“The Past is our Future” is a celebration of traditional farming in Co. Clare and what it can teach us about the environment and biodiversity. It takes place in Kilfenora Community Hall, Main St. Kilfenora, this Friday 24 May 2024 at 7pm.

This is Biodiversity Week so we bring you stories from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive that remind us of the wealth of environmental knowledge carried by older farmers. We’ll hear about hay-making versus silage-making, seed-saving, what animals to let graze your orchard, how hares play, what plants will heal broken bones, and much more

We also invite you to bring your own stories. Tell us about the mixed farms of your childhood, what grew around your home, what wild plants you knew, what birds you heard, what has disappeared and what is still there.

This is a free event, all are welcome. No booking needed. More information here. Supported by The Heritage Council and Clare Libraries.

The third Talking Landscapes walk takes place on Sunday 26 May 2024 in Fanore at the earlier time of 11.30am. Joe Queally and Patsy Carrucan will take us around ‘the village of their childhood.’ We’ll see nad hear the stories of the deserted village, the sacred ground where the Tinkers camped, the ‘old penal chapel’ hidden in hazel in the Caher Valley. We’ll also take some time out  to share in a healing experience at the lighthouse at ‘Black Head / Ceann Dubh’.  Our guides Joe Queally and Patsy Carrucan are natives of Fanore and intimately acquainted with its every corner.  Book your free place here.

Cuimhneamh an Chláir has been gathering oral histories of Co. Clare since 2009. Those stories are strongly linked to place and to our sense of identity as Clare people. Now we invite you to walk through those places in the company of local people who will act as your guides. Look beneath the surface, learn the deep stories, connect with landscape.

Walks will take place bi-monthly throughout the year, mostly in rural locations, but Clare towns will feature too. The walks are free but must be booked in advance. Details and bookings here.

Cuimhneamh an Chláir, is running a nationwide Oral History Mentoring Programme in May / June 2024. This is a free peer-to-peer mentoring programme available to Heritage and Community Groups who are interested in collecting oral history (Local History or Heritage Groups, Community or Parish Councils, Arts Groups etc).  It is supported by The Heritage Council’s Heritage Organisations Support Fund.

HOW TO APPLY
Please send Expressions of Interest to us at [email protected] by 30 April. 

Just email us a paragraph or two, telling us about your group and what your interest is.  Ideally you will have an idea for a project that you can work on in May / June. Also ideally, we would like 2 of your group to attend the programme (for mutual support while learning).  

We will inform selected groups by Thurs 2 May. 

Training is free of charge and takes place in Ennis on Fri 10 May, Thurs 6 June, Sat 29 June (full day 10.30 – 4pm). This is hands-on training with online support between sessions.  Last year’s participant feedback strongly favoured this mix of in-person and online.

Recorders and headphones are provided free of charge for participant groups to keep.

See more information here.

Apply by e mailing us at [email protected] telling us in a paragraph or two about your group and why you would like to do this training. Deadline Tue 30 April.

The second Talking Landscapes walk on Sunday 24 March at 1pm is a scenic historical walk in the townland of Cappabane, Scariff in East Clare.  Cappabane native, Marie McMahon, is our guide.  Treat yourself to spectacular views of Lough Derg, meet Marie’s family and neighbours along the way and hear their stories of Cappabane’s historical sites and local folklore.  Visit the old school with an 87 year old past pupil, see the mass rock from penal times, hear from the host of one of the rambling houses of Cappabane. There may even be a song or two. Book your free place here.

Cuimhneamh an Chláir has been gathering oral histories of Co. Clare since 2009. Those stories are strongly linked to place and to our sense of identity as Clare people. Now we invite you to walk through those places in the company of local people who will act as your guides. Look beneath the surface, learn the deep stories, connect with landscape.

Walks will take place bi-monthly throughout the year, mostly in rural locations, but Clare towns will feature too. The walks are free but must be booked in advance. Details and bookings here.

An event from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir oral history archive for International Women’s Day

Friday 8 March 2024, 7pm, Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis

Cuimhneamh an Chláir is exploring the rich tapestry of Clare women’s voices in its archive and sharing some of their stories for International Women’s Day 2024.

Expect tales of domestic life and home crafts, but also of professional women and business owners in mid twentieth century Co. Clare. There are stories of independent women making their own matches, of childhood illnesses and mortality, of arriving as a young wife from India to 1960s Lahinch, and more.  Together these stories paint a nuanced picture of the lives of women through the late 19^th and 20th centuries in Co. Clare.

Please join us in the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis, Fri 8 March at 7pm for this International Women’s Day celebration.

The event is free and all are welcome.