John Murray Show Video Highlights
Here are some highlights from The John Murray Show’s trip to Dunfanaghy in Co. Donegal. As part of the show, a walk was recorded in Carrigart the evening before.
… and here are the photos from the trip
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Wild Atlantic Way Update
The Wild Atlantic Way is an exciting new project which involves the development of a driving route along the Atlantic coast of Ireland from Donegal to Cork. Theroute itself will comprise of a central spine, togetherwith a series of loops and spurs off it to encouragepeople to explore all that the west coast has to offer.
It will showcase the best scenery and attractions for visitors with improved on-road infrastructure such as viewing points and lay-bys. It will also provide better opportunities for enhanced trade collaboration aroundthe Wild Atlantic Way brand.
The route will also link with walking and cycling routes, and will offer lots of opportunities to visitors to get active in the great out-doors. As such, it is a driving route with a difference, offering visitors more reasons to get out of the car that to stay in it!
The overall objective of the project to develop a driving route that is of sufficient scale and singularity to achieve greater visibility in both overseas and domestic markets. The planned outcomes are greater visitor numbers to the west of Ireland, longer dwell time and increased spend per visitor. We want the Wild Atlantic Way to become synonymous with the west coast and for it to achieve the same international recognition as the Great Ocean Road in Australia or the Garden Route in South Africa.
Click here to view full details in pdf format.
John Murray Show Carrigart
A large crowd from across Ireland are expected in Carrigart on Wednesday for a walk organised on behalf of the John Murray radio show on RTE I.
Two buses have been sponsored by McGinley Coaches to ferry walkers from Dublin, while many more are expected to make their own way.
The event is a boost for the local tourist accommodation providers and will also highlight the beauty of an area that holds many attractions for recreational walkers.
The John Murray Show will be broadcast live on Thursday morning (9am) from Arnold’s Hotel in Dunfanaghy.
John Murray Show Walk, Carrigart, Co Donegal.
The next public walk of the John Murray Show will be in Carrigart, Co. Donegal on Wednesday evening, July 25th.
We’ll be gathering for the start of the walk at 5.30pm in Carrigart Parochial Hall – half a mile out the Creeslough Road.
The walk will take about two-hours and we’ll be returning for tea and refreshments afterwards. You should bring good boots and raingear.
On Thursday morning, the John Murray Show will be broadcast live from Arnolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy from 9 to 10 am. All are welcome.
Further information about the walk can be obtained from Myles Gallagher 086-834-7708
Cruit Island Golf Club
The 9 holes of Cruit Island Golf course were created as recently as 1986 by Michael Doherty, the professional at City of Derry Golf Club. And yet it has the feel of an old style classic links that has been around for generations. The sound of the sea is ever present and the panoramic views from the cliff tops are truly breathtaking.
The golf course is 2,809 yards long and has 7 par fours and 2 par threes. One of the par three’s is the spectacular signature hole played along the cliff edge.
Cruit Island hosts 2 golf competitions in honour of two of the area’s most famous people – Packie Bonner, the ex international soccer goalkeeper and Daniel O Donnel, the hugely popular Irish singer.
There are a number of holiday homes located on the island available for rental.
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Cruit Island Golf Club
Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival
Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th July 2012
The organising committee for this year’s Buncrana Music, Arts and Culture Festival have this week launched the full programme of events. The festival, which had been in jeopardy, was only saved in March when a new committee was formed.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 26 with a big country music night with live music on the Main Street with music by Gerry Guthrie from 8.30pm followed by Patrick Feeney and his band, who this week received a standing ovation from his audience at the Highland Radio concert.
There is also a car treasure hunt starting from the Lake of Shadows Hotel at 6pm.
The North Pole Cycling Club are also holding a 30km road race leaving from the fire station at 7pm.
Friday sees the activities continue with a Dog Show on the shore greens commencing at 3pm. There will be live music each day from 2.30pm from Friday to Sunday outside The Coffee Cup; everyone is welcome to bring their own instruments.
