Cape Clear Island Wren Boys are gearing up for action

In recent years St Stephens Day on Cape clear Island has been enlivened by the reappearance of the traditional wren boys following the intervention of artist, musician, writer, craftsman, and historian Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc who set about reviving old traditions and customs during his two year sojourn on the Island. Pádraig has left us but the good spirit he engendered lives on and this year the Wren Boys are again planning to take to the Islands high ways and by ways with their songs, costumes and instruments in the interests of good cheer, hospitality and charity.

Various good causes have been assisted over the years and all funds collected in 2009will go towards providing basic cooking facilities in two schools in El Salvador. While free primary education has been available for many years many of the counties poorest children cannot afford to attend due to the cost of school uniforms and shoes and those that continue to go hungry are in no condition to learn anyway. This year the new Government is providing free uniforms and shoes as well as basic foodstuffs to every school to provide a simple meal for every child every day. This is a laudable effort in a poor country but sadly the funds do not extend to the provision of cooking staff or facilities. Parents are volunteering to prepare the food using basic rudimentary and unhygienic outdoor facilities. Whatever funds are collected will go 100% towards upgrading the cooking facilities in two such schools serving 100’s of children in the Capital City San Salvador.

This year it is reported that some younger members of the community are practising hard in order to join the troupe and we look forward to more fun filled festival cheer on this St Stephens Day 2009.

ENDS

Great news on the NEW Swansea - Cork ferry service

We are pleased to announce that Fastnet Line’s online booking system and pricing is now available on our website www.fastnetline.com.

The Swansea to Cork service will commence on March 1st 2010, sailing from Cork to Swansea, departing at 21:00 arriving in Swansea at 07:00 the next morning. See the website for the full schedule.

Special Opening Offer - Kids Travel FREE on Fastnet Line !!
That’s right - simply book at least one adult ticket with vehicle for travel during 2010
- and up to three children can travel with you absolutely free!
Bookings must be made before 1st April 2010, children must be under 16 on the date of travel, excludes cabin.

If you need further information or have any queries, please check our FAQ or email Catherine at info@fastnetline.com.

Great New Year Accommodation Discounts in Baltimore

New Year at the Corner House Guesthouse Baltimore.

Celebrate in the heart of Baltimore village with a
10% discount on 3rd or 4th nights accommodation

Contact:Bernadette

Tel: +353 (0)28 20143 / +353 (0) 872687044

E-Mail: bernaodriscoll@eircom.net

www.odriscollscornerhouse.com

Coffee morning in aid of charity

COFFEE MORNING


BALTIMORE

SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2009

BALTIMORE YACHT CHARTERS are holding a coffee morning on board their yachts "Inishbeg", "Inishceim" and "Inishleigh" at the pier Baltimore in aid of ILFA the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association.

The morning’s proceeds will go towards this organisations continuing research into:

Lung disorders,
Lung transplantation,
Organ donations – lungs,


Please support this worthy cause if you are free on Saturday anytime between 1030 and 1400 hours.



For more information phone 086 8114964 Nuala O Halloran

086 2738368 Mary Minihane

087 2738368 Con Minihane

Web www.baltimoreyachtcharters.com

Cape Clear Active Retirement Group – Pre Christmas Activities 2009

Cléire Active Retirement Group plans a series of pre Christmas get-togethers to light up these dark and wintery days and to engender a festive mood in all classes for the holy season.

These all take place on Sunday afternoons from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm in the groups regular meeting place ,Club Cléire. The first on Sunday 8th November is a Pudding bake, hosted by Island Chef, James Bell. On Sunday 22nd November there will be friendly BINGO and traditional card games on Sunday 29th November. The finale on Sunday 6th will see local musicians invited to entertain and encourage willing voices, both old and young to sing the songs we all love so well. Mulled wine will on offer and also bumper draw for a Christmas Hamper.

CARA members will also attend the Islands Christmas Party on Saturday 12th December organised this year by Seán Rua’s Restaurant. Tickets are available to all at each in An Siopa beag and Neil promises a super night with music by Billy Harte and friends. This is always a great night and not to be missed.

Cookery courses in beautiful west Cork...

Clodagh Mckenna meets Michael Ryan at Inishbeg during filming for the Nationwide programme


Cookery Courses at Inish Beg

www.inishbeg.com

Jacqueline Lanigan Ryan’s two day courses in November & December

Artisan Baking and Edible Gifts

Saturday and Sunday 28th & 29th November – fully booked
Saturday and Sunday 12th & 13th December
Limited to 10 participants per course

Jacqueline Lanigan Ryan works full time as a pastry chef and gives classes specialising in teaching bread, pastry, cake and dessert making. She has 20 years experience, having spent 12 of those years running her own Deli and Restaurant in Thurles, Co. Tipperary and 5 years in a bakery where artisan breads and pastries were prepared daily. She now concentrates all her efforts as a pastry chef in a very busy hotel where she is responsible for bread, scones, pastry, cakes and desserts.

The course takes place on the beautiful organic estate of Inish Beg, near Baltimore, in West Cork.

Course Overview:
In this 2 day course, you will learn all of the secrets to preparing, baking, and finishing a wide selection of cakes, tarts and desserts. You will be shown how some very tasty and professional looking cakes and desserts can be made easily and quickly. You will wonder why you have put off making some items, like éclairs or profiteroles or even meringues when you are shown how easy these are. Jacqueline will be more than happy to pass on tips and secrets used in a professional kitchen. She wants everybody going home knowing more and really wanting to cook and bake more than they did. She will show you how to make edible gifts to give to your family or friends for Christmas. People really like to receive something you have taken the time and trouble to make as its very personal and you will even be shown lots of ideas for wrapping and presenting your gifts.

