Brave New Pioneers of an Ancient Tradition

Posted on June 9, 2015 by irelandc

Teenagers writing and performing their poetry, who’d’ve thunk it? Stephen Murray did, a Poetry Slam Champ himself, he got the bright idea to find young poetic voices from around Ireland and have them compete in an International Slam Fest in Atlanta in July 2015, and feature on the HBO TV show Brave New Voices.

Brave New Voices - Stephen Murray

Stephen Murray – Instigator & Mentor

After competing and winning in an All Ireland contest, the fantastic four have been selected, and are rearing to go do their thing…they just need a little funding help from all you poetry lovers out there, or indeed anyone who wishes to support these verbally brilliant young performance artists.

Brave New Voices Team Ireland

Brave New Team Ireland

Some samples of their artistry below, where poetry does not lie quietly on the page but stands up vibrantly, and each crunchy syllable grabs you by the poetics. People of Atlanta, you is in for a treat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxf1XukYqJg – Seasons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ9LyO62Uu8 – Pitchfork Branches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9u9KoJ60cA – All Mothers and Fathers Matter

Donate here. Corporate sponsor sincerely sought. Contact Captain Melisa melissakavanaghteamireland@gmail.com

Contact: @TeamIrelandBNV    https://www.facebook.com/teamireland

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A Good Hair Day – @SavingGracy

Posted on June 4, 2015 by irelandc

Savving Grace Photo with Curls Next time you’re having a bad hair day, when you can’t straighten those curls, or tong in some waves (and that’s just the guys), think of ten year old Gracy and her hair buddy Aoibheann.

Grace has lost all her lovely curls due to a rare form of cancer, and Aoibheann is fundraising by having her own hair cut, and donating her lovely locks to the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for kids affected by cancer.

Saving Gracie - Aoibheann and Grace

From one Princess to another

There are lots of events planned, from jumping out of planes, to running in the muck, to getting a kind haircut…and there’s even a song to download….all help and support gracefully accepted.

Savving Grace Logo

www.savinggrace.ie

   Twiteroos @SavingGracy

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Food and Fun in Kerry

Posted on May 18, 2015 by irelandc

Listowel Food Fair Logo 2015  The oldest food fair in Ireland takes place in June, with the freshest food ideas and a whole lot more.

Outdoor foody fun from barbeques to food foraging on The Cow’s Lawn, to a food trail through the old heritage town of Listowel, on the Wild Atlantic Way. Are you ready to taste some fun…?

At the launch of the 21st Listowel Food Fair on Thursday which takes place 18-21 June in Listowel. The highlights of this year's festival are a tribute to Kathy Buckley, cook to three US Presidents (Coolidge, Hoover and Roosevelt), the inaugural All Ireland Craft Beer Competition, a food duel, the Best Emerging Artisan Producer Awards and the All Ireland Food Photography Competition. Full details: www.listowelfoodfair.ie Photo: Don MacMonagle Further info: Sharon Noonan 087 099 5741

A Bunch of Fresh Chefs

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Magical Bog

Posted on May 18, 2015 by irelandc

bog-week-poster-2015  From dancing to walkabouts, from landscape to Art, the Conamara Bog Week has something magical for all ages and imaginations. Celebrating it’s 31st birthday this year, it goes from fun to more fun, and is a must for anyone breezing through the area, for some magic and folklore to bring home.

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Dub Lit Fest – Help it Happen

Posted on April 28, 2015 by irelandc

International Literary Festival Dublin W.B.Yeats 9 days,  29 venues, over 90 authors…the International Literature Festival Dublin turns Dublin into a literary festive hub from the 16th to 24th of May. Can you help? Volunteers needed for all sorts of roles, from ticketing in venues, dealing with customers, audience research, brochure distribution, and many more.  Volunteering at these events will be as rewarding and interesting as the inspiring events themselves.

logo-ilfdublin

Volunteer @ International Literary Festival Dublin

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Walk and Talk – Exercise for Mental Health

Posted on April 22, 2015 by irelandc

Walk and talk, connect with others and Nature…

The Green Ribbon mental health awareness campaign takes place in May.  As part of the campaign, Mental Health Ireland has teamed up with the Irish Farming Association, a founding partner of the See Change campaign, and Coillte Outdoors to organise a programme of national Let’s Talk & Walk Forest Walks to promote the Green Ribbon.

MHI Green Ribbon Walk Limerick

MHI Green Ribbon Walk Limerick

The walks are family friendly in duration and route and led by a forest ranger and volunteers.

