Special

Celebrating older persons’ contribution to arts and culture in the community. Lunch will be followed by dance and song with some local musicians.

Explore the history of this 200-year-old town in the company of local historian Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill. Take in the town’s early industrial sites, the railway station, the 19th-century Bridewall (gaol) and the Catholic and Protestant graveyards. Hear stories of famine, war, religious conflict, street riots and political rallies. Learn about John D’Arcy, the founder of Clifden, and Alexander Nimmo, the 19th Century Scottish engineer who designed the Connemara road system that is still in use today.

Tour duration: Approx 90 mins

Tel: 087 647 1107

Alan Esslemont was born in Braemar in Scotland and holds an MA in French from Edinburgh University and a postgraduate MBA from the Open University in the UK. After working in France, Switzerland and the Isle of Skye, Alan moved to Ireland in 1984 for a teaching position at University College Galway. In 1989 he became a member of the start-up team for Telegael, the pioneering independent audio-visual company in the west of Ireland.

Alan was appointed in 1995 to the senior management group of Teilifís na Gaeilge, which launched TnaG in October 1996. He was a founding board member and treasurer of the Irish Film and Television Academy (1997-2000) and played a key role in the successful re-launch of TnaG as TG4 in 1999. He was appointed Director of Television for TG4 in 2000. Then in December 2007, Alan returned to Scotland to help set up and successfully launch BBC ALBA, the Scots Gaelic television channel, where he was Head of Content for almost nine years. In 2016, Alan returned to work in Ireland to undertake the chief executive role at TG4 and in 2019, he was elected to the position of Chair of the Celtic Media Festival. TG4 became Ireland's 6th most watched channel in 2019, its highest-ever audience ranking.

Music and dance with Marie Walsh.

Tune in to Connemara Community Radio (connemarafm.com) to listen live.

The Venerable Bede first mentioned Inishbofin in the early 8th century as a refuge for Northumbrian monks. The Vikings raided it in 795 AD and long retained strong associations with Anglo-Saxon England. Located on the border between two mighty Gaelic maritime lordships, the O’Malleys and the O’Flahertys, Inishbofin has a turbulent history. It was the last Gaelic stronghold to fall to Cromwell and subsequently had strong links with 17th-century France and 18th-century America. Dozens of Bronze Age monuments mark its earlier history and will be visited during the trip. Its coastline boasts dramatic sea cliffs, caves, and a wide variety of marine life.

Meeting at 11:00am at Cleggan Pier, return on 5:00pm ferry.

Booking in advance to 095 21379 or email info@walkingireland.com.

Explore the history of this 200-year-old town in the company of local historian Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill. Take in the town’s early industrial sites, the railway station, the 19th-century Bridewall (gaol) and the Catholic and Protestant graveyards. Hear stories of famine, war, religious conflict, street riots and political rallies. Learn about John D’Arcy, the founder of Clifden, and Alexander Nimmo, the 19th Century Scottish engineer who designed the Connemara road system that is still in use today.

Tour duration: Approx. 90 mins
Tel: 087 647 1107

Explore the history of this 200-year-old town in the company of local historian Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill. Take in the town’s early industrial sites, the railway station, the 19th-century Bridewall (gaol) and the Catholic and Protestant graveyards. Hear stories of famine, war, religious conflict, street riots and political rallies. Learn about John D’Arcy, the founder of Clifden, and Alexander Nimmo, the 19th Century Scottish engineer who designed the Connemara road system that is still in use today.

Tour duration: Approx 90 mins
Tel: 087 647 1107

The Elm Tree day centre for mental health is hosting its annual coffee morning fundraiser at the centre (old convent grounds, Galway Road, Clifden) on Sunday 17th September from 11am-1pm....