A weekend-long festival in Kilkee, titled ” Cruinniu Na Mara, Gateway to the Ocean,” will showcase ocean-based activities and highlight opportunities in the blue economy in Kilkee.
It will feature performances, talks, and workshops from September 20-22, 2024.
The festival begins with an official opening at Kilkee Waterworld, followed by free talks from local experts and a special gig by Paddy Casey as part of Culture Night, along with live music in local bars.
Activities include yoga, sea swims, snorkelling, kayaking, and family-friendly events, with donations encouraged for local organizations: West Clare Cancer Centre, Kilkee Currach Club, and Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Search & Rescue.
The program will also feature art workshops, presentations on ocean-related topics, and community walks, all designed to engage attendees and foster appreciation for maritime culture and environmental preservation.
https://www.cruinniunamara.com
Friday 20th Sept
- 19.00 Official festival opening at Kilkee Waterworld by Pat Dowling CEO Clare County Council. Sponsored by Naughtons Yard.
- 19.15 ‘Diving through Time In Kilkee’ Guest speaker Manuel Di Lucia who is ‘seanonymous’ with Kilkee. Being in it, being under it and being out on it. All talks are free of charge, but any donations would be brilliant in support of the West Clare Cancer Centre, Kilkee Currach Club & Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Search & Rescue
- 20.00 ‘Paddy Casey’ as part of Culture Night plays a free gig in Culturlann Sweeney. Tickets are limited, reservations are required and available at www.culturlannsweeney.ie
- 22.00 Live Music in the following local bars
- Festival Seafood Specials available in the following restaurants and bars across the weekend.
Saturday 21st Sept
- Activities 09.30 – 10.30 Slow Flow Yoga with Trea on the Promenade, followed by a dip in the ocean. Donations taken in the day by Trea in aid of GazaGoBragh
- 10.00 – 19.00 (last booking 18.30) Sauna by the Sea with Inis Cealtra Mobile Sauna. Booking required https://bookwhen.com/saunacruinniunamarakilkee Contact Tanja 0897009665 Price Children 6-16 30mins/€5 1hr/€10 Adults: 30mins/€10 1hr €20
- 10.00 – 11.30 Sea Swim & Coffee at the Pier. Join our regular sea swim group ‘Pier Pressure’ for their morning swim and coffee at Oceanlife Dive Centre. Donations to West Clare Cancer Centre, Kilkee Currach Club & Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Search & Rescue
- 12.00 “Try a Snorkel” with the Kilkee Sub Aqua Club & the West Clare Adventure Hub. Numbers are limited and bookings are required on www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €30 pp
- 12.00 – 14.00 Kilkee Community Market. Our weekly community market takes place as usual at The Greyhound Bar. Locally produced, locally made or locally grown. 12.00 – 13.00 Beach Clean Up. Help keep our beautiful beach and the sea clean by supporting the Kilkee Tidy Towns September beach clean up. Gloves, bags and pickers supplied. Meet at The Bandstand
- 12.00 – 13.30 Kilkee Kayak Trip. Explore all the nooks & crannies, caves & cliffs of Kilkee Bay with Nevsail. Numbers limited and booking required through www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €30 per child. €40 per adult
- 14.00 ‘Snorkel Safari’ at Newfee or the Pollock Holes with the Kilkee Sub Aqua Club & West Clare Adventure Hub. Numbers are limited and bookings are required on www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €30 pp
- 15.00 – 17.00 Try a Dive. Get to grips with breathing underwater with the Kilkee Adventure Hub. This the immersive experience takes plcae in the controlled environment of Kilkee Waterworld under the guidance of Oceanlife Dive Centre. Two one hour sessions. Numbers are limited and bookings are required on www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €35 pp
- 14.30 – 16.00 Kilkee Kayak Trip. Explore all the nooks & crannies, caves & cliffs of Kilkee Bay with Nevsail. Numbers limited and booking required through www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €30 per child. €40 per adult
- All day Regular dives and snorkel trips with Kilkee Sub Aqua Club and Oceanlife Dive Centre. Talks & Workshops Talks All talks are free of charge, but any donations would be brilliant in support of 3 local organisations. The West Clare Cancer Centre, Kilkee Currach Club & Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Search & Rescue
- 14.30 – 15.30 Being creative with our Ocean by Jackie McGrath, a local socially engaged visual artist with a focus on our Ocean. Venue: Myles Creek Bar Free Entry
- 15.30 – 16.30 Underwater photography by Kilkee Sub Aqua Club member and photographer Vanessa Keane. Venue: Myles Creek Bar Free Entry
- 16.30 – 17.30 Kilkee Dives and Wrecks by Ger Haugh of Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Venue: Myles Creek Bar Free Entry
- 17.00 – 18.00 The Sea, swimming and its benefits. A presentation on the positive physical and mental health benefits of the sea Venue: Kilkee Waterworld Free Entry Workshops Workshop prices are set by the artists, booking and payment is directly with them.
