Tourism Forum Members To Tour North Clare

Tourism providers from throughout the County will embark on a tour of visitor attractions throughout North Clare next week, as part of an initiative to build referral business within the local sector.

The Clare Tourism Forum has organised the excursion as part of a series of ‘Familiarisation Tours’ that also are taking place in East, West and South Clare during April and May.

The first Familiarisation Tour takes place on Wednesday 25 April when tourism operators visit a range of visitor attractions in North Clare. 

The tour will feature a trip on the Doolin2Aran Ferries Cliffs Cruise, as well as visits to Aillwee Cave Birds of Prey Centre, the Poulnabrone Dolmen, Lisdoonvarna and Carron.  The day will conclude with a meet and greet session with other North Clare tourism providers from the region at the Burren Centre in Kilfenora.

According to Barbara Faulkner, Chair of the Clare Tourism Forum: “By broadening their knowledge and experience of other tourism attractions within County Clare, individual operators will be better positioned to promote the wider tourism sector and in doing so accrue the benefits of fellow operators doing likewise.”

Ms. Faulkner explained that the objectives of the Clare Tourism Forum are to represent the best interests of tourism in Clare, to develop and promote a Clare brand, and to serve as a funding mechanism for the ongoing promotion of the County as a visitor destination.  

“Central to the Forum’s success in achieving these goals is the education of our members in terms of the services provided by other operators working within the local sector. Referral business is key to maximising the amount of money and time spent by visitors to Clare”, she added.

Tourism operators interested in joining a tour should contact the Clare Tourism Forum office on 065-6846537 or email ctf@clarecoco.ie. 

For more visit www.clare.ie.

Mayor Says Clare Must Be Reimbursed In Irish Water Move

Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes has said that the proposed establishment of Irish Water by the Government has raised more questions than it has provided answers about the transfer of Clare’s water and wastewater assets from Clare Local Authorities to the independent State owned subsidiary.

Mayor Hayes said the Government had so far “failed” to convince ratepayers of the benefits of such a move, in terms of the level and quality of service that will be provided. He added that serious questions remained over the implications of the transfer for local authority staff.

“If Clare’s water and wastewater infrastructure is transferred to Irish Water it is imperative that the funding invested by Clare ratepayers to develop this asset is returned to the County,” stated Mayor Hayes.

He explained: “Over the years, Clare Local Authorities has made considerable investments in land acquisitions and has taken out loans to facilitate the development and maintenance of Clare’s water and wastewater infrastructure. It is imperative that any expenditure which has been invested by Clare County Council from its own resources in the creation of this considerable infrastructural asset is reimbursed. In addition, the Government must clarify whether Irish Water will assume responsibility for the repayment of any outstanding loans.”

Mayor Hayes noted that the Government’s “drip feeding of information” about the transfer of the country’s water services functions from local authorities to Irish Water had “contributed to considerable misinformation being fed into the public domain about the proposed move.”

“Neither I nor my colleagues at Clare County Council are convinced that Irish Water will provide the same quality of service as provided by Clare Local Authorities. During the adverse weather conditions of 2009 and 2010, Council staff worked around The clock to ensure that disruptions to water services were minimised. We have yet to receive a guarantee from the Government that this same level of service will be delivered to the people of Clare. Furthermore, significant questions exist over what will happen to wastewater scheme contracts that already have been awarded and how they will be managed under the proposed transfer,” he said.

Mayor Hayes said that there also was a serious concern among those employed in the Council’s water services section about future staffing arrangements under the proposed new body.

“No assurances have yet been given to Local Authority staff regarding the implications of the proposed move and what role, if any, they will have to play in Irish Water’s future operations.  The Government has indicated that the establishment of Irish Water will spawn 2,000 long-term construction jobs but has yet to reveal how thousands of other jobs around the country’s 34 Local Authorities will be affected,” the Mayor concluded.

Soccer Legend Puts Best Foot Forward At Lees Road

Leeds United and Republic of Ireland soccer legend, John Giles was in County Clare this week to announce details of a fundraising event for local clubs, schools and community groups next month.

Hundreds of people from throughout the County will participate in the John Giles Foundation Walk of Dreams, which will begin and finish at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis on 7th May.  The 5km sponsored walk will take place simultaneously in 20 locations across Ireland, including Limerick City and Galway.

As well as raising funds for the Foundation, the walk also will raise funds for soccer clubs which take part.

Half of all the money raised will go directly to the fundraising clubs and organisations, while the remaining funds will be subject to a grant application process with money being distributed to sporting and community projects that achieve the aims of the Foundation.

Over 600 people participated in the inaugural Clare Walk of Dreams at Lees Road in 2011 resulting in thousands of Euro being raised for local clubs, schools and community groups.  A further three Clare soccer clubs benefited from the funding application process, namely Mountshannon Celtic (€300), Shannon Town (€1,000) and Tulla FC (€5,000). 

John Giles said the purpose of the upcoming fundraiser is to facilitate positive social change by using the power of football to build community cohesion, promote health, and encourage lifelong participation and learning.

Speaking at Lees Road, the RTE soccer pundit stated: “I grew up, like many of us did, playing on the street. We were just having fun and had never heard of professional football. I never dreamt of where it would take me, or realised what a difference the sport was making to our community. Today it’s a different story, with different rules, and now more than ever people at risk need our support.”

Event co-ordinator and former Clare and District Soccer League Chairman, Jim Madden said he was confident that this year’s Walk would attract even greater numbers of people than the inaugural event in 2011.

“Over 600 people from Clare’s 35 Schoolboys and Junior clubs came out to support last year’s walk.  In fact, the family day out was one of the best attended of all the Walk of Dreams events taking place throughout Ireland. We were also grateful to the support of the Gardai, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Ennis Brass Band who helped to make the 2011 Walk of Dreams a huge success.”

Mr. Madden noted that the 2012 walk would once again raise funds for club and community soccer projects throughout Clare.  “The aim of the Walk is to help raise funds to develop the facilities and services that soccer clubs can offer their community as well as contributing to other important local initiatives. Clubs, schools and community groups that sign up to the ‘Walk of Dreams’ will receive a fundraising pack with 50 per cent of all monies raised going to the local club and 50 per cent to the John Giles Foundation to be reinvested in the local community.”

Commenting ahead of the May 7th walk, Tim Forde of Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park said: “We are delighted to be able to support this event, especially considering the funds raised will be going back into the grassroots of club football and community projects involving the game.”

“The Walk of Dreams will take place over a 5-kilometre route that will begin and finish at Lees Road. Many of those participating in the walk will already be very familiar with the complex as Lees Road hosts over 300 competitive soccer games each year, not to mention the hundreds of people who use our facilities to train each week,” added Mr. Forde.

Applications for 2012 funding will be open from Monday 2nd July to Friday 31st August. The Foundation's website, including details of the Walk of Dreams at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis, can be accessed via www.johngilesfoundation.com.