Birr Community Online

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

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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New Members

At the recent AGM the Management Committee proposed an incentive to encourage new members: that the entry fee be reduced to 500 euro for a full member and 800 euro for family membership for the months of December, January and February only. All going well, the new course should be playable by early Summer when the three new fairways and seven new greens will have matured. Members are very excited about this new development and are eagerly looking forward to added challenges. New members will certainly be very welcome.

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Christmas vouchers

Looking for ideas for a Christmas gift? Why not consider a Birr Golf Club Subscription Voucher for your family or friends? Please call Joan Grimes at (057) 912 0082.

New Members

At the recent AGM the Management Committee proposed that as an incentive to encourage new members that the entry fee be reduced to 500 euro for a full member and 800 euro for family membership for the months of December, January and February only. This proposal will be reviewed on an annual basis.

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Management AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the club took place on Sunday last. The meeting was delayed by one hour to allow members attend the Leinster Club final and heartiest congratulations are extended to Brian Whelehan and his team on bringing a seventh Leinster tital to Birr. Chairman Billy Donlon opened the meeting by calling for a minute’s silence in memory of our deceased members. The Hon. Sec. in his report pointed out that the year was dominated by the development of the new lands. He noted that the Development Committee under Noel Molloy had been handed a very difficult job but members could clearly see that this committee had proved equal to the task. All were looking forward to playing the new course hopefully by early summer. The Hon. Sec. thanked all the committees for their dedication to the Club and complimented the captains for the many hours they spent looking after the affairs of the members. He noted especially the work of Hon. Treasurer David McDowell whose accounts show how much work he put into keeping the financial affairs in order.

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Management AGM

Members please note that the Management AGM will now take place at 5 pm on Sunday 2 Dec. This slight time change was made in order to facilitate members wishing to attend the Leinster Club Final in Tullamore between Birr and Ballyboden. Best of luck to our hurlers. We look forward to some very exciting hurling. Members should also note that motions for discussion and nominees for the Management Committee have been posted on Sun. 25 Nov.

Captains’ Dinner

The annual dinner to honour our Captains Billy Donlon and Yvonne Boland will take place in the Clubhouse on Sat. 1 Dec. at 7.30 pm. A large turnout is expected to honour our popular captains and reservations can be made by contacting Joan at 057 9120082. A great evening is promised with music by Harmony.

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Birr Historical Society will officially hand over the facsimile of the Gospel Book of Macregol of Birr to Offaly County Council at a reception in Birr Library on Wednesday 5 December at 8 pm. The facsimile is already an attractive addition to the superb new library where it will be displayed free of charge as a reminder of the ancient monastic heritage of the town.

At the same event the Birr 1300 Committee will officially hand over the manuscript copy of Cáin Adomnáin produced by Margaret Maher and the bronze-coated iron bell produced by Dan Edwards in 1997 to commemorate the promulgation of Cáin Adomnáin at Birr in 697 AD.

How surprised would be Macregol of Birr and Adomnán of Iona to see that Birr people take such an interest in their work after so many generations and so many centuries had passed.

Management AGM

Members please note that the Management AGM will now take place at 5 pm on Sun. 2 Dec. This slight change in the time was made in order to facilitate members who wish to attend the Leinster Club Final in Tullamore between Birr and Ballyboden. Members should also note that motions for discussion and nominees for the Management Committee must be posted on or before Sun. 25 Nov.

Captains’ Dinner

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AGMs

As the golfing season winds down we approach the time of the AGMs. First off are the Ladies on Fri. 16 Nov. at 8 pm when Colette O’Brien takes over as captain from Yvonne Boland and President Mary Darcy hands over to Bernie McTague. Two days later on Sunday afternoon Billy Donlon hands over the chain of office to Paddy O’Brien, husband of Colette. Interestingly Paddy and Colette were beaten to the honour of being the first husband and wife captaincy team by Des and Sheila O’Brien who were captains together in 1958. Outgoing President Fintan Dolan is replaced by fellow Lorrha man Michael Liffey. Best of luck to all incoming officers.

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AGMs

As the golfing season winds down we approach the time of the AGMs. First off are the Ladies on Fri. 16 Nov. at 8.00 pm when Colette O’Brien takes over as captain from Yvonne Boland and President Mary Darcy hands over to Bernie McTague. Two days later on Sunday afternoon Billy Donlon hands over the chain of office to Paddy O’Brien, husband of Colette. Interestingly Paddy and Colette were beaten to the honour of being the first husband and wife captaincy team by Des and Sheila O’Brien who were captains together in 1958. Outgoing President Fintan Dolan is replaced by fellow Lorrha man Michael Liffey. Best of luck to all incoming officers.

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