- 11:30-12:30 Ocean Inspiration Art Workshop with Kim Thittichai. Be inspired to create a fun painting by looking at colourful buoys, ropes and nets all found on the beach. Price €10 pp. Over 16s only and numbers limited Booking required, contact Kim by WhatsApp on 087-6907809
- 18.30 – 20.00 Paint & Sip with Kilkee based artist Julie O Gorman at Naughtons Yard Gallery. Unleash your inner artist and enjoy your favourite tipple in a fun relaxed environment. No painting experience necessary. Numbers limited and booking required, contact Julie on 089-2432560 Price €50 pp including two drinks. Socialising 21.30 + Live Music
- Murphy’s Bar “Trouble Party Band”
- Mara’s Bar “Bodyke Bandits” with Paul Brosnan Activities
Sunday 22nd Sept
- 10.00 – 11.30 June Curtin, Snamhai Sasta & Pier Pressure Sea Swim & Coffee at the Pier. June Curtin joins the usual crew for their morning swim. Coffee afterwards at Oceanlife Dive Centre. Donations to West Clare Cancer Centre, Kilkee Currach Club and Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Search & Rescue
- 10.00 – 17.00 (last booking 16.30) Sauna by the Sea with Inis Cealtra Mobile Sauna. Booking required https://bookwhen.com/saunacruinniunamarakilkee Contact Tanja 0897009665 Price Children 6-16 30mins/€5 1hr/€10 Adults: 30mins/€10 1hr/€20
- 12.00 “Try a Snorkel” with the Kilkee Sub Aqua Club & the West Clare Adventure Hub. Numbers are limited and bookings are required on www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €30 pp
- 12.00 Loop Head Community Walk. Take part in our weekly Loop Head Peninsula community social walk along the beautiful Kilkee Cliff Walk
- 14.00 ‘Snorkel Safari’ at Newfee or the Pollock Holes with the Kilkee Sub Aqua Club & West Clare Adventure Hub. Numbers are limited and bookings are required on www.kilkeewaterworld.ie Price €30 pp
- 14.30-15.30 Currach Trips. Get out on the water and learn how to ‘pull’ with some of the Kilkee Currach Club members
- All day Regular dives and snorkel trips with Kilkee Sub Aqua Club and Oceanlife Dive Centre Talks All talks are free of charge, but any donations would be brilliant in support of 3 local organisations. The West Clare Cancer Centre, Kilkee Currach Club & Kilkee Sub Aqua Club Search & Rescue
- 14.00-15.00 Cully Marrinan and the Kilkee Currach by Criostoir Mac Carthaigh Venue: Kilkee Boathouse
- 15.00-16.00 Cave Diving in Ireland & Beyond by Jim Warny Venue: Kilkee Waterworld
- 15.00 – 16.00 Saving Lives, & Having Fun with Clare & Brendan McGrath. Venue; Lifeguard Hut, Kilkee Promenade Free Entry
- 16.00 – 17.00 Diver to Doctor with Jasmine Blenkins O Callaghan. The underwater journey of how a scuba diving instructor pursued a career in medicine. Venue: Kilkee Waterworld Free Entry
