Newsletter Issue 3  December 2004 Cape Clear International Newsletter   Issue Number 3               December 2004   Emailed free to the Friends & Families of Cape Clear Island.   Our quarterly Newsletter contains items of interest to all past and current islanders, as well as information about future events, which will help the visitor, occasional or frequent, to plan their visit to suit their interests. We welcome contributions of news items. Richard Fenlon, Editor.     Click the link below to see and identify the Whale. You need to discover the Latin & Irish Name to win the prize  for the school fund     Click Here for Whale       The Coming of the Whales. The seas around our coasts are roaring with Whales of different sizes and types.  The photograph above was taken on the 2nd December 2004.  Click on the link to see a picture of the mystery Whale. See section 13 below for a slide show of Whales from the trip, as well as a photograph of a Humpback taken by Chuck Kruger a week or so earlier.   The massive Blue Whale, the biggest Whale that ever lived, is now believed to be a regular visitor to the seas off the Irish coast. A programme on RTE 2, at 2.30 pm on Christmas day, called the 'Return of the Humpback Whale,' will show us what is out there - including information about the Blue Whale.   Competition:  The first person to identify the Whale shown above (Irish and Latin names please) will win 20 Euro towards the school fund.       NDP for Rural Ireland The Cape Clear International Newsletter is made possible by the support of Comharchumann Chléire Teo with funding from The Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, NRDP Program. European Flag     Contents     Art on Cape Clear. (1) ·        Quarterly Virtual Art Gallery. (1a) ·        General Virtual Art Gallery. (1b) ·        'Imaginary Image of Cape Clear,' by Ian Joyce. (1c)   Astronomy and UFO's. (2)   Babies. (3)   Birdwatching. (4)   Calendar of Events for October 2004 to December. (5)   Cape Clear Development. (6)   Here & There - Welcome. (7)   Newscapers (News by Island Children). (8)   New Island Poster - The Islands of West Cork. (9)   Poetry. (10)   Radio & Television. (11)   Thank You. (12) ·        Ferdia & Doris (12a) ·        Neil O'Ríogáin of An Siopa Beag (12b) ·        Cape Clear Choir (12c) ·        Father Peter (12d) ·       Family & Friends (12e)   Whales & Dolphins and other Sea Creatures. (13)   Links to Cape Clear Web Sites. (14)     (1) Art on Cape Clear   December sees the introduction of two Virtual Art Galleries.   All artists, working on Cape Clear, are invited to offer a collection of their works for an exhibition in the new Quarterly Virtual Art Gallery, which is dedicated to a different single artist each quarter.   Visitors, creating works of art relating to Cape Clear, are invited to enter their works into the General Virtual Gallery.  The General Virtual Gallery will also contain individual works by Cape artists.   All you need to do is to present us with digital images and a write-up explaining your work. We can even help by photographing your work for you. You will then be able to use the link we provide to invite people to view your work on-line.   (1a) Quarterly Virtual Art Gallery - Selected Cape Clear Artist   The December Virtual Art Gallery Exhibition features a beautiful collection of 12 illustrations by the artist Eilbhe Donovan, based upon the poem, the Bog Queen, by Seamus Heaney.  Eilbhe, is from Wicklow, but now lives full time on Cape Clear. She had her first solo exhibition in the Signal Art Centre in Bray, Co. Wicklow, in September 2003. She was also chosen as one of the up-and-coming Wicklow artists to exhibit in a group exhibition in The Mermaid, Wicklow County Arts Council Gallery.  To view the gallery as a slide show, click on the link and then click the play button: Quarterly Virtual Art Gallery     (1b) General Virtual Art Gallery - Artists from Cape Clear   All Cape Clear artists are invited to show their works here in the 'General Virtual Art Gallery.' This will be an ongoing and changing display of individual pieces of art. To view the gallery as a slide show, click on the link and then click the play button: General Virtual Art Gallery   (1c) 'Imaginary Image of Cape Clear,' by Ian Joyce        Hotly awaited and apparently close to completion, we will bring you a photograph of the completed art project by Ian Joyce as soon as it is ready - Now expected to be unveiled on March 5th 2005. This project is funded by Éalaíon na Gaeltachta Teo (The Arts Council & Údarás na Gaeltachta). http://www.cloceardlann.com/     (2) Astronomy and UFO's      The night-sky continues to impress.  You can see the constellation Orion by looking south; it is a truly beautiful sight. Click on the link to see maps of the constellations and to discover what else you can see in the night sky during the current month. Maps of the Night Sky from the BBC        Click on the link below to be taken to the NASA website to find out when you can next see the ISS as it dashes across the sky. Date & Time for ISS NASA   Also, try the link to a rather wonderful website designed for children and beginners: Astronomy for Children   The usual web site for those interested in UFO's UFO Society Ireland   (3) Babies    There are no new babies to report this month. We need to try harder to ensure that we increase our population. To this end, every new baby in 2005 will be rewarded by a 20 Euro donation to the school fund. Your editor hopes that this is encouragement enough.   (4) Birdwatching by Steve Wing, Bird Observatory Warden.    The coming months on Cape Clear can be exciting and fruitful. The following information has been supplied by the Birdwatch Ireland web site, with their permission. Click the link to visit their excellent and informative site.   January to Mid - March     Sea-watching has resulted in good numbers of Little Auks, Hard-weather movements can bring thousands of Thrushes, Snipe, Lapwing and Curlew. Vagrants have included Glaucous and Iceland Gulls and Firecrest.   Mid - March to May.     Spring is a most interesting time on Cape Clear with departing winter visitors and often large numbers of spring migrants. Heavy sea passage can occur with Auks and Manx Shearwaters sometimes passing in their thousands. Small numbers of Great and Pomarine Skuas can also occur. Rare migrants recorded in this period have included Little Bittern, Night and Purple Herons, Great Reed Warbler, Fan-tailed Warblers, Bee-eater, Black-eared Wheatear and White-throated Sparrow while Hoopoe and Golden Oriole are almost annual. Breeding seabirds are a further attraction at this time.   Birdwatch Ireland"   (5) Calendar of Events for  - December 2004 to March 2005   Santa Arrives at An Club, December 19th, 5.45pm. All children please note that Santa will arrive exactly at the time shown above and remember, he has a lot of other places to visit and will fly out at 6.15pm. Adults please bring light refreshments if you have the time.   Ciarán Danny Mikes, 25th December – Everyone is invited. Mary has invited everyone for drinks and good cheer at Ciarán Danny Mikes, after mass on Christmas Morning.   Party on St Stephen's Day, 26th December, at An Club There will be refreshments, and Music in the evening by Danny and Kevin - All are welcome. An Club is also open every Friday and Saturday evening. The Card (25's) sessions are very popular and well attended on Saturday evenings - all are welcome. For the story of Saint Stephen's life, click the link: Life of Saint Stephen   New Year's Eve, 31st December, An Club A traditional music session, with blues and jazz mixed in for good measure. Someone said that Danny Kaye was providing the music but I reckon the performers will be the enigmatic Danny from across the water of An Ghleann, and the mysterious Karl from a little further up the hill. Karl, he of the golden larynx, has said that he might even be persuaded to recite a little Seamus Heaney later in the evening.   New Year's Eve, 31st December, Ciarán Danny Mikes On New Years Eve, we have a session to welcome in 2005. Mary also says that she will start to celebrate her 50th Birthday on January 6th (and that these celebrations will probably continue until March 12th!!).  During the holidays there are sure to be many impromptu songs and stories.   St Brigid's Day, February 1st, 2 - 4pm Gearóidin has arranged a St Brigid's Cross making session at the Nionra. For the story of St Brigid's life, click the link: Life of Saint Brigid How to make St Brigid's Cross, click the link: Blueprint of Saint Brigid's cross     Organic Horticulture Course - February This date of this course is still to be settled. The course will be run by the famous Jean Perry of Glebe House, Baltimore. Anyone interested should contact Seamus.   March 5th Saint Ciarán's Day. The keenly awaited unveiling of the multi-media art project created by the famous artist Ian Joyce will take place in An Club today. There will also be a traditional music session and a number of other events to celebrate this most auspicious occasion.   (5) Calendar of Events for  - December 2004 to March 2005   St Patrick's Day, March 17th, There will be an Irish Evening at An Club. More information in the next Newsletter.   One Man Play in An Club by Mr X.  May 1st Sheila reports that a famous actor from Fair City, via The Abbey Theatre, will perform a one man play The race of the ark tattoo in An Club - Mr X’s identity is being kept a secret as we don't want to cause a panic among the women-folk. Sheila has our thanks for arranging such an interesting event  - remember to take your seats early as it is bound to be full on the night.   Calendar of events will continue in the next newsletter.     (6) Cape Clear Development & Improvements   (6a) New Irish College and Community Hall      Plans for this very exciting and much needed facility can be viewed at the Comharchumann office.   (6b) Infrastructure Improvements      The Marine Department has postponed the resurfacing of the roads in the North Harbour.   (6c) Pottery & Tourism Office      Planning permission has now been granted and we hope to see the new 'Bothán' in time for the start of the summer season 2005.   (6d) Jobs on Cape Clear      Email the Co-op for more information: Email here   (6e) European Student Volunteer Service        We are delighted o announce that our application, via Leargas, to the European Student Volunteer Service, has been successful and as a result the first student will arrive in the island in January, closely followed by the second in February.    They will be working closely with the island community and thereby gain experience of our life style, culture, and hopefully a sense of our history.    They will work in various areas including the after school service, the active retired island group, the spring clean-up, clearing the path to Trá Dún Chléire, etc.  See section 7 for the names of the students mentioned above.   (7) Here (in the island) and There (somewhere else)   (7a) Welcome to Julian & Louise:  Julian & Louise have moved into the house recently vacated by the Cassidy family.   We wish them happiness in the island.   (7b)Welcome to the students from the European Student Volunteer Service.   Montserrat Alvarez Pino, will arrive in early January. She is from Spain and will stay for six months.   Laurent Reynaud, will arrive on 1st February. He is from France and will stay for one year.     (8) NewsCapers (News from Island Children)   Bird Week by Pat Leonard The bird exhibition in the club was created by the children of Cape, Siobhan, Norah Jane, Ruairi, Mairtin, Neasa, Sadhbh, Eoin, Judi, Fiona. We all had fun making Paddy Sparrow and it was colourful and enjoyed a lot by the little people. Click the link to see Paddy Sparrow Picture   Bird Festival by Norah Jane Bird week was from the 8th to 17th October on Cape Clear. On Sunday, there was an exhibition in Club Cleire made by the adults and children of Tír na Spraoi. We made lots of paintings and creations. It started at 2.30pm and I was surprised by the atmosphere in the Club. There were lots of works of art by lots of people including Sadhbh, Mairtin, Judi, Fiona, Eoin, Aodh, Thea, Neasa, Cian, Ruairi, with ages ranging from 3 years to 8 years old. There were some 3D models made by Fiona, Judi, Siobhan, Pat, Johanna and Norah Jane. Paddy Sparrow was our main 3D feature and everyone, especially one of the birwatchers (I don't know his name) thought he was hilarious. We also had a funny bird and some eggs. We were all very proud of our work. I would love to see copies of the photographs taken by the adults on the day.   Bird Week by Siobhan O'Driscoll Bird week was for nine days and there was a welcome to Cape Clear by Michael Cadogan and Steve Wing in Club Cleire.  I thought the exhibition was quite good. I'm quite impressed with the whole thing. A good few people came to see the work, especially birdwatchers. The kids (between the ages of 10-12) made a life-size birdwatcher called 'Paddy Sparrow,' drinking a pint of Guinness. We also had paintings by the small children. Neasa, aged 3, made an abstract owl. I was very proud of my picture and of the young children's paintings.  We all had a good time.   (9) New Island Poster - The Islands of West Cork Copies of the poster are available from the office, free. We are keen to have copies hanging in hotels and pubs all over Cork and even further a field. Therefore, if anyone can help please let Seamus know. The posters can also be ordered by post at a cost of 3 Euro to cover postage.   (10) Poetry   We start with a kind letter from Bruce & Marilyn Driscoll from Canada.   'Thank you for the timely newsletter, and for including us in your mailouts.  It brings back great memories of our short visits to our adopted home in Baltimore and the Islands, particularly Cape Clear. Your article on Concubar's passing and wake was very close to pure poetry and brought strong feelings to the hearts of both Marilyn and I.  We loved and admired Concubar very much.  Our visit next year will not be the same because a large part of the soul of Cape Clear will be missing.   Our regards and prayers to Eleanor and the family.   I noticed you include poetry in your newsletter.  Here is a sea shanty I wrote during the O'Driscoll Clan gathering in 2003.  Concubar's passing made me think of it.  I sang it in 'Bushes, badly I might add, the last night of the gathering.  Perhaps if it is suitable you might find a space for it.'   Bruce and Marilyn Driscoll New Brunswick, Canada   Bruce, it is our pleasure to include your moving poem, and yes we all miss him greatly too. Thank you for your kind words;   Only the Sea   "Oh, you'll not go to Sea my son You'll stay here on the shore Because you're only 17 and I can't lose no more The Sea it took your Father And it took your brother too So you can't be a sailor boy Because I'll not lose you."   "Oh Mother dear -  the Sea it calls I feel it in my bones I know I'm only 17, but the Sea it is it my home. I promise you that I'll return Regardless of my fate So I'm going out a sailin' and I'm asking you to wait."   He raised the anchor, upped the sails And caught the morning breeze And sailed out on that broad green breast with a sailor's practiced ease The sun was shining high that day As his Mother watched from shore She felt from deep within her heart She'd see her son no more.   