The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in the Green Awards 2013.Now in its fifth year, the awards scheme celebrates excellence in sustainability and encourages green best practice amongst Ireland’s business and tourism organisations.The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been shortlisted in the Green Tourism and Leisure category alongside Croke Park, Fota Wildlife Park, Carlton House, Bellinter House and Fitzers Catering.The announcement comes on foot of new figures from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience that show considerable progress being made in the implementation of green, sustainable actions at the North Clare facility.Director Katherine Webster says that there was a 9.5% reduction in electricity usage at the Centre during 2012 compared to previous year, along with a 24% year-on-year reduction in water usage, and a 12.7% increase in the level of recycled waste.Ms Webster noted that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience also increased its use of local food suppliers during 2012, …

THE largest class yet at Shannon College of Hotel Management graduated last week.At the graduation ceremony, Philip Smyth, director of the Shannon College of Hotel Management, said the experience of the college shows the Irish third-level sector should consider the world its oyster when it comes to student recruitment.“Over 45% of our students are from outside Ireland, some from as far afield as China and India, which are huge potential markets for international education.  We have a really good international reputation and that helps but we have had to get out, roll up our sleeves and sell ourselves very hard in these markets because that’s what required.“We do have many advantages because of the standard of education we provide, the fact that we are an English-speaking nation, because Ireland is less expensive now to live in than what it was, especially for students and because we are smart in how we target them. “But none of those qualities are exclusive …

SHANNON Town Councillors have said they are disappointed about a lack of consultation from Shannon Development regarding the future of a local one-acre site.The Clare Champion of February 8 carried an ad from Shannon Development in which it said it was “seeking proposals from suitable individuals/consortiums/companies for purchase/lease of land for the development of a community project on a c 1 acre site at Shannon Town Centre”.A closing date for the request of a tender form was given as the following Friday, February 15.At last Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Labour’s Greg Duff put forward a motion asking that the council express its disappointment that greater efforts weren’t made to consult the local community regarding the site.His colleague Tony McMahon said Shannon Development had made a “feeble effort” to engage with community interests. Independent Gerry Flynn said he felt Shannon Development had “shown arrogance in the way they have dealt with this particular site”.He said a body like Clare County Council …

WHEN Ennis songwriter Peter Keane first came up with the idea for a song about the experience of emigrants back in the late-’90s, little did he realise the effect it would have years later. His song, The Gathering, was first penned in 1999, many years before the notion of Ireland’s Gathering festival was born. Now it has been chosen as Clare’s official song for the national event calling the county’s diaspora home.The song was written following Peter’s years playing the vibrant music scene in New  York and Boston  and emerging local band Socks in the Frying Pan have been chosen to perform the song, which is now available on iTunes, with a video on YouTube.The song reflects an emigrant’s absence from his homeland and looking forward to a homecoming in Ireland. Peter’s ambition was always to professionally produce the song and make it available to a wider audience. In mid-2012 he approached the Gathering Clare 2013 Steering Group for support …

This year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade will commence from Aras Contae an Chláir at 11am on Sunday, Ennis Town Council has announced. The centrepiece of the day’s festivities will be the annual parade, the theme of which is ‘Ennis – A Musical Town’. The parade will commence from Clare County Council’s headquarters building rather than Ennis Courthouse this year. It will proceed down New Road before crossing over the Club Bridge and passing through Abbey Street, O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street and Barrack Street. The ­parade will terminate in the Market.Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Peter Considine, will lead the parade in a horse-drawn carriage, which will be followed by 50 groups representing the many aspects of life in Ennis and County Clare. This year’s parade will also feature the 40-strong St Mary’s Catholic School Marching Band from Phoenix, which is travelling to the county capital as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Ennis’ twinning relationship with the Arizona state capital.There …

WHEN former county and town manager Joe Boland retired in 1983, it was said monuments to him could be seen by looking all around Ennis. That is as true today as it was 20 years ago, those gathered at a civic reception held in his honour by Ennis Town Council were told this week.The civic reception was awarded to Mr Boland in recognition of his contribution to local government over a 40-year period, including his 23-year-term as Clare county and Ennis town manager.At the event, Mr Boland, who was joined by his wife, Catherine; daughter,  Rosita and grandson, Liam, said he felt “deeply honoured” by the occasion. The Kerry native recalled, “I came to Clare on April 1, 1960, more than a half century ago and I came to stay”.He told how he declined a Government nomination for a senior post in Brussels as Ireland entered what was then the EEC because he wanted to stay in Clare. He spoke …

THE Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board are inviting the business community to meet with the delegates from the sister city of Phoenix, Arizona during their visit to the county this week. Any businesses, particularly those in the tourism and hospitality sectors, are welcome to attend the Business and Tourism Breakfast Forum on Friday at the Temple Gate Hotel from 8.45am to 10am.The forum will be chaired by Ronan Dillon, technical director, Microsemi Ireland Ltd. Guest speakers will include Ger Dollard, director of services and Ennis town manager; Brian O’Neill, Promote Ennis; Rita McInerney, Ennis Chamber and Phoenix City Councilman, Michael Johnson.The event is free of charge and full Irish breakfast is provided. However, places are limited so booking is required. Bookings can be made by contacting Margaret Neylon at Ennis Chamber by email to info@ennischamber.ie or calling 065 684 2988 by this Thursday.Phoenix Week 2013 will mark the 25th anniversary of twinning between the town of Ennis and the US city …

Snowflakes fell in the sunshine at the Church of Ireland in Kilkishen last Monday morning and indication perhaps that, despite the harsh conditions, a bright future lies ahead for the rejuvenation of the East Clare village. Deputy Pat Breen officially turned the sod kick starting the construction phase of the Kilkishen Church of Ireland restoration project on Monday morning where a large crowd gathered to mark this momentous occasion. The site was also blessed by local parish priest Fr Donal Dwyer and chairperson of the restoration committee Mike Hogan welcomed those present. He said after much talk and umpteen fundraising events the committee was finally at the important stage to progress the project to the construction phase. “This project has been talked about for so long but we have finally, with the help of a lot of people, made it happen. We are at the stage where we are convinced that this is the place for our cultural centre, which …