Details of our Short Story Competitions 2016 available below.
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Bluegrass Festival Kicks Off in Dunmore East
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley to headline 22nd Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival
Now in its 22nd year, the Guinness International Bluegrass Festival at Dunmore East, is still attracting top international music acts to the Co. Waterford coastal resort.
Fans of bluegrass, honky-tonk, blues, country, rhythm ‘n’ roots are in for a real musical treat as the 22nd Guinness International Bluegrass Festival, which takes place Thursday, August 25th to Sunday, August 28th, will feature GRAMMY nominees Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley.
Trey Hensley is well known and well regarded on the bluegrass music scene. Raised in Tennessee, Trey began playing guitar and singing when he was 10 years old. Invited by Marty Stuart and joined from the wings by Earl Scruggs, he landed on the Grand Old Opry when he was only 11. To date, Trey has played with Johnny and June Carter Cash, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, The Oak Ridge Boys and Janie Fricke. He’s appeared on bills with Sara Evans, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Randy Owen and Marty Stuart, and has even appeared before former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and Vice President Cheney.
Rob Ickes has been playing bluegrass with his much-decorated band Blue Highway for over twenty years, during which time he has been adjudged Bluegrass Dobro Player of the year fifteen times. Rob has played on countless sessions, recording with artists such as Merle Haggard, Dierks Bentley, Patty Loveless and Alison Krauss.
Last year the duo was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Bluegrass Album, ‘Before the Sun goes down’.
Along with the cream of the US country and bluegrass music crop, the festival line- up includes a host of Irish, European and American big name bluegrass acts including US bands Foghorn String Band and Betse and Clarke; from the UK, Doctor Bluegrass, Northern Ireland’s Mons Wheeler Band and Cup O’Joe and Irish acts One Horse Pony, Rackhouse Pilfer, Barefoot and New Bread Winners.
Mick Daly, Festival Organiser is looking forward to this year’s broad range of high calibre international acts and said, “Twenty-two years on the festival line up is as exciting and eclectic as ever. We’re looking forward to seeing the return of some of the festival’s perennial favourites such as the Mons Wheeler Band and Barefoot and are particularly excited about Ickes and Hensley.”
“Rob and Trey are GRAMMY nominees and regulars to some of the biggest bluegrass festivals in the world, so we can’t wait to see them in August, particularly in light of their new album release “The Country Blues” in July. The duo is coming to Dunmore East on the back of their European tour, where they will be playing at Tønder, Denmark’s biggest folk music festival.”
Ickes and Hensley will play two ticketed gigs (€20) at the Marquee at the Lighthouse Bistro, Dunmore East on August 27th and 28th. All of the other events are free to attend and will take place at the Strand Inn, The Three Sisters, The Spinnaker, Powers Bar and Azzurro.
The 22nd Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival kicks off on Thursday, August 25th and heralds the start of three days of dozens of bands, playing almost 50 gigs in the villages’ pubs, restaurants and hotels.
For more information about the 22nd Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford visit www.discoverdunmore.com.
New Union in Church Life and Ministry
Coming Together in Mission – CORI and IMU join together to create a new force
in Church Life and Ministry
Two of the largest existing religious membership organisations, the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) and the Irish Missionary Union (IMU) are amalgamating to become the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI), in response to a desire to energise and support the life and ministry of the Church, both in Ireland and overseas. In an official statement, the President of CORI, and the President of the IMU, Fr. Gregory Carroll OP and Sr. Kathleen McGarvey OLA, stated,“We believe that a new national entity would facilitate renewal and a more effective mission outreach”.
CORI was first established under the title Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Ireland (CMRS) in November 1960 and has a combined membership of approximately 9,000 from 138 religious congregations. The IMU was set up in 1970 for the broad purpose of providing a collaborative network of missionary groups, with 1,500 Irish Missionaries currently engaged in 84 developing countries.
The purpose of AMRI will be to represent and promote active collaboration between Religious Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life and Missionary Organisations, so as to respond to existing and emerging realities both in Ireland and overseas by supporting and energising the life and ministries of their members and of the wider Church with a renewed sense of hope and relevance. Among other objectives, it will seek to develop and promote religious, apostolic and missionary life as a vibrant, prophetic, organic and integral feature of the life of the church.An interim Secretary General is currently being appointed. AMRI will have its new officesin Cypress Grove, Templeogue, Dublin 6W, the Provincialate of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) and will begin operations within the next two weeks.