On Friday night at 8.30 the Main Street comes alive with the ever popular Kopykat Killers followed at 10pm by Shadowplay who played at last year’s festival. At 11pm the Plaza plays host to local favourite Martin Cuffe and up and coming star Johnny Brady, while there is a festival disco in club Libertys.
Saturday 28th July has a jammed packed programme of events starting with a carnival parade on the Main Street from 12.30pm. This event is being organised by Donegal Youth Service and continues from 1pm to 6pm at the shore greens with a host of activities including a Teddy Bears picnic and a range of fun events for the kids. From 1pm there will also be a mini-music festival and craft fair at Swan Park. The festival also coincides with The Feel Good Fortnight organised by Buncrana Community Combatting Suicide.
Defending Aileach-eireanns edge visit Buncrana with their fabulous display of Ireland’s only replica of an ancient Irish chariot, as well as an Irish medieval combat display and sword making. These range of events promises to be a great day for everyone.
Saturday evening sees live music on Buncrana’s Main Street at 8.30pm with highly popular local band Overplay. At 10pm the Main Street will see Rattle n Hum play to the crowds, described as the finest U2 tribute band on the planet by Hotpress magazine. The Knights of Leon, another extremely popular act play in the plaza from midnight, with a festival disco in club Libertys.
In a slight change to previous years the Sunday will see a host of events on the main street from 5.30pm. There will be free face painting, bouncy castles and disney characters for the children square. The highlight of the festival will see the 8-piece Garth Brooks experience perform on stage at 10pm.
Buncrana Camera Club will host a photographic exhibition from 12 midday in the former Ruanna Shop.
All bars and clubs will have extended opening throughout the festival. Cullens Amusements will have their Funfair on the Shore greens throughout the festival. This is recognised as the premier fairground in Ireland.
The organising would also like anyone willing to help steward the festival to please contact Nicholas on 086 8435031 or Pat on 086 8179209 urgently.
Finally, the committee are extremely grateful to all our main sponsors who made this year’s festival viable.
King of Tory at Ulster Fleadh
The King of Tory will be performing at the Ulster Fleadh 2012 in Dungiven at an open air concert on Saturday 28th July at 2pm in the middle of the town.
Patsy Dan Mac Ruaidhri (Rodgers) is the ‘King of Tory’ by general consensus of his fellow islanders.
A Fleadh spokesperson said; “Tory Island, nine miles off the coast of Donegal in the North Atlantic, is rich in musical talent and Patsy Dan will be playing a range of traditional tunes on his button accordion.
“He said that many of his favourite reels from Tory Island have no names but that he likes to play ones like the Concertina Reel or slow reels such as Rathlin Island. Other favourites include Out of the Ocean, Dark Island and An Cailin (Beautiful Girl).”
The free open air concert will also feature the up -and-coming band ‘The Looking Drawer’ as well as harp music from the recently formed Harp School Scoil Ruaidhri Dall and singing in Irish from the Glor Dhun Giemhin.
Competition winners from the Fleadh will also be part of the line-up.
Dungiven Comhaltas will be hosting Fleadh Uladh 2012 from July 22nd to 29th, a celebration of Irish traditional arts – music, song and dance – cumulating in the highly competitive Fleadh competitions with the aim of raising the standard of Ulster talent competing for the title of Ulster Champion and a place in the All Ireland Fleadh.
“The Ulster Fleadh 2012 will cater for the needs of 2,600 competitors and up to 25,000 spectators over the eight-day festival,” said a spokesperson.
“The Ulster Fleadh 2012 will be promoting Irish culture and arts to a wider audience by celebrating the historic local connection between Irish and Scottish traditional arts and culture.
“ The theme of this years’ Fleadh is based on the 15th century marriage of Finvola and her 24 brothers from the O’Cathains of the Roe Valley to the McDonalds, Lord of the Isles from Islay, Scotland.”
The spokesperson added: “The Ulster Fleadh 2012 will be promoting Irish traditional arts to the general public and international visitors by hosting a wide variety of artists on an open air stage in the middle of the town at free concerts and by organising informal street music competitions.”
