Ballinasloe based singer Eleanor Shanley was honoured by one of Europe’s largest folk and root festivals earlier this month, when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Tønder in Denmark.

The Tønder Festival, held in August every year, is one of Europe’s largest and most important folk festivals, and legendary artists who have performed there over the years include Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris.

With her incomparable voice and passion for folk music, Leitrim-born Eleanor, who began her singing career with De Dannan, has won fans around the world for decades. She has particularly strong ties with Tønder, having been a regular guest at the festival since the 1990s, and she gave a special performance this year as the event marked its 50th anniversary.

Eleanor became the second Irish person to be inducted into Tønder’s Hall of Fame and she was the first woman to receive the honour.

Vice-Chairman of the Tønder Festival Foundation, Poul-Henrik Jensen, told guests at the ceremony, which was held in festival venue, Hagge’s Music Pub, that the honour was being given in recognition of her enormous contribution to folk music and her ongoing role as an ambassador for the genre.

Welcoming fans from Denmark and the large group of family and friends from Ireland who had accompanied Eleanor to Tønder, he highlighted her importance to the festival and to folk music generally.

Many friends and colleagues from the music industry in Ireland sent messages of congratulations to Eleanor, and these were read out by fellow singer and musician Cathy Jordan of Dervish who presented her with the award.

This was a wooden sculpture created by Danish artist Søren Assenholt, as well as a specially composed poem and song by writer Sanne Flyvberg, who had spent time in Ireland with Eleanor earlier this year, getting an insight into her life and musical heritage.

The induction ceremony, held on November 16, was a music-filled occasion, with a performance from Danish singer Helene Blum and Harald Haugaard, a set from Cathy Jordan, and a memorable performance from the woman of the hour.

Eleanor will return to Denmark next February for a tour of the Nordic country, accompanied by classical guitarist John Feeley.

Closer to home, she and John will be in concert in the Cornerstone, Gurteeny, Woodford, on Friday, December 20, at 8pm. Tickets for that event are €25, and available from Eventbrite.ie – key in Eleanor Shanley and John Feeley.

Pictured: Elenaor Shanley with the sculpture created by Danish artist Søren Assenholt.

By Eanna O’Reilly

AN Cheathrú Rua’s footballers line out in the Connacht Junior championship final at Tuam Stadium (1:30pm) on Saturday in what promises to be a huge occasion for the Connemara club.

Facing them will be the Sligo champions, Ballymote Round Towers, who will undoubtedly provide stiff opposition to An Cheathrú Rua. With provincial silverware on the line, a full-bloodied contest can be anticipated on Saturday.

An Cheathrú Rua have been in excellent form this season, under the management of Mághnus Breathnach. The Spiddal native has steered them through an unbeaten championship run, which has now stretched to eight consecutive victories.

They began their championship campaign in late July,with a five point win over Fr Griffins-Éire Óg. Round two saw them defeat Clonbur by 3-8 to 1-10. An Cheathrú Rua then overcame Carna-Caiseal by a ten point margin to make it three wins from three.

Breathnach’s charges subsequently overcame Renvyle by 1-18 to 2-6, before they once again defeated Carna-Caiseal in the West board final, running out 12 point winners to take the title. An epic encounter against Killererin followed at Tuam Stadium in October, in which the Connemara men came out on top in a thrilling extra-time battle on a 2-11 to 0-14 scoreline.

An Cheathrú Rua subsequently defeated Salthill-Knocknacarra in the county final by 1-8 to 0-6 to advance to the provincial series with promotion under their belts. Having booked their passage into the intermediate championship for 2025, An Cheathrú Rua were in bonus territory when taking on Mayo champions Kilcommon in the Connacht semi-final.

A tremendous second half performance saw Breathnach’s charges outscore their Mayo opponents by 1-7 to 0-2 to run out comprehensive seven point winners. That victory set up the Connemara club for a provincial final showdown with Sligo’s Ballymote.

An Cheathrú Rua have a strong and talented side, with many individuals performing impressively throughout the season so far. James Ó’Flatharta is a very solid ‘keeper, while the likes of Myles Mac Donnacha, Ethan De Paor, and Iarfhlaith Ó Conchubhair are excellent defenders who give little away.

Pictured: Fergal Ó Sé of An Cheathrú Rua on the ball against Kilcommon’s Seamus Mason in the Connacht Club Junior football semi-final. The Connemara men face Ballymote Round Towers in Saturday’s provincial final at Tuam Stadium.

Galway Arts Centre, in conjunction with Galway City Council, has awarded three art commissions under an innovative new artists-in-residence programme. It supports artists to engage with communities in the Westside of Galway City and to respond to research on air quality and climate, conducted by local people and scientists from the University of Galway.

The artists-in-residence programme is part of a collaborative climate action initiative, ‘The Air We Share’, which was launched in July.

It examines and highlights the causes and effects of air pollution – which the World Health Organization has defined as a critical environmental health risk – and explores possible solutions.

The selected artists have been commissioned to develop innovative and collaborative projects that respond to scientific concepts and data on air quality, the atmosphere, and climate. They have received funding to develop these projects between now and next July, when the artworks will be presented publicly.

The artists are Galway based Leon Butler who works at the intersection of art and technology; Northern Ireland-born Christopher Steenson; and Paula McCloskey and Sam Vardy who operate under the moniker, A Place of Their Own.

Leon Butler’s project, Phosphene, will blend art and technology to transform air-quality data into a community experience. By using sensors to track and interpret the data, Butler will create ‘data sculptures’ to offer new insights into the health of Galway’s built environment. People will be invited to take part in design sessions to shape how air data is visualised, making this more engaging and accessible.

Christopher Steenson’s project, I talk to the wind, explores air pollution through the act of breathing. It will incorporate sound-walks, using live air pollution data, and community workshops, which will involve writing and discussion. Steenson’s project aims to connect participants with air pollution and its impact on daily life via the experience of breath.

A Place of Their Own will imagine Galway in 2054, when insects, dust, microbes and other ‘air dwellers’ will draft a new set of rights, titled The 9 Freedoms for the Air. The project will explore microscopic communities living in the atmosphere to create the 2054 scenario. Residents will join scientists and environmental legal experts for workshops to create a collective textile artwork that reimagines air as a shared resource that deserves protection.

‘The Air We Share’ initiative is led by Galway City Council and involves Galway Arts Centre, the University of Galway’s Centre for Creative Technologies and Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Westside Resource Centre, and Galway Culture Company.

Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary says “the artist-in-residence programme brings creativity into the heart of ‘The Air We Share’.” He describes the project as “a transformative climate action initiative. . . which highlights air pollution as a critical environmental health risk”.

The Director and Curator of Galway Arts Centre, Megs Morley agreed.

“In the context of the current climate challenges, programmes such as ‘The Air We Share’ that bring together artists, scientists, communities, public institutions and cultural organisations, are critical to understanding and addressing the issues.”

Pictured at the ‘Sliding Rock’ in Galway City, at the announcement of three art commissions under the new ‘The Air We Share’ artists-in-residence programme are, back; from right, Christopher Steenson,  Leon Butler, Paula McCloskey and Sam Vardy with ‘The Air We Share’ project coordinator at Galway City Council, Adam Stoneman, and Dr Liz Coleman, University of Galway. PHOTO: MARK STEDMAN.

A new exhibition from UK-born, Galway-based artist Christopher Banahan, will  open at the gallery of the city’s Town Hall Theatre this Friday, November 29, and will run until Monday, December 23.

In Rest/less, which is part of an ongoing travelogue series, Christopher shares his observations of people’s behaviour when they’re on holiday.

He explores how people on holiday seem different from how they are at home, as they have space to reflect on and take stock of their lives from a safe distance.

“My recent artwork is influenced by film noir, widescreen cinema, Hitchcock and Edward Hopper, making my paintings appear like ‘storyboard scenes from other people’s lives’,” says Christopher who adds that “freeze-framed moments capture the ordinary and mundane”, and that such ordinary moments can “become captivating and extraordinary” by slowing them down.

Several paintings focus on his observations of people who seem to be resting in public parks, such as Lisbon’s Rossio Square.

But , he says, by looking more closely, the viewer will realise that these people are “restless, lonely, isolated or displaced from society”.

The viewer is invited to question if these people are run-aways, or refugees waiting for the war to end in their countries, or are they down-and-out, with nowhere else to go.

Christopher has a First Class Fine Art degree from Nottingham Trent University and an MA in Fine Art from Goldsmiths College, London, and an MA in Production and Direction from UG. A finalist in the John Richardson French Residency 2024 Award, he was shortlisted for the Zurich Portrait Prize in 2019, taking part in the finalists’ exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland, and he featured in the Sky Arts TV Portrait Artist of the Year programme in 2017.

He has been awarded numerous artist residencies in Ireland and abroad, and has been involved in artist-in-prison schemes and artist-in-schools schemes, as well as receiving several commissions under the Percent for Art public scheme. His work is the collection of the Arts Council, the OPW, and the European Central Bank.

This exhibition will be opened by former City Arts Officer James Harrold at 5pm this Friday evening at the Town Hall Theatre.

GALWAY showjumper Michael Duffy and Quirex came a brilliant third in the Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

The lucrative finale was limited to just the top 15 riders who had won Five Star Grand Prix competitions this season, with Duffy securing his place following a big win in Miami Beach last April.

Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf seized victory aboard his nine-year-old mare Foxy de la Roque. The tension was palpable as Bettendorf, the last to go under the floodlights in Riyadh, produced a double-clear. Belgium’s Gilles Thomas, piloting Ermitage Kalone, secured second place with the only other double-clear.

Duffy left all the fences standing in both rounds, picking up just two time penalties in the first round before jumping clear second time out to seal a podium finish.

Quirex had reached the top of the sport with Cameron Hanley, including being part of the Irish Aga Khan team in 2018, but the grey gelding had been out of the sport for many years before completing a remarkable comeback.

“To do this today, on a horse that has had almost six years in a field and to do it in a class so huge as the LGCT Super Grand Prix – a comeback couldn’t have been sweeter.

“It’s just a testament to the horse’s character and his heart and ability to come back. It’s really an incredible story and I’m just happy to be a part of it and to enjoy it,” said Duffy.

Earlier in the day, Duffy secured victory in the 1.50 jump-off class after having the fastest double clear on Claptonn Mouche.

Pictured: Galway showjumper Michael Duffy and Quirex in action in Riyadh where they came third in the Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix.

By Mike Rafferty

A twelve goal encounter is certainly rare in top flight football, but in Headford on Friday night, Moyne Villa and Mervue United actually shared the spoils in a 6-6 draw in their Premier Division clash.

What makes it more intriguing is that the home side were four goals up with just 15 minutes to go, so huge credit must be given to the visitors who kept chasing what seemed a lost cause and as Mervue gradually wore down the home side, they got their reward with the late goals.

Mervue United manager Ollie Neary described the game as unique. “I don’t think I ever experienced a game like it. We enjoyed a lot of possession in the opening half and yet we went in two down at the break. While we did not help ourselves at times, it seemed that everything they hit found the net.

“However, we have to credit the lads for the comeback, as they never gave up on the challenge of getting back into the game. At the same time we have to say that we did not cover ourselves in glory, but at least the following morning we were able to look back on the game with a better feeling having picked up a point, rather than a gut feeling if that recovery never happened”.

“Moyne Villa are a good side and that is the second time they have held us to a draw and they are the only points we have dropped all season,” added Neary.

It was the home side who made the most of the opening half opportunities as they led by 2-0 at the break. Dara Forde fired them ahead with a cracking finish after he cut in from the wing, before Padraig Cunningham added a second after chasing a ball over the top and finishing past Tom Meehan.

The visitors pulled one back quickly on the resumption as Aaron Neary scored. Moyne Villa quickly made it 4-1 when Aidan Coyne drove home a free kick for the third, before Cunningham gave them a three goal advantage. Neary responded with his second to make it 4-2, before Cunningham hit goal number five to complete his hat trick.

Pictured: The Salthill Devon U-18 team which overcame Bearna na Forbacha (1-nil) in a Galway League tie in Drom. Back row, left to right: Conor Kelly, coach, Oisin Kelly, Daniel Gilmore, Daniel Mitchell, Conor Fogarty, Kyle Cosgrove, Paul Monaghan, Oisin McMahon, Greg Maher, Paddy Smyth and Pete Kelly. Front row: Raph Hoy, Michael Monaghan, George Gallagher, Kian O’Connel, Conor Comer, Luke Mangan and Matthew Hosty.

By DARREN KELLY

AFTER negotiating some tough hurdles to secure a sixth successive county senior crown, Sarsfields prepare for an All-Ireland camogie semi-final against Antrim’s Loughgiel Shamrocks on Sunday (Breffni Park, Cavan, 2pm).

It’s a repeat of the 2022 final, the last of the east Galway team’s three All-Ireland successes. Siobhán McGrath’s goal after just 33 seconds set the tone while Rachel Murray also raised a green flag in a 2-14 to 1-14 victory in Croke Park.

Before hopefully taking their place on the grandest stage again, Sarsfields do have a very unique record to defend.  This is their eighth All-Ireland semi-final with a 100% record and they are seeking an eighth All-Ireland final appearance.

But that statistic is under threat from a Loughgiel Shamrocks side that are inching closer to the Holy Grail. They led eventual champions Dicksboro by five points in last year’s semi-final before a second half collapse saw them fall by six.

This season they began with a draw (2-15 to 3-12) against Cushendall before accounting for MacUilin (2-18 to 2-13).  Their third group victory came at the expense of Dunloy (6-10 to 0-8) before being handed a walkover from Con Magees.

It was a different story in their final rematch with Dunloy as they just got through 3-11 to 2-9.  But in Ulster, they proved unstoppable, scoring nine goals in two outings – Down’s Clonduff (6-13 to 1-14) was followed by dismantling new Derry champions Swatragh (3-16 to 0-5).