Waterford Country Fair – featuring live ‘Jousting’
Waterford Country Fair
A one day fair with plenty of Knights!
Waterford Country Fair, the second “County Life, Country Living” showcase will take place at the historic Curraghmore House and Gardens, Portlaw, Co. Waterford on Sunday, June 12th.
Keeping with the format of last year, the one-day event promises something for the young and young at heart and will feature a host of field sports and country pursuits including dressage, side saddle displays and sheep dog trials, along with falconry, artisan craft producers and local food producers, with some exciting new additions.
One of the highlights of this year’s country fair will be Jousting Scotland’s jousting team, Les Amis d’Onno, which will bring their ” Knights of the North” spectacular to the Fair.
Jo Breheny, Chair of Waterford Country Fair, is delighted to welcome the Jousting Scotland’s event to the Fair. “To say we’re thrilled that we secured such an amazing event is an understatement. Les Amis d’Onno, Scotland’s Premier Equestrian Team regularly wow the crowd with their magnificent Friesian and Andalusian horses, fantastic costumes and their daring stunts all over the UK and Ireland, and now they are set to wow the crowds at Waterford Country Fair.”
“On Sunday June 12th they will be performing their action packed Stunt Jousting Show, ‘The Knights of the North’. With fearless jousting knights displaying their wonderful horsemanship and battle techniques in skill at arms, foot combat and tournament jousting, it’s going to be a massive crowd pleaser, full of thrills and spills as good knights battle evil knights, with proceedings overseen by a Fair Maiden.”
Along with the high-octane action of two jousting shows throughout the day the Waterford Country Fair will feature a host of field sports and country pursuits.
Jo added, “We’ve expanded the programme of events quite extensively for 2016. Along with all of last year’s favourites such as the carriage driving, pony club games, kids’ bouncy castle, falconry, sheep dog trials, artisan craft and food producers and showjumping, this year will have a fly fishing demonstration, beekeeping, and a “living” medieval village which will quite literally take visitors back in time to experience medieval life in Ireland.”
This year, Waterford Country Fair will be supporting three charities.
CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, which raises awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome, provides free counselling and support for families affected by sudden cardiac death and supports the Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons; The Irish Kidney Association, which raises much needed funds and awareness about the ongoing demand for organ transplantation which relies on the public for organ donation and the Dr. Martin Day Centre in Portlaw, which provides a friendly and warm place for seniors to relax and enjoy the company of other and the many activities on offer.
To find out more about second Waterford Country Fair, which takes place at Curraghmore Estate and Gardens, Portlaw, Co. Waterford on Sunday, June 12th, visit www.curraghmorehouse.ie or keep up to date with Facebook and Twitter.
South Dublin Libraries 1966 Capuchin Annual Reprint
South Dublin Libraries 1966 Capuchin Annual Reprint
South Dublin Libraries, by kind permission of the Capuchin Franciscan Order and with the generous assistance of Eneclann, are proud to present a reprint of the 1916 commemorative pages of the 1966 Capuchin Annual as part of South Dublin County Council’s Decade of Centenaries programme 1913-1923.
The Capuchin Annual was published in Dublin by the Irish Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Order between the years 1930 and 1977. The subject matter of the publication was eclectic. Many of the articles dealt with matters of ecclesiastical and church interest. However, the Annual also contained short stories, poetry, articles about current affairs, photographic content, art (regularly printing works in full colour), and historically-themed subject matter.
The most collectable Capuchin Annual is the 1966 edition which included an extended section marking the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Rising containing rarely-seen images and previously unpublished accounts of events in various parts of Dublin, Enniscorthy, Limerick, Kerry, Belfast, Cork and Galway. Most of these accounts were written by eyewitnesses including some which were published anonymously.
Of particular interest is the memoir by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. (1870-1957), a Capuchin Friar. This day-by-day memoir provides a narrative account of his movements throughout Dublin from the outbreak of fighting on Easter Monday (24 May) to the execution of James Connolly on 12 May. His account includes poignant descriptions of many of the executed leaders’ last hours.
€5 of the cover price of this reprint will be donated to the Capuchin Day Centre run by Br. Kevin Crowley OFM Cap. For over forty years Br. Kevin has worked tirelessly serving the homeless and poor of Dublin.
Copies are available now from www.southdublinlibraries.ie/bookstore and from all branches of South Dublin Libraries.
Further information is available from David Power on 01 4597834 or dpower@sdublincoco.ie.
Campaign to keep Cork clean for St Patrick’s Day festivities
CAMPAIGN TO KEEP CORK CLEAN AND GREEN FOR ST. PATRICKS FESTIVITIES
Cork County Council and the Ring of Cork Join Forces to Encourage Clean Towns, Villages and Countryside for St. Patrick’s Celebrations
With thousands of tourists expected to visit Cork during the St. Patrick’s holiday period, it is vital that Cork’s towns, villages and countryside are clean as well as green. With this to the fore, Cork County Council and the Ring of Cork have joined forces to launch the “Thinking Green, Think Clean” anti litter awareness campaign.
“Cork is a beautiful county with so much to offer tourists and visitors from other areas and countries. For the St. Patricks Day celebrations, we want everyone to see Cork at it’s best, so we are encouraging everyone thinking green, to think clean and not to spoil our beautiful countryside with litter,” said Dr. Mary Stack, Manager Environmental Awareness & Research Unit at Cork County Council.
Ring of Cork represents the interests of the tourism and hospitality sector in County Cork, (particularly the areas east and west of Cork Harbour) and is working in partnership with the Council on this important project.
“Economically, the travel and tourism sector is hugely important to most towns and villages in the Cork region. The “Thinking Green, Think Clean” is one way in which we are working to support tourism as well as indigenous small and medium sized businesses throughout the area,” said Ryan Howard, Chairman of the Ring of Cork.
The anti-litter awareness campaign is the first in a series of initiatives, which sees Cork County Council, the Ring of Cork and SECAD working closely together. Community group engagement, training and awareness campaigns are all part of the programme to stamp out littering in the Cork region.
ENDS
For more information, see www.ringofcork.ie<http://www.ringofcork.ie>
Country Fair visits Curraghmore House in 2016
Waterford Country Fair to visit Curraghmore House and Gardens in 2016
Following the success of the inaugural Waterford Country Fair in 2015, the second “County Life, Country Living” showcase will take place at the historic Curraghmore House and Gardens, Portlaw, Co. Waterford on Sunday, June 12th.
Keeping with the format of last year, the one-day event promises something for the young and young at heart and will feature a host of field sports and country pursuits including dressage, side saddle displays and sheep dog trials, along with falconry, artisan craft producers and local food producers, with some exciting new additions.
Jo Breheny, Chair of the Waterford Country Fair is delighted to bring the Waterford Country Fair to Ireland’s largest private demesne. “We were heartened by the enthusiasm of the crowds that made the inaugural Country Fair at Mount Congreve such a success. It was always our intention to bring the Fair “on tour”, and we are blessed to have some of Ireland’s greatest estates and gardens in Waterford county.”
“Curraghmore was the natural choice for the second Waterford Country Fair. With almost 2,500 acres of gardens, woodland and grazing fields, it can accommodate the Fair as it grows.”
“We intend to retain many of last year’s events which were a huge hit with the visitors on the day. The equestrian and country pursuits such as the pony club games, sheep dog trials, dressage, carriage driving and showjumping were extremely popular. The family events, in particular the archery, bouncy castles, live music and dance groups kept the children and adults entertained throughout the day.”
“Some new events planned for June 12th include fly fishing demonstrations, and we are delighted that the RDS Side Saddle qualifiers will take place at the Country Fair.”
Alan Walsh, Curraghmore Estate Manager, is looking forward to hosting the Waterford Country Fair. “We are very excited to add the Waterford Country Fair to our calendar of events in 2016. The fair very much complements the ethos of Curraghmore as it focuses on all aspects of country life and country living, something which has been a big part of the heritage of Curraghmore since the 12th century.”
