Bertie Ahern And EU Tourism Chief To Address National Conference Today

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Brian Simpson MEP, the EU’s Head of Transport and Tourism, will join tourism interests from across the island of Ireland at a conference taking place in Ennistymon, County Clare, today and tomorrow.

The serious impact of recent flooding on the tourism sector and the decline of the domestic tourism market in the last year will be the main topics of discussion at the 21st National Tourism Conference, which is being attended by over 250 tourism industry officials and members of Local Authorities, County Enterprise Boards, partnerships, and all public and private bodies involved in the promotion of tourism on the island of Ireland. The event is being hosted by the Clare Tourist Council, in conjunction with Clare County Council.

Speakers scheduled to address the conference - entitled ‘Promoting Partnership In Tourism: 21 Years Of Progress' - include Bertie Ahern T.D., former Taoiseach; Brian Simpson, MEP, Head of Transport and Tourism EU; Stephanie Abrams, US Radio Broadcaster and renowned Travel Expert; Tom Barnum, Barnum Travel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (The Milwaukee / Clare Experience); Irene Adair OBE, Co-Founder of Newry and Mourne - Clare Twinning Partnership; and Tom Coughlan, County Manager, Clare County Council (Promoting Partnerships: The Role of the Local Authority). Meanwhile, Aidan Pender, Director of Policy and Industry Development, Failte Ireland, will address the Conference on the role played by partnerships in building tourism capability.

Former UUP Councillor Edward Turner M.B.E; former Chairman of Kildare County Council Rainsford Hendy; and All Ireland Football Championship winner and former Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne district council, Kevin O’Neill will chair the Conference sessions.

Commenting on the conference, Mr. Flan Garvey of the Clare Tourist Council said: "For over two decades this event has promoted the benefits of adopting a collaborative approach to developing tourism on the island of Ireland. The Clare Tourist Council is committed to engaging with tourism providers and promotional agencies throughout the island in reinforcing the country’s status as a domestic and international tourist destination alike.”

Mr. Garvey noted that the conference had in previous years attracted tourism representatives from all over Ireland to Ennistymon to share their views on the best way forward for the sector. “The interest shown in this year’s event indicates the very real commitment among all tourism agencies and operators to participate in a unified approach to addressing common issues facing the sector. All political parties, including Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party, will also be participating this weekend in the best interests of developing tourism”, he added.

The conference will include the presentation of the Clare Tourist Council Tidy Towns Awards, sponsored by Fitzpatrick’s Supervalu Supermarket in Ennistymon, along with excursions by delegates to some of Clare’s tourism landmarks including Mullaghmore in North Clare and the East Clare Heritage Centre in the east of the County. The Miami Showband, featuring members of the Catholic and Protest communities, will perform at the main Conference Banquet.

Meanwhile, the Clare Tourism Forum today launched a new website at the conference. www.clareoffers.com promotes special offers and discounts on accommodation, attractions, activities, and shopping discounts from around County Clare. The initiative follows on from a successful campaign undertaken, in conjunction with Aer Lingus, during which North American tourists were encouraged to fly into Shannon International Airport and spend time in Clare.

According to Maureen Cleary, Marketing Executive of the Clare Tourism Forum: “www.clareoffers.com is an ideal platform to showcase Clare as a fantastic value destination and provides the ‘call to action’ a potential visitor needs to book their trip to the County.”

“We are delighted that tourism providers from around County Clare are supporting this excellent addition to the existing county tourism website www.clare.ie. Both websites are excellent selling tools created by the dedicated tourism partnership, the Clare Tourism Forum”, she added.

The Clare Tourist Council, which is also a member of the Forum, hosted its first national tourism conference, titled 'The Tourism Explosion - Implications for Ireland', in 1989. Subsequent conferences have addressed a wide range of tourism issues like 'Tourism for the '90s', 'Tourism & the Environment', 'Let Tourism work for You', 'Keeping up with Changing Times', 'The Role Played by Local Authorities in Tourism', 'Positioning Tourism - Quality or Price" and "Promoting Co-operative Tourism Marketing".

