Louisburgh HQ News

th 20 July 2012 2012- Issue 7

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts ” So says Aristotle and Louisburgh HQ

Bundling? Bike Appeal In this weather, one could be forgiven for thinking that ‘bundling’ is another term for layers of clothing applied to cope with variable weather conditions. Or perhaps Due to unpredicted demand for we associate it with phones or internet cost efficient bundles. In tourism it is a phrase used to capture the notion that a visitor likes to experience as much as children’s bike hire Louisburgh HQ is possible in a place, preferably pre-booked or easily arranged on arrival: a bundle asking for the loan or DONATION of of experiences. any children’s bikes that may be cluttering up sheds and garages In HQ’s first week of operation, we managed to do this, without realizing it at the locally. time! A family staying in a house in and intending to make the most of Westport and the Greenway, happened upon HQ on the Monday. They left the The bikes need to be in full working building having booked two workshops, hired two bikes for a morning, bought an order and in good condition. item in the craft gallery, subsequently did surfing, horse-riding, bought in the butchers, the Gala and dined in a local restaurant. They went back to their home- county very happy to have spent an entire week in the environs of Louisburgh All kids’ sizes considered and will be and will return. They bundled and HQ was able to make that happen because needed for a period of about six there was information at hand to encourage them to stay. weeks. In the first ten days of being open, the advertised workshops during the week Call in or ring Louisburgh HQ on 087 were hugely successful. The Foraging workshop (in the Old Head woodland) has 780 2615. been a great activity for tourists and locals alike. There are a lot of tourists in the area who would have done more workshops of a similar ilk or attended the following if it had been available: sheepdog trials (or even one dog rounding up The number receiving this newsletter by email sheep!!), turf cutting or stacking, guided tours of the area (on foot or in a vehicle), is 331 If you would like to be included on the fishing, fishing and more fishing, music sessions in the afternoon. mailing list send an email with the words SIGN ME UP to [email protected] Have you or your family got ‘an experience’ that is of local interest and that could be shared? An activity that could be weekly, perhaps for a morning, or afternoon, in the same manner as the Foraging workshop- maybe the teenagers are SCENIC COTTAGE musicians and need an outlet, maybe there is a tour to be done?

REQUIRED EARLY AUGUST We would love to hear from you…. We need bundles…and bundles Old fashioned (not derelict) cottage required in Louisburgh area for shooting of some scenes of a short film

Contact Louisburgh HQ with any suggestions of LOUISBURGH HQ a suitable location PROMOTING TOURISM, ENTERPRISE & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN RENT a lovely 3-bedroom 3-bathroom detached cottage in a small cosy community 5 LOUISBURGH, LECANVEY & KILLEEN minutes’ walk from the village of Louisburgh. Well equipped with linen and towels provided. Visit us at Great touring base for the West of with The Square ‘Best Place in Ireland to live’ Westport nearby. Louisburgh, Mayo

Tel 087 2929793 or email [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Louisburgh HQ News

th 20 July 2012 2012- Issue 7

Bord na nOg U8's Discovering Ireland

We'd never really considered holidaying in the west of Ireland. In hindsight, ours was While it seems the focus is mainly on the pursuits of the U18, U16, U14 and U12 the typical mindset of many who think a holiday must; Louisburgh Bord na nOg teams, be assured that (a) be sunny and hot on the Louisburgh GAA pitch every week a very (b) provide dodgy grub and cheap booze enthusiastic and talented bunch of U8s are (c) refer back to (a) laying the foundation to make their own headlines in the future. If we weren’t packed into a delayed plane full of screaming kids and complaining it was too hot (just after the air hostess opened the cabin door), we hadn't felt we'd The U8s have been playing Go Game Blitzes been away at all. Every year (sometimes twice), determined to get a tan, we promised each other we wouldn’t overdo it on the first day, then go to bed feeling like over the last months with teams from Westport, we'd just endured fifty lashes to the back. With skin whiter than snow, I'd return home Tourmakeady and . Feedback from feeling cheated every time. Then we were invited over to Ireland (well, we sort of their mentors paints a very positive picture for invited ourselves), to our friends' temporary home, while they were building their new the future of the Louisburgh GAA club. As always one just outside a little town called Louisburgh. We landed successfully at Knock we are fortunate enough to have dedicated Airport (just) and as the blood returned to my knuckles I thought what a feat it was to volunteers to manage and coach all our young land a jet on the top of a peat bog mountain… scared, me? Maybe a little... footballers. We were picked up by our friends and driven, rally-style, to Louisburgh. When my