Their firepower is led by full forward Roisin McCormick (4-19 in their last three games) while Caitrin Dobbin (3-3) was on the 2023 team of the year. Annie Lynn (2-4), Lucia McNaughton (1-5) and Christine McCloskey (0-4) are others to watch.

Katie McKillop (1-2) is partnered in midfield by Amy Boyle; Emma McFadden, Katie Lynn and keeper Eimear Boyle form a strong spine; Claire McKillop, Finvola McVeigh, Megan McGarry and Shauna Doran are outside them.

Ciara Laverty started the Ulster final at corner forward while Maria O’Hara, Anna Connolly, Anna McKillop, Shauna Deery, Orlagh Laverty are others who could be involved. Loughgiel Shamrocks will start at least 10 of the 2022 All-Ireland Final team.

For Sarsfields, they’ll be considered favourites with Dicksboro, Slaughtneil and Oulart The Ballagh eliminated.  Despite a tough opening quarter as well as conceding an Amy Caulfield goal, they took control to retain the Catherine Donnellan Cup in October.

Pictured: Kate Gallagher of Sarsfields in action against Dicksboro’s Jenny Clifford of Dicksboro during last year’s All-Ireland Club Senior Camogie Final. The Galway champions face Loughgiel Shamrocks in Sunday’s semi-final.

The city’s largest GAA club is planning to expand its footprint by acquiring another site outside its catchment area — a move that has annoyed neighbouring clubs.

Salthill/Knocknacarra already owns about five hectares of land at Mincloon, Rahoon, which it has earmarked for playing pitches.

And now it has signalled it wants to buy a further five acres beside its existing site.

The club’s executive, in a Notice of Motion to be debated at its Annual General Meeting this December, has proposed the purchase of more land.

The motion reads: “The club proposes to purchase up to five acres of available land for purchase adjacent to our existing site at Mincloon for between €200,000 and €400,000 and for which the purchase price will be verified by two independent auctioneers and which will be presented to the club executive before the final purchase.”

Plans to develop its existing site in Mincloon were put on ice after three neighbouring clubs mounted major opposition.

The sports development was needed, according to the club, to satisfy increased growth in membership, including juvenile members, particularly girls.

But Rahoon/Newcastle GAA Club, St Michael’s GAA Club and CLG Bearna all issued statements last year indicating they were opposed to the development of facilities outside Salthill/Knocknacarra parish boundaries, and within their catchment areas.

In April of 2023, Salthill/Knocknacarra said it was ‘tweaking’ the plans before lodging a formal planning application.

Permission has yet to be sought for the plans, but officials from the club had lobbied politicians ahead of last June’s Local Elections.

Pitch development plans were first floated for a site in Mincloon in 2014.

It was rejected by planners the following year due to traffic concerns and because the site fell within the route options of a proposed new road.

Since then, councillors voted in favour of a specific objective in the City Development Plan that said City Hall would “support and consider” the site for the development of recreational and amenity, including playing pitches.

Storm Bert battered the West last weekend wreaking havoc across County Galway – leaving thousands of homes, businesses, and farms without power and clean water due to heavy rain and gales, while flooding closed roads and damaged properties and infrastructure.

In the city, 450 homes and business premises in Salthill were left without electricity for a period due to a power outage caused by the storm.

But the main effects were felt outside the urban area and clean-up was ongoing this week as Galway County Council, ESB and Uisce Éireann crew worked to repair damaged roads, powerlines, and water supplies.

Storm Bert, which resulted in Met Éireann issuing a red weather warning, brought power outages to more than 12,000 customers in County Galway.

Intense rainfall – with over 60mm falling in Conamara within a few hours between Friday night and Saturday morning – coupled with strong winds, caused localised flooding and widespread damage.

With ground already saturated, and snow accumulations on Wednesday and Thursday, the Council said rapid surface runoff into rivers and streams, led to a rapid rise in water levels.

Many rivers and streams in Conamara burst their banks, and several roads were impassable due to flooding.

The Owenglin River in Clifden overflowed, flooding seven properties; the Polladirk River flooded, blocking the N59 at Kylemore; and the Owenriff River in Oughterard overflowed, causing flooding on the N59.

Elsewhere, localised flooding affected roads across the county, with numerous trees down and several landslides reported.

The Council said a “major landslide” blocked the R336 between Leenaun and Maum, while damage to local roads due to scouring rendered some impassable.

A Council spokesperson said its crews, and senior staff, were in Clifden Friday and Saturday to monitor and co-ordinate the emergency response.

Pictured: Work underway over the weekend to clear the landslide which blocked the R336 between Leenaun and Maum.