After Storm 'Frank'!

After 6th storm of the season!

The view from Bridge Street, towards the bridge (out of view near top left), with 'The Manse' just about visible behind the trees on the top left also. Here in the foreground, the Cotton Mill canal and the river Clódagh are just one, more or less.  The flooding, from weeks of rain, extended into fields beyond this scene, and covered a wide area in Coolfin and Darrigle areas. This scene was repeated nationwide, but much worse in many other towns, villages and rural areas. As I type this on January 1st, the weather situation continues to worsen, and may last about three more weeks according to the Met office!

Cian and Evan Mullowney, with their father, Jonathan, at the riversidewalk.

                                                                                                                                                             John and Martin Heffernan baling out their boat at the canal side.

                                                                                                                                                             Paul Kelly by the bridge, where the water here had already subsided somewhat.

Seán Walsh and Mary Forsey
just two of the many who came to the bridge area to see the floods.

 

                                                                                                                                                              The Walsh brothers who live close to the Clódagh, but on somewhat higher ground.

                                                                                                                                                           David Cohen, popular local personality, well wrapped up for the weather, surveying the scene from the Green Island footbridge abutment.

                                                                                                                                                               It's that lady once again, Mary Forsey, photographing everything in the area,
chatting here with John Roche of the Suir Valley Photographic Group,
and her husband, Frank, on extreme right,
as they overlook the area from the Green Island footbridge abutment,
which was restored a short few years ago.

-    oooOooo    -

Three days later, the flooding has eased considerably at Portlaw.
This shot taken from the bridge, showing the Clódagh overflowing into the now-defunct  cotton-mill canal.
Meanwhile, the entire Suir valley is seriously flooded, affecting all towns adjacent to it.

(one left click on any image will show an enlarged version)

Beannachtaí na Nollag - 2015

Christmas 2015

                                                                                                                                                    Illustration  -  The Nativity at Donore Church

by

Artist James Cox & Myles Kearney & Sons, Dublin.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

At the 

Malcomson Square

CAROL SINGING

Sunday, December 13th:

An IPhone picture kindly supplied by John Gleeson.

COMERAGHS WILD 2015

                                                                                                                   

THE COMERAGHS WILD FESTIVAL

County Waterford.

September 17^th to 20^th 2015.

This festival, involving Walks & Talks, Storytelling, Traditional Music & Song, Poetry & Film, Nature & Adventure, Stair agus Oidhreacht, was surely one of the most successful of the many new festivals that have been springing up in recent years.

The Official Opening, including Tionól na nDéise, was held at the Cotton Mill, Portlaw on the Thursday evening where a lengthy tribute, in Irish with simultaneous translation to English, was paid to Portlaw native, An tAthair Risteáird de hIndeberg – ‘Ceóltóir, Gaeilgeóir, agus Déiseach’, by Chris MacAuliffe and an Doctúir Séamus Ó Diollúin, WIT.  The venue was packed to capacity.

Events thereafter included: The Tallest and Smallest Circus at both Portlaw and Ballymacarbry national schools (Friday afternoon), ‘A Ball of Light in One Hand’ (Dungarvan – Friday), Amhráin agus Ceol – Eochar na Staire’ (Coolnasméar Friday), Edith Collier Exhibition (Bunmahon all weekend), Harvest Walk and Play – (Comeragh Mountains - Friday).

On Saturday afternoon there was a family walk in Crough Woods (Kilrossanty), a walk in the footsteps of Edith Collier (Bunmahon), Canoeing with Ardmore Adventures and storytelling by Niall de Búrca; both of the latter at Mahon Falls.

On Saturday afternoon to evening, the highlight was an open-air concert by Mary Black in the courtyard at Curraghmore House. Mary was supported by Kíla and Rue de la Coup. Same evening Ballymacarbry hosted a show – ‘As the Story Goes’ plus poet, Tom McCarthy. The Art Hand, on the Copper Coast hosted ‘Words Gone Wild’ same evening.

Sunday morning to afternoon saw a variety of still more interactive events; Muddy Boots Walk (Comeraghs), Treasure Hunt (Stradbally); Circle Dance Workshop at Kilossanty, Eco Fairy Tales at Kilmacthomas, also Flora of the Comeraghs at Rathgormack.  

 The Cúl na Sméar junior group. 

Maybe the best wine was kept until the last, when Comhaltas Craobh na gComarach from Cúl na Sméar and Cór Fear na nDéise from An Rinn and An tSean Phobail presented a concert of traditional music, song and sean-nós dancing at The Copper Coast Geopark Centre. to close the festival.  I was one of the first to arrive, thus ensuring a good seat from where I could photograph the participants. As anticipated, a ‘full house’ turned up, many people having to stand. 
 

                                                                                                                                                                 A young harpist (and violinist) with strong Portlaw connections!

Cúl na Sméar Senior Group.

                                                                                                                                                     Sean-Nós Dancer.

                                                                                                                                                              Cór Fear na nDéise ón Rinn agus an tSean Phobail. 

Ccllr. Liam Brazil, Comeragh Electoral Area Mayor, addressing the audience.

 

Micheál Marrinan of Cúl na Sméar, Fear an Tí for the evening,

with xxxxx xxxxx, chairperson of the organising committee,

speaking at the conclusion of the concert.  

I can honestly say that this was the best concert I ever attended!

Ceól, Amhránaíocht agus Damhsach thar bárr.

Comhgháirdeachas libh go léir! 

Some info on the Edith Collier exhibition to follow.

                  

REPRESENTING THEIR COUNTRY

Darryl Walsh & Hayley Fitzsimons

On left – Darryl Walsh, The Square, Portlaw, who played on the Irish U-16 soccer team in the recent  Victory Shield, at Newport, Wales. Darryl trains regularly with the team at Malahide, Dublin.

On right – Hayley Fitzsimons, Portlaw, one of the Irish team, which participated in the recent International Paralympic Committee World championships, at Doha, Quatar. Over 1,300 athletes from ninety countries took part, in temperatures of about 35 degrees Celsius. Hayley, who had been training for five years and featured in the F40 Shortputt, would like to thank her coach, Tom Prendergast, also Josephine Hickey, the Staff of Peak Fitness, and the people of Portlaw for their continuing support.  Congrats to both talented people.  

Hayley. 

Darryl.