The summer season of weekly events continues this Wednesday, with the ninth Talk at 8pm, at the Cultúrlann Sweeney, O’Connell St., Kilkee.
Closing Address for 2018 KCT Summer Season by Michael Houlihan, Chairman, KCT

KCT Summer Schedule 2018

Ireland was neutral during the Second World War but the war still had an impact on life in Ireland. The little-known story of the coast watchers’ contribution to the safety of the country and the story behind their lookout buildings is very interesting.

About the Speaker:
John Williams , a Pharmacist by profession, with the support of his wife Elizabeth, ran the successful Kilkee based Williams’ Pharmacy & Williams’ Hardware for many years. Now retired; John Williams is actively involved and contributes enthusiastically to many social activities, commercial and development initiatives in and around Kilkee. He is a champion supporter for all things positive for Kilkee, the Loop Head Peninsula, and the wider West Clare area. John is a founder member of Loop Head Tourism, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Kilkee Tourism, Kilkee Social Housing Association and Kilkee Civic Trust. It is entirely fitting that John’s Kilkee Civic Trust talk is our Heritage Week event this year.

When: Wednesday 22nd of August at 8pm
Where: Cultúrlann Sweeney
Admission is FREE of charge

A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses
Every good wish,
Joseph McCloskey , Honorary Secretary,
Kilkee Civic Trust
Email:

The summer season of weekly events continues this Wednesday, with the ninth Talk at 8pm, at the Cultúrlann Sweeney, O’Connell St., Kilkee.
Closing Address for 2018 KCT Summer Season by Michael Houlihan, Chairman, KCT

KCT Summer Schedule 2018

Under the 1891 Act establishing the Congested Districts Board any district electoral division with an average annual rateable valuation per household of less than 30 shillings was eligible for ‘congested’ status, meaning it was entitled to receive substantial State investment in grants, training, infrastructural improvements and other supports. The Board had a second condition: a minimum of one-fifth of the total population of the county must not exceed the rateable valuation of 30 shillings per household. Unfortunately, Clare, with its mix of small holdings and large ‘ranches’ did not satisfy the Board’s strict criteria. So, although the west of the county had particularly large numbers of landless households living in difficult, congested circumstances, they failed to qualify for the reliefs applied to other counties in the west.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh makes a welcome return as a KCT Speaker to our 2018 Talks series. For family and other reasons, West Clare is very familiar to Críostóir. He is currently Director of the National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin. With a background in folklore and archaeology, he has written widely on different aspects of Irish oral literature, vernacular architecture, traditional boats and fishing, especially so in relation to County Clare.

When: Wednesday 29th of August at 8pm
Where: Cultúrlann Sweeney
Admission is FREE of charge

A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses
Every good wish,
Joseph McCloskey , Honorary Secretary,
Kilkee Civic Trust
Email:

The summer season of weekly events continues this Wednesday 15th August at 8pm with the seventh KCT Talk at the Cultúrlann Sweeney, O’Connell St., with “Clare Person of the Year 2018”, John Burke

Kilkee Civic Trust
Summer Talks Schedule 2018

All donations at the door, as you enter and leave this KCT Talk, will be donated to the Elevate Foundation
The Elevate Foundation is a not-for-profit initiative. Its aim is to reach out and connect with young people in Clare, utilising independent organisations and professionals specialising in youth mental health and youth wellness. Elevate was founded by this week’s Speaker John Burke in April 2017. He established the foundation to develop a project he is very passionate about – promoting wellness in young people and providing them with the tools they need to fulfil their potential. Elevate Foundation on facebook

On the 16th May 2017, for the very first time, the Clare flag was raised on the top of Mount Everest. John Burke, who hails from the flat lands of Spanish Point, achieved his 10-year personal goal of standing on Top of the World. While the task of climbing Everest is a feat of unique physical endurance; John attributes his survival and success to the mental strengths which he prepared and honed well in advance. Overcoming many challenges along the way; John stared death in the face on a mountain that has claimed the lives of 1 in 10 who summit. His story of preparation, planning, and mental training, will touch many; whatever their own Everest may be. In this KCT Talk; John Burke will provide some reflections and insights from the lessons he learnt along his 10-year epic journey. He promises to bring along photographs, and some videos, from one of the most hostile yet spectacular places on our Planet Earth; a place we can now say was home to a Clare person; if only for a short period of time.

About the Speaker:
John Burke, a native of Spanish Point, achieved his 10-year personal goal of standing on Top of the World in May 2017. He climbed Mount Everest, returned home safely, and will tell us about his great adventure. In everyday life, as well as being an accomplished sportsman, John is the Managing Director of the well-known and renowned Armada Hotel at Spanish Point; a business established by his late father, (also named John), and built up from the original Public House to be one of Clare’s best hotels and an ever-popular Wedding & Conference Venue. Last year; John founded “Elevate”, a youth wellness organisation and, over the past 12 months, “Elevate” has delivered Wellness Programmes to young people throughout Co. Clare; in areas such as Resilience Building, Mindfulness, Inspiration and Individuality. In its first year; “Elevate” has worked with approx. 9,000 young people. John says that plans are in active formation to grow the “Elevate” Programme further in the year ahead. Finally; John Burke was recently awarded the title “Clare Person of the Year 2018”.

When:Wednesday 15th August at 8pm
Where: Cultúrlann Sweeney
Admission is FREE of charge

A donations box is available, at each KCT Talk, to assist us in defraying essential and necessary expenses. (Please note, as previously mentioned, all donations on this occasion will be given to the Elevate Foundation (Link)
Every good wish,
Joseph McCloskey , Honorary Secretary,
Kilkee Civic Trust
Email: