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.

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

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

Due to the Birr Review 2007 selling out much faster in the shops we are pleased to make the download available earlier than originally planned. To purchase online click here or click on the Online Shop at the top of this page. The download cost is €10 and all proceeds go to the Birr Lions Club to support their many charities. Payment is available through Paypal (including using your credit card) and processing of your payment is done through Paypal’s secure servers - we do not keep any of your financial information on our servers.

Yes, it’s that time of the year again when the most eagerly awaited publication in Birr is available in the shops. Now in its 7th year it’s packed full of information on local clubs and organisations, an annual round-up of events in Birr, many articles of local interest by local people, advertisements from the many businesses and trades in and around Birr - supplies are limited and it usually sells out very quickly. A copy costs €10 and all proceeds go to the Birr Lions Club for their many charities.

For those not able to get hold of a printed copy or if you want extra copies for your friends and relatives then it will be available for download from this website in PDF format from January 1st, 2008. There will be a cost for this and details will be available shortly by clicking on the Online Shop tab which will be coming soon.

Santa Claus & The Elves are set to return to the Magical Winter Gardens of Birr Castle on the following dates:

Friday, December 14th 6pm-8.30pm
Saturday, December 15th 4pm-7pm
Sunday, December 16th 4pm-7pm
Monday, December 17th 6pm-8.30pm
Tuesday, December 18th 6pm-8.30pm

Call 057 9120336 for more details on admission prices and event.

As usual, there will be performances by students of the schools in Birr parish at the annual celebration of the feast day of St Brendan, patron of Birr which will take place this year on Friday 30 November at 7.30 pm at St Brendan’s Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall.

Students from Crinkle NS will contribute a light dramatisation and there will be mime, bell ringers, choral singing and a procession with parish treasures to complement the ecumenical liturgy. This annual celebration has been steadily gathering support and it is hardly disrespectful to say that it has become a lively, interesting and unifying annual event.