County Clare | Irish Fireside

Sep 8, 2010

Up, Up and Away at the Cliffs of Moher

School children took part in a launch of biodegradable balloons at the Cliffs of Moher yesterday in an effort to encourage voting in the New7Wonders of Nature. The Cliffs are one of 28 finalists in the international competition that will be determined by public vote.

Each balloon was printed with the ‘Vote for the Cliffs’ logo and a contact message to encourage people who find the balloons to contact the Cliffs. A prize will be awarded to the person who finds the balloon that has traveled the farthest distance.

Votes for your favorite seven sites can be cast at www.new7wonders.com/n7w.

Now, I just hope one of those balloons flies over my way.

Sep 30, 2009

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Will Your Visit Damage the Burren?

Visitors have made a habit of creating their own mini-dolmens in County Clare.

Mini-dolmen, originally uploaded by hexcalibur.

The rocky, karst landscape of the Burren in County Clare stands in stark contrast to lush hills of the rest of Ireland. Home to a unique ecosystem and collection ancient, man-made stone structures, the area has also become a place of “natural” vandalism.

For years, inspired visitors have been creating mini-dolmens that mimic the stacked stones constructed by the ancient people of the region, like the famous Poulnabrone Dolmen. Unfortunately, by moving even small limestone slabs, visitors are upsetting the environment and participating in what officials are calling “environmental vandalism.”

Carol Gleeson, Project Manager with The Burren Connect Project said, “Unique and vulnerable habitats are being destroyed by visitors when they illegally remove protected limestone pavement to build miniature dolmens and other stone structures. However, we believe that most visitors do not want to deliberately damage the Burren pavements, as they do not realize the full environmental impacts of their actions.”

To help address the problem, a new initiative by The Burren Connect Project and Clare County Council intends to educate the public and engage schoolchildren in cleaning up the renegade dolmens.

Gleeson continued, “The Burren Connect team hopes that the newly launched environmental maintenance program, combined with existing education projects, website campaigns, publications and information points across the Burren will help raise awareness amongst visitors of the need to treat the landscape with respect and to abide by the Burren Code, which basically promotes the Leave No Trace ethos.”

So folks, if you’re in the Burren, admire it’s eerie, rocky landscape, but resist the temptation to stack stones… and don’t even consider taking some limestone home with you.

More info at: www.burrenconnect.ie

Dec 9, 2008

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Burren Smoked Salmon – Giveaway Day 9

Today’s prize is a Side of Smoked Salmon from The Burren Smokehouse.

The finest smoked salmon, trout, mackerel, eel and cheese come from the family-run Burren Smokehouse in County Clare, Ireland. Today, they’re giving away a side of delicious salmon.

Their products shipped right from Ireland make perfect gifts…but you’ll have to order by the end of the week to assure it will arrive by Christmas. Details at www.burrensmokehouse.ie.

This prize goes to Timothy Gleeson from Richmond, Virginia.

MORE GIFT IDEAS from our HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Tomorrow’s gift: something for your pup.

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Nov 12, 2008

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Irish Museum Seeks to Return Service Medal

Victory Medal - Photo Source Sharp-Healy Family History

Nov 12, 2008 - A man who discovered a World War I medal on the grounds of Clarecastle Church in County Clare, Ireland, has enlisted the help of his local museum in tracking down the artifact’s rightful owners. Clare Museum today placed on display the Victory Medal, which was awarded to Private Patrick King of the British Army’s South Lancashire Regiment 2nd Battalion.

The medal was offered up for display by Clarecastle taxi driver Alan Barnes who this week answered a call from the museum seeking artifacts relating to the “War To End All Wars”. After discovering Private King from Turnpike in Ennis, County Clare, died of wounds received in France on February 2, 1915, Barnes had been unable to track down the serviceman’s family.

“Clare Museum has placed the medal on display in a bid to track down members of Private King’s family, who are the artifact’s rightful owners:” stated John Rattigan, Curator of Clare Museum.

Private King’s medal has been temporarily placed in the “90 Years On – County Clare and The Great War” exhibition, marking the 90th anniversary of the ending of the Great War. Among the other items placed on display are the medals, photographs and personal stories of more than a half dozen Clare men who served in the 1914-1918 War.

Read the whole story at http://www.dunphypr.com/?p=998

Learn more about the Victory Medal at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_Victory_Medal

Photo credit: http://www.webgirl.co.nz/SharpHealy/thomashealy.html

Aug 27, 2006

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08 The Cliffs of Moher, Roasted Salmon and The Devil's Bit

Episode Guide – Podcast #08 The Cliffs of Moher, Roasted Salmon and The Devil’s Bit

Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Centre updates on their construction, we taste some of Fionn mac Cumhaill Salmon and we finish up with a song by Theresa Larkin.

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Show Notes

A special hello to the listeners we met at Milwaukee Irish Fest:

Anita and Patrick, Illinois
Helen and Alvey, Wisconsin
Bill and Peggy, Florida
Chloe, Ontario
Christin, Michigan
Theresa and Kathleen, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher interview with Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience.

Food from the Fireside

Fionn mac Cumhaill’s Whiskey Roasted Salmon

Irish Fireside Song

The Devil’s Bit

Katherine Webster, Director

The Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience

www.cliffsofmoher.ie
Scheduled to open February 2007
New, partialy underground visitor centre
Extended and improved pathways
Raised viewing platforms
Katherine also mentions the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) and Hag’s Head.
Places mentioned: Loop Head, Miltown Malbay, Kilkee, the Burren, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Lough Derg, St. Fachtna Cathedral in Kilfenora, Killaloe (Heritage Centre, Brian Boru Fort, Graves of the Leinstermen, Lookout), Kilbaha (the Little Ark), Corkscrew Road.

Fionn mac Cumhaill’s Whiskey Roasted Salmon

The Devil’s Bit/Miss Jane MacInnes Dandeleith – Waltz/Reel