heart calmed down, I gradually became aware of the amazing scenery racing past U8's are in the capable hands of Philip our passenger windows and the closer to the coast we got the more breathtaking it McKiernan, Eric Heneghan and Kevin O Malley. became. This was just the beginning of our love affair with the west. Kevin is a member of the U16 team and its great to see By our next trip, I think it was April the following year, our friends had now moved into him get involved in the coaching. Kevin is their new home. I mentioned that this time I'd be happy to hire a car from the Airport, but they'd have none of it. So I took some valium, had a few beers and found the popular with the U8 lads and it would be great to journey quite thrilling the second time. Or maybe I was just looking forward to getting see more of the young adults getting involved back to Louisburgh. The early sun shone and we were told the temperature was with coaching younger teams. going to be 19 degrees… that must be a record for April! We continued our journey and sat back looking forward to more local hospitality. The U8 stars are Eoin Lally, Cillian White, Patrick Needham, Dylan Wallace, We arrived in Louisburgh (via Matt Malloy's – a bit of a tradition before hitting the Darragh Heneghan, Padraig Kitterick, Richard amazing coast road). As usual on arrival, we were fed as though it was the first meal we'd eaten in weeks. The Irish love their food! And so do I! Then we actually sat in Mannion, Charlie Morrison, Ciaran Jennings, the garden overlooking and in the lovely April sunshine. We Micheal contemplated a BBQ but the pull of Evelyn Duffy's hospitality was too strong. Evelyn, Meeneghan, Ethan Clifford, Morahan O Toole, always amazes me, working behind the bar six days a week and on the seventh Darren Scanlon, Martin Mc Donnell, Kevin sitting on the other side. The banter 'round Irish bars cannot be found anywhere else Kitterick, Austin mcNicholas, Kyle Gibbons, I've been. The bars in Louisburgh with the mix of music and craic are a pure joy. Stephen Staunton, James O Malley, Jimmy Heneghan, Sean Staunton and Myles O Malley. On that second trip and after a good few pints of Guinness (if you’ve never had a Guinness in Louisburgh you’ve never had a Guinness) we strolled home up the lanes

to Derrylahan. I thought I'd gone blind it was so dark, so we just followed the voices Continued enjoyment to them all. of our friends, who'd well acclimatised by now. I really didn't want to spend the night in a ditch.

I still remember that first night of many as we got back to the house (just a little worse for wear). Before going inside I looked up and saw the most amazing night sky I have ever beheld. An inky black moonless night with a million jewels twinkling above THINGS TO DO us. Shooting stars, planets, constellations and galaxy’s like I've never witnessed before. Awe-inspiring. We spent the next half hour or so lying on the decking (like July 22nd Carrowniskey Races eejits) just looking skywards. I've lost more than a few euro coins from my pockets Beach racing on the scenic Carrowniskey Strand. Great through the gaps in the decking over the years engaging in this star-gazing - it may day out for all the family, First race at 12 noon come in handy one day. Later, when I returned home to Manchester I read up on the night sky and discovered that Louisburgh and all along the west coast of Ireland is

one of a tiny handful of places that don't suffer from light pollution. This spectacle has July 22nd Visit Clare Island Organic Salmon Sea become just one of the things I really look forward to each time I return. Site. Marine Harvest are organising a boat trip to its Clare Island Organic site on Sunday 22nd July at It's a good eight years since our first visit and we've returned to Louisburgh at least 10.30am. The trip is an event listing of ‘Feile Bia Na once a year – twice if let. The people are friendly, the beer is good, there are Mara’, of which Marine Harvest is the executive beautiful beaches and coastline, dramatic lakes and mountains and a million things sponsor this year. The boat will depart Cloughmore to do (apart from “high-stool” days). There may be frequent liquid sunshine but the warmth of the place soon evaporates it. PLUS I don’t go home with peeling skin, Pier, Achill at 10.30am on Sunday 22nd July. To reserve mosquito bites and swollen ankles. My skin remains a healthy white but I never feel a place please call 087 6331965. This will be a great cheated. opportunity to learn about organic salmon production and aquaculture. For more details visit OK we still have our forays into sunnier climes – but we've become addicted to a http://www.feilebianamara.ie/events.htm regular Louisburgh top-up, and, well, if you'll have us, we'll keep on coming back!

Louisburgh HQ News

th 20 July 2012 2012- Issue 7

MORE THINGS TO DO Services for Holiday Home Owners

Support Local GAA Teams 'ur Louisburgh HQ have been asked by a number of holiday home Tue 24th July: U16s Championship, Louisburgh v owners in this area to compile a list of service providers willing to /Carramore in Louisburgh @ 7pm. do small jobs on their homes. If you are an electrician, plumber, Thur 26th July: U14s West Championship, window cleaner, house cleaner or gardener and would like to be Louisburgh v Westport in Westport @ 7pm. Fri 27th July: U18s Summer league, Louisburgh v included on the list please call into us in Louisburgh HQ or email in Ballintubber @ 7pm [email protected].

