IRELAND COUNTY ROUNDUP

A partial county round up...

Antrim: 200-year-old clock makes family trip to New Zealand
A grandfather clock has completed an epic journey of 11,000 miles – from Antrim to New Zealand – to be united with a descendant of the man who built it. The 200-year-old clock was discovered last year in a shop in Randalstown by American friends of New Zealander Doug Agnew. Incredibly, the clock had been made by Mr Agnew's great, great grandfather James Agnew in the early 1800s. James emigrated from Northern Ireland in 1833 for a new life in New Zealand.

Carlow: St Patrick's Day Parade finally finds its feet
After disastrous beginnings – when just nine people turned up to a meeting – Carlow town's St Patrick's Day Parade is now all systems go. A follow-up meeting organised last Thursday, 23 February, in Carlow Town Hall was described as having "a very good attendance" by St Patrick's Day committee member Bride De Roiste. Last Thursday's meeting saw a much higer attendance and it was confirmed that Carlow town's parade will take place on Saturday 17 March.

Clare: Parade returns to Doonbeg after more than 50 years
Doonbegwill host the village's first St Patrick's Day parade since the 1950s on Sunday, March 18. The recently established Doonbeg Enterprise Group is behind the parade's revival, which will be led by Mayor of Doonbeg, Padraic Haugh. St Patrick will accompany Mr. Haugh, in a horse-drawn carriage, at the top of the parade.

Cork: Mad Hatters cut a dash at Castle ball
Hundreds of guests got lost down the rabbit hole last Saturday as The Castle Hotel, Macroom, was transformed into a wonderland of glitz and glamour for the Mad Hatter's Black Tie Ball. Guests on the night enjoyed a four-course meal, were entertained by MC Kevin Keenan and danced the night away to musical guests Baseline and DJ Peter Moynihan. Meanwhile, Mr. simms Olde Sweet Shoppe in Macroom sponsored a sweet buffet fit for the queen of hearts.

Derry: City's memories stored for the future
To mark the opening of Ebrington Square on Valentine's Day, Ilex, the urban regeneration company has placed a time capsule at the city's new public space. Inside the capsule are a CD with images of the city, press cuttings of key events, maps of the city, a collage of memories from Derry's young people, a copy of the Voices DVD and a card to the people in 2112.

Donegal: Work to commence on Slieve League immediately
After a meeting with local landowners on Sunday night last on the future development of one of the county's, if not one of the country's most iconic tourist attractions, a County Councillor has confirmed that work will commence almost immediately. Cllr. Byrne said, "Last year Sliabh League, Europe's highest sea cliffs attracted 160,000 visitors to the area."

Dublin: A little bit of Chile close to Clonalvy, near Naul
That's because Terry Gill who is running an alpaca farm and has the South America animals grazing in a number of fields around the small village. A business graduate, who has a full-time office job, he decided to diversify into alpacas which resemble a small llama, about two years ago. He now has 50 alpacas, 35 breeding females, eight stud males and is ' expecting' 20 babies later this summer. This means he has the third biggest herd in the Republic.

Fermanagh: Ederney photographer shoots stills for 'The Shore'
As 'The Shore' was claiming Oscar glory last weekend, Aidan Monaghan, a former pupil of St. Joseph's PS Ederney, St. Mary's College, Irvinestown and St. Michael's College, Enniskillen, was enjoying basking in the success of the short film because he provided the stills for Terry George's Academy award winning production.

Galway: Seachtain na Gaeilge starts on March 5th
The lifetime achievement award winner at IFTA 2012 actress Fionnuala Flanagan does it and during Seachtain na Gaeilge, so can you. Seachtain na Gaeilge, which runs up to and includes St Patrick's Day, provides the ideal opportunity to get over your inhibitions and use Gaeilge, whether in full or partial conversation or just with a couple of words.

Kerry: Former Taoiseach receives warm welcome in West Kerry
Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was warmly welcomed in West Kerry last Sunday as he officially opened a photographic exhibition by noted Kerry photographer John Cleary in Tigh Tábhairne Páidí Ó Sé last Sunday, one of the main events of Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé which took place over the weekend.

Kilkenny: Lions Club National Convention in city this weekend
John Ormond President Kilkenny Lions and his fellow club members will extend a warm welcome to over 300 Lions delegates representing 116 clubs from throughout Ireland to the 2012 Lions District All Ireland National Convention. They are also delighted to welcome to Lions International Director Gudrun Bjort Yngvadottir from Iceland.

Leitrim: Region's first electric vehicle charge point unveiled
Leitrim County Council has recently unveiled the North West's very first Public Charge Point for electric vehicles. The charge point is located alongside the wall towards the rear of the Council Headquarters, Carrick-on-Shannon, opposite the entrance to Carrick Craft.

Louth: 'Mad Mary' may hit the big screen
One the best stage plays ever hosted in Drogheda - ' 10 dates with Mad Mary' directed by award winning Darren Thornton - was brought to the Berlin Co-production Market recently and the script drew rich acclaim from the people that matter in the business - the financers.

Meath: Octogenarian already looking forward to her 21st!
Although turning 80, as a leap year baby, Marie Sloan is still really only technically celebrating her 20th birthday. She said she usually celebrates her birthday on 1st March, but added that "the 29th is always special".

Monaghan: Search is on for county Rose 2012
Various events are held to give competitors a chance to meet fellow entrants and find out a bit more about what's involved. The 2012 Monaghan Rose Selection will culminate in the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney on April 29th, 2012.

Offaly: Historic barge to set off on "Grand Experience"
The Lora Marie barge will travel the Grand Canal from Shannon Harbour to Edenderry next month and will be recorded on its journey for a film documentary to be called "A Grand Experience."

Sligo: Tracing the town throughout history
The evolution of the development and topography of Sligo as a town can now be traced and compared to other towns throughout the country thanks to a lavish publication called The Sligo Historic Town Atlas which is available for sale in local shops.

Tipperary: Thurles Pastoral Preparation for Congress
The Pastoral Preparation Programme for Thurles parish will take place in Lamh Chunta, Bothar na Naomh, on four Thursday evenings during Lent. It is being presented as an itinerary for our journey towards the great gathering of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, 10th –17th June 2012.

Tyrone: 500 year old library &medieval archive discovered
Abbott Chris O'Brien, the head of the Servite Priory at Benburb has unearthed an extraordinary collection of historic documents and forgotten rare books b in the cellars of his priory, including a Latin book of meditations dating to 1588.

Waterford: Ken McGrath is parade grand marshall
One of Waterford's best loved sporting heroes, Ken McGrath, has been announced as the 2012 Grand Marshall for the St Patrick's Day Parade on March 17th. The parade will begin at 1pm from Bus Eire-ann on The Quay, with over 50 colourful entries including Spraoi and the ever popular Celtic Thunder.

Wexford: 'Christening' of baptismal font
The new baptismal font at St. Catherine's church in Tacumshane was 'christened' at the weekend - by a resident of Wexford town. Lady's Island parish priest Father Brendan Nolan presided as eleven week old Zach William Murphy - first born child of Joanne Foley and Justin Murphy from Cluain Dara - was welcomed into the community of faith.