Tour of Ireland Cyclists prepare for Limerick-Dingle Stage

Tour of Ireland cyclists prepare for for Limerick-Dingle Stage
The 2008 Tour of Ireland cycle race, which takes place from August 27th to 31st August, is set to zoom through Kerry as the fourth and fifth stages of the 900km five stage race will see 112 of the world's top cyclists hurtle through the county at breakneck speed. Beginning in Dublin on Wednesday August 27th, 16 top international cycling teams, including Tour De France Stage Winner Mark Cavendish, will tackle the first three stages of the race from Dublin to Waterford, Thurles to Loughrea and Ballinrobe to Galway City. The fourth stage, which commences on Saturday August 30th, will see the peloton create a colourful spectacle as competitors race from Clancy's Stand in Limerick City to Patrickswell, Adare, Rathkeale, Newcastlewest, Ardagh, Carrigkerry and across the county bounds into Athea at approximately midday.The action will continue on into Listowel (12.20), Finuge (12.28), Lixnaw, (12.35) Abbeydorney (12.45) and on into Tralee (12.54).The cyclists will then complete the difficult route from Tralee to Stradbally, over the 8km Category One climb over Connor Pass and on into Dingle (13.52).
The race continues from there on through West Kerry where the cyclists will face the mountainous terrains of the Gaeltacht tackling a 36km loop of Slea Head towards Dún Chaoin and back over the 185 metre climb over Mám Clasach. Events will then reach a thrilling climax as competitors head for a dramatic finish on
Dingle's Main Street at approximately 14.36. The final stage, Stage Five, will begin the following morning in Killarney on High Streed at 11:30am where cyclists will face the final stage on towards Glenflesk, Crohane across the county bounds into Baile Bhúirne and on towards the finish line in McCurtin Street in Cork City at approximately 3pm. RTE will feature nightly coverage of the Tour of Ireland which is being broadcast to millions of spectators across the world with ITV covering the event for the UK. TV networks in France, Scandinavia the USA and Asia will also carry the event and highlights of the race are set to be shown in South Africa and Asia.
More information on the Tour of Ireland is available at www.tourofireland.ie .

Dáithí Ó Sé gets the Blues (on Highway 61!)

Dáithí hits the 'Blues Highway'

Kilquane's Dáithí Ó Sé is set to delight his fans as he stars in a new TV series which will document his journey across America's Highway 61, America's highway of Blues, which begins on TG4 on Thursday September 11th at 9.30pm.

Building on the success of "Dáithí ar Route 66" which was aired last year, Dáithí now tackles America's second most famous road in the guise of Highway 61, America's 'Blues Highway'. The series will follow Dáithí as he begins his journey in New Orleans travelling through eight US states before reaching the Canadian border, encountering many unique and famous faces along the way including musical legends Kenny Rodgers, Chuck Berry, Ben E King, Percy Sledge and Paul Simon.

Pictured left, Dáithí with Kenny Rodgers, and below, Chuck Berry.

More information at www.tg4.ie

Electric Picnic date for West Kerry players

'Electric Dream' comes true for Dingle playwright

West Kerry players join Electric Picnic line-up

The talents of a young Dingle playwright and a group of West Kerry actresses will receive a national audience this Saturday as they take to the stage as part of the line-up of the eagerly anticipated boutique music festival, Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co. Laois.
This years Electric Picnic line up includes the legendary Sex Pistols, Josh Ritter, Duffy, Goldfrapp, CSS, The Gossip, Franz Ferdinand and Nick Cave as well as host of Irish talent including Sineád O'Connor, Cathy Davey and Christy Moore. Teilifís na Fís, a comedic Irish language drama penned by Dingle playwright Rachel Ní Fhionnáin is set to be one of the festival highlights as it will be performed in the Irish tent. West Kerry amauter actresses, including Emma Ní Dhúbhlaing, Niamh Ní Chonchúir and Sorcha Ní Dhubháin, perform the play on Saturday August 30th at 3pm, joining the likes of comedian Des Bishop and Hector Ó hEogáin in the festival's Irish Tent.
Rachel's comedic drama, written entirely as Gaeilge, follows of hilarious events set in a hair salon.
"The play is based around the events that take place when a pompous ex-news reader comes in to have her hair done" explained Rachel, "the twist is that those working in the hair salon realise that they have more in common with the news reader than they would have liked!"

