Glin was a busy place to be last weekend with all kinds of things going on at the Glin Festival from arts to sports to picnics to fancy dresses to dances. After Mass on Saturday night a monument was unveiled to mark the fishing industry which used to be in Glin in earlier days. The sculpture which is erected in the town park was designed by Pat O’Loughlin. Well done to all the committee and sub-committee members for the hard work which was put into organising all the events. No doubt, you will be reading all about it in local papers this week. Coming from Ballyhahill I was delighted to see that three of the prize-winners for the art and poetry competition on “The Knight’s Walk” went to Ballyhahill school pupils, past and present. Tom and Ellie Healy, Ballyhahill won the Art U12 while Maurice O’Connor, Turraree won the U18 poetry. Well done to all.

It has often been said that if we got sun in Ireland we need never go anywhere else to see beautiful places and I have to confirm that. Jim and I spent Sunday and Monday touring the west coast of Clare including taking a trip to Inisheer island. This was one of the places I have always wanted to visit but had not got around to it. Sunday was the day; the sea was a bit “choppy” but the ferries from Doolin were working. Choppy was not the word; the breakfast which I had enjoyed in Quilty did not remain long in the stomach but once on the island I was fine again. On getting off “The Rose of Aran” with wobbly legs we headed towards the white beach immediately to the left. On the island there are lots of little narrow roads meandering here and there. One wider straight length of road was the runway for the local airport.  A few shops and two hotels catered for the constant stream of tourists which came and went with every boat into the pier. There are a few cars and tractors on the island as well as the Jaunting cars and bikes which one can chose to travel. I prefer to use shanks mare and get to see little corners which I might not otherwise see. While visiting the local graveyard I was charmed to see the ruins of a tiny church dedicated to St Kevin’s – patron of the island – buried into the ground with the roof at ground level to the main graveyard and steps down in to the body of the Church. In the space of a few hours we got bright warm sunshine, cloudy and breezy for a while, a quick light shower and a bit of drizzle. So we saw this lovely stone-walled island, with less than 300 inhabitants, in all kinds of weathers. I enjoyed my visit but was afraid of the return journey on the boat. I was advised to stay on the deck and even though it was quite cold and blustery and still very choppy I managed to get back OK. On Monday, which was a lovely day, we drove the coast road down through Spanish Point, Doonbeg, Kilkee and on to Loop Head. The scenery was magnificent and the waves were at their grandest crashing off the miles of cliffs and rocks. The Lighthouse at Loop Head is open to visitors so we had a grand view across to Ballybunion and  Kerry head. A lovely mini holiday.

I believe that the Killeaney Lotto had no winner at the weekend. It stands at €10,100 next weekend. Buy a ticket!

This week Glin Library displays art by local Glin artists as well as Carol Noonan’s art and crafts. It will also have the winning entries of the Art & Poetry competitions. Beidh fáilte romhat.