“The expansive gardens and woodlands can comfortably fit all of the events and will afford those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Curraghmore, the opportunity to visit Curraghmore house, cross King John’s bridge (Ireland’s oldest bridge) or view one of the only two remaining original Sitka Spruce from David Douglas’ introduction in 1830, at a towering 180 feet.”
Again in 2016, The Waterford Country Fair will also work with the CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, to raise funds for this tireless charity.
According to Ms. Breheny, “We chose CRY again as our main charity partner as we had the utmost pleasure dealing with the team last year and more importantly because CRY raises awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome, provides free counselling and support for families affected by sudden cardiac death and supports the Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons. We also intend to make donations to Transplant Awareness and the Lady Caroline Waterford Daycare Centre.”
To find out more about second Waterford Country Fair, which takes place at Curraghmore Estate and Gardens, Portlaw, Co. Waterford on Sunday, June 12th, visit www.curraghmorehouse.ie or keep up to date with Facebook and Twitter.
New play based on Collins & Kiernan
A GREAT ARRANGEMENT
By
Patrick Talbot
Starring
Dominic McHale as Michael Collins
Irene Kelleher as Kitty Kiernan
A new play, based on the letters between Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan and the speeches of Michael Collins, is to premiere this 1916 Centenary.
A Great Arrangement, by Patrick Talbot, will have its premiere production at the Gardens Theatre, a venue new to professional productions in Ballyphehane, from the 15th of March until the 2nd of April.
As the War of Independence plays out in 1921 and Michael Collins and the Irish delegation head to London to negotiate the Anglo-Irish Treaty, one of the great love stories of Irish history develops.
Drawing from the legendary correspondence between Michael Collins and Kitty Kiernan, Collins’ compelling speeches, the gripping Dail debates on the Treaty and contemporaneous newspaper accounts of events, A Great Arrangement presents a vivid portrait of a unique couple and their divided country, at an extraordinary time.
Premiering in Cork March 2016, then touring nationwide.
Brought to you by Patrick Talbot Productions
Date | From March 15th – April 2nd, 2016
Price | €20
Location | Gardens Theatre, Lower Friars Walk, Ballyphehane, Cork
(Parking available at Ballyphehane Secondary School).
Tickets available from Cork Opera House on 021 4270 022
or online from www.corkoperahouse.ie
Mad Hair Day for charity
IRISH PEOPLE ASKED TO HELP FILIPINO CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN A CEMETERY
The shocking reality of children living in a cemetery in the Philippines has prompted an Irish Charity to call for a nationwide drive to help them.
‘Children Helping Children’, the mission initiative that involves Irish children helping children in developing countries is hoping that children will respond generously to its fundraising appeal.
National Secretary of the Society of Missionary Children, Jackie Pallas, travelled to the Philippines and saw for herself the conditions in which the children live.
“The reality of seeing children and their families living amongst the dead is an image that is very hard to forget. Almost 2,000 people who have nothing live in the cemetery in Manila; they are born, live and die there. It is desperate and really heartbreaking to see human beings living in such an environment. We met two amazing Columban missionary sisters who are doing Trojan work for the people there but they need help. They run child feeding programmes, they are educating the children and giving them something to live and hope for. They have a lovely little centre, the Mosaic Centre, where they bring the children to have time away from the cemetery where they can learn, have a bit of fun and just be, and they are currently desperate to expand this centre.
“On foot of this we have decided to concentrate our ‘Mad Hair Day’ fundraising efforts on this project. Each December Irish children always get involved in our ‘Mad Hair Day’ fundraiser where they pay a fine in school for their crazy ‘hair do’ in order to raise funds. But Irish children are also very imaginative and have come up with their own wonderful fundraising ideas!”
“We are so lucky that the teachers and schools in Ireland really get behind us and they support our efforts. Every year we hold our National Day of Prayer for Children. On this day we ask Irish children to pray together for each other and children around the world, if they can share some of their pocket money on the day we are always grateful”.
“The Irish children who take part in ‘Children Helping Children’ are wonderfully generous and love to learn about their brothers and sisters in developing countries. They have a lovely spirit of generosity. They love to learn about other little children who don’t have the same advantages in life and as such it opens up a different world to them”.