The play received great acclaim at Corca Dhuibhne drama festival, Féile Dramaíochta Feothneach, earlier this year where Rachel and the young actresses received an award. They went on to represent Kerry at Féile Naisiúnta Dramaíochta, the national Irish language drama festival, which was held in Limerick last May, debuting the play to a national audience at the Belltable Arts Centre. The play was widely lauded among critics and consequently the talented West Kerry players were invited to join the star-studded line up in the Irish Tent at Electric Picnic.
"It's so exciting" said Rachel, who is the daughter of local GP, Dr. Mícheál Ó Fainnín, who is also a celebrated poet and writer. "We were all hoping to go to Electric Picnic this year, but we never dreamed that we'd actually be performing at it!"

Future of the Blasket Islands discussed at An Díseart

Blasket Island oral hearing in Dingle

The future of An Bhlascaod Mór (the Great Blasket) was up for discussion in Dingle this week as An Bórd Pleanála hosted an oral hearing regarding the island's future development at Institute of Education and Celtic Culture, An Díseart, on Tuesday August 5th and Wednesday August 6th. A decision on proposed plans by majority shareholder An Bhlaoscaod Mór Teoaranta (BMT) to construct a café and supporting facilities at the Island had been deferred by An Bórd Pleanála following a submissions made by a number of applleamnts since Kerry County Council initially granted the project planning last November. The construction of these dwellings however is paramount to the Government's plans to buy out the Island with the view towards developing the home of literary greats such as Peig Sayers, Tomás Ó Criothain and Muiris Ó Suilleabháin as a protected historic and national park. However the proposed dwellings have raised questions locally as some individuals feel that this route is not the best way forward in preserving what weaver Sue Redicon, (who lived and worked on the Great Blasket for 20 years), described as "the true essence of the Island" as the buildings would be two to three times larger than exisitng structures on the Island. Questions were also raised about the granting of exclusive commercial rights to BMT for ferry services, the café and supporting facilities and the co-dependence of the Government's plans upon the granting of planning persmission for the dwellings. Other issues were raised at the hearing by various concerned parties including environmental and ecological concern. On Wednesday Ásta Bowen of the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, travelled from New York to Dingle to testify about findings that indicate sea-birds Manx Shearwaters are actually breeding in the village on Great Blasket. For the past 20 years, Government proposals on the future of the Island have progressed slowly.The Office of Public Works have been negotiating for many years on behalf of the Government and local supporters of the project to designate the Island as a National Historic Park. A budget of around €10 million was also allocated by the OPW last year for the Island's future preservation and development. It is, as of yet, unclear how this will now proceed given the fact that the plan was linked with the construction of BMT's café and supporting facilities with An Blascaod Mor Teo owning 17 of the 25 holdings on the island.

Reaching new heights - Dingle's first climbing wall

Reaching new heights

Matters are reaching new heights in Dingle as the area recently welcomed its first climbing wall which was unveiled at the Udarás Business Park in Ballinaboula by cliff and coastal rescuer, Mike O'Shea. With three walls, each incorporating different levels to suit the beginner to the advanced, the wall has already attracted some of Ireland's top climbers including Nigel Callender, John Harrison and Derek Carmody who travelled to Dingle to tackle the more difficult aspects of the wall. The initiative has caused a sensation locally with hundreds flocking to try out what began as an idea to train people to 'work at height'; an initiative set up by Mike, formerly of Kerry Mountain Rescue, currently with the Dingle Cliff and Coastal rescue. In developing a new centre he realised the potential a public access climbing wall would have in the area. "I always wanted to do something like this but could never find the right location. When this place came up it was perfect, this is the first of its kind, there is nothing of its size or scale anywhere else in the country" said Mike

www.playatheight.com

Dingle Writing Courses

Aspiring writers invited to apply for bursary

If you’re a writer who’s hungry to learn more about your craft but can’t afford to take it further, Dingle Writing Courses may have the answer (www.dinglewritingcourses.ie).
In association with Kerry County Council, Dingle Writing Courses is offering one Kerry writer the chance to take an intensive weekend writing course this autumn, at a fraction of the normal fee.
The winner of the bursary will work with one of Ireland’s top writers in one of west Kerry’s most scenic spots. Tigh Aine sits on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula overlooking the magnificent Clothar Head and Strand, and in between tutoring sessions course participants are treated to stunning views and the best of home-cooked food.
The winner of the bursary can choose from one of the following courses:

• Poetry with Maurice Riordan, September 19-21,


• Children’s Fiction with Malachy Doyle, September 26 – 28,


• Starting to Write with Enda Wyley, October 10-12,


• Fiction with Claire Kilroy, October 17-19.

