Eight Clare Environmental Projects Receive Local 21 Funds

Minister of State, Mr. Tony Killeen, T.D., has announced that almost 10,000 euro has been allocated to eight environmental awareness projects in County Clare, under the 2009 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund.

The Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. It has operated in various forms since 1997 when 65 projects received funding. 408 projects across Ireland are to receive grants totalling 636,111 euro under the Fund in 2009.

Minister of State Killeen noted that the administration of the funds at local level was the responsibility of Clare County Council with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government maintaining a supervisory role.

The Clare T.D. added that a wide variety of innovative and exciting projects and schemes in County Clare have been supported under the Fund during recent years. He continued: “I am delighted that all projects focus on environmental awareness and action, which complement national environmental policies such as those on Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change and Sustainable Development. This year, responding to increased levels of interest, the Department sought to raise awareness of sustainable living and the importance of locally grown produce through the provision of community vegetable gardens and allotments”.

Minister of State Killeen outlined, “The Clare projects, in receipt of funding this year, range from an Environmental Awareness Community Workshop Programme to an education initiative on the transition to a Sustainable Low-Carbon Future. Other projects include the development of a volunteer programme to work against heritage destruction, litter dumping and invasive species.”

A total of EUR9.738 is being allocated to eight projects around the County. The projects include: Burrenbeo Trust, Volunteer Programme to work against heritage destruction, litter dumping and invasive species encroachment (EUR1,700); South West Clare Community Radio Ltd., Grow Your Own (EUR1,200); Ogonnelloe National School Parents Association, Outdoor Classroom (EUR850); Transition Town Ennistymon, Education for the Transition to a Sustainable Low-Carbon Future (EUR1,950); Transition Town Ennis, The Worm Bin Project (EUR238); Killaloe/Ballina Family Resource Centre, Establishing Killaloe Community Garden (EUR1,950); Mol an Óige Steiner National School Ennistymon, Outdoor ClassrooM (EUR850); and Flynn-Furney Environmental Consultants Cratloe, Environmental Awareness Community Workshop Programme (EUR1,000).

“Through the provision and development of environmental initiatives in these eight Clare communities, the fund encourages action and innovation - enveloping new members into sustainable lifestyles and developing sustainable communities”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.

Stellar Line-Up For Ennis Book Club Festival 2010

Some of the most recognisable names in Irish and international literature will participate in next year’s Ennis Book Club Festival, the largest event of its kind anywhere in Ireland and the UK, from 5-7 March 2010.

Supported by Clare County Library, the three-day programme of events is expected to attract hundreds of Book Club members and book lovers from all over Europe and North America. The festival will also feature Ireland’s first ‘Book Club of the Year Award’ and a professional development workshop for library staff.

Among the contributors to the festival will be Lionel Shriver, Prolific journalist and Orange Prize-winning author of “We Need to Talk About Kevin” and “The Post-Birthday World”; Joseph O’Connor, Journalist, screenwriter and author of ten Irish number one bestsellers including “Cowboys and Indians”, “Desperadoes”, “The Salesman” and “Inishowen”; Tim Pat Coogan, Biographer, historian, journalist and writer of “Michael Collins” and “Ireland in the Twentieth Century”; and Fiona Looney, Columnist, playwright, scriptwriter and media personality.

Other authors scheduled to participate in the fourth annual festival include Diarmaid Ferriter, Author, historian, and university lecturer; Paul Howard, Journalist, author and creator of the cult character Ross O'Carroll-Kelly; Claire Keegan; Award-winning short stories writer and author of “Antarctica” and “Walk the Blue Fields”; and Thomas Lynch Essayist, poet, short stories writer, funeral director and winner of the American Book Award and The Heartland Prize for Nonfiction.

Academic contributors to the festival include Dr. Paul Delaney, School of English at Trinity College; Alan Titley, Author, playwright, poet and Professor of Modern Irish and Head of Department at University College Cork; and Niall MacMonagle, Reviewer, Editor and English teacher at Dublin’s Wesley College. Further contributors will be added to the Festival line-up over the coming months.

Commenting on the 2010 Festival, Chairperson Frances O’Gorman (available for interview on 00353-872262259) said: “The festival is a wonderful social and literary event that brings together Book Club members, readers and authors from all over Ireland and beyond. It presents a unique opportunity for all literary enthusiasts to share their joy of reading, to meet authors, to discuss books, and to have a weekend break with friends.”

One of the highlights of the weekend Festival will be The Sunday Symposium, during which Tim Pat Coogan and Diarmaid Ferriter will join a panel discussion on the subject of “Reading History”.

Elsewhere, the Festival is inviting library staff nationwide to a free workshop on how to start, develop and challenge a Book Club. Ciana Campbell of the Festival Organising Committee noted that the professional development workshop, which will be presented by Anne Downes of Opening the Book, has been designed specifically for library staff who are interested or involved in book clubs. She added: “It will cover areas such as managing group dynamics, injecting new life and bringing new ideas”.

Meanwhile, the 2010 Festival features Ireland’s foremost ‘Book Club of the Year Award’. The winning Book Club (up to a maximum of six people) will receive a prize of free weekend passes to festival events and overnight accommodation at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. Entry forms, which are being distributed throughout the country, must be submitted by Friday 8th January 2010.

Further details on ticket prices and the festival are available from (web) www.ennisbookclubfestival.com, (t) www.twitter.com/ebcf, (e) info@ennisbookclubfestival.com and (t) 087-9723647/085-7758523.

ALL IMAGES BY EAMON WARD

UAE Market Reopened To Irish EU Beef

Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has warmly welcomed the decision by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government to lift its 8-year-old ban on the importation of Irish beef.

The Middle Eastern nation imposed the ban in January 2001 as a result of a review of beef controls in a number of EU countries, including Ireland.

Minister of State Killeen said the announcement was hugely significant as the UAE previously was a significant importer of Irish beef. He noted: “In the year preceding the ban, exports of Irish beef to the UAE amounted to over 5,200 tonnes and were valued at almost 8.3 million euro. The market is being re-opened to Irish beef under 30 months, and will provide another potentially important outlet for Irish beef.”

Minister of State Killeen added: “The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, together with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs, has been working vigorously to regain access to this important market. The re-opening of the market is recognition that the production of beef in Ireland is subject to extremely rigorous controls and reflects the importance we place on high standards for food safety.”