahy Martin Brann Paddy Flatley October Patrick Huban & May Kathleen August Elisabeth Connolly Nicola McCormack Paul Gunning & O'Donoghue Jim Hehir December Patrick Conole & Helen Grant October Michael Mahon Evelyn McCooke Margaret Quinn June Danny Fordham November Cilian Roden & Dermot Tynan & John Leech Ambrose McNulty 2006 Sabine Springer Lara O'Connell November October January September July Peter Callanan Michael Flanagan Tommy Corless Alan Summers & Kieran Cullinane & Martin Linnane December February Michelle McShane Aileen Forde David Callanan Tom Bohannon Michael O'Loughlin October Graham Martin & December March Hilary Mulvey & Aideen Blackwell Thomas Ryan Donagh Forde Kevin Sexton Ronald Knott & Patrick Mulkerrins Philip Arcova & Patricia Norton Jim Kelly Karin Conroy August Peter Fahy November Patrick Roberts & April Michael Kilkelly & Tara Stynes Toddie Byrne Lisa Kelly Marriages: Births: 2004 February Oisin Cahill Co nt. January Jacob Lascarr 2002 Oisin Ivers 2004 Lainey O'Flaherty July March September April March Niall Jordan & Senan Thomas Paul Brennan & Isabelle Tierney Mia Conneely O'Connor Dunford Karina Finn Anna Marie Hynes May October 2003 Ella O'Donoghue Jamie Gunning Sandor Pomp & August January May June Emer Mary Forde Kevin Killoran & Eoin Madden Holly & Harry Byrne Lorcan Heavey Paul Moran & Cliona Murphy Catherine Maddison July April Deirdre Burke September Conor O'Dwyer Tara Forde Rebecca Patterson Dermot Burke & David McGuinness & Ivan Donnelly-White August July Kate Madden Felicity O'Shea Niamh Murphy March Lorna Bermingham Jason Meyler Donal Keegan & John Mara & Clare Gemma Lascarr September Murphy Cara Mongan August Amanda Browne April Rhiannon Dalton October October November Evan Deveney Zoe Rodgers Liam Maddison Stephen Kennedy & David Huban & Brid Aoibhin Twomey September Sheila Fallon Keane June Ethan Sexton Sadhbh Breathnach Michael English & Lucy Fitzpatrick November November 2005 Paula Monaghan August Fiona Byrne Cormac Ivers January November Cathal Fordham Rebecca Monaghan December John Connolly & Stephen Higgins & September Niall O'Donoghue Lara Kilkelly Pamela Yosh Marie Keane Niamh Fahy December 2006 April Caoimhe Fahy Andrea O'Leary January Paul Canning & 2006 October Killian Thomas February Corless Grace Bermingham Josephine Vesey Stephen Mahon February Peter Parsons & Garret Grogan & December Osgar Colman Ann McCormack 2005 Rina Keane Alannah Monaghan O'Connor Dunford January March Cathal Mongan Ellen Bermingham

following a number of public meetings to gauge local interest. The Broadband in Kinvara society's first AGM was held in June BROADBAND has the potential to is not economically viable for any of 2005 with 49 registered members. benefit many areas of our lives both the wholesale providers to attempt The Kinvara Group Broadband Society at work and at home. A fast, 'always- to connect rural communities to their have utilised wholesale, commercial on' internet connection provides real network. The telephony infrastructure IP networks using licensed fixed radio advantages, and the internet offers a does not lend itself to DSL, given the access technology in nearby Galway to wide range of opportunities for local wired distance from the local exchange link to the community-based network communities to support themselves. and the distributed geography of for distribution to our subscribers A Broadband makes the Internet a the area. Alternative options such as significant percentage of the members more satisfying experience, with less satellite broadband have met with intend to work from home so latency waiting and more surfing. Broadband little success due to the high costs was a concern in choosing backhaul. services have the potential to enhance involved and the problems of latency, As the infrastructure is still being productivity, competitiveness and which makes virtual private networks established, membership is now closed open new markets. For example, and voice over IP unusable. to facilitate connectivity of existing broadband enables delivery of new/ Tired of waiting for a service members. Support and maintenance telephone calls (using voice-over- provider to facilitate broadband in are all carried out on a voluntary basis internet-protocol - VOIP) and video the area, a local group undertook - this obviously impacts on the speed on demand services. to create a network locally under at which the network can be rolled the Government Group Broadband out, as do the difficulties associated Broadband in Kinvara - Kinvara scheme. This was achieved by with deploying any new technology. Group Broadband Society creating a co-operative society As this network is entirely owned The Kinvara area had been trying to which utilises technologies such as and supported by co-op members secure broadband Internet access for WiFi to link members' homes and its destiny is controlled locally. a number of years with no real success. businesses in the area. The Society For any further information visit Whilst Galway is now spoilt for choice was formed after an expression of www.kgbb.net in terms of wholesale bandwidth, it interest towards the end of 2004 Enda Morgan THE QUILTY ROOM RESTAURANT Serves excellent fresh fare every evening, catering for small & large parties for all occasions M’ASAL BEAG DUBH BAR Bar Food Daily 12.00 - 8.00pm Let us ’’entertain you” every weekend The best of Local & visiting musicians & singers provide a festival of lively entertainment every weekend at the M’Asal Beag Dubh Bar ------OUR CHOICE