To coincide with the courses each tutor will give a public reading at lunchtime in the Dingle Bookshop on the Friday the course begins. For a bursary application form contact Fiona or Nora-Marie at Kerry Arts Office on 066 7183815, email arts@kerrycoco.ie or info@dinglewritingcourses.ie. Contact Abigail Joffe & Nicholas McLachlan (Course Directors) at +353 (0) 66 9159815.

Dingle Races Friday 8th - Sun 10th August

Dingle Races

Ballintaggart Racecourse

August 8th-10th

www.dingleraces.ie

Painting courtesy of Martine Moriarty: To enjoy more of Martine's work visit: www.martinemoriarty.com

Missing man found in Baile an bhFionnúrach

Gardaí in Dingle have paid tribute to rescue teams and volunteers following the discovery of the remains of a pensioner yesterday who had been missing in the Dingle area since last Friday.
80-year-old Tony Crickard from Belfast was reported missing last Friday when he failed to meet up with family friends as arranged.
Mr Crickard had travelled to the county to attend the funeral of his grand-nephew Shane Crickard of Ballyduff who died in a road crash last week.
Gardaí confirmed that search teams discovered Mr Crickard's remains around 2pm in a field at Baile an bhFionnúrach, at the foot of Mount Brandon.
The last confirmed sighting of Mr Crickard was at Cuas Pier, Brandon Creek at approximately eight thirty on Friday night.
The body was removed from the scene and brought to Kerry General Hospital for post mortem.
The Civil Defense, Dingle Coast and Cliff Resuce and many others have been searching for Mr. Crickard for days.
Sergeant Joe Joyce is thanking all those who took part in the search for Mr Crickard.

Bungee's back in Dingle!

For a unique bird's eye view of Dingle.... located at the back of O'Flaherty's Bar, on the Tracks, Dingle.

Things to do in Dingle this Summer

What to do in Dingle this week...

Slea Head Drive - Take the Slea Head Drive, west of Dingle, to see beautiful beaches at Ceann Trá (Ventry), Slea Head and the Blasket Islands at Dún Chaoin and the amazing scenery in Baile an Fheirteáraigh (Ballyferriter), Baile na nGall (Ballydavid), Feothneach, Muiríoch, Glens and back into Dingle again. It's free and it has some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.

Go to the Circus - Circus Gerbola (at the Mart Grounds) are in town this week

Head to the Funfair - Turbett's Funfair and Amusements are in town at the Tracks

Beehive Theatre - The Beehive Theatre, Cuilín, Dingle is staging performances of the play Drama at Inish weekly throughout the summer.

Bodhrán and Tin Whistle Workshops - Classes daily at 11:00 in Dingle Music School Dykegate Street. Tel. 086 319 0438. Other instruments by arrangement.

Traditional Irish Music Sessions - Nightly from aprox. 9pm at O'Flaherty's Pub, Bridge Street, An Drochead Beag, Main Street, John Benny's, The Pier and The Dingle Pub, Main Street.

Hillgrove Niteclub- One of Ireland's best loved nightclubs, two clubs, Fri/Sat/Sun http://www.hillgrovedingle.com/ or contact 066-9151131.

Dingle World of Leisure - Bowling, Swimming, Kid's Club, Gym. http://www.dwol.eu/

Dingle Ocean World - Enjoy the fascinating fish-life of the Atlantic, come face to face with fearsome sharks, stroll around the Amazonian Jungle watching piranhas, walk through the breathtaking Underwater Tunnel, hold a star fish or stroke a friendly ray..
http://www.dingle-oceanworld.com/

Dingle Horse Riding - Riding treks around the Peninsula - http://www.dinglehorseriding.com/

Dingle Corn Maze - Five Acre Corn Maze on the High Road in the shape of Fungie the Dolphin
and of course....

Take a trip to see Fungie the Dolphin! - Boats rides daily from the Pier in Dingle