LOUISBURGH HQ WORKSHOPS Sunday July 22nd Foraging Walk with Will 11am to 3pm. Meeting at Old Head Car Park. Bring a Being a teenager in Louisburgh is great packed lunch. €8 per adult. Children under 16 free. Family rate €15. Between the opportunities in school and the opportunities all around us - we often take them for granted! Mon 23rd Jewellery Making with Victoria Fultz 10am-1pm for the 8yr – 12yr age group €8 per child Going to the local secondary school, Sancta Maria College is really a blessing for us teenagers as the classes are small, th everyone gets along and we have lots of opportunities to do what Sun 29 Foraging Walk with Will Williams we enjoy in school. In the school we have successful volley ball 11am-3pm, meeting at Old Head Beach, bring a and football teams, many students flourish in art and enterprise, packed lunch €8 per adult, Children under 16yrs free and we stage a musical that involves everyone every year .The Family rate of €15 school is great as it really helps us teenagers grow not only

educationally but creatively and enterprisingly. The school also th Mon 30 Jewellery making with Victoria Fultz has a great reputation in music, public speaking and debating so 10am-1pm for the 12+ age group there really is something for everyone. €15 per person which covers all materials Outside school there is a lot to do as well, especially during the st Tues 31 Paper Sculpture with Anthony summer as it is tourist season and the town is buzzing. We are McNamee very lucky to be young in Louisburgh as it is easier than in most Full day workshop 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm places like larger towns or cities to get a summer job as places Open to all age groups €20 per person and this covers like restaurants and shops need the staff to cope with the all materials summer rush, and of course there are lots to do on the local farms. Drama week with Des Grealis (in Killeen) From Monday July 23rd to Friday 27th Also in summer when the weather is fine you can hang out with Des will be running morning workshops for 5-8yr olds your friends at the blue flag beaches like Carrowniskey and go and afternoon workshops for 9-12 yr olds. Call Des on surfing, kayaking or swimming, but a wetsuit is definitely 086 024 1585 essential! There are also many cycling routes you can take or even just make your own little route covering your favourite parts August 5th Guided Mountain Climb (Mweelrea) of the area. A difficult five-eight hour climb to the tallest mountain Finally I honestly feel so lucky living in Louisburgh with all the in Connaught. Contact Paul Phelan on opportunities I have. 087 629 1659 or [email protected]

Louisburgh HQ News 2012-Issue 7 20th July 2012

Letter to the Editor

Madam,

May I applaud your efforts, both for the work you are all doing and for the wealth of information in your newsletter. I much enjoyed reading Catherine Duffy’s piece in your last issue about growing up in Chapel Street. I was especially fond of three residents who had businesses on the street - Charlie Gaffney, Oliver Harney and Tom McNamara. They all befriended my family when we first came to the area in the late 1970s. Not only were they gentlemen; each was a model of kindness, as the following anecdotes may illustrate.

One morning I had to leave at about 9 a.m. and drive to Dublin to catch a flight to Vienna. As I passed through Louisburgh I realised to my horror that I didn’t have enough petrol. Oliver’s garage was not yet open, naturally enough at such an early hour! And in those days petrol stations were few and far between. What could I do? I called Oliver and explained my problem. “Drive up to the pump”, said Oliver, who came down in his pyjamas, filled me up and then went back to bed.

On another occasion, my son Gareth and I were going fly-fishing on the Bunowen and we stopped at Tom's supermarket to get some drinks to take along. “Is it salmon you're after?”, asked Tom. When I nodded, Tom told us to drop by afterwards and let him know what the fishing was like. He might venture out if they were rising. When we called in later, empty-handed as usual, for we were the worst fishermen in the west, Tom gave us a bag containing 3kg of fresh salmon. “My brother-in-law was off to the river today, so I asked him to put some aside, just in case you were to have no luck”. He would accept no payment. And this from a man who made his living selling stuff.

One summer, in the days before the internet and long before we went upmarket and got a phone in the house, I had to make a call to Vienna. The only public place in Louisburgh where one could telephone was the coin-operated phone booth on the square, which accepted only 10p coins. So I went into Charlie’s pub and asked if he'd mind changing £5 into 10p pieces. “Not at all, Brian”, said Charlie. Armed with my 50 coins I headed off to the booth, ready to solve Vienna's problems. Picking up the phone to give the operator the number, I was duly informed that the phone was out of order and that I should try Charlie Gaffney's, where there was a phone.

Back to Charlie. “Would you mind me using your phone, Charlie?” “Not at all, Brian. Go ahead.” I reached the operator, this time in Dublin. “I'd like to make a call to Vienna.” After a few minutes the connection was ready and I was instructed to insert £4 85p. 'Twas then I noticed the phone in Charlie’s accepted only 5p coins. Back to Charlie. “Would you mind changing these 10p coins into 5ps for me, Charlie?” "Not at all, Brian", said Charlie, nonplussed as ever, God bless him.

“This may take a while”, I warned the operator. After popping most of my hundred coins into the box I asked the operator if it was yet enough. “The Lord help us”, she cried, “I thought you were keeping count!” She then decided it probably was about right and put me through to my colleague in Vienna, who had by this time aged a bit. It took but a short while to solve the problem, after which I staggered to the bar and spent the remaining 5p coins on Guinness.

Good luck with Louisburgh HQ!

Brian Lewis, Accony