Birr Community Online

The award winning Irish Film, His & Hers, which was released on June 18th in cinemas nationwide will be screened in various locations in Co. Offaly, including Birr in the Maltings Car Park on this Sunday 27th June.

The film is said to be “The essential Irish Movie of the Year” by the Sunday Tribune, Ian Dempsey from Today FM says, “Great new movie. Funny…sad. Highly recommend it. Magic moments every 20 seconds. Great. Excellent”.

The film has a cast of 70 female characters all from the Irish Midlands, many of whom are from Co. Laois. It is something of a social document of our times and celebrates the Irish Woman in all her glory and the director, Ken Wardrop is from near by Portarlington. This is a unique opportunity to view a wonderful film in your locality.

Click here to see His & Hers Trailer on YouTube (Opens new window/tab)

Click to to read Press Release (Requires .PDF reader)

Film extras are required for a television drama which begins filming in June/July around Co. Offaly. We are holding an open casting on Thursday the 4th of June in the Bridge Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Interested persons are welcome to call in anytime between the hours of 9am and 2pm to leave their details and have their photograph taken. We are looking for male and females of all ages, appearances, shapes and sizes. This is a paid job and no experience is necessary.

While it is preferable to meet us in person at the casting, anyone unable to attend can send in a recent photograph, including details (name, address, contact details, age, height, sizes, availability, skills and hobbies) to Extras Casting, Birr Technology Centre, Mill Island, Birr, Co Offaly or by email to extrasoffaly@gmail.com

Following on from the recent post about no progress being made on the provision of traffic lights at the Seffin Junction, this was spotted in the Irish Independent dated October 31st, 2008.

Click here for the full story or click on the picture on the right for a larger version.

For families with children 12 years and younger, experience thrills and chills at Birr Castle Demesne’s 2nd annual Halloween Night. Children and their parents will trick or treat in the ghostly gardens, while encountering wicked witches, the deadly mummy and more. They will even knock at the Castle door to receive a special treat! Families will also be amazed by a fire juggling show with Eimhin Shortt before entering the gardens. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes, so children are encouraged to dress up, whilst keeping in mind this is an outdoor event and it may be slightly chilly! Haunting begins promptly in the Courtyard at 6.00 p.m., Friday 31 October. Admission is 7 euro per child, and pre-booking is essential this year. To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable evening, we will only take reservations for the first 200 children. You may book your space by contacting 05791 20336.

On July 18th we reported that Birr Town Council were told, on Monday July 14th, by Town Engineer William Ryan that progress is being made on providing traffic lights at Seffin.

‘We are in the process of employing a contractor from England to design the lights. All that is outstanding on this matter is a contract to erect the lights.” said William Ryan.

In The Midland Tribune of today, October 22nd, it is reported that

“A resolution to the traffic issues in Seffin is still awaited, Birr Town Council heard at its monthly meeting. According to the Town Engineer, Willie Ryan, the plans are not yet complete and no funding as of yet has been made available. In short, he stated he could not not confirm any progress in this matter. The news disappointed Council members who again underpinned their determination to see this matter resolved”.

At the beginning of 2008 The Council assured everyone that this matter would be resolved by the end of 2008, this year has seen a large amount of roadworks on the Roscrea road to benefit the laying of broadband cables, the development of a large Tesco store on the same road - but traffic lights less than 500 metres from the Tesco store - there isn’t even a pedestrian crossing anywhere near the Tesco store - no chance !!

Well, guess they’ll still be looking for your votes for re-election in May 2009 - you’ll have your chance !!

Birr Historical Society has organised a Seminar on the Faddenmore Psalter in Dooly’s Hotel, Birr on 11 October next beginning at 9.30 am.

‘The most important archaeological find in Ireland since the Ardagh Chalice.’ So declared Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland referring to the manuscript found by Eddie Fogarty in the bucket of a digging machine at Faddenmore Bog near Birr but in North Tipperary on 20 July 2006. Eddie, together with Kevin and the late Padraig Leonard ‘knew what to do’ with the precious object: they placed it carefully on a fertiliser bag, covered it with wet peat and phoned the museum.

Why was the manuscript in the bog? When was it made? When was it lost? . The nearest monastery known to have a scriptorium was that at Birr where the Macregol Gospels were made about 800 AD but the tentative date for the Psalter may be earlier. The panel of experts from the museum will narrate the shock awaiting them, the enquiries they made and the research they carried out to help them undertake a conservation project never before undertaken, the experiments they made, the challenges, the possible blunders, the progress. They will show images of the procedure at every stage.