Further information on the Ulster Fleadh 2012 and its schedule of events can be found on line at www.ulsterfleadh.com
This article appeared in the Derry Journal
Ballymastocker Beach Donegal
This one has been adjudged by overseas press as not just one of the best in Ireland, but in the world. How it was ever pipped by some old Seychelles beach is beyond us. Ballymastocker is divided in three, like a golden-sanded triptych that catches your breath as you round the bend on the Knockcalla coast road overlooking it. It is also just up the road from Rathmullan House which is offering three-night midweek specials for July.
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The Irish Times did a round up of the best Irish Beaches …read more
Clipper Derry-Londonderry
There was a continental atmosphere along Derry’s quays over the past few days. The weather held up well and people turned out in their thousands to see the boats and meet friends along the riverside. On Friday night visitors were delighted to see a spectacular fireworks display.
With Race 14 starting 7th July, the crew taking part in the Clipper 11-12 Race have been using the final few days on dry land to make sure they experience everything Derry-Londonderry has to offer.
Last night crew members of all ten yachts competing in the race attend the ‘Legenderry’ Concert which saw The Undertones headline.
The band from Derry-Londonderry performed to a ‘sell-out’ crowd which had snapped up all 10,000 free tickets. But stars of the show were definitely the crew of the Derry-Londonderry yacht who were introduced on stage to huge cheers.
“Being on stage in front of so many people was absolutely unbelievable,” explains skipper of the Derry-Londonderry yacht, Mark Light.
“The welcome into Derry-Londonderry has been spectacular and we’re all very proud of this city and the local people should be too!”
Race 14, to Den Helder, Netherlands, starts 7th July 1700 local time at Greencastle following a departure ceremony at Foyle Marina in Derry-Londonderry starting at 1130.
The penultimate race of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race is an 800-mile sprint that will see the fleet head north over the top of the British Isles before heading towards their destination of Den Helder.
The Clipper 11-12 Race will finish in Southampton on 22 July 2012.
http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/follow/race-viewer/
Aranmore Country Music Festival
25th and 26th August 2012
Tickets: €15 for one day pass and €25 for 2 day pass
Contact: Thomas on 00353 87 8608776
Trevor Loughrey kicks things off the Aranmore Country Music Festival on the island on Saturday 25th August and he is followed by Noel Cassidy and Martin Cuffe. On Sunday 26th there is an appearance by Paul Gallagher and Mary B and they are followed by Josie Cannon. Later in the evening Lisa McHugh and her band feature and to wrap things up, we have the country boy from Highland Radio. Tickets for the event are €15 for one day pass and €25 for 2 day pass. Contact Thomas on 00353 87 8608776
Getting here is straightforward via Dungloe and Burtonport before embarking on pleasant 15 min ferry journey into the island. There is a range of accommodation on the island to suit all tastes including B&B , self catering and 2 hotels.
Arranmore Island, or Árainn Mhór, off the coast of Donegal has been inhabited since prehistoric times and the promontory fort at Uilinn, which dates from about 800BC, still stands on its cliff top perch. Today, the island is a wonderfully peaceful place with a way marked trail leading from sandy beaches to the island’s rocky summit, providing spectacular views of the glittering sea, the cliffs, rock arches and the majestic mainland mountains; from Glen Head to Tory Island.
The crystal clear waters surrounding Arranmore provide great dive sites and sea angling, while the island’s freshwater lakes are home to brown and rainbow trout. Boats for sea angling can be hired and there are abundant cod, ling, conger eel, pollock, wrasse, skate, turbot and plaice.
Birdwatchers will enjoy seeing fulmars and shags and climbers can tackle the steep cliffs. The ferry runs all year from Burtonport making day trips a must and longer visits a well deserved treat. Savour the beautiful and untamed landscape, Gaelic culture, quiet country roads with abundant wildlife, turf fires and lively pubs. During Féile Árainn Mhór (formerly the Rose of Arranmore festival), the island’s annual celebration of music, song and dance, everyone gets a fascinating insight into island culture and the Irish language.
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