Saturday 28th November & 12th December
Saturday morning you will be making bread to include, 100% wholemeal bread with seeds, savoury cheese and herb scones and fruit scones, pastry, plum and almond tart, meringues, tiramisu and lemon curd.
There will be a break for lunch provided and the breads and desserts will be sampled.
Saturday afternoon will include making cranberry with orange and port sauce, chutney, a tart with apple, cranberry, walnut and raisins, lemon madeira cake, a flourless rich chocolate cake and blackcurrant delice.

Sunday 29th November & 13th December
On Sunday morning you will make brown and white soda bread, choux pastry (éclairs and profiteroles), crème fraiche tart, plum pudding, chocolate truffles and chocolate roulade. You will make parchment paper piping bags and be shown how to write and decorate in chocolate or icing.
Break for light lunch with some yummy sampling of what you have made.
Sunday afternoon will cover rum and brandy butters, orange and poppy seed cake, shortbread cookies and lots of ideas and examples on wrapping and packing homemade gifts.

All classes include demonstrations with hands on cooking. Please bring a 2 pint pudding bowl with you and you will be going home with your pudding ready to steam. Everybody will also take some samples of the items baked as well as either a jar or jars of chutney, lemon curd, cranberry sauce, or rum/brandy butter with you. There will be one or two little surprises too so don’t miss the opportunity to learn new skills and go home full of fresh energy and ideas.

Cost - Euro 195

Accommodation
If you would like to stay in one of Inish Beg’s award winning properties on Inish Beg Estate during the course, you can book into a Courtyard Cottage for one or two nights for Euro 50 per night. You will be able to use all the facilities of the estate including the indoor swimming pool complex. To learn more about the accommodation at Inish Beg, log on to www.inishbeg.com .

Booking
To book the course, please contact Paul or Georgiana by phone at 028-21745 or by email at cookerycourses@inishbeg.com.

News from Heir Island

THE POSTPONED HEIR ISLAND REGATTA WAS AGAIN LUCKY IN THAT IT WAS HELD ON A PERFECT DAY FRI 21 AUGUST. THE BALTIMORE LIFEBOAT BENEFITTED TO THE TUNE OF €1800. NEXT YEARS EVENT IS TO BE HELD ON THURS 12 AUGUST 2010.THIS SUPPORT BRINGS IN TOTAL OVER€30000 RAISED FOR THE LIFEBOAT AND MARMOUNT HOSPICE DURING THE LAST YEAR, A WONDERFUL RESPONSE FROM AN ISLAND OF 27 PERMANENT RESIDENTS!

THE HEIR ISLAND SAILING SCHOOL NOW OPEN ALL THE YEAR ROUND HAD AN EXCELLENT SUMMER WITH FAMILIES AVAILAING OF OUR RESIDENTIAL SAILING COURSES COMING FROM 10 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, OUR TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME IS IN FULL SWING FOR 2010 UNDER RESIDENT DIRECTOR OF SAILING HUGUES TRAONMILIN.

A FAILTE IRELAND PHOTOGRAPHER AND A MODEL FAMILY WERE HERE IN EARLY OCTOBER FILMING ACTION ON THE HEIR ISLAND LOBSTER BOAT "THE ROSE" OWNED BY THE PROPRIETOR OF THE WORLD FAMOUS, ISLAND COTTAGE RESTAURANT, JOHN DESMON. INCLUDED IN THE ACTION WAS THE HEIR ISLAND SLOOP OWNED AND BUILT BY GUBBY WILLIAMS, WHO HAS MOVED HIS WORKSHOP TO HEIR ISLAND, AND THE FIBRE GLASS DUBLIN BAY "MERMAID" FROM THE HEIR ISLAND SAILING SCHOOL UNDER SKIPPER HUGUES TRAONMILIN. ALL THIS ACTIVITY FOR A REVAMPED FAILTE IRELAND BROCHURE COVERING OUR OFFSHORE ISLANDS.

RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO HEIR ISLAND WERE PROMINENT SUPPORTERS OF THE CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE CORK SWANSEA FERRY. THEY ARE ALL HOPEFUL THAT ITS RESTORATION WILL HERALD THE RETURN OF THE ADVENTURE HOLIDAY MAKER AND ALLOW THOSE WITH HOLIDAY HOMES AN EXTRA 2 DAYS ON THEIR ANNUAL VACATION WITHOUT THE LONG DRIVE FROM ROSSLARE...

Tourism innovation at it's very best...

The villagers of Baltimore in West Cork, Ireland have taken the recessionary bull by the horns. Not content with waiting for an upturn in the economy these resourceful folk have formed a marketing cooperative called "Explore Baltimore and the Islands". Made up of over 95 local companies, this cooperative creates innovative bundled packages of activities and accommodation to attract visitors out of season. Members of the cooperative have played an active role in the "Bring back Swansea Cork Ferry" campaign and have been celebrating these past weeks following the announcement that a boat has been purchased and the ferry service between Swancsea and Cork city will recommence in March 2010 making access to west Cork from south Wales more convenient for the many visitors we welcome to the area every year.