John Gillis, in charge of conservation, will explain how much of the manuscript has dissolved into a kind of gelatinised mass. The letters in oakgall ink formed a chemical bond with the vellum base, many floated free and were lost but thousands were retrieved in a dish in what looks like ‘alphapet soup’. A decision was taken to clean and preserve the manuscript without the use of any chemical that would remain in the vellum and to find a drying method that would involve the least shrinkage. Many experiments were carried out and the process eventually chosen involved the use of industrial methylated spirits, deionised water and a vacuum machine. The cover or folder found with the book is described as being equally important and is also unique.

Other speakers are Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, Eamonn Kelly, Keeper of Antiquities at the Museum; Rolly Read, Head of Conservation at the Museum; Raghnall O’Floinn, Head of Collections at the Museum; Dr Bernard Meehan, Keeper of Manuscripts at TCD and Daibhi O’Croinin of NUIG.

All lectures at this exciting seminar will be well illustrated and of interest to local people, to those who are fascinated by history, manuscripts, ancient objects, leather, technical or scientific procedures, conservation challenges - or even anyone who likes a great detective story!

Please book by sending 20 euro to Mrs Bridget Sullivan, Hon. Treas., ‘Orville’, Burke’s Hill, Birr. Further details at www.birrhistsoc.com

Gwalia Singers
hosted by Birr Stage Guild

The Gwalia Singers are a Welsh male voice choir, founded in 1966 who quickly gained the reputation of being a small, successful choir with a strong sense of ‘belonging’. Although the years since have seen some big changes in the choir’s circumstances, the essentials remain. They are still (and will remain) a small choir of around 45 voices, draw it’s members from a wide range of backgrounds and geographical locations, and are still successful in local, national and international competitions. They like to feel that a Gwalia has three main priorities in life - his family, his work and the choir (in that order). Join us for an evening of song. € 18/16 8pm

Birr Stage Guild Autumn Play

Birr Stage Guild, in it’s 50th Anniversary Year, will present the Play “The Field” by John B Keane. It will be staged on 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th November 2008 and will be directed by Mr Eamon O’Donoghue.

A reading for the play will be held in The Birr Theatre and Arts Centre on 11th September at 8 p.m. We would love to see anyone who is interested in reading for a part in this superb play. Everyone is welcome and we always love to see new faces. If anyone has any queries, you can give them my mobile number as a contact number.

Birr Stage Guild One Act Festival

Birr Stage Guild are hosting their Annual One Act Festival, which this year runs on 24th, 25th & 26th October. The official adjudicator is Mr. Dara Carolan, Director of services at the DLI (Drama League of Ireland). Dara will also be running a workshop for actors/directors on the Saturday, and on the Sunday, he will be performing part of his one man show followed by a question and answer session. Entries to the festival must be in by 20th September 2008. Please send your applications to Lisa Byrne, Secretary Birr Stage Guild, “Brinwood”, Croghan Road, Birr. If you have any queries then please contact Lisa on 087 7977059 or email ljwbyrne@gmail.com

Legitimate Bodies Dance Company - Offaly Youth Dance - Open Workshop/Audition

This is an excellent opportunity for Boys and Girls age 12 - 16 to explore contemporary dance in County Offaly. Don’t miss this chance to have fun, stay fit, nurture your creativity and meet new friends! There will be an Open Workshop/Audition on Saturday 20th Sept. from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre. Birr Stage Guild is offering SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIPS this year to promising new members joining the Youth Dance Group. So don’t let money get in the way of a great opportunity to take your dancing to another level and join like minded teenagers for fun, a great laugh and great dancing. Come to the Open Workshop and give it a go.

To book any of the classes please call Birr Theatre and Arts Centre Box Office between 1 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. or email legitimatebodies@eircom.net

A shortage in the supply of water in the Birr area will result in water being disconnected for eight hours every night until further notice, Birr Town Council heard on Monday night (July 14th).

The Director of Services, Michael Roche stated ‘the expansion of the town has outgrown the resevoir’s capacity and the town’s main system is both old and incapable of delivering the required amounts.’

William Ryan, the Town Engineer, added ‘We are sourcing back up water supply for the town as a temporary measure. However, a serious capital scheme will have to be undertaken regarding a long term solution to the problem.’