The swells were running higher now The sky took on a frown A wave that broke near 15 feet took half the mainsail down He steered back hard to race the storm He fought the breakers strong He saw the next wave coming and He knew it wasn’t long.   His Mother walked the shore that night A lantern in her hand And all she saw was driftwood stacked in piles on the sand And then she saw a sweater And a body lying still She knew her son was home at last For the Sea had worked its will.   "Oh, you'll not go to Sea my son You'll stay here on the shore Because you're only 17 and I can't lose no more The Sea it took your Father And it took your brother too So you can't be a sailor boy Because I'll not lose you."   BD, Baltimore, June 2003.   (11) Radio broadcasts -  Listen on your PC.   Here's a little update to the visits of Dirk & Mona, the journalists from Germany.   'Our first visit in May: A general traveling report, broadcasted on WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk), 24.Oct, which is a radio program, which can be heard in the western part of Germany. My second visit in September: Two reports of the Storytelling Festival, broadcasted on DLF (Deutschlandfunk), 6.Sep and NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk), 7. Sep. DLF is the national radio-station and this means that, in theory, everybody in Germany could have listened to it! NDR is a station which can be heard in the northern part of Germany.   There is also a short text about Cape Clear and a link to the website of the island.' Greetings from Dirk, and Mona!   If you have Real Player installed  you can hear the general traveling report on the internet, click on the link: Travel Report about Cape Clear   Ella McSweeney reports on her visit to Magical Cape Clear Island 'You may be interested to know of an audio link to a programme I did on the Cape last August.'   'This week Ella travels to the wonderful, magical island of Cape Clear, off Baltimore in Co. Cork. Three miles long, one mile wide and 8 miles from Cork mainland, the cape is home to a wide variety of bird and plant species. Ella goes there and talks to local man & historian Diarmuid O'Driscoll. She also talks to Ed Harper, who keeps goats on the island, and Media Lab Europe researcher Alison Wood who has developed a device using new technology that enhances a hikers experience when walking.' Click to listen as Ella walks the island talking to the people above:  Listen to Ella's radio show   (12) Thank You to:   Ferdia & Doris (12a) A huge thanks for the amazing efforts you put into the shop over the last few years. Change is often difficult to handle and it feels strange not to see you both in the shop. Thanks also for the seamless way in which the shop was handed over to Neil.   Neil O'Ríogáin of An Siopa Beag (12b) A big thank you to Neil O'Ríogáin for taking over An Siopa Beag so quickly and smoothly. Neil tells me that the shop is open six days a week from Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 4pm.  Pizza night is Friday 5 - 7pm. Hot lunches are served daily from 1pm. Sandwiches, soup, pastries, tea, coffee, and soft drinks are also available.   (12) Thank You to;   Cape Clear Choir (12c) Thank you to our most excellent choir for some marvellous performances and often at such short notice. The huge effort is truly appreciated.  Our choir visited England & Wales in November to perform songs in Irish. A report and photograph will appear in the next issue. I had an undercover reporter who joined the choir in England but he has not filed his report yet.   Father Peter (12d) Thank you for being our stalwart and being there during the good times and the bad, when we needed you the most. Always ready with a kind word and lovely smile. Thank you for your commitment to the island over the years.   Family & Friends (12e) Christmas is a happy time, a time for celebration, but it is also a time when we miss those who are far away and those who have passed on. May God bless them all and may He keep them in his care.   (13) Whales, Dolphins, & Porpoises etc.:   Whale watching continues throughout the year. On the 2nd December, we went Whale watching in the seas around the island and had great views of 70ft Fin Whales, Minkie Whales. We were also delighted by a school of Long Beaked Common Dolphin who sported and played alongside our speeding boat. A couple of weeks previous Chuck Kruger saw large groups of Fin Whales and got a great photo of a diving Humpback Whale.  Click the link to see a slide show of our photographs of the trip:  Slide show of Whales and Dolphins     (14) Links to Cape Clear Web Sites:   View back copies of the Newsletter and lots of pictures of Cape Clear. Back Copies of the Newsletter on Line   Our island web site, with lots of links, pictures, places to stay on the island etc. Cape Clear Web Site    Emara Community Portal, contains regular news about Cape Clear. Emara Portal for Islands   If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please send an email to: Email the Editor"   We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter. If we can add anything else to help improve your enjoyment then please let us know.  Richard@fenlon.net   Email Email the Editor with your comments.