Tag Archives: Feakle

CLARE Rose, Aisling O’Connor is ready to bloom at the Rose of Tralee International Festival on Tuesday night in memory of her late parents and to acknowledge the tremendous support all the family has received from her native Feakle. Describing the Festival “as a once in a lifetime experience”, the former gymnast and ballet dancer is hoping to glide through the famous Tralee Dome to honour her deceased parents, Pat and Denise, who she believes continue to guide her and her five brothers spiritually. Her selection as the Clare Rose of Tralee contestant at the Inn at Dromoland proved to be poignant as it was announced in the early hours of March 12 on the date of her late father’s birthday. In total, 21 Clare girls competed in the Clare final for the Rose of Tralee. Boosted by a surprise party in Pepper’s Pub, Feakle recently, Ms O’Connor is very proud to represent her native, Feakle and East Clare at …

FRIENDS, family and fans of the late Dennis Cahill, will gather on Saturday night in Feakle to honour the renowned musician. A long-time musical collaborator with fiddle player Martin Hayes, the two men have played at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and toured extensively. Together, they breathed fresh life into a diverse traditional music repertoire and founded the acclaimed five piece, The Gloaming. For more than two decades, Dennis joined Martin as he returned home to his native Maghera and the Chicago native became part of the Hayes family and a valued member of East Clare’s musical community.  “Saturday evening in Pepper’s will be a moment for people to come together and to remember Dennis,” Martin said. “It will be informal, in the same way that Dennis was. Music brought him to Feakle and the festival. East Clare made a big impression on him and the event will give people here the chance to talk and chat and …

DEEP in the leafy, rolling landscape of East Clare, lies a noted wellspring of traditional music. In towlands like Glendree, Kilclaren, Caher, Magherabaun and Maghera, a distinctive musical style and repertoire have been handed down with care and love. The village of Feakle has long been a focal point for this transmission of culture, drawing musicians from a wide hinterland stretching to Scariff, Bodyke, Tulla and Kilkishen. Establishments like Lena’s Bar brought together young, emerging musicians with legends such as John Naughton, Martin Rochford, P Joe Hayes, Francie Donnellan, Mikey Donoghue, Paddy Grogan, Joe Bane and Bill Malley.  At the feet of these giants, upcoming generations immersed themselves in the riches of East Clare. Among them was the acclaimed concertina player, Mary MacNamara. She and her brothers and sister sat by Lena’s hearth listening and learning for more than a decade.  This year, after a “labour of love,” and with the support of The Arts Council, Mary realised a life-long …

“A GOOD man in every way,” was one neighbour’s description of the late Dr Brían O’Rourke, scholar, author, songwriter and linguist, who was laid to rest in Feakle this week.  Crowds thronged St Mary’s Church and the Angelus bell rang out, as the simple wicker coffin was carried in, adorned with carnations and roses – a nod to Brían’s famous comic ballad, ‘Chantal de Champignon’. Figures from the worlds of politics, literature, drama and broadcasting attended the funeral, as well as former colleagues from the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) where Dr O’Rourke had previously lectured in Heritage Studies.  Brían, a native of Ratheniska, County Laois, passed away, at the age of 73, at his home in Magherabaun on Friday, April 8. His funeral mass was concelebrated by his brother Fr Caoimhín. His broadcaster brother, Seán and sister Anne, brought up the offeratory gifts. Symbols were presented of Brían’s life. Among them was a copy of his book, Blas …

A FEAKLE publican is to be remembered in song and story later this month as the community mourns his passing. Michael (Mickey) Naughton passed away, suddenly, at his home in Kilclaran on February 18, bringing a cloud of sadness to his local area and beyond.  Broadcaster Paula Carroll paid tribute to the late publican and farmer on her Wednesday night edition of Clare FM’s ‘The West Wind’, recalling his great hospitality and warm personality. On her show on March 9, she will broadcast excerpts from a live-music programme recorded 15 years ago in his popular pub. Mickey hosted one of Paula’s now famous ‘Kitchen Sessions’ live shows in his much-loved premises. The programme is part of a series broadcast live from the homes of music lovers across Clare and featured the best of song and dance from East Clare and North Galway, including Charlie Harris, Des Mulkere and Tom Neilan. The event saw Naughton’s packed to the rafters and full …

A CLAREMAN who has been testing the resourcefulness of the Irish Postal Service with vague addresses for the past five years has reported another successful delivery. Gearoid Kelly and his friend, Tony McTigue, eschewing things like eircodes and actual addresses, have set an annual challenge for An Post with their correspondence. The pair have been sending postcards and letters with the likes of the following written on them: “That lad who studied commerce in NUIG who used to be in TradSoc, played in the Crane on Tuesdays, lives in Dublin now for the past few years, see him on Facebook a lot with dinosaur costume, Tulla…. or perhaps Feakle? Anyhow, just get this to East Clare and they will know who I am on about, Ireland” Even that level of obfuscation failed to stop An Post successfully delivering the letter. This year’s effort, however, needed a second sending, before it found its target, having first been sent in November 2020 …

A slick moving Clonlara side had too much all over the field for Scariff and set up a meeting with Feakle next weekend as the Senior B holders never once look troubled against the 2020 Intermediate champions in Sixmilebridge on Friday night.   Clonlara displayed greater pace and precision in passing with Cathal O’Connell totally at ease in a loose role in the half forward operating as conductor of proceedings.   In a game that required Scariff avoid wastage of scoring chances, they sent half a dozen eminently scorable first half chances abegging. Kieran Galvin and Cathal O’Connell with a dozen scores once again led in the scoring stakes had the opening scores before Martin Cunningham responded for Scariff. Micheal Stritch, Ian Galvin, and Kieran Galvin added to their sides tally before Pat Crotty and Sean Minogue hit back by the 10th minute.  Pat Ryan set up Conor McNamara for the first goal after 12 minutes to level matters, however this only kickstarted …

The Currakyle Ambush is not as well known as some War of Independence actions, but that is about to change THE East Clare Memorial Committee are to mark the centenary of one of the lesser known, but highly significant incidents in the War of Independence in this county. Supported by Clare County Library under the Decade of Centenaries Project Awards, the committee will commemorate the Currakyle Ambush, when, according to local lore, ‘two took on 200’. The event will take place in Flagmount Hall at 8pm on Friday, October 29 and will involve a lecture from Dr Tomás Mac Conmara and the recounting of stories and songs. Chairperson of the committee, Councillor Pat Hayes, outlined the importance of remembering the Sixth Battalion of the East Clare Brigade. “Often commemorations centre on events in relation to The Scariff Martyrs and The Feakle Ambush,” he said. “This event will help to raise awareness of those who came from Flagmount, Killanena and Upper …