“The money raised by Irish children goes a long way in developing countries, it stretches like elastic and it will go a long way towards this mission in Manila”.
Jackie says “It goes across the whole divide, Missionary Children is there to help children of all religions and none, we don’t make distinctions, we give to all children in need and it means so much to them”
“We have received so much support and help from teachers and schools right around the country and for this I am so grateful. We couldn’t do it without them. ”
Facebook…missionarychildrenireland
Sixth Ireland’s Own anthology of original writing now available
WE ARE pleased to announce the publication of the sixth annual anthology of Original Writing from Ireland’s Own. This stylish and well-produced book includes nearly 40 winning and recommended short stories and memoirs from last year’s annual writing competitions.
There is a warm and encouraging foreword from award winning Wexford playwright and novelist, Billy Roche, whose series ‘Clean Break’, has been a big success on RTE Television this autumn. “Writing is no talking matter,” is his catchy advice; “stop the talking and start writing!”
The stories deal with many aspects of Irish life, past and present. The perennial themes of bereavement, emigration; the tangled intrigues of romance, the constant dangerous battle to wrest a living from the seas and recollections of childhood and schooldays are again prominent.
Here too are memories of some beloved characters, eg., the day Boris Yeltsin failed to get off the plane to meet the Taoiseach at Shannon, along with tales based on the War of Independence and of poaching and smuggling. The whole mix is leavened with a good dash of humour.
The annual writing competitions and the anthologies are produced by Ireland’s Own with the sponsorship and support of Original Writing, the Dublin-based self-publishing company. It is all an important part of the magazine’s long-standing aim of encouraging and promoting writers and writing.
Included in this year’s book are overall Writing Competition winners – Tina Sweeney, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford (open short story); Kathryn Burke, Clontarf, Dublin (beginners’ short story) and Mae Leonard, Naas, Co. Kildare (memoir section).
There are 36 other never before published stories and memoirs by the following: Jennifer May, Sallynoggin, Co. Dublin; Vincent J. Doherty, Palmers Green, London; Anne Walsh Donnelly, Castlebar, Co. Mayo; Tony McGettigan, Dun Emer Drive, Dublin; Fergus Caulfield, Canvey Island, Essex and Anne McCormack, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Nora Brennan, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny; Richard Lysaght, Walkinstown, Dublin; Kevin Lewis, Clonard, Wexford town; Brian Donaghy, Pennyburn Court, Derry; Mary Conliffe, Robertstown, Co. Kildare; Anthony Rooney, Kimmage, Dublin and Brendan Gallagher, Cloonacool, Co. Sligo.
Joe Spearin, Clonlara, Co. Clare; Elaine Cawley Weintraub, Ballina, Co. Mayo, and West Tisbury, Massachussetts; Patricia Carr, Fanad, Co. Donegal; Linda Guerin, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick; Kenneth Knight, Artane, Dublin; Eileen Caplice, Mallow, Co. Cork and Paul McGregor, Long Island, New York.
Paul Griffin, St.Helen’s, Merseyside; Eileen Casey, Old Bawn, Dublin; Skye Dawson, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim; Paul McLaughlin, Marmount Gardens, Belfast; Mary Shiel, Drumcondra, Dublin; Jacinta Lowndes, Swords, Co. Dublin; Richard Cahill, Clogheen, Co. Tipperary; Dr. James Finnegan, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Ben Ritchie, Downpatrick, Co. Down; Martin Malone, Athy, Co.Kildare; Margaret O’Doherty, Co. Donegal; Margaret Cameron, Old Hollywood Road, Belfast; Jean Tubridy, Tramore, Co. Waterford, and Oliver McBride, Downings, Co. Donegal.
An ideal gift for christmas or anytime!
Original Writing from Ireland’s Own 2015 is available to order in bookshops at €11.95. It is €15, £12 Stg and $US20 (incl p&p) directly from Original Writing, Spade Enterprise Centre, North King St, Dublin 7. Tel: 01-617 4834. Email: front.office@peoplenews.ie
Available to callers at the local offices of the People Newspapers in counties Wexford and Wicklow, The Kerryman, The Sligo Champion and the Drogheda Independent for the special cash and carry price of €10. 
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