Tara Breen on Nationwide.

Our own Tara Breen from Ruan, a member of The Chieftains, featured on the two part documentary, Nationwide, on RTE 1 last week.  RTE sent reporter, Donal Byrne, to the USA to travel with The Chieftains on their six week tour and to attend the concerts in various US cities such as Nashville, Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles.  The reporter spent time with the band on the road, back stage, and at their concerts, while also conducting interviews with all the band members, including Tara, who told the audience that she hailed from Ruan in Co. Clare!  Both programmes can be viewed on the RTE Player for the next month. Luckily the tour was almost at an end when the Corona virus struck and the band returned to Ireland on March 14, having completed one month of a five week tour.  Unfortunately, they had to cancel the New York, New Jersey and East Coast concerts, however, they were delighted to have returned to Ireland before the USA went into lockdown. They already have plans in place to complete the tour dates which they had to cancel,  and also to visit Canada in 2021.

Tara has been travelling with The Chieftains for the past eight years, and in that time, she has visited many countries including the USA, Canada, Europe and the Far East with the band.

Mass of Anniversaries.

As the nine churches in the Imeall Boirne Cluster are closed, due to COVID 19, the mass of anniversaries for all departed loved ones throughout Imeall Boirne will be celebrated in the third weekend in May, and may be viewed on the Imeall Boirne Parishes Facebook page on Saturday, May 16 at 8pm and on Sunday morning at 9.30am. 

Mass and spiritual communion is celebrated on the same Facebook page by Fr. Pat and Fr.Damian, from Sunday to Friday at 9.30 am and on Saturday evening at 8pm.

Light a Candle.

People in the Imeall Boirne parishes are invited to light a candle and display it on a window on Friday evenings at 8pm to show their support in the fight against COVID 19, to remember those who have lost their lives to the virus.  They are also asked to pray the “Hail Mary” for those currently fighting the virus, and to show our support for all those on the frontline working on our behalf.

Tidy Towns. 

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring has stated that it is not possible, at this time, for communities to work in Tidy Towns projects, saying “I know that many Tidy Towns Committees have been wondering if the competition will proceed this year, and I believe it is important to provide certainty to all of the committees around the country at this stage.  For me, the health and welfare of the volunteers on the Tidy Towns Committees is paramount. Given the current restrictions around public gatherings, travel and adherence to social distancing, it would not be appropriate to ask voluntary groups to work in Tidy Towns projects in their communities at this time.  I have, therefore, decided that the Tidy Towns competition will not go ahead this year”.

Ruan Tidy Village has achieved much over the past few years, gaining a rising score in the competition year on year. Working together, the community has ensured the hard-won successes. Great credit is due to the committee, the Rural Resource Group and all the volunteers for their hard work. STAY HOME STAY SAFE.