Flooding Update From County Clare 1pm

The Clare Crisis Management Centre has received confirmation from the ESB that they will not be increasing the rate of release of water from Parteen Weir today.

There have been no evacuations in South East Clare or elsewhere in Clare overnight.

Water levels along the Lower River Shannon, at O'Briensbridge, Clonlara, Westbury and Shannon Banks, rose by approximately 2 inches overnight and this morning. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is constructing a major flood defence from Athlunkard Bridge (Corbally Road) to Hampstead Park (Shannon Banks). All agencies are assisting the OPW with the construction of the earthen embankment.

River levels have reduced in Ennis. The County Clare Interagency Response Team continues to strengthen flood defences in order to further alleviate flooding in the town, which remains on flood alert.

The overall situation continues to be monitored by all agencies involved. Current weather patterns for the weekend are not expected to impact adversely on the current situation with low levels of rainfall predicted.

The number of calls to the 24-hour helpline has dropped very significantly. On the basis of the forecasted period of respite from the weather over the weekend, the Crisis Management Centre is stepping down the very high level of response that has been in place for the last nine days. A plan is in place to monitor water levels over the weekend and to re-activate the Crisis Management Centre at very short notice. The County Clare Interagency Response Team will continue to meet over the weekend to provide a coordinated response. The Council Emergency Number is 087 4169496.

ROADS UPDATE:
- The Watery Road has been re-opened to traffic this morning. However,
a ramp is in place for traffic to drive over pump hoses. Cars are advised to proceed with caution. Buses and mini-buses are advised to take extreme caution.
- Rossmanagher Road, Sixmilebridge (L7112) is closed
- The main bridge Sixmilebridge is will reopen at lunchtime to both pedestrians and vehicular access.

3.20PM Flood Update From County Limerick

Limerick County Council has confirmed that water levels along the Lower River Shannon have risen by approximately 2 inches since 10am today.

14 families have been evacuated from the Castleconnell, Montpelier and Mountshannon Road (Annacotty) areas of the County. The Council anticipates that up to a dozen more families will be evacuated in the coming hours.

All customers in flood prone areas along the Lower River Shannon downstream from Montpelier to Limerick City have been issued with a severe flood warning. The local authority is in regular contact with approximately 100 households in the Castleconnell, Montpelier and Mountshannon Road (Annacotty) areas.

The Council said it did not expect water levels to rise significantly further this evening or overnight.

Customers in flood prone areas from Montpelier downstream to Limerick City are advised to familiarise themselves with evacuation procedures, as outlined on www.flooding.ie, and health advice, as outlined on www.hse.ie’.

The actions that can be undertaken immediately prior to a flood to reduce damages and protect you and your family include:

Advance Preparations:
• Be prepared to evacuate your home or business. Protect yourself, your family and others that need your help.
• Have warm clothing and wellingtons ready.
• Have medication to hand (if needed).
• Put sandbags at any openings where the water could gain access.
• Move your car to high ground if possible.
• Have your mobile phone charged
• Listen to all public alerts issued by the Local Authority or emergency services

Actions to take if being evacuated:
• Turn off gas and electricity.
• Disconnect cookers, washing machines, dishwashers, etc., connected by rigid pipes to prevent damaging the machine and the pipes.
• Store any electrical items upstairs or above flood level.
• Co-operate with emergency services and local authorities. You may be evacuated to emergency centres.
Close off the flow valves on propane tanks, oil drums, or other fuel containers that supply your home through pipes and fittings.
• Move valuables and other items to safety. Place them above the flood level or upstairs. (It may be preferable to routinely store such items safely upstairs or on high shelves).
• Roll up carpets and rugs and place them out of harms way.
• Empty furniture that cannot be moved and put the contents upstairs.
• Raise furniture that cannot be moved elsewhere on bricks or blocks. Move these pieces away from walls to assist the drying later. If pieces are too difficult to lift weigh them down with a heavy object to prevent them floating and causing damage to windows, etc.
• Remove curtains if there is time, if not tie them over the curtain rail.
• Remove cabinet doors and internal doors if time allows, if not leave them open.
• Unplug any exterior electrical connections such as outdoor lighting, pond pumps and filters.