Road To Athlone
Local audiences will have a final chance to see the Corofin Dramatic Society’s award winning production ‘The 39 Steps’ over the coming week as they prepare for their All Ireland Final performance at Athlone on Sunday May 3rd. The play will be staged at Corofin Hall on this Thursday night April 22nd and at GLÓR Theatre in Ennis on Saturday night next April 25th. Two final performances will take place in Corofin on Wednesday and Thursday night next April 29th and 30th. All of the local shows commence at 8.00pm.
Festival Kicks Off
The Annual Festival of Finn gets under way in Corofin village on Thursday night next April 30th when the festival will be officially opened by local author P.J.Curtis following a presentation on two of his stories which have been made into films in recent years. On Friday the main events are The Great Mullaghmore Run a 4 mile race commencing at Kilnaboy School and taking in the spectacular scenery in the Mullaghmore area of the parish, while local archaeologist Christine Grant will give a lecture on the archaeology of the Corofin area at the hall on Friday night. Posters and brochures outlining the programme of events have been placed in all local businesses and the programme and all updates can also be viewed on the Festival of Finn Facebook page.
Burren Walk
With the Burren Information Point office at the Clare Heritage and Genealogy Centre opened for the new tourist season a series of free guided walks will be held in the National Park over the coming months. On Sunday next April 26th a walk will commence at 2.00pm on the Nature Trail in the Park. This is a 1.5km looped walk which passes through mature ash and hazel woodland, meadows and open limestone pavement. There is some rough terrain with loose rock so suitable footwear is required. Meet at the trailhead at the Mullaghmore Crossroads at 2.00pm. The walk will last approximately 1.5-2 hrs. Booking is required and can be done by contacting 065 6827693 or emailing burrennationalpark@ahg.gov.
Angling Success
The Lough Lein Anglers charity trout angling competition is a regular annual fixture in Kerry and to date has raised almost €200,000 for a host of deserving charities in Kerry and West Cork. The 2015 event took place on Sunday last with anglers from all over Ireland taking part. The event proved an outstanding success for the O’Loughlin brothers Tommy and Seamus from Corofin who took first and second places in this year’s competition.
Recent Death
The death occurred recently at Cluain Lir Nursing Home, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath of Joseph (Joe) O’Loughlin, formerly of Cheltenham, England and Market Street, Corofin. A former hurling goalkeeper with Corofin and Clare intermediate team he lived in England for Many years before settling in Mullingar in recent years. His funeral took place in Westmeath.
Tug O War in Corofin
The first round of the Munster Tug O War League in the 640kg and senior class were held at the GAA grounds in Corofin on Sunday last and featured seven clubs from around the province. The event ended in success for the host Burren Club taking first place in both competitions which they won without dropping a single point. Burren will be in action in the second round in Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary on Sunday next.
Boffin To Burren
This year’s festival concert in association with Corofin Trad Fest on Sunday May 3rd promises to be a special occasion with the stellar line up of Boffin To Burren performing at the Teach Ceoil. The line-up is Dessie O’Halloran (vocals, fiddle), his brother Johnnie on accordion, with Kieran Hanrahan of Stockton’s Wing and RTE fame (banjo), triple All-Ireland concertina champion Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Padraic and Damian O’Reilly on piano and accordion respectively, Ronan O’Flaherty (fiddle) and Sligo’s Seamus O’Donnell (flute).
GAA News
Corofin recorded a good win against Kilkee in in round three of the intermediate football league on a score line of Corofin 3-08 Kilkee 1-11. In the intermediate hurling league Corofin hosted Smith O Brien’s and in a high scoring game the sides finished level on a score line of Corofin 2-14, Smith O Brien’s 0-20. In u14 A hurling Corofin had a one point win over Newmarket on Fergus on a score of 2-09 to 1-11 following a win over Inagh-Kilnamona by 3 -11 to 3 – 02.. Although defeated in their last game by St. Breckans on a score of 0 -12 to 0 -08 the U16 footballers entertain Cratloe in their final group game of the B championship. This is a top of the table clash with the winner receiving a home semi-final spot.
Youth Club Talent
Corofin Youth Club will be competing in the regional talent finals in Ennis on this Saturday April 25th staging a play written by the Corry sisters Martina and Aoife and will be hoping to progress to the All Ireland finals for the second successive year. The show will feature club members Siobhan Lane, Cian Crowe, Katie O’Flaherty, Skye and Iashia Stagno Navarra and Aoife Corry. They will be joined by Aaron Stone and Tola Neylon the latter who has just finished a stint with Ennistymon Choral Society.
Meanwhile Corofin Club members under the tuition of art facilitator Beverly Ashton have just completed a new club banner which will have a first public outing at the Festival of Finn parade on Monday May 4th.