Community News

BRIAN'S SUPERB SWIM
Well done to local Parish swimmer, Brian Dillon, for his outstanding aquatic feat recently, the first ever to do so, as far as we know! Brian also holds the record for swimming around Loop Head, deemed a highly dangerous aquatic encounter. Precarious and dodgy, I'd say! These are the facts pertaining to his most recent swim. On the 31st August 2024. Swim was Kilkee To Whitestrand Doonbeg, 14.5 Kilometres. It took 5 hrs and 40 mins . water temperature 16.8 degrees Celsius, Air temperature 14 to 20 Degree Celsius.
ISLAND SWIM
The longest consistently running swim in Ireland, the Island Swim, will take place from the Curraghgour on this Saturday, September 14th, starting at 2pm. The most senior swimmer to participate is Deirdre Cross (age 79) and the youngest is eleven years old. This 3.8km aquatic stint attracts swimmers not alone locally, but from much farther away. Mark Dempsey, the swim Director, notes that the local charity to benefit from this great swim is Adapt. When it began in 2014, there were just eleven taking part and now there is around 300! Three swimmers who have participated in every Island Swim thus far, are, Tommy Moloney, John Ryan (son of our late much-respected coach, Gerry) and Diarmuid Hanrahan. Further information on Limerick Narwhals Facebook page.
NIGEL TAKES STOCK
In a recent radio programme on 95fm, our connsumate broadcaster, Nigel Dugdale, did a stroll around the general area of King's Island. Comprising of quite a number of local voices, iby Grey Heron Media, t was a most wonderful radio experience. Further back, the said eclectic broadcaster and a man who is no stranger to the stage, conducted yet another expert radio documentary on the delightful village of Murroe. 'Did You Meet Anyone' was aired at 7am on Saturday, August 24th and susequently it was Podcast. We welcome such an observant, smart, all-round knowledgeable person as Nigel into our midst as a fairly recent resident of King's Island and wish him mamy happy and fruitful years among us.


https://shows.acast.com/667eb635fad4724cde940e3c/66c894c161e041a75ce0b9eb

KILKEE EVENTS
Just in case anyone reading these notes is still travelling to Kilkee, there will be a celebration of the great writer, Charlotte Bronte, who spent part of her honeymoon in that precious patch of God's acre, on the weekend of the 14th. Two events will take place in Sweeney Memorial Library and the other is a pleasant and informative Walkabot. This is the 170th anniversary of he bries sojourn in Kilkee. She died the following year at the age of just 38.Then on the following weekend, September 20th to 22nd, Cruinniú na Mara celebrates the wonder of the Wild Atlantic Ocean, that, as everyone knows, surrounds that once quaint old village. And it's no harm to know tha Nolan's top class chipper is still open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

TIME MOVES ON
It's hard to believe that we are approaching Autumn in every sense of the word. For most of the Summer, su was replaced by rain, rain and even more rain lest we missed the last shower! If there is one thing that has occurred to me since compiling this weekly locally-based column for the past 22 years, it is the word Time! Yes, you begin the year fresh and enthusiastic, then summer sort of lags and you are madly searching for news that is out of reach, ephemeral, 'gone under'! And you plug along regardless and in my case I take the best advice that a close relation of mine, who worked for the 'Limerick Weekly Echo' back in the early 50s gave me, and that was, 'you just make them up!' The Notes, that is. Yes indeed, very often when people do not contact me with ther input, a little help along the way, one does actually, have to make things up, in your head and in so doing, fill a space. For me, one way or the other, I consider myself somewhat lucky, in that I am a little creative with words, which when strung together, make a reasonable short article. No matter which, I just enjoy compiling these weekly inputs, which have been I think, a little helpful from time to time in availing of local contacts,and oft in portraing local musical talent, it's our little niche, so to speak, and at the end of the day, everyone's niche is their own, and ours happens to be what has been termed the First Parish, that of St. Mary's.
THEATRE'S TRAGIC LOSS
The sad and tragic death of local theatre's 'diamond' John Anthony Murphy, has definitely left a huge void in the Arts Community, and on Limeick in general. A man of extremely modest demeanor, John has certainly left his mark, and an excellent one at that! I like to recall his delivery from the lofty pulpit of the Redemptorist church as he was cast as a devoted priest preaching to a host of young boys if I remember properly, charging them, even advising them to be pure etc, and if I rightly recall, he had reason to become 'overwrought' which he mastered to perfection. In that brief episode of the movie, 'Angela's Ashes' he was mighty in his own unique way. And then there was 'The Tempest' where he played a wonderful part, in the midst of one 'prop' consisting of piles and piles of old telephone directories. Perhaps someone reading this piece will recall that wonderful production bravely enacted by Island Theatre Company, under the masterful direction of its founder, that well-spoken gentleman we are all hugely proud of, the magic-maker as only he is capable of, Mike Finn. There are so many more roles that the late John has been master of, but these are two that stick out for me. Our heartfelt sympathy to his parents, family and host upon host of friends of the Limerick Arts Community. To leave behind a legacy such as he has left, brings a certain satisfaction to those berieved, but his like is irreplacable! God rest John! 'Whose sun declined long, long before Life's dusky night crept in.'