The dates for this year’s #talkandwalk events are:

Avondale – Co. Wicklow

Sunday, May 17th 2015 @ 3.00pm

 

Martha Mitchell

Mobile 087 64233118

Email: martha.mitchell07@gmail.com

 

Portumna – Co. Galway

Sunday, May 3rd 2015 @ 3.00pm

 

Maura Canning

Mobile 087 6478771

Email: mauracanning@gmail.com

 

Killaclohane  – Co. Kerry

Monday, May 4th 2015 @ 3.00pm

 

Bernadette O’Driscoll

Mobile: 087 2353710

Email: bernadette.odriscoll@gmail.com

Ards Forest Park – Co. Donegal

Sunday, May 24th 2015 @ 3pm

 

Lisa McMongle

Mobile: 087 9328002

Email: lisammcmonagle@gmail.com

So pencil the date in your diary, and round up friends, colleagues and family for fun in the forest, walking, talking and promoting mental health.

For more information on events, see contacts above, or: info@mentalhealthireland.ie

Green Ribbon Positive Mental Health Changing minds about mental health one conversation at a time

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Positive Pedal Power

Posted on April 3, 2015 by irelandc

Breifne Earley Close Up

Breifne Earley Up Close and Personal Against Suicide

 

We all have dark days, some darker than others. And for some the days can be beyond darkness…but there is always a way back to brighter days…and Breifne Earley is one of many who found such a way. Put simply: “It’s OK not to feel OK”. Depression and suicidal thoughts are treatable. Breifne says:
I was able to turn the direction of my life around simply by asking for assistance from my friends, family & colleagues. The support was then, and has been since, absolutely astounding.

Breifne Earley Selfie with Friends

Come on lads, keep up!

 

And now he’s pedalling around the planet to raise awareness in the Cycle Against Suicide Campaign. He has managed to stretch his funds beyond belief but needs a few extra bob to fully circumnavigate the globe. Can you help him push them pedals a little further? You can pre-order his book or DVD here.

Breifne Earley Hairy Supporters

Yer man’s flyin!

 

 

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Time to Tidy

Posted on March 12, 2015 by irelandc

Two daffodils against a red brick wall

2 Spring Ladies

Spring is springing up everywhere, crocuses and daffs are reminding us that the Winter is behind us and Summer is in our semi-distant future…tidy town committees and volunteers are dusting off spades and trowels.

Garden Tools

Ready for Action

Maybe you’ve thought about pitching in? Well now is the time to make contact. The time you sow now will bring much reward to yourself, the team you join, and of course all those who stroll past the flowered creations that cheer city, town, and village streets. It’s not all about winning prizes, every flowering basket or bucket causes at least an inner smile to those passing by.

Make contact with your local Tidy Town team, or contact Tidy Towns or maybe start your own!

flowers

 

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Extra Food+Hungry Folk+Your Time=Fulfilment

Posted on February 16, 2015 by irelandc

Food Cloud Logo

Got some time and energy to spare? The good food people over at Foodcloud need volunteers to help rescue unwanted food, and get it to those who need it, and maybe a few little jobs in between…so if you like to roll up your sleeves and maybe wear a funny hat or tee-shirt, they would love to hear from you.

And just to show how professional they are over there, you’ll even get training…next session takes place on Wednesday 25th of February, and is the last one for a while! Email niamh@foodcloud.ie

Related post

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One Man Found a Dog

Posted on February 12, 2015 by irelandc

One evening, Joe Molloy was followed home from the shops by a cheeky Jack Russell.

Lost Jack Russell

Jack the Lad

Now Joe was fond of dogs, he already shared his home with two canines, but they weren’t interested in a new four-legged lodger in the house. In fact were dead set against it. So Joe needed to find Jack’s owner and fast.  Enter the Internet. Joe a keen Website developer himself, realised the only way to spread the word, especially outside office hours, was via the Web and social media. And so the birth of Lost and Found Pets Ireland, which helps owners report or find their missing hairy or furry friends.

Lost and Found Pets Ireland Logo You enter your pets info which feeds out to Twitter, and you can even generate a poster to print and pin to trees, lampposts, or the local postman.

Another great example of people coming together online to bring solace in the non-virtual world where cats and dogs bring fun and mayhem to the human idea of order.

Cat and Human Reunited

Amanda and Bella reunited thanks to the on and offline community “What do you mean say cheese? I say milk, or even chicken!”

 

 

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