ONE THOUSAND POSTS! THINK HOW LONG THE FENCE WOULD BE...

and that doesn't count all the individual entries done on each page!

Thank you all for your support, and to those who have contributed items, transcriptions, stories or perhaps just planted the seeds of an idea for me to develop into a story..

THANK YOU...

I couldn't have done this without you.

I hope that many of you have discovered something you didn't know before from here..

or at least, have learnt how to go about researching your Irish ancestors or have just enjoyed learning more about Ireland, Irish culture and history or have simply taken a break to read some posts over time.

Do remember to use the search bar at the bottom of the page, the posts archive in the side column and if you have questions, feel free to ask via comments, or via the email address in About Me.

Contributions are much appreciated 

as are comments. 

Thank you all.

CLARE CHATTER

Courtesy of Clara Hoyne

As always, please click on the image to enlarge it...

If you are interested in obtaining a Certificate of Irish Heritage, this site may help..

http://www.heritagecertificate.ie/

ENNIS BOOK CLUB FESTIVAL 2ND TO 4TH MARCH 2012

http://ennisbookclubfestival.com/

Tickets on sale now

DATES FOR NEXT FESTIVAL

2nd - 4th March 2012

Authors and speakers already confirmed include Patrick Gale, Sheila O'Flanagan, Kevin Barry, Lynn Reid Banks, Maureen Gaffney, Fergus Finlay, Catriona Crowe, Michael Harding, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Manchán Magan, Vincent Woods, Peter and Natasha Murtagh, Joseph Woods, Paula Meehan, Dr. Margaret Kelleher, Seán Rocks, Presenter of RTÉ Radio 1's Arena, Mike Power, Pat Donlon, Wonderland Productions dramatisation of The Picture of Dorian Grey, Sean Spellissey, Jane O'Brien, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Tom Conaty, Clare Three Legged Stool Poets and Clare Youth Theatre.

To view the Programme click here.

Patrick Gale talks about his new novel 'A Perfectly Good Man', which has its Irish launch at the Ennis Book Club Festival.

Readers' Festival


The Ennis Book Club Festival is a wonderful social and literary gathering bringing together book club members and readers from all over Ireland and beyond. Supported by Clare County Library, the festival includes author readings, discussions, workshops and walking tours through the narrow streets and lanes of Ennis. We offer sessions on running book clubs, advice on reading lists, poetry, events as Gaeilge, and an opportunity to compare notes and meet with other Book Club members.

Over the years the festival has attracted wonderful authors and speakers including Edna O'Brien, Nuala O'Faolain, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, Lionel Shriver, Joseph O'Connor, Paul Durcan, Peter Sheridan, Paul Murray, Anne Enright and Patrick McCabe to name but a few.

Come and combine your love of reading with a great weekend away!

DIGITAL BOOKS (eBOOKS) FREE SERVICE

Clare Library has a range of books available free to download

Full details on this site

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/online_resources/digital_books.htm

This service offers a selection of Clare and Irish material from the Open-Access Text Archive of the Internet Archive, which contains over one million full-text scanned books in the public domain. The selection has been made using the Archive's own Open Library search features. We welcome suggestions for additional material.

Books on Clare: Archaeology; Art; History; Language; Literature, Song and Music Books on Ireland: Art; Architecture; Education; Language; Folklore; Sport; Description & Travel; Nature & Natural Resources; Literature Song & Music; Legal; Genealogy; Places and Placenames; Archaeology Ireland - History and Politics: General History; Early History; Viking and English Conquests; 16th Century; 17th Century; 18th Century; 19th Century; 20th Century pre 1921; 20th Century post 1921; Social and Economic History; County and Town Histories; The Irish Abroad.

BRÍD UÍ CHOISTEALA: TRADITION BEARER OF KILBAHA

Clare Chatter

See below an advanced notice for a very interesting lecture to be held in March.

Cuimhneamh an Chláir, the Clare Oral History and Folklore Group

Presents

Bríd Uí Choisteala

Tradition Bearer of Kilbaha

A lecture by Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh

Also features audio samples from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir Archive

Kilbaha Community Hall

Friday, March 9^th, 2012,

Time TBC

Bríd Uí Choisteala

A caption on a photograph taken in the 1930s describes Bríd Bean Uí Choisteala as the 'blind wife' of Mr. Costello. This unfortunate reduction of one of Clare's finest storytellers is now finally addressed. Mrs. Uí Choisteala of Kilbaha, Loop Head, was one of those tradition bearers who possibly on account of her gender has largely been omitted from public knowledge outside of her own native place. In 1942, 1943 and 1950 Tadhg

Ó Murchú, on behalf of the Irish Folklore Commission, collected much of Bríd Bean Uí Choisteala's lore and noted her as one of the finest storytellers in Ireland.