Councillors pointed out that the entire unpredictability of the situation at present was unacceptable, stating

‘the water supply cut off at Seffin won’t be back until tommorrow we are told. Yet, as we all well know this could be prolonged beyond tomorrow morning. And there is no guarantee where or when the water supply will be cut again.’

‘all you need to do is take a quick look at the overall picture of the town to see that the disruption due to lack of capacity of the water supply is inevitable.’

‘We have to give much better notice than this especially with regard to families. It is an annoying inconvenience to a single person living on his/her own but need I point out that it is extremely serious to the elderly and families with young children.’

Director of Services, Michael Roche commented that over the next 12 months they will be looking at the upgrading of the system and the gradual installation of water meters. ‘To be honest this is process that we will require at least 12 months to be installed. The fact is that the Birr network is well past its shelf life. We have been plugging leaks here at one spot only to discover them leaking at another.’

Councillors responded with ‘that response is unacceptable. To say that we have proposals with the Department now is not going to resolve this problem. We knew we had this problem long ago.’

Birr Town Council were told, on Monday July 14th, by Town Engineer William Ryan that progress is being made on providing traffic lights at Seffin.

‘We are in the process of employing a contractor from England to design the lights. All that is outstanding on this matter is a contract to erect the lights.” said William Ryan.

Councillor John Carroll welcomed the progress adding that money, whatever the figure, needs to be sourced from somewhere.

The safety of the Residents was of the upmost importance in this area remarked Councillor Ann Spain.

Councillor Michael Campbell said, ‘If we never did anything this year but sorted out Seffin after 30 years that would be the top priority.’

Surreal Help for a Surreal Band!

Click below for images

Starting a band and getting yourself known can be hard work, and there is no guarantee you’ll ‘make it’! At tough times like these you can often find a light shining at the end of the tunnel, and hope is rekindled for you hopeful youngsters. And so Coca Cola Blastbeat is introduced! Coca Cola Blastbeat is a worldwide social enterprise and music business competition for Second Level and High Schools. The aim is for the participating schools to establish and register their own Music and Multi-Media Company and aim to promote the musical talent of the youth today, as bands from all over Ireland battle it out for a years recording contract with the very successful Blastspace Records. This year, Loughrea’s mini-company, Surreal Sounds from County Galway, are working like mad to be the best mini-company in all of Ireland. With the help of Coca Cola Blastbeat’s fantastic mentors, Robert Stephenson, Jon Pearson and the beautiful Ruth Blaney, Surreal Sounds has been fortunate to find a very talented young band, Reef Stained, and are promoting them all the way to victory. This rock quartet hailing from Birr and Portumna are Ireland’s up and coming success story, and ranging from only 15 to 17 years old, they are giving many bands in Ireland a run for their money! Introducing Mikey D’Alton (lead singer), Mark Finnerty (lead guitarist), Brian Murphy (bass guitarist) and Pete Kelly (drummer) who make up this brilliant group. These gifted young musicians have fought off bands from all over the country to win the Coca Cola Blastbeat Connaught Regionals held in the Blackbox not so long ago. With many amazing covers of such songs like ‘Umbrella’ by Rihanna and their very own original proving to be very popular, ‘Let Down’, there’s no stopping them! The boys, who are representing Offaly and Galway, will be battling it out in the Tripod for that very exciting prize, a recording contract with Blastspace Records, in Dublin on May 17th. Please support this outstanding band and help make their dreams a reality! Of course their dedicated fan-base in Surreal Sounds will be supporting them all the way!!

Sandra Duane

Spring Leagues

With the Birr Credit Union Spring Leagues ready to roll, golfers realise that the season is up and running. The ladies with fifteen teams are about to start. The men’s sheets are in the locker room with the competition draw to be made on Sun. 27 Jan. The Men’s League will be run using the same format as last year with three weeks to complete the first three rounds and the same period for the last three rounds and the final is fixed for Sun. 6 April. Please get your name on the sheet and enjoy some very exciting golf.

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Christmas Hampers

Last Sunday at the Christmas Hamper presentation Captain Paddy O’Brien thanked all who played over the season. He reserved special praise for the sponsors and for Joan Grimes and Francie Horan who organised the presentations. He also thanked the House Committee for organising Santa Claus which was a resounding success this year. Despite power failure over 150 children spent an exciting evening in the Club.

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