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Pride of KINVARA'S FUN RUN Place award A cuckoo on a bicycle - all the rest on foot A motley crowd you might well say, to see them on the route. KINVARA WAS RUNNER-UP in the Co­ The May weekend is now well known for Kinvara's Music Fest operation Ireland's Pride of Place Awards The Fleadh's the place to hear great tunes - but Sunday's not for rest! in 2005. These awards recognise efforts Get up, get out! Your runners on - young or not so young. by communities to create civic pride in At 12 o'clock, sign in to say you'll take part in the 'run' their area. Ninety towns and villages from the Republic and Northern Ireland, The children have collected - many adults too - nominated by their local authority, took Monies paid or promised so the 'Centre' can be good as new. part in the competition. Kinvara's award The weather makes no difference - better not too hot - in the small towns category reflected the The run goes on as usual - rain gear on or not! activities and progress made in Kinvara Smiling faces, an eager crowd, enthusiastic talk. over the preceding three years. Not feeling fit? No problem, if you can't run - then walk! The judges were given a formal Ready now, kids at the front, give everyone a chance! presentation in the boardroom of the Fire the gun, away they go, not a second glance. Credit Union and then taken on a The route's the same - leave the Pier, circumnavigate the town walk of the village, meeting key people 10K's the distance, uphill first, some flat and some 'run down' involved in the projects along the way. A scenic route, it really is - you'll enjoy this lovely place Aspects which influenced their As you gather speed or take your time and find your ideal pace. decision were community involvement in the new Credit Union building, the Encouraging men and women, you'll see along the route. restoration of St Coleman's parish Some water will be offered and a juicy wedge of fruit. church, plansto renovate the Community The cuckoo on the bicycle will inevitably appear. Centre and to provide creche facilities. As you make your way around the course, he'll be bringing up the rear. Each judge received samples of local Nearly there now, there's the castle coming into view. publications and was informed about You've done so well, it won't be long - another mile or two. locally-organised festivals such as the The water's on your right now. Seamount on your left. Fleadh in May and Cruinniu in August. No regrets, it's a good cause and you have done your best. Heritage and art projects included the Town Map and Walking Guide, children's The finishing line is there ahead, who's winner for this year? folklore books, the mosaic artwork at The trophy looks so good to have - the Castle in miniature. the quay, boat information plaques on A lovely souvenir to keep till next year's day of fun. the pier and the sculpted sailing boat. An But taking part's the important thing overview of the ongoing archaeological Enjoy Kinvara's FUN RUN! work on St Coman's Church and graveyard Kathleen Kenny was also presented. The schools exhibition and green flags were impressive in creating environmental awareness. New local initiatives include the provision of a community-based wireless broadband for the town. The Kinvara Bay Sailing Club founded to teach young people to sail also captured the spirit of community. The effort made by the community in creating the Town Plan with County Galway Council was a key factor in presenting a vision of the community's aspiration for the future. This award is a great honour for the town and reflects the huge amount of work done not just by the Community Council, but by a wide range of local people in a number of different projects over the past three years. L to R: Ronan Keane and Glenn Campbell Liz Murphy New Burren initiatives

Kinvara is a town with many traits to commend itself to the resident and visitor alike: its music, its culture, its people, its seaside location, and not least its proximity to the internationally renowned Burren region, which provides the town with such a spectacular and intriguing backdrop. While acting as one of the primary entry points to the region for Burren visitors, and one of the main business and shopping centres for Burren residents, Kinvara's association with the Burren remains understated. Two recent initiatives are working to bridge this gap.

than having the audacity to tell them what to do and how to do it. The project also shuns the strictly 'academic' approach in favour of more practically-focussed work. It encourages flexibility of approach, the key to diversity. In an age of regulation and designation, this amounts to a simple, practical, yet innovative approach.

Agriculture still a key industry In spite of recent changes, agriculture remains one of the key industries in the hinterland of Kinvara. It is at the very heart of the culture of the Burren, and we now know that it also plays a key role in sustaining the heritage of the area. This is not to mention farming's traditional role in THE BURRENBEO PROJECT opened Service), aimed at protecting the food production - the area is famed its Burren resource centre and cafe habitats of the Burren and supporting for the quality of its beef and lamb - in Main Street, Kinvara in August the farm families who play such a key an important resource at a time when 2005. The centre showcases Burren role in their conservation. avian flu, BSE and the proliferation of products and services, and offers The bread and butter work of GMOs increase public demands for people - locals and visitors alike - a the four-member BurrenLIFE project improved 'food security'. unique insight into the Burren. It also team involves working closely Unfortunately, in the opinion of supports Burrenbeo's key activities with a number of Burren farmers, many experts, the future for our of providing information and exploring ways of refining their farming industry is bleak. We need to educational services for the Burren, farm systems (grazing and feeding recognise what it is we stand to lose building on the huge success of its regimes) to help protect the habitats -socially, culturally, and economically website www.burrenbeo.com on their farms. The impacts of - and work to create a sustainable these modified farming practices future for our farmers. The rich and Farming for Conservation are closely monitored to determine diverse habitats and heritage of the Another new project, 'BurrenLIFE how they impact not just on the Burren provides a unique opportunity - Farming for Conservation in the habitats, but on the farmers' time in this regard: the BurrenLIFE project Burren' has begun operation from and finances. Other project actions hopes to provide the key to unlocking Carron village, a few miles south include educational, marketing and this potential so that the farmers of of Kinvara. Underway since early promotional initiatives. the Burren and their heritage will be 2005, the 5-year, EU-funded project The project has generated a there for the generations of Kinvara is a unique partnership between lot of interest nationally because residents and visitors to come. More Burren farmers and agricultural and of its approach of working hand information at www.burrenlife.com environmental specialists (Teagasc in hand with farmers, building on and the National Parks and Wildlife their knowledge and ideas rather Brendan Dunford

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