Photo Courtesy of the National Library

Tomás Mac Conmara

Animator

Cuimhneamh an Chláir

The Clare Oral History and Folklore Group

www.clarememories.ie

Ph: 087 9160373

"When an old man dies, a library burns" - Senegalese Proverb

IRISH CHATTER

With thanks to Irish Culture and Customs...

Sister Mary Katherine entered the Convent of Silence. The Mother Superior said, "Sister, you are welcome here as long as you like, but you may not speak until I direct you to do so". Sister Mary Katherine lived in the convent for 5 years before the Mother Superior said to her, "Sister Mary Katherine, you have been here for 5 years. You may speak two words." Sister Mary Katherine said, "Hard bed."

"I'm sorry to hear that. We will get you a better bed. After another 5 years, Sister Mary Katherine was called by the Mother Superior. "You may say another two words, Sister Mary Katherine." "Cold food," said Sister Mary Katherine, and the Mother Superior assured her that the food would be better in the future. On her 15th anniversary in the community, the Mother Superior again called Sister Mary Katherine into her office. "You may say two words today." "I quit," said Sister Mary Katherine. "It's probably best", said the Mother Superior. "You've done nothing but gripe since you got here."

DID YOU KNOW

1. Until the 1920s, on St. Brigid's Day, at Teltown, Co.Meath, couples could legally marry by simply walking toward each other? If the union didn't work out, they could 'divorce' by walking away from each other at the same place exactly a year and a day later.

2. Supposedly, the tradition of a woman being able to ask a man to marry her on Leap year originated with St. Brigid (or St. Patrick). But there is no evidence to support this.

3. In the liturgical calendar, February 3rd is the feast of St. Blaise which in Ireland and many other countries is observed with the Blessing of the Throats. The blessing is supposed to protect against illness or other problems associated with the throat. It's based on St. Blaise saving the life of a small child who was choking.

A HISTORY OF IRELAND IN 100 OBJECTS - THE IRISH TIMES - SAT, JAN 14, 2012

We are so fortunate to live in an age where we can share the history and culture of other lands by the click of a button.... Read more about the wonderful and intriguing history of Ireland in the article that follows...

FINTAN O'TOOLE
The Domhnach Airgid, circa 1350

The Domhnach Airgid – or Silver Church – is a splendid exercise in medieval retro. It is not just an antique; it is a very deliberate display of self-conscious antiquity.
One of the reasons the Anglo-Normans provided a far more potent threat to the established order in Ireland than the Vikings had ever done is that these newcomers were enormously interested in controlling the Irish church.
The reform of a supposedly decadent Irish Christianity was the key ideological justification for the Anglo-Norman invasions. This also justified the supplanting of native by foreign abbots and bishops.
Long before the coming of the Anglo-Normans, however, the Irish church was in touch with the reforming movements of European Christianity, including those in England. This was especially true of the Hiberno-Norse towns of Waterford and Dublin, whose bishop Giolla Pátraic was consecrated in 1073 by the archbishop of Westminster, whom he recognised as "primate of the Britains".
The reorganisation of the Irish church into territorial dioceses on the continental model was likewise completed before the Anglo-Norman invasion. 


For the full story, go to the link below...


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0114/1224310228113.html




Where to see it National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, 01-6777444, museum.ie

'SAVE THE FORMER CHURCH OF IRELAND GRAVEYARD' KILRUSH

One more project for this week!! Paul O Brien who will speak to us this Thursday is looking for volunteers this Saturday morning, 21st January, 2012

Subject: 'Save the former Church of Ireland Graveyard'

From Paul: Hopefully, some members of the Clare Roots Society may be interested in the following project that the Kilrush Local History Group is currently undertaking. I attach some photographs of the graveyard. These photos illustrate the terrible condition of the graveyard.

 Most importantly we need VOLUNTEERS!

A tidy-up of the CoI graveyard, Kilrush is taking place next Sat morning 21 Jan. At 10am. 

Please bring some of the following: Gloves, wellies, black bags, clippers, securtares, watering can, soft brush and dry cloths. Camera is optional.

All  are welcome.

Kind Regards,

Paul O'Brien

(Kilrush Local History Group)

---