All Eyes On Athlone
Supporters and admirers of Corofin Dramatic Society will be on tenterhooks this week as the 2015 All Ireland Open Drama Finals at the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone conclude and the results are announced. Corofin, one of nine finalists, performed The 39 Steps on Sunday night last and received a rapturous response from the audience. The adjudicator Walker Euart gave little away in his summary following the show as the same play is being performed later in the week by Letterkenny Drama Group. There was strong support for Corofin from all parts of Clare and indeed other parts of Ireland as the cast have friends and family connections in several counties. Director John Clancy was happy with the performance of his charges on Sunday night and all will be revealed when the results are announced in Athlone on Saturday evening.
Lucky Escape
There was drama of a different kind in Corofin on Thursday last as Gardai and the fire service attended a house fire in the village early that morning. The incident occurred in Church Street when the front door of a house caught fire and smoke quickly engulfed the downstairs area of the house. The elderly occupant was taken to safety by his two sons when the alarm was raised. He was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation as was one of the two rescuers later in the day. While it was reported that Gardai were treating the incident as suspicious it would appear to have been an accident which could have had more serious consequences. It is understood that the occupant removed a cushion which had caught fire in the sitting room and put it outside the door but had not placed it sufficiently far enough away from the building. As a result the PVC door caught fire resulting in the damage caused and the threat to life. An online fundraising initiative has been set up to assist the family involved.
Robbie’s Record
Local singer and entertainer Robbie Kierce will launch a new CD next week at The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon. Robbie is well-known on the music scene in Clare for many years having been a member of several bands including The Hound Dogs and The Eclipse Band to mention only two. He will be joined by several fellow-entertainers for the release of his new CD which takes place on Thursday night next May 14th.
Colin Has Ireland’s Best Beard
He travelled from Ardee in Co. Louth for the All Ireland Beard & Moustache Championships in Corofin on Saturday last and will return there as the overall winner of Ireland’s Best Beard competition. The 2013 winner John McNally from Cork claimed the Best Natural Beard category while Gavin Browne from Dublin won the Best Styled Full Beard award. Brian Carroll made it a hat-trick of victories in the main competition for Best Moustache. There were also several other category prizes won at the 3rd annual championships held at Corofin as part of this year’s Festival of Finn.
Five-Timer for Sinead
Limerick lady, Sinead Dinneen won the Ladies World Stone Throwing Championship for the first time in 2000. She went on to win again in 2009 and won back to back titles in 2013 and 2014. She made it a hat-trick of consecutive wins in the 2015 competition held in Corofin on Sunday evening and her fifth time to claim the title. Pat Keneally who won the men’s competition in 2014 successfully defended his title on Sunday, the first time that both titles went to the previous year’s winners. Once again there was great interest in the event, a signature event for the festival week-end, with all proceeds going to the Corofin Christmas Lights committee.
Battle of Benburb
The Burren Tug O War Club travelled to Benburb in Co. Tyrone on Saturday last to participate in an open competition featuring teams from various parts of Ireland and the UK. The local club got through to the final of the 640kg competition where they defeated a team from Derry which were the 2014 European Bronze Medal winners.
Festive Finish
The 2015 Festival of Finn finished with a flourish on Monday with a great turn-out for the Festival Parade on Monday morning. A big attraction at this year’s event was the participation of the Vulcan Motorcycle Club from the UK the second time in three years that they have participated in the Corofin festival. There were also lots of local groups and individuals taking part in what was a very colourful event. In spite of the uncertainty with the weather on Monday the popular Lark at the Lake which offers lots of family fun went ahead as scheduled. The festival officially ended on Monday evening with the organising committee drawing the sinners of their fundraising raffle at Bofey Quinn’s.
Walk The Walk
The Burren National Park Information Point continues its series of walks in The Park with a free guided walk on the Nature Trail on Sunday next May 10th commencing at 2.15pm. As usual walkers are asked to wear suitable footware and clothing and should also book at the information point in Corofin Village. Participants should meet at Gortalecka Cross at 2.15pm and can also avail of the free bus service from Corofin departing at 2.00pm.
Nenagh Outing
Corofin Golf Society will hold it’s May outing at Nenagh Golf Club on this Saturday May 9th. The tee is reserved at the County Tipperary venue from 9.30am.