Our Contributors
Since 2009 we have met great people and captured some great stories. Our cuairteóirí often form lasting friendships with the people they record, going back again and again to spend time with them and to learn more about the story of their lives. Here’s just a sample of some of the people whose stories have affected us.
Pat Foudy
Pat lives in Ennis and runs a tyre centre. Having fixed punctures for the whole county, he is widely known and loved. He hosted music sessions for his elderly neighbours among the piles of tyres in his garage during the recent All Ireland Fleadhanna Cheoil.
His interests range from vintage cars to tropical sea fishing. Getting your car tyres changed at Pat Foudy’s tyre centre is never a dull experience! Check out Episode 5 of the Clare Oral History Podcast for stories from Pat.
Teresa Flynn
From Mountshannon, Teresa lived in various places and raised her family mostly in Miltown Malbay. She is an enthralling storyteller whether she is describing a vegetable garden or how to lay out a corpse or racism in 1950s America. She has made a rich and deep contribution to the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive.
Peggy Hogan
Peggy was from Annagh, Feakle and is one of the most distinctive voices in the archive.
She created worlds with her stories. She recreated village life, fairs, markets, hurling matches, fist-fights, the coming of electricity, the making of dinners, the washing of clothes. A hundred ordinary things became epic as she wove her verbal magic around them. Her fun-filled stories sparkle like jewels in our archive.
Our Supporters
Clare County Library
We receive ongoing funding from Clare County Council through Clare County Library, with whom we currently have a Memorandum Of Understanding for the delivery of Folklore & Oral History Assistance to the Cultural Services division of Clare County Council.
We are delighted to see the importance of Co. Clare’s oral cultural heritage recognised in the Clare County Development Plan 2023 – 2029 (CDP16.18). We’re really proud to be named in this document as partner in Clare County Council’s expressed objective of preserving and promoting Co. Clare’s oral heritage.
The Heritage Council
The Heritage Council has been a crucial support to us in making our archive digitally accessible. Check out the Clare Oral History Podcast which they supported in 2021 and this website which they’ve co-funded in 2022
Rethink Ireland
We were proud to be recipients of Rethink Ireland funding through its Ignite Midwest fund in 2021. We were delighted to benefit from Rethink Ireland’s excellent training and consultancy and to be able to staff the project during this period.
EI Electronics
We were delighted to receive a donation of funding in 2021 from EI Electronics, the Shannon based company with over 50 years presence in Co. Clare life and a considerable philanthropic force in the county.
They are currently gathering perhaps the first ever oral history of an industrial company in Co. Clare. Can’t wait to hear their stories!
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organisation. Whether it’s interviewing (or going on cuaird as we like to call it), recording, summarising interviews, photographing, video-ing, subtitling, postering or audio editing, Cuimhneamh an Chláir doesn’t function without this brilliant bunch.
Would you like to join us? Email [email protected] and let’s see how you can get involved.
Ourselves
The current board of Cuimhneamh an Chláir is:
- Cormac McCarthy , Chair
- Bridget Garry, Vice Chair
- Geraldine Greene, Secretary
- Martina McCarthy, Treasurer
- Leonard McDonagh
- Linda Quinn
- Martina Hynan
- Micheál MacGearailt
- Olive Keane
Contact any of us at [email protected]
Project coordinator is Paula Carroll ([email protected]).