The Seaweed Collectors

In May 1835 a young couple from Moveen set out to harvest seaweed to fertilize their garden as many others did at this time. What unfolded that day was recorded in Mary John Knott’s classic account of Kilkee at that time. This documentary examines the background to the seaweed industry then and now. It features contributions from Paddy Nolan, John Rattigan, Eileen Mulcahy and Michael O’Connell.

Download PDF: Two_months_at_Kilkee

It was produced by Jason Murphy and funded by the BAI under the Sound and Vision Scheme with the Television licence fee.

seaweed

The Last Picture Show

The Last Picture Show is a documentary produced by Conan Brophy for Raidió Corca Baiscinn in 2012. It was produced with the help of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound & Vision scheme.

It highlights the history and stories associated with the Mars Cinema in Kilrush, now sadly closed.

Methods of Modern Meitheál

“Methods of Modern Meitheál”, is seeking to encourage local people to think about new ways of working and co-operating to bring about real and sustained economic and social growth in West Clare.

As the recession drags on, more and more people are beginning to realise that perhaps traditional economics and traditional business, are not going to bring the country out of recession this time around.

Community resilience and social economics are being trumpeted as possible answers. Social entrepreneurship and the re-invention of the concept of meitheál have been suggested as a means to develop local economies.

”Methods of Modern Meitheál” looks at these ideas, and sees how they might actually work in practice. In the first programme, presenter and producer Jason Murphy meets with Davie Phillip of the Community Resilience organisation based in Cloughjordan in Tipperary. It also looks at the emergence of the Grow It Yourself movement, and how this is changing individuals’ lives as they become more involved not just in growing their own food, but in joining with like-minded individuals in their communities to learn how to do it better.

In the second programme, Jason travels to Skibbereen to meet with Adrian Marsh to discuss a co-operative working model used by artists and craftworkers successfully in West Cork, and how this could be transferred and adapted to work in West Clare.

It is hoped that this series will encourage and inspire people to look at different approaches to working, and how by working together within the community, it might be possible to make a difference to West Clare and help to bring about a much needed economic upturn in the region. Presenter and producer of the series, Jason Murphy said of the experience of making this series, “Economic theories are all well and good but seeing different schemes in practice across the country really brought home the idea that by coming together communities can make a real and substantial difference to the wellbeing of people living in them”.

Championing the Banner

An intimate insight into the operations of the Clare Champion

Raidio Corca Baiscinn is delighted to announce a new documentary on the history and role of the Clare Champion newspaper in County Clare. This one hour documentary highlights some of the key and important events reported in Clare.

Producer and Presenter of the documentary, James Flannagan said “Listeners will be given an insight into the day to day running of the paper. It is also an interactive documentary between the broadcaster and the community of Clare.”

Blessed Wells of West Clare

The Blessed Wells of West Clare is an 8 part series exploring the rich heritage and tradition of Blessed Wells all across south west Clare. Throughout the series, reporter James Flanagan travels all across west Clare to Blessed Wells in Querrin, Spanish Point and Scattery Island to name but a few, and hears of their history and importance in the fabric of their local communities. The series explores cures & legends associated with each well, along with how the wells have been maintained through the years, and the people responsible for keeping their tradition alive.

Part One – Our Lady’s Well in Dromelihy, Cooraclare
Part Three – St Senans Well, Scattery Island
Part Four – St Michaels Well, Kilmihil

Part Five – St Martins Well, Querrin
Part Six – St Josephs Well, Spanish Point
Part Seven – Loop Head Wells
Part Eight – Killernan Well, Milltown Malbay

Are Ye Coming out to Play

Pupils from third class and above, were trained by RCB Volunteer Trainer Melissa McMahon and Producer Sallyann Marron to use recording equipment, and were then set with the task of asking parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours in their communities – how they used to play when they were children. The pupils came from Annagh National School, Coore National School, Kilmihil National School, Querrin National School, Clohanes National School and Gaelscoil Ui Choimin in Kilrush.
The project has been a huge success, with children finding out the intricacies of pegging tops, spinning tops, pitching quaids and marbles, to name but a few. They havve also found out about the amount of (unpaid!) work carried out by their parents and grandparents as they helped out on family farms and businesses. There was no such thing as pocket money, children were just expected to pitch in with the rest. Similarly, summer holidays consisted of turning turf, making hay and harvesting vegetables. It wasn’t all hard work though and there are fantastic tales from people as they reminisce about growing up. No matter what generation they are, all had fond memories of Christmas and Santa coming to visit!


Coore National School

Querrin National School

Annagh National School

Clohanes

52 Degrees North : Episode 2

On Episode #2 of 52°North we meet a childhood bogeyman, push ourselves to our physical and mental limits, we try to stand against elemental forces beyond our control and we have a brush with death as our contributors and producers explore how we Overcome the Monster.

52 Degrees North : Episode 1

Series Information
52°North is an international collaborative radio series of shared voices and stories. Broadcast from the 52nd Parallel in Kilkee, west Clare, Ireland, 52°N orth blends multiple stories from the Loop Head Peninsula and from contributing stations and producers from across the globe to create an engaging narrative. Produced by Sean Callahan .

On Episode #001 of 52°North, we dive to the heart of who we are and where we find our talents, we hear the birth story of a suite of music commemorating an exodus, sudden generosities will be rewarded, we will harness the elements and discover there’s more to a recent visitor that you thought you knew as our producers and contributors investigate Origins.

Shellshock Town

Dermot Hayes reporting on the impact on some of our local residents;
While the 1916 Rising was going on in Dublin and other parts of the country a significant war was taking place in Europe – over 17 million people lost their lives. A large number of young men from Co. Clare were involved. Many were killed and many of the survivors were shell shocked when they came home.
Over 400 men left the town of Kilrush during that time. It is a story that I felt profoundly affected by in that I had not heard it told before in any situation. I am deeply grateful to all the contributors who shared these important stories. I hope this documentary will shed some light on what actually happened to those men during that terrible time

world-war-1-somme

The Kilkee Civic Trust presents..

KCT’s summer Clare-Quinn-1-of-2-200x283season of Music continues with Summer Serenade, featuring Clare Quinn – Mezzo Soprano, accompanied by superb local guest performers, at Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee.
Venue: Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee
When: Friday 29th July at 8pm
Tickets: Cultúrlann Sweeney Box Office 065-9060769 & or On-line at www.glor.ie Cost: Adults €10 & Children /Students €8 Clare Quinn will be accompanied by.. Read More..

Kilkee Civic Trust Summer talks

The Kilkee Civic Trust talks return to the Kilkee bay Hotel,every Wednesday at 8:00pm.The KCT have carefully selected an interesting portfolio of speakers and an eclectic range of topics. We hope you will enjoy all of them.RCB are there to record the Summer Talks and each are broadcast on the following Monday at 4:00pm shortly followed here by the Podcast of each talk.The Live talks are illustrated with images and diagrams.Head on over for an hour or so every Wednesday from 8:00pm